Battle of the Toners: Pixi Glow Tonic Vs Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

For years now, I have been incorporating the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Toner into my skincare regime. At one stage, when my skin wasn't so good, I was reaching for it on a daily basis, but nowadays it's a once or twice a week treat. It's great for when my skin is feeling dry or looking dull and lacklustre, and a quick sweep of it before bed, using a cotton pad to ensure that my entire face and neck get their hit, is all it takes to wake up with softer, smoother and brighter skin.

While I have always been more than happy with the effects of this particular toner, I have been wanting to get my hands on the Pixi Glow Tonic for longer than I care to remember. With higher levels of AHA than its Clarins counterpart, it promises more dramatic effects, and has become a cult product amongst bloggers and skincare experts alike. On a recent trip to London, I couldn't resist popping into Libery and picking up a bottle - but is it impressive enough to dethrone the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner?

Let's begin with the science.

The Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner is a fresh, fluid exfoliating lotion that brightens, smooths and softens the skin. Tamarind fruit acids eliminate impurities and dead skin cells, boosting cellular renewal, while white nettle extract helps to tighten the pores, ensuring that they appear smaller.  Regular use encourages cellular renewal, strenghtening the skin's resistance to premature ageing and leaving you with a healthy, glowing complexion. Containing glycolic, salicylic and tartaric acids in much smaller quantities than many other popular toners, this is a great option for anyone with sensitive skin. Although it does contain alcohol, this is nicely counteracted with glycerin, and there is no sense of dryness following application.

It's recommended to be used 1-2 times a week, but personally, I have used it on a daily basis with no problems.

The Pixi Glow Tonic, on the other hand, is oil and alcohol-free, which does make it that little bit more suitable for sensitive skin than its Clarins counterpart, but again, I'd recommend using it no more than  a couple of times a week if this is you.

Containing ginseng, fructose and soothing aloe vera, the Pixi Glow Tonic is also laced with witch hazel, making it slightly astringent, and better for those with acne or frequent breakouts. It does

Personally, I'm not at all a fan of the smell of this one - it's potent, and overly floral, which is not what I was expecting at all. I'm not generally keen on particularly fragrant products, but I do like a fruity aroma, and that's what I was expecting from this.

The verdict: For me, it's got to be the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. I'm surprised to hear myself saying so, as I had great expectations for the Pixi Glow Tonic, but in all honesty, I haven't seen a great deal of difference in my skin since beginning to use it. Clarins's offering, on the other hand, is guaranteed to leave me with a soft, smooth and glowy complexion, and I can see myself continuing to repurchase it for a long while.

Do you have a favourite resurfacing toner?

XX

Review: Elemental Herbology Bio-Cellular Super Cleanse

Surpise, surprise, it's another Elemental Herbology product. It must be pretty obvious by now just how impressed I am with the brand, so when I was very kindly sent the Bio-Cellular Super Cleanse* I was only too eager to incorporate it into my daily skincare routine and really put it to the test.

Described as a 'luxurious milk cleanser', this is actually quite thick and creamy in consistency, and with an impressive list of active ingredients it offers a number of skin benefits. Apple AHAs rich in malic acid exfoliate dead surface cells, resulting in an overall smoother and more refined complexion, with fine lines and wrinkles appearing diminished. Vitamin C and Rosehip help to minimise the appearance of pigmentation while nourishing and calming, while lipofructyl argan, camellia, ubuntu baobab and macadamia oil boost hydration, leaving skin soft and plumped.

I was particularly intrigued by the concept of using AHAs in cleanser form, being a big fan of exfoliating toners and treatments. Being able to get a whole range of benefits from minimal products is always the ideal for me, especially on those busy mornings where I just haven't got the time to sit down and layer on a plethora of different lotions and potions.

The cleanser works best when massaged into dry  (not wet) skin in small, circular motions, paying extra attention to any areas of congestion. I like to then remove it with a warm, damp flannel, particularly if I'm wearing makeup, as this really helps to rid the skin of any remaining debris, but I do usually still go in for a second cleanse afterwards, just to give my skin a really good deep-down clean. You could, of course, just rinse with warm water, but I really wouldn't advise it with a light product like this, as even after a double-cleanse done in this way, I still find that I pick up considerable traces of makeup on a cotton pad when applying my toner. (I know that in the past, a lot of people used to consider removal of this the main purpose of a toner, but nowadays they offer so many skincare benefits that any remaining dirt can be detrimental to any positive effects, and cleansers have improved to such a degree that they really should be doing all of that type of work themselves).

As with all of the Elemental Herbology products I've tried, this one has a lovely herbal scent, and I have really enjoyed using it. It leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated, and I really like the idea that it might be doing something to keep the signs of ageing at bay. That said, any exfoliating effects are extremely subtle, and I have still been finding myself going in with my trusty Clarins Gentle Brightening Exfoliator Toner a few times a week.

In terms of makeup-removal, it does do the job, but I can't help but wonder whether using something like the brand's Purify and Soothe Cleansing Balm beforehand would lighten the load a bit and enable this cleanser to get on with what it does best, which is undoubtedly nourishing and protecting the skin.

Have you tried anything new from Elemental Herbology lately?

xx

New Video: Current Skincare Routine

Hi lovelies, I'm back with my second Youtube video after a few disasters with making it! I actually originally filmed this last week, but it was too long and therefore rejected by Youtube - proof if ever I needed any that I can talk for England! Anyway, being the inexperienced video editor that I am, instead of managing to cut out the bits I didn't want I only succeeded in butchering it, and it's taken until today for me to find some daylight and some free time at home in order to try again! In fact, it took me another three attempts today - the first time the radio started blasting halfway through, and the second my laptop ran out of battery! Clearly not my day for filming, but we got there in the end! :)

I'm aware that some of you might possibly be interested in hearing about my skincare routine but won't fancy watching the video. Well, if that's you then please don't feel left out, as I will be doing a blog post about the very same on Monday. I was going to include some info about the products now, but as you can imagine, having made three attempts at producing this video, I now need a little break from talking about them!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far, possibly doing a bit of Christmas shopping and getting into the spirit of things. Some say it's too early. I am not one of them.

Whatever you're doing lovelies, enjoy yourselves!

xx