Review: Q+A Niacinamide Daily Toner
Niacinamide is one of those special ingredients that whenever I see it listed on a product my hand magically starts reaching for the shelf and after careful inspection, it almost always ends up in my basket. It’s a problem. It’s one of those ingredients that my skin just seems to love, and luckily for me, it seems to be having a moment among product developers too. Niacinamide (also known as Vitamin B3) is shown to minimise the appearance of pores, reduce dehydration, even skin tone and reduce excess oil production in the skin – so basically it’s wonderful. I’m not the only one to think so though, Niacinamide is said to work for just about everyone, regardless of skin type, condition or concerns, obviously there’s always exceptions, but unlike the more ‘active’ ingredients on the market, this tends to be quite gentle while still visibly performing well.
What Makes It Special:
The fragrance-free Q+A Niacinamide Daily Toner contains Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide which are all ingredients that are proven to have a positive effect on the skin in most people. Aloe Vera is known to calm redness and soothe, Hyaluronic Acid is celebrated for its hydration superpowers and Niacinamide for its ability to boost your skin barrier, and even skin tone.
Why I Like It:
I actually really enjoy the texture, it feels a little ‘thicker’ than the usual toners I reach for, which feel just like water, I think because of the Glycerin in the formulation. It also leaves my skin feeling quite soft and silky, and definitely refreshed and prepped for the next steps in my routine. It also absorbs quickly into the skin.
What I Don’t Like About It:
I really don’t like the scent, it’s not overly strong and it disappears, but I find it quite unpleasant to apply. It’s very ‘chemically’ (I know, everything is a chemical, but in terms of fragrance descriptors that’s all I’ve got for you – sorry). I’ve been using this morning and night for close to a month, and although I enjoy the texture and the general nature of applying a liquid after cleansing, I don’t think that this achieves all that much more than a quick refresh of the skin. It preps the skin for the next steps well enough, but I’m used to toners that ‘do’ a bit more – i.e balance the skin, add moisture, reduce redness. For example, Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner is the gold standard in my opinion, followed by Pixi Milky Tonic (fab for soothing and hydrating!)
Application:
Apply a few drops to clean hands or to a cotton round and swipe over freshly cleansed skin. Allow a few seconds for it to dry before moving on with your routine.
Product Claims:
Even skin tone and minimise pores – disagree
Calm redness and inflammation whilst minimising the appearance of pores – disagree
Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Extract, Betaine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid.
Available From:
Priceline
Details:
100ml – $16
Repurchase:
Nope. It’s a shame because I had really high hopes for this after trying and loving the Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser but they can’t all be winners. I have a few budget-friendly toners on my radar that I’m hoping to test out soon, so I’ll keep you posted.
