I remember when toners were straight-up astringents, full of alcohol or witch hazel. I do not miss those days. The category has evolved into something I never expected. Many of the hydrating, micro-exfoliating, purifying, and glow-boosting formulas I come across are truly impressive.
I test each one on damp skin and dry skin, morning and night, before actives and instead of them, and in half a dozen other real-life scenarios.
This is where I review all of it: hydrating toners, acid toners, essences, milky toners, and facial mists.
Not sure you need both? Find out whether a milky essence beats a toner.
Want a toner that does real work? Here is the Darphin formula that won me back.
Do you ever randomly think of a brand you used to love and now hardly see anywhere? That’s Darphin for me. I actually had to look up whether it’s still owned by Estée Lauder. (It is.) In Spain, a handful…
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Dr. Loretta formulated a liquid step you didn’t know you needed. For a long time, I considered the liquid steps in a skincare routine optional. In most cases, toners or essences filled in gaps where other products fell short. In…
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The best glow? Yes. I reached for my Mila Moursi Refining Lotion the other night and thought: have I ever actually raved about this? Turns out, I have—over ten years ago, when the blog (and my SEO skills) were both……
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A big splurge with no regrets. Since moving to Madrid, I keep spotting Orveda everywhere: in beauty pages of fashion magazines, at El Corte Inglés, even in high-end ad campaigns. I’m bringing this post back because it deserves another look.…
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The cult-classic exfoliant gets a clever new format. Few products are as instantly recognizable as the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. The little black bottle has long been a staple for oilier skin types. I have had…
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We may not be getting younger, but our pores don’t need to know that. I have a long and complicated history with Ole Henriksen. It all started with a throwaway blurb in Us Weekly—back when I never missed an issue…
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Why I’m Not Over Liquid Skincare Steps I have an announcement to make: I am not tired of liquid skincare steps. In fact, I’m leaning in harder than ever. Maybe it’s because I’m turning 45 this year, but essences have…
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I tested three formulas and there is a favorite. The demand for hypochlorous acid face mists shows no signs of slowing down. If you’ve somehow missed the enthusiasm surrounding facial sprays that smell faintly of bleach, now’s the time to…
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