REVIEW: Muji Light Toning Water for Sensitive Skin (High Moisture)

I thought it was about time I spoke about a toner I've been using for a while, which in all honesty I did not expect to work as well as it did. This is the Muji Light Toning Water for Sensitive Skin, particularly the High Moisture variant. I was running out of toner (the evil Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener) when Alex from The Red Eyeliner pointed this out to me when we were at Muji one time. I wasn't too willing to splurge on expensive toners then (since you just wipe/spray it on your face anyway) so I decided to try this out.

Packaging

The packaging is standard for anything from Muji - minimalistic. It's a clear bottle with labels in English, possibly a product description and ingredients list in Japanese (can't be too sure about this) and demarkations for the amount of product by 50s (so 50, 100, 150, and 200mL). It's plastic and pretty sturdy so I'm not too worried about dropping this and crying when it breaks.

One thing I'm not a big fan of is getting the product out. The bottle when uncapped has a small hole from which small droplets of the product come out. In a sense it's hygienic, but I would have preferred a spray to make application easier and so I could avoid using cotton pads (less waste, yes?). It also makes it difficult for me to transfer some product into smaller containers if ever I'm going to use it for travel.

Formulation

The product itself is clear with a very light, non-irritating scent that goes away a few seconds after application. It does not feel overly drying or stinging like a lot of toners I've tried, and it definitely does not make my face red which is a huge plus for me. It also doesn't leave a greasy feeling after use; it feels more refreshing than anything else. I use about 5 drops or more on half a cotton pad, and it's enough for my entire face. 

I tried looking for an ingredients list online and found that it only contained very few compared to others. It also contains no alcohol which is one of the main reasons why I purchased it. That being said, it doesn't make my skin oilier (thankfully!) but it doesn't reduce it either.

One notable ingredient is Sodium hyaluronate, commonly used for anti-aging which helps retain moisture in the skin. Mini science lesson! Sodium hyaluronate has smaller particles versus the ever famous Hyaluronic acid, which helps it move deeper into the skin and hold in more water from there. It's also a humectant, meaning it takes in moisture from the air around you, and is non-irritating. This is probably what makes it work so well!

Compatibility with other products

I purchased this around the same time as I got the Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX, and they have both worked wonders in hydrating my skin and reducing the redness which I constantly struggle with. This really helps in absorbing the other products I put on my skin, and I find that I have had to use not only less products in terms of number, but also in amount. I haven't had any negative reactions so far.

Price and Availability

I purchased this for P459 for 200mL at my local Muji, which is not bad considering most toners I want are priced higher. It really just claims to provide hydration and be good for sensitive skin, which it does pretty well so I'm not disappointed. 

Summary:

(+) Clear packaging

(+) No alcohol

(+) Good for sensitive skin

(+) Reasonably priced

(+) Hydrating

(+) Very lightly scented

(+) Minimal ingredients

(-) Not a fan of dispenser - would have preferred spray-type

(-) Not easily available if not in Muji

Recommended for: Those looking for a basic, non-irritating, inexpensive toner. 

Repurchase? Yes, but not immediately - I'd like to try out other toners on my list!

Friday, January 16, 2015

REVIEW: Muji Light Toning Water for Sensitive Skin (High Moisture)

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: Skin Care

Hey everyone!

This new series called 'New In' is going to replace my old 'First Impressions' posts. It's still the same thing, but I figured a shorter name would make it easier to tag and to remember as well. For my first post, I'm going to talk about the new skin care products I've been using!

Prior to a change in my routine, my skin was oily and dehydrated. It was rough even after exfoliating, and felt tight even with moisturizer. I also had redness everywhere which bothered me a lot. I used to use the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener because it worked fine the first time I used it, but when I bought the bigger bottle in my Seoul 2014 Haul, I realized that it was far too harsh on my skin. I also realized my moisturizers weren't as great for my skin as they were initially, and that I needed an eye cream with anti-aging benefits.

Since switching up to the products I'm about to talk about, my skin has not felt tight at all, and is as smooth as ever. I only ever need to exfoliate once a week, which is amazing in my opinion! I also get less breakouts and have less to no redness, which are the biggest changes of all. I won't go too much into detail as I do want to do full reviews soon, but I'll just go through these quickly!

I also couldn't help but notice that these are all Asian products. Yay #asianpride!

Muji Light Toning Water for Sensitive Skin (High Moisture)

Alex from The Red Eyeliner and I were interested in trying toners from Muji mainly because of the ingredients and price. It claims to have no harsh chemicals and unnecessary fragrances, contains hyaluronic acid, and is alcohol-free. It comes in a minimalist bottle with measurements at the sides so you can see how much you have left in the bottle. It's the first toner I've ever used that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight, gives me redness, or stings my skin! I think this and the next product I'm about to mention has made the biggest difference to my skin.

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX

I've been wanting this for years but never got it in favour of cheaper moisturizing essences. I finally gave in after trying a tiny sample and I'm kicking myself for not trying this sooner. This claims to hydrate and smooth the skin, and it does exactly that! This has done wonders for my dehydrated skin. I'm so impressed with this product so far and I hope it keeps giving this result.

Laneige Pore Clear Essence

I got samples of these before and in my recent purchase of the Water Bank Essence, and it was recommended to me to clear my pores as I wear make-up everyday to uni. It claims to clear out dirt and impurities, and I always feel my skin become smoother. Whenever I put this on my pimples, it helps get rid of them faster without leaving as much of a mark as it usually does. I might buy a full sized sample of this soon!

Nature Republic Snail Solution 70 Eye Cream

I talked about this before on my November Favourites, but I've been really liking this eye cream! I've had a few bad nights leaving me with puffy eyes and putting this on helps the puffiness lessen by the morning. I like that the packaging is in a tube instead of a jar so you can easily take it along if you want to. It has also reduced the milia around my eyes which is a very big plus!

There you go! Feel free to leave any comments about the products: if you've tried them before, if they've been on your list, or if you have any products that have made huge differences to your skin.  Until my next post!

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Friday, December 19, 2014

NEW IN: Skin Care

By Pauline Read More