Sisley Floral Toning Lotion

Confession time!  I do not routinely use a toner.  I sometimes buy a toner and cleanser together, use the cleanser and not the toner and eventually end with mismatched cleanser and toner.  So it was a treat for me to receive fairly decent sized cleanser and toner samples in the Sisley Glossybox.  And I made a point of using the cleanser and toner together.

According to Sisley:  The Sisley Floral Toning Lotion is Alcohol-Free and provides for softer, fresher and more comfortable skin.  This Toner is designed for perfect make-up removal and to keep skin looking clear and fresh.  Formulated with soothing and softening extracts of Rose, Cornflower and Witch Hazel, Floral Toning Lotion is particularly suitable for sensitive skin and skin prone to dryness.

Daily use, it helps to tone the skin, provide instant freshness and comfort, illuminate the complexion, prepare skin for the benefits of subsequent skin care products.  Wipe a cotton pad soaked in Floral Toning Lotion over the face, throat - and even the eye contour – morning and night, after removing your make-up (wipe-off or rinse-off), or after a mask. Leave on to penetrate for a moment before applying your usual skin care cream.

The toner smells divine, soft and rosy.  It was very mild and really nice to use.  I am not entirely sure what it did for my skin, but it was pleasant to use.  (And since I am never sure what toners do, it was no worse than any other toner, in my opinion.)  Most of the reviews linked below mentioned how gentle it was.  I completely agree, but other than being a gentle, cooling, nice smelling thing you apply to your face, I am not sure it did much more than that.  If you are used to toners with alcohol, I am sure you would find this toner great for sensitive skin. 

Did I say, it does not contain alcohol.  And, oh yes, it is really expensive.  Sisley is available exclusively at the following Edgars Stores:Sandton, Melrose Arch, Clearwater, Woodlands, Gateway and V&A.

There were quite a few reviews at Beauty Bulletin.  Here is a review of the entire Sisley box.
 

Kiehl's series Nr 9: Cucumber herbal alcohol free toner

 

This toner is for all skin types.  I have to confess, until I started using the sample toner I received I have not been using a toner.  I simply cannot see how a toner makes any difference to my face, so I sometimes buy a toner, but do not use it every day and eventually stop using it altogether.

I also am not really sure how to evaluate a toner, since I cannot see what it does.  But I will give this one a try.

 

 

The toner is called a cucumber toner, but cucumber extract is almost the last ingredient on the ingredients list.  There are a lot of other herbal ingredients higher up in the list, such as witch hazel extract, aloe leaf juice, camphor, chamomile  and kiwi fruit extract.  It makes you wonder why this is a cucumber toner and not a kiwi fruit toner?  This is an alcohol free toner.

Kiehl's calls it the mildest of their toners and says it is non-drying and alcohol free.  It is meant for all skin types, particularly dry or sensitive skins.  It had a mildly astringent effect, but did not irritate my skin at all.  I guess that is exactly what you want a toner to do.

 

I noticed some dirt on the cotton wool after using this, but not much.  Kiehl's says it is balancing, and "Leaves skin soft, clean and toned with a beautiful elegant after feel." 

A nice toner, but I am not sure I would be buying it soon.  (But then again, I do not buy toner!)  I liked the smell. 

Here is a review by someone else.