Why Use Toner?
Do you use a toner after cleansing your face and neck? You should, if you don’t already.
Back in the day, toners used to be targeted primarily to teens. They were loaded with alcohol to dry oily skin and shrink pores, but times have certainly changed! Today’s toners offer a range of benefits. I believe the most important benefit is that the toners of today can actually prepare your skin to absorb the serums and moisturizers that you apply after cleansing.
New City Beauty Complexion Balancing Tonic
I received new City Beauty Complexion Balancing Tonic to try out about a month ago. When I first opening the package and saw the word “Balancing”, I thought it was an oily skin toner and I thought, hmmm not for me. Well, I was completely wrong.
City Beauty Complexion Balancing Tonic is formulated for age 40+ skin, and the word “Balancing” refers to balancing the pH of your skin after cleansing. When you cleanse, your skin’s pH increases becoming more alkaline. But skin is happiest when its pH is slightly acidic, between pH 4.5-5.5. This “Tonic” or toner rebalances your skin right away to its optimal level.
Then serums and moisturizers that you apply afterwards get absorbed more readily and go deeper into the layers of your skin so they become more effective. In addition, nourishing Complexion Balancing Tonic strengthens your skin’s barrier to hold in moisture to keep your skin hydrated even in the dry, cold winter months. In fact, it contains both Ceramides that strengthen the skin’s barrier and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) that stimulates the body’s production of Ceramides. And while it’s at it, the toner contains ingredients like Oat Kernel Extract that calm skin removing redness and inflammation that can occur after cleansing. And it provides instant hydration via a whole constellation of hydrating ingredients that feel so wonderful on my dry skin.
City Beauty recommends using Complexion Balancing Tonic twice a day: after cleansing in the morning and at night. I apply it with my hands and press it into my skin. City Beauty calls it “a primer for your skincare”. Cute. I enjoy using it especially knowing that it’s actually doing beneficial things for my skin. BTW, the ingredient list says that the product contains fragrance, but even sticking my nose in the liquid itself I can’t smell anything.
Retail Info
Complexion Balancing Tonic just launched yesterday in packaging featuring City Beauty’s new color: a lavender-blue. It comes in a pump bottle to maintain the efficacy of the product. I really like the look of the tall, square container, but I do wish there were a clear strip that would let me know how much of the toner is left in the bottle. But that’s a small complaint.
City Beauty Complexion Balancing Tonic containing 3.4 fl. oz./100 ml is sold on the City Beauty website for $55. Their launch promotion, good through 2/2/26, is buy 2 bottles of Balancing Tonic and get a free City Lips Nude. If you are interested in this fab new Balancing Tonic, use NEVERSAYDIEBEAUTY as the code at checkout and save 15%. 😀
Full Ingredient List: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Bacillus Ferment Filtrate Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Water, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Japonica Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Honey Extract, Pyrus Communis (Pear) Fruit Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Fragrance, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Nut Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Squalane, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ceramide EOP
Free From: Alcohol, Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, Artificial Dyes. Cruelty-free. 60 day money-back guarantee.
Do you notice a fragrance with this?
“…the ingredient list says that the product contains fragrance, but even sticking my nose in the liquid itself I can’t smell anything.”
I love niacinemide, it works for my skin! Thanks.