REVIEW | Axis-Y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner

Review, Skin Care, Toner
March 21, 2021

There are many types of toners out there, each with different formulations and functions. Most popular ones are hydrating toner and exfoliating toner (usually the acid ones), but there are also pH balancing toner and astringent toner. pH balancing toner balances skin’s pH after cleansing and prep it for the next step in the skincare routine while astringent toner removes excess sebum and dirt from skin’s surface. Astrigent toner used to be popular for its purifying effect but now people are quite cautious of its moisture stripping effect as most of them remove excess protective lipids as well as denature proteins in the skin when a high percentage of alcohol or astringent ingredient is used.

So where does this Axis-Y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner belong? I think it falls into the exfoliating part and perhaps a new face of the astringent toner? Purifying the skin without damaging the skin barrier. Sometimes these types of toners overlap with each other and I am so glad for the wide range of option that I can choose from, skincare technology is getting better and better each day.

Ingredients

Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Extract), Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinatum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hieracium Pilosella Extract, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticose Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Artemisis Princeps Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Carbomer, Dimethly Sulfone, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil

This is a pore-care and acne-care toner that contains BHA which is 0.5% Salicylic Acid and it comes as the 13th ingredient. Salicylic acid at 0.5% breaks apart persistent dead skin cells and treats fungal acne without causing sun sensitivity. Besides, top ingredients are soothing ones which are centella asiatica (2nd) and aloe leaf water (3rd), and sodium hyaluronate (6th). Alcohol is the 5th ingredient but it is balanced with cica, aloe, and sodium hyaluronate. Cica boosts skin’s natural healing process to prevent acne scars while aloe leaf water soothes and reduces visible effects of inflammation on the skin and sodium hyaluronate, the salt version of hyaluronic acid, hydrates skin and keeps it moist on a deeper level. Other notable ingredients are sugar cane extract which is great at removing persistent debris, narrowleaf hawkweed that soothes skin irritation and inflammation, houttuynia cordata that detoxes skin to speed up healing of acne and irritation from eczema, and lotus extract to reduce skin’s production of sebum. This toner is also vegan, cruelty-free, and contains no mineral oil or artificial colourant.

Texture and Smell

This toner smells a bit like tea tree if you really sniff it, it is really watery, feels so lightweight, not sticky at all, and has no slip to it.

It absorbs completely without leaving any tacky or filmy residue. During the first few times of usage, it has a mild stinging sensation on my skin that I don’t find bothersome at all but now that I have been using this for more than a month (and half bottle) there is no stinging sensation detected.

How To Use

I use this daily, usually during PM or midday routine. As it is a purifying toner, I prefer using cotton pads to apply it instead of my hands as cotton pads provide a larger surface area to cover especially the nooks and crannies of my face.

Additionally, according to Axis-y, you should avoid using this toner with products that contain strong ingredients such as retinol or vitamin C due to irritation risk. Other cautionary step includes giving proper hydration to the skin and never skip sunscreen.

You should also store this in a cool place with no direct sunlight. If your toner turns slightly yellow after prolonged exposure to heat and light, you need not worry as it is still safe to use and it does not make it less effective.

Experience

This really is a daily purifying toner for me (and many skincare enthusiast friends of mine, too) as 0.5% Salicylic Acid is gentle and fits for daily usage. Besides, my skin seems to like this concoction of BHA, cica, sodium hyaluronate, and tea tree. The purifying effect is so satisfying knowing that it penetrates deep into the skin to clear out bacteria, dirt, and pollution stuck in the pores. I can feel it purifying my skin but without irritating it. My combination skin is happy with this type of exfoliation that is efficient but gentle. Skin feels clean and refreshed and ready to absorb other products in the routine.

The oily areas on my face (nose and forehead) also feel less oily. I can also feel it improving my skin texture too as skin feels softer and smoother with daily usage. My favourite way of using this is pairing it with my snail products or Axis-Y Glow Serum or any heavier products as they work well together. Major love!

If you’re looking for a toner that purifies deep into the skin layers and clears out pores, this one is a great choice. I don’t have anything to complain really, and this is something that I always reach for.