little white truths

We received this product in our last boxes from Maslow & Co (unboxed here) and I've been using it for five or six weeks now so it's time to give you my thoughts.

Note that I did actually sit down to review this product last week, but after seeing all the rave reviews online, I decided to test it for longer. While I do like the product, I don't love it as much as everyone else seems to - which is why I wanted to give myself another week to see if I changed my mind.

I didn't. I like it, but it hasn't wowed me. More on that below.

Son & Park claims/product details:

• This multitasking toner and cleansing water has quickly become a cult favourite, with the beauty awards to prove it
• Creates a clean base for any skincare and makeup that follows
• Papaya extract works to reveal brighter skintone and smoother texture 
• Lavender water, rose water and orange fruit extract impart a subtle hydration
• Can be used as a toner and gentle exfoliant in the morning
• Can also be used as a cleansing water to thoroughly remove makeup, dirt and oil
• Beauty Water has a pH of 4.5, effectively resetting the skin's natural pH after cleansing
• For all skin types, especially those with dullness and uneven texture, dryness and uneven skintone
• Formulated without sulfates or phthalates
• To use: soak a cotton pad and smoothly wipe the face from the centre to the outside, then let it absorb; use in the morning to create the perfect canvas for makeup application, and at night after cleansing to whisk away remaining impurities
• RRP $38.50 for 340ml

Verdict

This product is nice, it's just that it's not a standout for me so it's not one I would buy. While I've enjoyed using it, it hasn't done anything particularly special for my skin so it hasn't grabbed me in the same way that it's grabbed so many others (eg, see the reviews on Sephora's US website).

It's a clear product that looks and feels like water, and it has a fresh, clean scent that I enjoy. I can smell the orange extract. You apply it to a cotton pad as you would a toner, then run it over your face to remove any leftover gunk.

You can use it in the morning before makeup or at night after cleansing. I've tried both and I agree that it works to remove any leftover muck or impurities from my face: the makeup round always comes away dirty after use. Indeed, it does an excellent job of gunk-removal and it probably does the job better than many other toners I've tried, if the amount of dirt on the pad is anything to go by.

This claims to gently exfoliate the skin and I honestly haven't noticed any resurfacing action with this product. Mind you, this could be because I use chemical exfoliants in the evening, so I wouldn't be surprised if the hard work was already done and there's nothing left for this product to do. I will say that it's gentle, though, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.

I do however agree that it gently hydrates the skin. Toners are notorious for stripping the skin and you do need to shop around to find one that works without stinging on application; this one never stings and my face always looks a bit more hydrated and brighter after use, so those claims are true.

As for the other claims: I don't think this makes my skin feel any smoother; I don't think it's done anything for uneven texture, dryness or uneven skintone, but it does target dullness; and I do agree that it can be used as a cleansing water to remove makeup, dirt and oil - as mentioned above, it does a great job of removing gunk without stripping or irritating my dry, sensitive skin.

Overall, I think this is a nice product and I'm enjoying using it, but it hasn't blown my socks off so it's not a repurchase for me. Still, it's not the most expensive product on the market and the full size contains a whopping 340ml, and given the rave reviews, it's absolutely worth testing if you're interested.

Decent.