SHINE, SHIMMER & SPARKLE

Hola :)

I'm almost through with my giant bottle of my current toner - Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion.

Just a little clarification - I was wondering what the major difference between toners and astringents are.

Both toners and astringents have mostly the same function - to cleanse traces of dirt and remnant make-up on skin (toners and astringents are usually used post-cleansers).

• Toners, in general, are designed to soothe and comfort skin while cleansing it and are usually supposd to be alcohol-free.

• Astringents are said to be stronger (and more stripping) as they usually contain alcohol and are meant to fight pimples and acne.

The Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion does just that - it is a strong lotion that contains alcohol that cleanses every last bit of grime on the skin. I initially bought this because I was looking for a clarifying  toner that did not contain salicylic acid in it for daily use - I was using a blemish-lightening product that recommended not aggravating the skin further with BHAs and the Kiehl's Blue Astringent Lotion seemed to fit that bill.

Here's a look at the ingredients list:

Not to fear the alcohol in it - the Blue Astringent Lotion contains Sodium PCA which is a known humectant that binds moisture to the skin. Here are more details on the key ingredients, according to Kiehl's:

It also contains Witch Hazel, which is a prized anti-oxidant and natural acne eliminator.

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I bought the larger version - it also comes in a smaller bottle of 250ml which retails at SGD$45 but I found the 500ml bottle more value for money at SGD$67. 

The packaging is simple and straightforward - a semi-translucent soft plastic bottle that allows you to see the blindingly beautiful turquoise blue liquid in the bottle.

It comes with a flip-top cap and a small dispenser in the cap. I'm generally not a fan of flip-top caps given that they tend to break at the hinges after some use.

Given the huge size of this bottle and the flip-top cap dispenser, I decided to decant the Blue Astringent Lotion into a smaller pump bottle.

This is easier to deal with for several reasons. Firstly, the big bottle is bulky and clumsy to deal with, especially if you're in a hurry. 

More importantly, the pump allows me to dispense more accurately just the amount I need without spilling and dripping (and thus wasting) the lotion everywhere.

Just a tip if you're a little icky about using these pump bottles for facial products - no matter how, these plastic bottles are manufactured in some factory and you can't really tell how clean it might be - they're supposed to be but for your own peace of mind, you can try what I do. I pour a little of the lotion into my pump bottle and swirl it all around thoroughly; pour that away and presto, a nicely disinfected bottle :)

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This is not a wimpy soft, soothing toner. This is the Warrior Of All Toners if I might say - it can feel quite harsh and if you have sensitive skin, this might hurt you. The first time I used it, I felt my skin literally SHRINK (which is what is the real meaning of astringent!) and it felt really tight but the tightness dissipated after I applied my moisturiser. Still, I was terrified and regretted the decision to buy the 500ml bottle. Then the next few times I used it, my skin reacted less to it and soon, all it felt was clean and cool. It really cleans off all remnants on my skin, prepped to receive the hydrating and nourishing properties of my moisturiser.

The scent is a little clinical - think menthol, a little alcohol and camphor, which I quite like. 

So far, using this has reduced the number of breakouts I've experienced - the last breakout I had on my chin area was largely due to heatiness (major overdose on durians and chocolate), exacerbated by threading (irritated skin) - I've also been told that breakouts on the lower half of the face tend to be hormonal. I stopped all other fancy skincare and just used a combination of my neem face soap, the Blue Astringent Lotion and La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo and it's all cleared out now. 

I find that 4 pumps of the Blue Astringent Lotion on a soft cotton pad is just about right for the whole face and neck - anything more and it just dribbles everywhere. The very first time I dispensed it straight from the bottle, I accidentally over-soaked the cotton pad and the liquid dribbled into my eye as I swiped it around my temples - that was horrifying.

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Will I repurchase? Yes, definitely - I think of all the clarifying, oil and zit-zapping toners and astringents  I've tried, this might be the best so far. I do love the Vichy Normaderm toner too - that was a staple for a long time but I love the super clean feeling I get with the Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion. 

The pretty colour helps too ... not frou-frou at all .. we call that Chroma-therapy *wink*

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day ahead!

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Disclaimer: Product featured was purchased with my own money. Review is unbiased and contains my own opinions and official information extracted from the Kiehl's website.