I don’t use toners. So why am I reviewing Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris? It was in a travel kit I got a while ago and I didn’t want it to go to waste.
Did it make me change my mind about toners? Not really. Here’s why:
What’s In Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris?
ALOE VERA
Did you know that Aloe Vera is 99.5% water? Only the remaining 0.5% contains goodies like a “combination of mucopolysaccharides, choline and choline salicylate“. So what do these goodies do?
- Soothe skin: Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties that calm down redness, irritations, sunburns, rashes…
- Hydrate skin: Aloe Vera increases the water content of the stratum corneum […] possibly through a humectant mechanism” (ie by drawing water from the environment into the skin).
Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris contains A TON of Aloe Vera. More than enough to make it work its soothing magic… or not?
Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients For Sensitive, Irritated Skin
GLYCERIN
Think of glycerin like a magnet for water.
It works like this: glycerin attracts moisture from the air and binds it into your skin. Once there, the extra moisture makes your skin softer, plumper and brighter.
It’s such an underrated ingredient, but a must for hydrated skin.
Related: Why Is Glycerin In All My Skincare Products?
Texture
Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris has a lightweight, green texture that looks kinda cool. I mean, when was the last time you saw a green toner?!
Fragrance
The scent’s less cool. It’s overpowering, unpleasant and I can’t wait for it to fade away. Thankfully, it does so quickly.
How To Use It
Morning and night, just after cleansing. Use a cotton pad to pat it on your skin.
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you oily skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Oily Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
Performance & Personal Opinion
My skin’s combination (dry cheeks, oily t-zone). I find Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris keeps the shine at bay for a few hours, so I don’t have to blot my face too often during the day.
If your cleanser does a crappy job at removing every last trace of dirt from your face, this toner can finish the job. That’s all well and good, but why not switch to a better cleanser instead?
The catch? Despite the addition of Aloe Vera, I didn’t find this toner particularly soothing. It also does nothing that any other toner on the market won’t do for much less money.
Overall, Clarins Toning Lotion is an average toner with a very expensive price tag. It works and does what it is supposed to do but so do lots of other toners that cost much less.
Who Is This For?
Oily-skinned women who can’t do without a toner.
Who Is This Not For?
Everyone else.
Packaging
Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris is housed in a sleek green bottle. You get 200ml of product, so it’ll last you a long time.
Does Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris Lives Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| A alcohol-free facial toner which works to stimulate and refresh the skin. | It is alcohol-free, but I have no idea what stimulate skin means? What is it supposed to do exactly? |
| Offering the ultimate in gentle cleansing for oily skin, the facial toner helps to normalise surface oils and preserve the skin’s natural balance. | It does help keep shine at bay for a few hours. |
| Enriched with purifying Iris and Sage extracts, it tones and tightens pores while gently removing every last trace of cleanser. | Note that Clarins isn’t saying that Iris and Sage extracts are tightening pores. It just implies it. The only true claim here is that the toner can remove the last traces of cleanser. But then, why not use a better cleanser? |
| Oily skin is left clean, cleansed and perfectly radiant. | It does leave skin clean. |
Price & Availability
$26.00/£18.45 at Escentual and Ulta
Do You Need It?
No one needs a toner. But if you want to use one anyway, this one is pretty harmless.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (£16.00)
- Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner ($21.00)
Have you tried Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Sodium Chlorid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Glucose, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc Sulfate, Sorbic Acid, CI 19140/Yellow 5, CI 42090/Blue 1, Silica [V0466M]
It is a shame the toner does not do much for you. I guess that’s why I love Japanese toners. They feel like serums and they actually have some moisturizing power. But like this toner, the Japanese ones are also very expensive.
Dao, I’ve never tried a Japanese toner because of the price. But if I had to buy an expensive toner I’d chose a Japanese one over this. At least that moisturizes, which is something most toners don’t really do. This one is just average and performs just like any drugstore toner.
I think the thing that would bother me the most is the strong scent. I just don’t want me face to have a strong scent. I leave that to other products.
Trisha, that bothered me too but I got used to it after a while. But toners shouldn’t have such overpowering scents, I agree.
yeah the price is on the steep side, i usually only use cheap toner 🙂 l
Xin, I prefer cheap toners too. The expensive ones are just as good as those so no point in spending more. 🙂
Hi Gio,
I’m running out of my favourite toner (clinique) and was thinking of trying this out.. Don’t mind some scent but I’m a little averse to witch hazel so thank goodness I read this first!
Mary
Mary, I’m glad this review helped you. I usually avoid witch hazel in my skincare products too but this one came in a set so I tried it anyway.
Hi
Thanks for the post. I was wondering if it is necessary to use the same brand of cleanser, toner, moisturiser etc? I dont and i havent had a problem, however the lady at the clarins counter (I just started using the EArly wrinkle corection serum and cream) says i mus not use so many different brands. Im confused?
Roxann, there’s nothing wrong in using skincare products from different skincare brands. SAs are instructed to say that to their clients only to sell more but there’s no truth in it whatsoever.