| Review | Augustinus Bader The Essence - Exfoliating Toner

| Review | Augustinus Bader The Essence - Exfoliating Toner

Augustinus Bader is gracing us with another magical skin elixir, an exfoliating toner! As a massive fan of the range, I had to grab a bottle during the early release. I can see this product being an amazing addition to my skincare routine with or without other Augustinus Bader products. I have very high expectations for this new release and you can be sure, my testing will be rigorous and my opinions will be honest. Especially, because I've paid for the product myself. Read on to see if this product is worth the hefty price tag.

The Augustinus Bader The Essence - Exfoliating Toner retails for $85.00 USD for 100ml and is available at Augustinus Bader and other retailers. This essence is housed in a heavy and luxurious cobalt bottle with a copper cap. The top of the bottle has a stopper, which helps control the amount of product being dispensed. 

FORMULA

This product is described as an essence toner but its texture leans quite viscous and thicker, closer to essence than toner. Augustinus Bader recommends applying the product either with your hands, like an essence, or like a toner, with a cotton pad. Since this product is so pricey, I prefer to apply it with my hands, so I know there will be no waste by allowing the product to absorb into a cotton pad. You only need about a quarter-size glob, which is about 3 "drops" or "shakes of the bottle" from the opening. This really isn't that much product at all. I feel like one bottle will last quite a long time even if you're using this product daily. 

The viscous liquid feels very refreshing and extremely hydrating on the skin. It doesn't immediately absorb into the skin and leaves your skin feeling a bit like you've just put on a serum. It's a very plumping and hydrating formula. This product layers so well with all my skincare products from Augustinus Bader and from a variety of other brands. 

This exfoliating toner is very gentle. I find that because I have dry skin, I can easily over-exfoliate my skin by using too many exfoliating products back to back days. However, when I used this product for a week straight, I had no issues with sensitivity or dryness. For testing purposes, I used for a week straight, once a day in the evening with a very basic moisturizer. I noticed that this exfoliating toner made my skin incredibly soft and supple, which is a common result of Augustinus Bader products. My skin looks and feels smoother and it really refines your pores. You will see a noticeable glow to your skin in the morning after using this product. Of course, you can use this product morning and night. I decided to test it only in the evenings to see how it would affect my skin. 

When I started incorporating it with my usual skincare routine that contains a variety of brands and multiple products, I felt like it allows my skin to better absorb the other products and helps boost their efficacy. After prolonged use, I noticed this toner really helps plump the skin, increase the suppleness, and elasticity of my skin. After using this toner for a while, the texture of my skin is noticeably smoother, softer, and more naturally luminous. This is an excellent supplement to any routine with any skin type. Again, it is a very gentle exfoliator and it adds so many nutrients into your skincare routine. If you want to achieve a true glass-skin look to your skin, this is the product that will take you there! As this product gently resurfaces your skin and helps your products absorb more efficiently, your skin will have this undeniable glow and flawless texture. 

INGREDIENTS 

Here is the full ingredients list: 

AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN, GLUCONOLACTONE, LACTOBACILLUS/WASABIA JAPONICA ROOT FERMENT EXTRACT, PHYTIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM BENZOATE, SALICYLIC ACID, CAESALPINIA SPINOSA GUM, PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, PAPAIN, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HYALURONATE, HYDROLYZED RICE PROTEIN, MALTODEXTRIN, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CARBOMER, N-HYDROXYSUCCINIMIDE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ALGIN, ALANYL GLUTAMINE, ARGININE, OLIGOPEPTIDE-177, PHENYLALANINE, SISYMBRIUM IRIO SEED OIL, SODIUM CHLORIDE

The ingredients to highlight in this formula are: 

TFC8 - This ingredient is exclusive to all Augustinus Bader products and is the ingredient that I believe makes these products worth the hefty cost. This cell renewing technology is revolutionary to the skincare industry and truly transforms your skin. It is the only ingredient that I have found that gives me overnight results. In this formula, I feel that this ingredient is not as potent because it doesn't give me the same results I get from using the creams but it gives a similar more subdued version of those results. I feel that this is because this product is more focused on exfoliating the skin and not necessarily treating it for signs of aging. 

Phytic Acid - Known for its ability to simultaneously exfoliate and brighten the skin, this potent acid is derived from rice grains. It also helps reduce the impact of aggressors that cause dullness in the skin, promoting clarity and a glow. It also boosts collagen production to create an even skin tone and reduce wrinkles. 

Salicylic Acid - Often known to help reduce acne it is a powerful beta hydroxy acid that helps reduce redness and increases clarity of the skin by assisting in the shedding of the top layer of skin. It also helps with the healing of the skin. 

Hyaluronic Acid - Known for its ability to retain 1,000 times its molecular weight in water, this ingredient is used in so many skincare products to deeply hydrate and plump the skin. Hyaluronic Acid penetrates every layer of skin, maintaining the moisture in the skin for long periods of time. It also draws in moisture from its environment, helps support the skin's lipid barrier, and increases the resilience of the skin. 

Wasabi Ferment - This ingredient helps balance the skin's microbiome and helps fight free radicals. As an antioxidant, it will help prevent environmental damage and signs of aging.

White Peony Flower - This botanical ingredient contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, soothing and protecting the skin from environmental damage and pollution. This ingredient will help prevent and repair signs of aging. It is also antibacterial and antifungal, which is helpful in protecting the skin and preventing acne. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

I am a big fan of exfoliating toners but I often find that my skin often can't handle using them daily but this one is so gentle and nourishing that I haven't had any issues with incorporating this into my daily routine. Unlike many exfoliating toners, this one isn't harsh and doesn't dry the skin out. I often find myself having to compensate for the exfoliating properties of most exfoliating toners but not this one. 

This exfoliating toner has enhanced my routine by gently removing dead skin cells and helps my other products absorb more efficiently. You don't have to use this product with other Augustinus Bader product to see results. This product works beautifully with any routine, adding in the revolutionary TFC8 cell renewal technology with the benefits of an exfoliating toner. Since it absorbs quite quickly into the skin, this toner layers so well with a wide range of products. 

All the nourishing ingredients in this formula have me going back to this product as my go-to toner/essence. It gives my skin a beautiful and healthy glow and plumps out any lines with its hydrating formula. It really is a beautifully balanced hybrid product that gives you the best of both worlds - essence and toner. 

If you want a little taste of the power of Augustinus Bader products, this product is a great introduction. It is not as costly as the creams but also not as potent; however, you will get to see a little of the results that the range has to offer. I think once you get a taste of the brand, you'll be hooked like I am! 

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