I don’t use a toner. But if I did, Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic would be my top choice. Why? For starters, it’s alcohol-free. Let’s be honest here: most toners contain alcohol, more alcohol and nothing but alcohol. In those high amounts, alcohol is terribly drying and irritating for your skin. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic doesn’t have a drop of it. Phew! Instead, it’s loaded with soothing ingredients that can calm down redness, soothe irritations and keep wrinkles at bay. Here’s how:
Key Ingredients In Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic: What Makes It Work?
ALOE, ALLANTOIN, & CHAMOMILE TO SOOTHE SKIN
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic is loaded to the brim with anti-inflammatory ingredients that soothe redness and irritations. Here are the highlights:
There are more, but they all do the same thing, so I won’t bore you with them. Suffice it is to say, the toner’s got what it takes to soothe irritated skin.
Related: Chamomile, The Most Soothing Ingredient In Skincare
GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
Glycerin is everywhere, isn’t it? The reason’s simple: glycerin is a moisture magnet. In plain English, glycerin attracts moisture from the air and drops it into the skin. Your skin uses the extra moisture to become softer, suppler and brighter.
P.S. Aloe Vera and cucumber – two of the skin-soothers in Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic, do the same thing. No wonder this toner is super hydrating!
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Glycerin In Skincare
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
Aqua (water): The main solvent in the product, it helps to dissolve other ingredients.
PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil: An emollient derived from castor oil. It makes skin softer and smoother.
Tocopherol (vitamin E): A powerful antioxidants with hydrating properties. It fights off free radicals and makes skin softer and smoother.
Cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract: Made up of mostly water with a sprinkle of antioxidants, it has powerful soothing properties that calm down redness and irritations.
Calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract: Another soothing agent that helps calm down redness.
Humulus lupulus (hops) extract: A plant extract that may have antioxidant properties.
Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi in your skincare products, helping them to last longer.
Panthenol: A humectant with soothing properties. It increases the skin’s hydration levels and soothes irritations.
Benzoic acid: A preservative and pH adjuster.
Tocopheryl acetate: Another form of Vitamin E with both antioxidants and hydrating properties.
Dehydroacetic acid: A syntehtic preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your skincare products.
Sodium hydroxide: A pH-adjuster.
Ethylhexylglycerin: A preservative with hydrating properties.
Linalool: A fragrant ingredient with a floral and spicy scent. It must be listed separately because it’s a common allergen.
Limonene: A fragrant ingredient found in citrus fruits, it smells divine but can cause irritations.
Citronellol: A fragrant component derived from geranium and rose. It smells lovely, but it’s a common allergen.
Geraniol: A common fragrant ingredient that, you guessed it!, can cause irritations.
Coumarin: Another fragrant component that can cause irritations.
Citric acid: It adjusts the pH of skincare products.
Potassium sorbate: A preservative that prevents bacteria from growing in your skincare products.
Texture
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic has a lightweight, slightly-thicker-than-water texture that feels slightly tacky on the skin (thanks, aloe vera!). Luckily, that doesn’t last long. In under a minute, your skin absorbs it all, leaving no residue behind.
Fragrance
Here’s where things get tricky. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic IS loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients that reduce redness and irritation. But its heavenly floral scent – a mixture of rose-scented geranium, lavender and sweet orange – can cause irritation in the first place!
As a rule, anything that smells good (especially essential oils) have the potential to irritate sensitive skin. It’s not all bad. If your skin doesn’t react badly to these essential oils, they won’t do too much damage. Aloe & co will reduce the risk of irritations, too. But why add an irritating scent to a soothing toner in the first place? Makes no sense.
Related: Is Fragrance In Skincare Bad For Skin?
How To Use It
Just like any other toner, you can use it both in the morning and at night, just after cleansing.
Packaging
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic comes in 3 formats:
200ml bottle
200ml spritzer
50ml bottle
One ward of warning: the bottle has a twist-up applicator that releases too much product every time you use it. If you’re curious to try it, go for the spritzer container instead.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic toner provides a refreshing feeling and removes any traces of makeup that may be left behind by your cleanser – just like any other toner does. Plus, it soothes and moisturizes skin, leaving it softer and a little suppler.
I didn’t notice any major changes in my skin, but then mine isn’t sensitive. It’s rare when something irritates it. In winter, it provides that little extra boost of moisture my skin craves, while in summer it imparts a refreshing feeling that’s more than welcome on a torrid day.
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
What I Like About Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
Refreshing and hydrating, makes skin softer and smoother
Available in several sizes
Travel-friendly
Has soothing properties
What I DON’T Like About Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Contains fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin
A toner isn’t a must in your skincare routine
Twist-up applicator releases too much product at once
Who Should Use This?
Dry skin that needs the extra bit of moisture.
Does Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Live Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM
TRUE?
Refresh, soothe and brighten the appearance of skin with this heavenly floral-scented, non-drying toner.
Yes – for most people. It can irritate (not soothe!) sensitive skin.
Gentle and alcohol-free, it provides an instant boost of hydration to leave skin radiantly healthy-looking.
Yes.
Price & Availability
£ 18.00 at Boots, Look Fantastic, and Sephora
The Verdict: Should You Use It?
I wouldn’t call Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic a must – you can certainly do without it. But if you’re looking for a toner with benefits and don’t have sensitive skin that can’t tolerate essential oils, this’ll do.
Dupes & Alternatives
Paula’s Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner ($25.00): A hydrating toner loaded with antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles and soothing agents to calm down irritations. It’s fragrance-free. Available at Paula’s Choice.
Aqua (water), Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, Glycerin, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, Anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower extract, Calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, Humulus lupulus (hops) extract, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Parfum (fragrance), Benzoic acid, Tocopheryl acetate, Dehydroacetic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Coumarin, Citric acid, Potassium sorbate.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
