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I am actually quite happy with the fact that I didn’t like the Balea Beauty Glow Toner enough to make it a permanent fixture in my regular routine. Because summer is almost here and with the opportunity to show more skin than usual. And while my face has a pretty good routine year round, I sometimes struggle to show my limbs the same love when it is cold. When it is freezing outdoors, the thought of spending a second longer than absolutely needed with bare legs is impossible to bear, so out of the shower and into my sweats I go.
But as I am 45 and learned late what unprotected sun exposure could do to my skin (even later for my body than for my face), even without the constant bruising I have from doing KravMaga my legs aren’t exactly smooth and glowing, but rather freckled and dull. Mind you, I don’t let that stop me – if it is warm outside, I am going to wear that skirt, no matter the amount of spider veins or birthmarks. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel inclined to take measures to make the skin on my body a little better day by day. And if it isn’t with products specifically developed for that area, it is quite often with those that I liked, just not enough to slap on my face. Because, blogger problem, I simply have too much stuff and it keeps multiplying…
So what did I think of the Balea Beauty Expert Glow Toner?
What the Balea Beauty Expert Hydration and Glow Toners claim
The Duo-Vitamin-C-Complex – from Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside – has antioxidant benefits, brightens the skin and stimulates collagen synthesis. Panthenol is soothing and Glycerin supports the skins moisture levels. The 10% Skin-Moist-Complex with 1% Panthenol, 3% Betaine, 2,9% Glycerin and 3.1% humectants provides intense hydration. This toner leaves the skin looking bright and even and provides 24 hours of hydration.
Facts about the Balea Beauty Expert Glow Toner
Prize and size
One plastic bottle contains 100 ml and is available for 3,95 € on the website here. It is vegan.
Texture and smell
It looks like water, smells like nothing and is runny like water. Applied to the skin the Glow Toner has some tackiness, the only way to make sure you haven’t accidentally grabbed a bottle of water.
How to use the Balea Beauty Expert Glow Toner
Now obviously toners are not a necessary step, but one that I use regularly to give my skin either some extra hydration or a supporting layer of actives. Depending on how I feel I use them morning or night or both. (More info: What is a toner and is it necessary?)
I know I said in the introduction that I have taken to using it on my legs, but I used it on my face during the testing period and apart from the mild tackiness liked the feeling. It never pilled and worked well with everything else I paired it with. As it doesn’t use L-Ascorbic Acid, but Vitamin C derivatives, there is no problem pairing it with the rest of your skincare routine. (More info: How to combine Vitamin C the right way)
Ingredients of the Balea Beauty Expert Glow Toner
h, Glycerin 
sii|h 0 0, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid aox|sb, Sorbitol h 0 0, Panthenol so|h 0 0, Ascorbyl Glucoside aox|sb, Biosaccharide Gum-1 so|h, Sodium Lactate buff|h, Sodium PCA sii|h 0 0, Fructose h, Glycine sii, Inositol h, Lactic Acid exf|h|buff, Niacinamide cci|sb|aacne|h, Urea sii|h, Sodium Benzoate pres, Citric Acid buff, Disodium Phosphate buff, Pantolactone h, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Phenoxyethanol presHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
The main player here is of course the 2% Vitamin C Complex made from two derivatives, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside. You know I am a fan of Ascorbic Acid more than I am of its derivatives, but I understand that they are a good option for people with more reactive skins. (More info: The benefits of Vitamin C in your skincare explained)
You will also find Panthenol for soothing and Glycerin, Urea and different sugars for hydration. (More info: The benefits of Panthenol in your skincare explained) The Lactic Acid and Niacinamide in the formula will also help with evening out the skin, but are present in below 1% concentration, so I don’t think they will have much impact. (More info: The benefits of Acids in skincare explained and The benefits of Niacinamide in skincare explained)
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products
Does it live up to its claims?
Most of them.
I don’t know exactly how much of an effect the mixture of Vitamin C derivatives will have on collagen production, but it certainly has antioxidant benefits and is hydrating.
How does it compare to…
pixi Vitamin C Tonic
pixi uses L-Ascorbic Acid paired with Ferulic Acid for stabilization, although I can’t really say how much of an effect that will have in the long run as it is in a clear see-through bottle, something you are usually advised to avoid with your Ascorbic Acid products. It also has Caffeine for depuffing and is heavily scented – I love it, as it smells of lemonade, but not everyone might be just as excited as I am about that. pixi is watery in texture and equally well to layer, but is, no surprise, more expensive than Balea.
You can read my full review of the pixi Vitamin C Tonic here.
Balea Beauty Expert Hydration Toner
Both were released at the same time and out of the two the Hydration Toner is by far my favorite, having earned a permanent place in my morning routine. It has less tackiness and feels soothing and hydrating, something I look for more in my routine than I do for Vitamin C derivatives, as I use a true Vitamin C serum for that.
You can read my full review of the Balea Beauty Expert Hydration Toner here
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend it to?
As you have probably guessed, I think this is a nice toner, especially for that price, but not something that I would go out of my way to purchase – if your skin can’t handle Ascorbic Acid and you want to layer on something to boost glow and hydration, it might be a good option for you though.
Shop Balea Beauty Expert skincare here
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