I have an on and off relationship with toners. When I use them, I feel that they are not contributing much, unless of course, I go the whole length and do a 7-skin method. Admittedly, I am too lazy for the 7-skin method on a daily basis. However, when I stop using a toner altogether, I feel a distinct lack between my cleanser and serum. I guess I am never gonna get over this dilemma.

But having gone through multiple toners in my routine, I want to chronicle and share my experiences with you. I have used both exfoliating and hydrating toners, I have used toners with and without alcohol, and all along, I have found a few that I can keep rotating.

Know whether Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic makes the cut for me or not.

TL;DR:

• I have a love-hate relationship with toners but find them to be necessary to fill the gap between cleanser and serum.
• The Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic has a 4/5 rating and is suitable for all skin types.
• The key ingredients include Vitamin C, probiotics, and willow bark.
• The toner comes in a plastic bottle with a drip dispenser and has a citrus-y fragrance.
• It brightens the skin but doesn’t hydrate it as much. It works well with the Pixi Vitamin C range.
• I recommend it for a mild exfoliating toner and introducing Vitamin C in the skincare routine.
• It’s best for use in summers but might need added hydration and moisture boost for people with particularly dry skin.

Pixi: Vitamin-C Tonic

Star Rating: 4/5

Suitable For: All Skin Types

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Probiotics, and Willow Bark

Full Ingredients List: Aqua/Water/Eau, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Beta- Carotene, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, CalophyllumInophyllum Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Phospholipids, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide.

Other Info: Alcohol-free, Paraben-free, and Cruelty-free Product

Price: INR 1400 for 100 ml (250 ml and 40 ml variants are not available in India)

Brand: Pixi is a 20+ years old London-based brand owned by Petra Strand, which focuses on botanically-infused formulations.

Buy From: Nykaa

About My Skin:

I had combination-type facial skin. After a lot of trial and error, I’d finally grown accustomed to chemical exfoliation and started using prescription tretinoin for anti-aging (more on that later, I promise) as well. One thing that tretinoin does to your skin before showing any of its positive effects, is that it dries up the skin. A lot. If you are on tretinoin, you cannot skip moisturizing, slugging, and sunscreen.

So now, my skin has shifted from being on the oily-to-combination scale to the dry-to-combination scale. Nonetheless, it requires full attention if I don’t want blackheads, whiteheads, and flakiness.

About The Ingredients:

The three key ingredients of Pixi Vitamin-C tonic are Vitamin C, Probiotics, and Willow Bark (Salicylic Acid is derived from it).

Its vitamin C contents come from a number of citrus fruit extracts and grapefruit water, apart from pure ascorbic acid as a major component and citric acid as a minor component. And while Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid improves the skin tone and reduces sun damage, probiotics improve the natural skin barrier. The willow bark extracts provide a gentle exfoliation, and aloe vera extracts hydrate the skin. It also has hyaluronic acid derivative and vitamin E in form of tocopherol. Overall, I love the ingredients list, especially for its alcohol-free composition.

About The Experience:

The toner comes in plastic bottle packaging with a screw-top lid and a drip dispenser. This is a classic toner packaging for all Pixi toners I have used so far. The 100 ml bottle is quite good for traveling, and unfortunately, 250 ml and 40 ml sample size packaging are hard to find in India. On a personal note, I like this packaging next to the spray pump packaging for toners, as it makes it easier to control the amount of toner I want to use per application.

The toner itself has a very runny, watery texture with a naturally yellow tint and a distinct citrus-y fragrance. The fragrance of the toner might be overwhelming for some, but it dissipates quickly on the application and I like the “wake-up” effect it gives to my olfactory senses. The good part here is that the fragrance is not artificial, but comes naturally from the citrus extracts.

I use this toner in my AM routine after cleansing my face. Only 2-3 drops are required per application. I just dab it on to my facial skin with my fingers instead of using a cotton pad. Being super light in texture, this absorbs quickly and feels like an easy step in between cleansing and serum. That being said, it doesn’t hydrate the skin as much as it brightens it up. I have to be super quick with my serum application after applying this toner, or else my skin feels tighter (and a bit drier?).

The toner works really well with the Pixi Vitamin C range – I have used it with the Pixi Vitamin-C Juice Cleanser, Pixi Vitamin-C Serum, and Pixi Vitamin-C Caviar Balm. It certainly boosts the vitamin C effects on your skin when used together. And I guess, that’s an ideal thing to expect from a toner – it works as a booster, and not a concentrate. I have since then switched my cleanser, mask, and serum (again, a Vitamin C serum, but from a different brand). Combined with a vitamin C serum, it really works wonders on brightening the skin, as well as reducing the appearance of superficial spots and scars. You have to be consistent with the routine for 3-4 months to see the results though.

The Verdict:

Definitely worth it!

If you are looking for a mild exfoliating toner, this is the one you should invest in. It is also a great way of introducing Vitamin C in your routine. And definitely worth using long-term in case you are concerned about acne scars. However, for folks who have particularly dry skin, it might need added hydration and moisture boost to work effectively.

Personally, I like it better than Pixi Glow Tonic and Pixi Retinol Tonic. It is a refreshing and welcome addition to my AM routine in summers. But I would still not use it as a mist throughout the day (just something I like to do with hydrating toners). Similarly, I am wary of using it in winters and might shift entirely to a hydrating toner for the season.

What Is The Difference Between The Pixi Glow Tonic And Vitamin C Tonic?

Pixi Glow Tonic and Vitamin C Tonic have different key ingredients and purposes.

Pixi Glow Tonic contains 5% glycolic acid, which is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to exfoliate the skin and reveal a brighter complexion. It also contains aloe vera, witch hazel, and ginseng, which help to soothe and hydrate the skin. It is suitable for all skin types, but particularly those with dull, uneven skin tone and texture.

Pixi Vitamin C Tonic contains vitamin C, probiotics, and willow bark extract, which gently exfoliate the skin and improve the skin’s natural barrier. It is suitable for all skin types and is particularly effective in brightening the complexion and reducing the appearance of acne scars and spots.

Key Takeaways

• Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic, an exfoliating and hydrating toner, contains Vitamin C, Probiotics, and Willow Bark.
• The toner is suitable for all skin types and is free from alcohol, parabens, and is cruelty-free. Get details of the ingredients, packaging, and fragrance of the toner.
• I recommended using it in combination with the Pixi Vitamin C range for best results.
• It is a mild exfoliating toner and is a great way to introduce Vitamin C in the skincare routine.
• It is pricier than some other similar toners, but is worth it.
• I like it better than Pixi Glow Tonic and Pixi Retinol Tonic.
• People with dry skin might need to add an additional hydration boost for the toner to work effectively

Love Always,

Xoxo

SHEBANG-SHEBANG-SHEBANG.