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As someone that grew up in the 80s/ early 90s, things like the innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed will never stop to amaze me. In my formative years toners were harsh, alcohol based fluids designed to strip your skin, and the hydrating beauties that come from Korean skincare are, compared to that, a dream.

 

 

Now I already discovered them a while ago, so my amazement has cooled off a little and not each and every one of them is a revelation anymore, but I will probably continue to have a soft spot for them forever.

With that as kind of disclaimer, how did the innisfree Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed end up working for me? Is it worth more excitement than others?

Let‘s talk!

If you want to learn about more innisfree Green Tea products, here is a video overview I filmed a while ago:

 

 

 

What the innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed claims

Refreshing toner delivers intense hydration with blend of Jeju green tea extract and green tea seed oil to help soften skin and strengthen its natural moisture barrier.

 

Facts about the innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed

Prize and size

One bottle of toner contains 200 ml and is available for 21 € on the website here. The one I show in the picture above is the travel size, the original one has a different packaging, but the same deep green color.

 

Texture and smell

The toner itself is very lightweight and hydrating, despite the added oil it almost feels like water, but with a rather noticeable fruity tea scent.

 

 

How to use the innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed

Now just to make that clear, no a toner is not a necessity in your skincare routine. (More info: What is the difference between Toner, Tonic and Essence?) Use it if you want to, but skip it if you want as little steps as possible.

You can use this one morning, night or both and even several times repeatedly or throughout the day if you are doing the Seven Skin Method, there is nothing in this product that would interfere with the rest of your routine. (More info: What is the Seven Skin Method and what does it do for the skin?) It just provides a layer of hydration and can be patted in with the hands, which I prefer, or used on a cotton pad.

 

Ingredients of the innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Aside from the Green Tea Extract and the Green Tea Seed Oil (which comes last in the ingredient list, so is probably only present in a very small amount), there is also Glycerin as humectant and Panthenol for soothing and repairing the skin. (More info: The benefits of Green Tea Extract in skincare explained and The benefits of Panthenol in skincare explained)

To achieve the fruity tea scent, fragrance is added. (More info: Is fragrance in skincare bad for you?)

 

Does it live up to its claims?

Yes, especially as the claims aren‘t that out there. It  is refreshing, hydrating and can, as any other hydrating toner, help keep the skin barrier intact.

 

How does it compare to…

 

 

dear klairs Supple Preparation Toner

This is one of the first I have tried, first the original version with added essential oils, and then the unscented one which is similar in formulation, but is missing the lavender and citrus essential oils that might trouble some people.

Similar to the version of innisfree it is mainly hydrating, but with Centella Asiatica Extract instead of the Green Tea Seed Oil. (More info: The benefits of Centella Asiatica Extract in skincare explained). As toners as a rule of thumb do have a low concentration of all their ingredients, this probably doesn‘t make much of a difference though.

You can read my full review of the dear klairs Supple Preparation Toner here.

 

 

Vegreen Nature Mucin Toner

The most noteworthy thing about the Vegreen Nature Mucin Toner is that it is a vegan alternative for those that want the benefits of Snail Mucin, but also want to avoid animal products in their skincare. At least that is what the brand claims, I am not sure there are any side by side studies done for both ingredients.

The Vegreen Nature Mucin Toner is thicker in texture than the innisfree version, it has more body to it and, at least from what I remember, is slightly more hydrating, so I would actually prefer that one out of the two.

You can read my full review of the Vegreen Nature Mucin Toner here.  

 

 

Purito Centella Unscented Toner

When people hear Purito Centella, they usually think about the sunscreen scandal that happened a few years ago, but the line actually did have other products in it that I liked a lot as well, first and foremost this toner. Not only is it hydrating, but I also perceive it as quite soothing, probably due to the added Centella Asiatica and Allantoin.

Out of the two, I would prefer Purito over the innisfree version.

You can read my full review of the Purito Centella Unscented Toner here. 

 

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend it to?

Although this is a perfectly fine toner that would have blown teenage me away, it isn‘t that special anymore now that I have more experience with Korean skincare and I would probably opt to repurchase one of the others mentioned above.  It should work for all skin types with the exception of those sensitive to essential oils.

 

 

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