"Wait, something is different," I thought to myself as I FaceTimed my little sister the other day. In the little box in the upper-righthand corner, I noticed my cheeks looked plumper than they usually do on my phone screen and my complexion had a post-facial glossiness to it. But I swear I didn't give myself an at-home treatment. A couple of days earlier, I only changed one step in my skin-care routine, swapping in the new Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner for my usual hydrating toner.
The newest addition to the K-beauty brand's beloved watermelon-based line officially launches today, April 17, but I get a head start on trying it out. Unlike the other products, like the moisturizer and sleeping mask, the new toner has what I think of as a cleaner, spa watermelon scent as opposed to a Jolly Rancher-like one. However, it's still packed with the delicious pink fruit to help soothe skin with its anti-inflammatory properties.
When you sprinkle it into your hand and pat it onto your face, you'll notice the toner has a satisfyingly sticky texture to it due to its cactus water base. Instead of formulating the fluid with pure water, Glow Recipe selected cactus water because it helps skin retain moisture just as the plant on your windowsill does for itself. According to Los Angeles-based dermatologist Harold Lancer, cactus water prevents moisture loss because it's rich in electrolytes. Basically, the toner is like watermelon Gatorade for your face.
Instead of patting, I have a little ritual that I prefer to do. First, I swipe it on with a Muji cotton pad and press it onto problem spots for a couple of seconds. Then, I pat on a little extra like my two-layer version of the 7 Skin Method. (If you're not sure why you need a toner in your routine, here's why.)
Although it's spiked with polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), too, it's gentle enough to incorporate in your morning and nighttime routines. PHAs, for those unfamiliar, offer the most gentle chemical exfoliation of all the acids. A dermatologist I recently met in Korea swears by PHAs because they don't cause redness or irritation while smoothing her sensitive skin. BHAs, on the other hand, targets oiliness and breakouts. It clears pores by dissolving sebum, according to New York City-based dermatologist Patricia Wexler.
The exact combined percentage of both PHAs and BHAs is 6 percent, which might not seem like a lot, but I swear it's the magic number with acid concentrations. Anything more tends to be too harsh and can give your skin an uncomfortable burning sensation. In my experience, a percentage less than six doesn't work as hard for my skin.
To ensure the acids don't happen to irritate and dry out your skin, they're matched with the same percentage of hyaluronic acid. When your skin is freaking out, keeping it nourished with hydration is just as important as treating your pores, so the even balance is essential for instant and longterm results. It took about a day for the all-over glow effects, but it will take a couple of weeks of daily use to banish breakouts.
Starting today, you can shop the one-step facial aka the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner on sephora.com for $34.
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Read more about toners:
- Here's Exactly What Toner Is
- How to Choose Between Toner, Essence, and Astringent
- 11 Reasons Why You Should Add Toner to Your Skin-Care Routine
Now, see Allure's editor in chief's nighttime skin-care routine in action:
