little white truths

I must have been using this toner for over three weeks now, but I'm more than halfway through it already so it's obviously not lasting me well.

I bought it not too long ago because I was out of toner and needed a quick replacement, and I was expecting this one to be good since it's had some fantastic reviews online (see eg Active Skin).

Unfortunately I don't love it and it's not doing much for me, so I can't recommend it and it's not one I would buy again. More on that below.

Pelactiv claims/product details:

• Full of conditioning antioxidants, the antibacterial action of milk extracts, and the toning and firming action of native wild passionfruit 
• Leaves your skin feeling refreshed and hydrated
• Witch hazel extract: tones and refines pores
• Cucumber extract: calming and soothing
• Green tea extract: an antioxidant that works to protect skin from free radical damage
• Lactic acid: exfoliating, softening and hydrating
• Aloe vera extract: healing and regenerative
• To use: spray 20cm away from face, neck and decolletage; gently press into skin or apply to cotton ball/pad and wipe across the skin in an upward and outward direction
• RRP $36 AUD for 150ml, but do shop around (I paid around $20 for mine)

The product comes in a standard spray bottle and it's blue in colour so it looks rather calming and refreshing. 

Do note that the spray itself isn't very fine so I personally don't feel comfortable spritzing it over makeup because I'm worried that it will leave little droplet marks on my face - although I haven't actually tested that theory because I'm not game to disturb my makeup (we've had too many events on over the past month) so I can't say for sure that it does this.

Verdict

This product is ok but it's not great and I personally wouldn't recommend it.

It's a standard toner that comes in a spray bottle and it has a very light, fresh scent. As mentioned above, the spray itself isn't fine enough for me personally so I can't double-purpose it as a hydrating mist over makeup, meaning I've been confined to using it as a toner after cleansing.

I've been using it twice daily for most of July and I'm over halfway through the bottle now, so I'm glad that I only paid $20 for it because it's too expensive for a toner in my books, given that it only contains 150ml and also given that I'm over halfway through it so it's not going to last me more than six weeks. 

Indeed, that's reason enough for me not to repurchase it. Most toners I buy contain at least 200ml (often 250ml) of product and they last me a good few months, so I'm not going to buy something that I get through in a fraction of the time.

I've tried this both on a cotton pad and also as a facial spritz after cleansing. I personally prefer it on a cotton pad because that's how I wipe away the last layer of grime from my face, although admittedly it feels more refreshing and cooling when applied directly as a spray so that's something to keep in mind.

What I notice when I use it on a cotton pad is that it doesn't feel like it's doing much. Indeed, it feels like plain old water on the skin and I need to apply a lot of it in order to get that last layer of grime from my face, which is of course why I'm getting through it so quickly.

It doesn't cut through grime well and although some dirt does come off on the pad, it's not as effective as other toners I've used (including much cheaper ones). My skin also doesn't feel toned or refined after use, and while I agree that the product isn't drying, I don't think it's that hydrating. For me, it just feels like plain old water.

Overall I don't think this is a terrible product but it doesn't do much for me so I can't recommend it and I wouldn't repurchase it. Two toners I would recommend instead are the Nivea Daily Essentials Refreshing Toner (reviewed here) and the Blessed by Nature Hydrating Mist Toner (reviewed here), both of which are significantly cheaper than this one and are also a lot more effective.

Not for me.