Murad Essential-C Toner Review

Hey guys! Recently I have been delving into the world of skin care... and trust me - theres a lot to learn. I've always enjoyed trying products and testing them out on myself like I'm some sort of lab rat... but what are these ingredients and what do they do? Are they good for our skin? I am hoping to do reviews that go beyond whether I just simply like something or not. I am by no means an expert in this field, just learning along the way.

I'm almost finished this Murad Essential-C Toner (there is literally two inches left in the bottle). Here are the product details before we get down into it:

Murad - Essential-C Toner

Price: C$28.00

Size: 6 oz

Claims: Moisture replenishing, restores pH, rejuvenates environmentally stressed skin. Delivers antioxidants to fight free radicals. Tones, brightens, and firms. Not tested on animals.

My Quick Thoughts:

- Light citrus scent (smells great to me, others might prefer fragrance free)

- Light and Refreshing

- Great claims

- No noticeable change in my skin, (although my fiance said my skin looked brighter)

- The spray bottle does not deliver a fine or even mist (beware its a bit harsh)

- Non-sticky

- Higher price tag

Some Key Ingredients (listed in order) - What do they REALLY mean?!?!?

Butylene Glycol - Used as a "slip agent" in many products.

Witch Hazel Water - Produced from the leaves and bark of the Witch Hazel shrub. It's high in tannins, however, they are not present in the distilled form used here. Large amounts of alcohol are used in the distilling process (which causes free-radical damage and collagen breakdown). Also, witch hazel is a good source of flavonoids (antioxidants). It is considered an astringent (able to shrink pores, however if you have clogged pores this will have a minimal temporary effect). Contains an irritating chemical fragrance eugenol. May cause redness, swelling, and dryness. 'The Beauty Bible' written by Paula Begoun has listed this ingredient as one of the most common irritating ingredients to avoid - especially if it is listed at the begining of the ingredient list).

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil - An emolient.

Sorbitol - A humectant, slip agent.

Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine - Amino acids. Water binding agents. Some anti-oxidant properties. Unable to repair wrinkles.

Tocopheryl Acetate - A source of Vitamin E. A great ingredient for its anti-oxidant properties.

Retinyl Palmitate - Form of Vitamin A. It is an effective antioxidant and skin cell regulator.

Ascorbyl Palmitate - Non acidic form of Vitamin C (good!). Reduces free radical damage from UVB rays.

Ascorbic Acid - Form of Vitamin C (antioxidant).

Chitosan - Found in exoskeletons of shrimp, crabs, etc. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing.

Citric Acid - Used to adjust the pH of products to keep them from being too alkaline.

Phenoxyethanol - A safe and common cosmetic preservative (considered the least irritating).

Limonene - Chemical found in natural citrus oils. Can cause contact dermatitis.

Linalool - Found in lavender and coriander it is a fragrant skin irritant/allergen. Also research is indicating this to be toxic to skin cells.

Orange Peel Oil, Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Basil Oil, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Galbanum Resin Oil - These oils are still problematic for skin, however they are in rather small quantities and listed as the last few ingredients.

Fragrance - causes collagen break down (bad!).

*Note: I did not list all ingredients, and nor am I an expert. Please leave a comment below if you have anything to add - I love learning from others too:)

Overall, this product makes some large claims - almost making it sound like a miracle. The reviews on Sephora's website are, for the most part, positively astounding. Personally, I haven't seen any changes and I have no way to prove whether this is the right choice for my skin over time. There are some really great ingredients along with some not so great ingredients - the choice is yours.

The Verdict? I am truthfully on the fence, and most likely going to search for others to try (especially since I didn't notice any positive changes in my skin - I simply found it refreshing).

Hope you learned something new! Much love, xoxo!

#Murad #skincare #Review