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Acne prone skin is often oily, and the debate if oily skin needs hydration has been going on for as long as I have been on the internet – which is basically since it was made. I have a clear stand on that topic, every skin needs hydration for optimal function – they just might need it in different forms. Which is why in my opinion products like the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner are great to have in your arsenal.
Obviously it won’t be for everyone, acne prone skin can happen in 45 year olds like me living in a temperate climate as well as in teenagers from a hot and humid country, and their hydration needs will be different to mine, so to help you figure out if this is for you, let’s talk texture, ingredients and what it offers for the different skin types.
What the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner claims
A Tea tree water toner with Cypress balances oil & sebum, and removes dead skin cells.
Facts about the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner
Prize and size
One green tinted and see through bottle contains 210 ml and is available for 17 $ on the website here. It is vegan.
Texture and smell
While the green tinted bottle makes the liquid appear greenish, it is actually clear when poured out and very runny. The Tea Tree Water it contains gives it a dominant earthy scent that disappears after a while, but is quite strong initially.
How to use the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner
Toners go on after cleansing and before thicker products like a serum, and this specific one could be used morning or night or, depending on your preferences, probably even twice a day. (More info: What is a toner and do you need one?)
When it comes to exfoliating toners I usually advise against using them too often – daily if they have a low concentration or a few times a week for stronger ones is what I recommend – but as I mentioned before I don’t think this really is exfoliating despite the claims. Quite on the contrary, I find it to be very hydrating and absolutely not irritating even when used twice a day for a prolonged period of time.
Ingredients of the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner
so|aox|h, Propanediol solv|h, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20 h, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Hydroxyacetophenone aox, Carbomer vc 0 1, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate surf|emu, Tromethamine buff, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Citric Acid buff, Disodium EDTA chel, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil(200 Ppm) so|aacne|aox|amic|perf, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Salicylic Acid 
exf|aacne|so|pres, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract surfHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Looking at the ingredient list it does contain one exfoliating acid, Salicylic Acid, but in a concentration so low I doubt it will have a noticeable effect on your skin: It is listed after Tea Trea Oil, which is present at 0,02%. For reference: Salicylic Acid can be used in up to 2% without prescription and 1-2% is what gives you the pore unclogging effect. Seeing it listed after Tea Tree Oil at 0,02% means it has surely less than 1% concentration and, judging from how the formula felt on my skin, probably far less than that. (More info: The benefits of exfoliating acids in your skincare explained)
I already mentioned the Tea Tree Oil, which has soothing and antiseptic properties but is also at quite a low concentration, and then there is Tea Tree Water, meaning the water created in the distillation process, present at 12%, but given its nature with a very low concentration of active components. Along the same lines there is Centella Asiatica Extract, the brands signature ingredient, at 9,8%, aiming to soothe and balance the skin. (More info: The benefits of Centella Asiatica Extract in skincare explained)
Interesting seems to be the Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water listed as second ingredient, a plant extract I hadn’t heard of until testing this product. According to the manufacturer it has strong hydrating benefits, leaving the skin feeling supple, and while this is purely anecdotal, this is exactly how my skin felt when using this toner despite the lack of better known humectants.
There are a few more plant extracts, but none that I find particularly interesting.
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products.
Does it live up to its claims?
Well.
I already mentioned why I wouldn’t classify it as exfoliating, whcih for me is what „removes dead skin cells“ means. But other than that I find it to be very hydrating and the added Centella as well as the Tea Tree Oil have the benefit of influencing sebum production, so these two are a yes.
How does it compare to…
pixi Clarity Tonic
Unlike the SKIN1004 Tea-Trica version I would classify the pixi Clarity Tonic as exfoliating. It combines Glycolic, Lactic and Salicylic Acid, but each at a low concentration, meaning that it is gentle enough to be used frequently. The SKIN1004 one is much more hydrating though, so depending on what your skin needs, pixi Clarity will help more with actual congestion while SKIN1004 is more of a balancing and hydrating supporting act.
You can read my full review of the pixi Clarity Tonic here.
SKIN1004 Poremizing Clear Toner
This version from SKIN1004 contains Salicylic and Glycolic Acid on top of a Polyhydroxy Acid, but again isn’t one that I found to be exfoliating. On the contrary, while it was drying on my (mature) skin, I didn’t notice much change in congestion.
Comparing the two, the Poremizing Clear Toner is much better suited for young and oily skin while the Tea-Trica version might work better for those that are more mature and need extra hydration.
You can read my full review of the SKIN1004 Poremizing Clear Toner here.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner to?
Despite containing Salicylic Acid at what I suspect is a very low concentration, I wouldn’t classify the SKIN1004 Tea Trica Purifying Toner as exfoliating toner. Quite on the contrary, I found it to be surprisingly hydrating, much more than I had expected. If you don’t mind the strong tea tree oil smell and get along with the different plant extracts, this is a lovely option for all skin types, especially for those that are acne prone, but need some extra hydration. It wouldn’t be my choice to actually combat acne, but more a supporting act that helps counteract the dryness and irritation that often comes with the prescription treatments needed.
Shop SKIN1004 here:
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