There was a time when I was looking for a new toner like Indy searching for the Holy Grail. Well, I was, in fact, looking for the Holy Grail… but then settled for the next best thing – a product that’s just good enough. But of course, I just couldn’t let it alone. I love toners, and so sneakily I put a new one in my basket when no one was looking. Let’s have a look at the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner review!
The brand
Isntree was started by Korean skincare blogger Jinwoo Kim in 2012. It’s an ingredient-focused brand, whose name can be broken down like this:
ISland- a nature island that is pure and clean and not affected by pollution
Natural- use of pure raw materials from nature
TREE- a strong tree that bears good fruit and grows with our consumers.
Isntree has a strong focus on “clean” ingredients, sustainability and community. Their products are often vegan and they’re a cruelty-free brand.
Their hero product is definitely the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF50, which I reviewed here.
Why toner?
“(A) toner is my first step of bringing back hydration into my skin after cleansing. It calms and hydrates, and prepares skin for the next steps in your skincare routine. Think of your skin like a dry sponge – it can’t absorb moisture as easily as a damp one. So, give it moisture after cleansing and your serum will be able to penetrate much more easily.”
(Quoting myself here: Pampering winter skin with cosrx)
Also: a toner will neutralise the skin’s pH after cleansing, especially if you use a foaming cleanser.
My skin isn’t particular dry (it’s more sensitive combination), but I still use a toner every time I do my skincare routine to calm and hydrate it after cleansing.
What it is
“The Hyaluronic Acid Toner draws in moisture and fills the skin with moisture.” (Isntree)
The Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner boasts of five different types (sizes) of hyaluronic acid, which is nice, because different sized hyaluronic acid molecules will then penetrate different skin layers and doesn’t only provide moisture to the uppermost one.
The site explains: “Large Molecule: Prevents moisture evaporation by forming moisture barriers. Medium molecule: Improves moisture density by linking moisture between layers inside the skin. Small Molecule: Quickly absorbed deep into the skin, hydrates from the inside.”
We’re allllllllllllll about moisture, then. I’m on board!
Ingredients
Water, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Butylene Glycol, Betula Alba Juice, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Isntree
A quick note on ingredients: Isntree is one of the brands that regularly reformulates and repackages its products. While there seems to be new packaging, the ingredients seem to have stayed the same. A lot of ingredient lists on the internet show older reiterations of the toner, though. My list is straight from Isntree’s own website. (There’s also another version of the toner called “Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus” marketed for dry skin especially.)
Apart from the different types of hyaluronic acid, we also have some hydrating sugar alcohols and hollyhock root extract, soothing Panthenol, Beta-Glucan and Purslane extract. It’s a nice, soothing and moisturizing formula from what we can see here.
(No essential oils, fragrance or alcohol denat. here.)
Application
I chuck a bit of liquid into the palm of my hand and pat it onto my skin. The toner isn’t a watery-thin toner, but has a bit of viscosity to it, which I like very much. Nothing worse than applying a toner that drips down your face.
I’ve never encountered any problem with pilling or streaking with every skincare and makeup product I’ve layered over it.
Effect
It does indeed soothe and hydrate! Yay! I measured my skin’s hydration levels with my trusty skin analyzer (more here), and the results were very good.
In the morning before cleansing, my median hydration levels were 42,2% (hydration) and 28,2% (oil), which is perfectly fine. I then applied the toner and my levels were 57,1% (hydration) and 18,1% (oil). After half an hour I measured again: my hydration levels were 49% with 23,5% of oil. (More on how the skin analyser works, plus and explainer of the numbers here.)
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner review: Worth it?
Let me be clear: this is a basic product. But still, it does what it says for a very, very, very affordable price, because depending on the site and deal, you’ll be likely to pay 20$ for 400ml. Which is cheaper than nearly every other toner I’ve ever tested. It’s unremarkable and dependable. Which is awesome, but I’ll foresee the day when I become bored with it. Until then, I’m completely on board and will recommend it for virtually everyone.
400ml for around 20$ at the usual K-Beauty retailers (YesStyle, Stylevana, Jolse)
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Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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