For a while, I used the whole Vitamin E skincare range, but as I am a fickle creature and I don't believe in sticking to the same product for too long I now alternate the products with other ones depending on my mood when I run out of something.

Despite not using toner, after flirting with a 3 step Clinique range every now and again when I resolve to take more care of my skin, I decided I would give the Vitamin E Hydrating Toner a whirl. It costs £6.50 for a 200ml bottle which doesn't sound too bad but in all honesty it does nothing so it is still a totally unnecessary spend in my opinion.

It comes in a pale pink bottle with black and plum lettering on the front. I like The Body Shop products because they are known for not being tested on animals which is excellent, and this product is no exception to that.

It is an alcohol-free toning liquid with a shot of antioxidant protection and it claims to be suitable for all skin types. I do not have particularly sensitive skin so perhaps I am not best placed to comment, but it certainly caused me no irritation (other than because of its failure to actually make any difference to the condition of my skin of course!).

Vitamin E is used for its moisturising, protecting and skin-conditioning properties. The toner claims to remove all traces of make-up and cleaner and prepare the skin to better absorb other Vitamin E products. Perhaps that is why I can see no tangible improvement to my skin after using it - it does not really claim to do much by that description does it?

I can't really say that it effectively prepared my skin because how on earth would you realistically judge that? But it did remove traces of makeup that my baby wipes had obviously failed to budge, which is clearly a good thing.

You use it by flipping up the plastic top and tipping it upside down onto a piece of clean cotton wool, then wiping this across your face and neck. It is a clear liquid which is like a very very watery gel.

It feels cool when you use it, but not refreshing in the way that other toners I have tried do. However the positive aspect of this is that it does not leave skin feeling too dried out afterwards which is what the Clinique Clarifying Lotion does.

It did not make a noticeable difference to the softness or suppleness of my skin.

To summarise, I felt that this product was not worth buying as it made no difference (either positive or negative) to my skin. There is nothing particularly bad to say about it, but nor is there anything good, so why bother wasting your money on it - to me it is a total non-essential item.