I love trying and testing new products, particularly toiletries and whilst I found my perfect cleanser many months ago, I was delighted to receive The Body Shop's Seaweed Skincare Kit as a gift a couple of months ago. The gorgeous sea blue coloured net gift bag contained four items from the range and to achieve the best results my normal cleansing and moisturising products were pushed to the side whilst I tried and tested the four items; all of which were used on a daily basis. I have now had considerable experience with using all of the products and this review will discuss the Clarifying Toner, which is suitable for those who suffer with combination or oily skin.

WHAT EFFECT DOES SEAWEED HAVE ON THE SKIN?

I was extremely interested in learning the answer to this question, particularly as there seem to be more and more beauty products containing seaweed appearing in the shops, so I carried out a little research. There is a wealth of knowledge online and I was amazed to discover that seaweed has so many benefits and whilst I do not intend discussing all of them I learned that the plant is rich in minerals, vitamins and amino acids. Consequently, seaweed benefits the skin by purifying and toning, delivering anti-aging effects as well as hydrating and nourishing. I also discovered that seaweed can be used to give shine to the hair and be used to treat ailments, such as poor digestion.

APPEARANCE OF THE PRODUCT

As my toner was contained within a kit I received a 60 ml transparent plastic bottle as opposed to the full sized version containing 200 ml. The sea blue and white coloured striped label creates a tranquil and relaxing appearance and I couldn't wait to try it out for the first time. For those readers who are unaware of the purpose of a toner I would advise that it should be used after a cleansing product to minimise enlarged pores, remove any dirt and impurities as well as removing any excess oils.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH USING THE TONER

The bottle easily flip open to reveal a tiny opening to enable the clear alcohol free liquid to be dispensed onto a small piece of cotton wool. After fully cleansing my skin I sweep the dampened cotton wool pad onto my T-zone skin and the first thing evident to me is the absolutely stunning and very refreshing fragrance. Whilst I am normally able to identify a specific aroma, I struggled with this, so a quick look at the ingredients informed me that the toner contains the extracts of seaweed, algae and cucumber together with menthol. However, although the fragrance of both menthol and cucumber are generally easy to detect, particularly the strong aroma of menthol, I could not recognise either and the only way I can describe the fragrance is clean and fresh and suitable for both men and women.

The toner is wonderfully cooling when it makes contact with my skin and absorbs almost immediately and I have to say that after my initial use I was a little shocked at the appearance of the cotton wool pads after I had gently swept them over my entire face including my neck. Whilst I had used the matching wash prior to applying the toner the white cotton wool pad showed signs of a small amount of dirt, so it is clearly a highly effective product. In addition to refining the pores, removing impurities and excess oils, toners are intended to remove any traces of cleanser or make up. I experience a slight warming sensation for around 30 seconds after application, which can only be described as comforting. I am fairly lucky with my skin, as whilst it can be described as T-zone I rarely suffer with spots or blemishes and I put this down to the fact that I take good care of my skin.

I have tried many different brands of toning products over the years and this by far, has to be the best that I have ever used as there is no sticky residue following application and my skin feels so beautifully clean and soft. Whether it is my imagination, I really don't know, but one enlarged pore situated directly below my nose seems to have minimised. In addition to the way the toner makes my skin feel I adore the fact that my T-zone skin remains shine free for several hours following use. I suffer no dryness or tightness after using, but would advise that I always moisturise after cleansing and toning and this practise has been part of my beauty regime ever since my early teens. I purchased a second skincare kit as a present, but have decided to keep it as once I have finished using both 60 ml bottles I will definitely be purchasing the full sized version, as this product is now a permanent addition to assist me in caring for my skin.

INGREDIENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION

There is a considerable lengthy list of ingredients contained on the reverse of the bottle and whilst I do not wear corrective lenses I struggled to read them. However, due to the long list I do not intend copying them into this review, but as previously stated, I would advise that the toner does not contain alcohol. The toner should be used within 12 months of opening and the bottle can be recycled once empty.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

You can either choose to buy the 200 ml bottle for £7.00 or obtain the Seaweed Skincare Kit for £12 where you will receive a 60 ml bottle of facial wash, a 60 ml bottle of the Seaweed Clarifying Toner, a 15 ml Mattifying Day Cream and a 15 ml Clarifying Night Treatment. I personally would choose the kit as a first time purchase, as you're receiving small bottles of the entire range and should you decide to purchase online you can take advantage of when The Body Shop have offers, such as £10 off when you spend more than £20.

I cannot recommend this toner highly enough and as a result, it receives 5 stars.

I hope you found my review useful and would thank you for reading.