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I had to think about what Jasmine Talks Beauty recently said when writing my review of The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner: „I like the direction of their new products, but I miss their old prices.“ And true, barely any of their products used to be more than 10 €, making them a great, albeit often confusing brand for people on a budget.

 

 

But while 16,80 € for a toner might sound a lot compared to the olden times, in todays review I want us to take a look at what the product can actually do for our skin and how it compares pricewise to similar offers out there.

 

 

What The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner claims

A gentle exfoliating toner that promotes smoother, brighter skin while boosting hydration. Suitable for sensitive skin.

 

Facts about The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

Prize and size

One bottle contains 100 ml and is available for 16,80 € on the website here. The pH is according to their website between 6 and 7 and the product is vegan.

 

Texture and smell

Given the milky look it has in the bottle, I was actually surprised how runny the product actually is. When you pour it out, you have to be careful not to have it run through your fingers. It really looks like watered down milk and has a noticeable fermentation scent to it, almost as if you would start yeast when preparing to bake. I personally like that, but read online that some people found it off putting.

 

 

How to use The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

The product can be used morning, night or twice a day and is supposed to be applied directly after cleansing. I found it applied best with my fingers and would suspect a cotton pad to absorb too much product, but both is possible. (More info: What is a toner and do you need one in your routine)

Even when using it twice a day for over six weeks in addition to my regular Tretinoin and exfoliation routine I did not experience any irritation, so would agree it is suitable for more sensitive skins as well – at least in general, what you are sensitive to is of course very individual. It played well with everything I paired it with and didn‘t irritate my eyes if I accidentally brought it up close to them, something you are advised not to do.

 

Ingredients of The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.

The ingredient list is quite short and actually refers to the Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate that features in the name only as yeast extract. According to the brand website this extract contains 3% N-Acetyl-Glucosamin that is part of the yeasts cell membrane and can be freed by the fermentation process. This sugar is for one part of Hyaluronic Acid, so might positively influence skin hydration, and has also shown in some smaller studies to have a positive effect on normalizing the skin desquamation process. (More info: The benefits of fermented ingredients in skincare explained)

Other than that you will find Squalane, a skin identical lipid that works as emollient and a few preservatives and stabilisators.

More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products

 

Does it live up to its claims?

I can’t entirely say.

Yes, it is gentle and hydrates my skin well, but I can’t say if it has a relevant brightening effect due to that gentleness.

 

How does it compare to…

 

 

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Essence Toner

Another toner made with fermented products, but here Lactobacillus and Centella Ferment rather than Saccharomyces. It claims to soothe and repair rather than brighten and exfoliate, so it has added Ceramides and Panthenol. Price wise it has twice the amount and is more affordable, despite SKIN1004 not really being a drugstore brand. To me the SKIN1004 one feels a little richer and has some tackiness right after application, but feels equally good on the skin.

You can read my full review of the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Essence Toner here.

 

 

107 Beauty Micro Drizzle Hydro Toner

The fermented component in the 107 Beauty Toner is Vinegar, the signature ingredient in all their products. When compared in terms of texture, this one feels richer and more soothing than The Ordinary, which might be due to the added Panthenol and Beta-Glucan. It layers very well, but is also a little more expensive than the Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate 30% Toner.

You can read my full review of the 107 Beauty Micro Drizzle Hydro Toner here.

 

 

haruharu wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner

haruharu wonder uses fermented Black Rice and Aspergillus in their product (which is actually called First Essence Toner and not just Toner), and pairs it with Beta-Glucan for extra soothing. I find it to be as lightweight as the one from The Ordinary, but it has some initial tackiness that subsides with time. What surprised me was the many added plant extracts, something I would not have expected in a product aimed at sensitive skin.

You can read my full review of the haruharu wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner here.

 

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner to?

If you repurchase The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner will most likely depend on how you stand on using fermented ingredients. It is gentle and hydrating for sure, but if it has a better exfoliating and brightening effect than a gentle AHA toner is up for discussion, especially as at 16,80 € for 100 ml it isn‘t that cheap. With using it twice daily for several weeks I found my face to look a little brighter and better hydrated, but if that was my imagination, the change in seasons or actually the product is hard to tell.

As a similar product, the SKII Essence using Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate instead of Saccharomyces, is 99 $ for even less product though, I think that it isn‘t that expensive after all. it is all a matter of perspective. Personally I haven’t made up my mind just yet if it will earn a permanent place in my routine.

 

 

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