Everyone loves lavender. At least, that’s what I’ve been lead to believe working for The Herb Companion and Mother Earth Living. Whenever we feature this lovely herb in our print publication, our website or even our social media outlets, we receive praised responses from readers. And what’s not to love? Lavender is a strikingly beautiful plant with a refreshing scent. Plus, its health benefits seem never-ending: it’s a natural antiseptic, it soothes the skin, it calms the senses, it induces sleep … and so on and so on. Needless to say, I was stoked to discover a new lavender-infused body care product for my beauty arsenal.
The Lavender Toner from emerginC is a light, refreshing and gentle face toner, perfect for sensitive skin. In addition to lavender, its active ingredients include chamomile, witch hazel and green tea; and its other ingredients (azulene and polysorbate-20 being the worst offenders) show very low concern from the Environmental Working Group’s massive cosmetics database Skin Deep.
While toning is the second step in the traditional three-step routine for healthy skin—cleanse, tone and moisturize—many beauty experts agree that using a toner is optional. I have never been one to pay much attention to toners, aside from enjoying a hydrating facial mist every now and then. Many classic toners contain a small percentage of alcohol, leaving my skin feeling a bit icky. (Alcohol-based toners can increase the production of sebum, as the removal of oil from the skin can lead to excess oil as the skin tries to compensate for this.) But after trying this product, I’m beginning to come around to the idea of using a gentle toner on a daily basis. A good toner conditions, nourishes, soothes and calms blemishes. My favorite thing about this particular toner is its subtle lavender scent. In the evening, after cleansing the skin, I like to apply this light and cooling toner with a cotton pad. Its light and refreshing scent helps me feel relaxed and ready for bed.
Try this toner for $29; click here to buy it online.
Gina DeBacker is the assistant editor at Mother Earth Living. She loves that part of her job entails testing beauty products enriched with natural ingredients.