This product was sent to me by Wishtrend for review purposes. I was not paid for this post but please note that affiliate links are used on my blog. These go towards supporting Oh My Stellar and future content.
Klairs is one of those brands that I trust – their brand concept of creating simple but effective products really speaks to me and I like that I’m comfortable recommending their products to people with sensitive skin. I previously used their Rich Moist Soothing Cream while I was travelling and it really helped to keep my skin calm in the cold Japanese weather. The Vitamin E Mask was also really great, and an interesting formula too, so they haven’t let me down so far!
The product that I was sent to review by Wishtrend this time is a new release, the Supple Preparation Unscented Toner! This is actually a second version of their original toner, the Supple Preparation Toner which has been a favourite on their website for three years in a row. The only complaint that people had was that they weren’t fond of the scent created by the use of essential oils in the original formula, so those have been removed to create something with the some hydrating formula, but with a much more mild effect on your senses.
Personally, I am actually not very sensitive to scents and I haven’t used the original toner before, but I am a big fan of hydrating toners – especially those that are gentle of the skin and easy to layer up. I tried this product out for around a week and, from my experience, it’s been really good for my skin and definitely delivers what it promises. It is currently selling on the Wishtrend website for USD$21.99 so, while it isn’t super cheap, this is a great option for people with sensitive skin and just want something the works – no frills, no excess.
And with all of that said, let’s get on with the review!
Packaging
The original toner came in a dark brown bottle, but this new version comes in a clear bottle with a silver cap and sticker. Personally, I think that it has a very professional and modern look to it – it’s an example of how good design can be simple, but make a product look great. I also like that it’s transparent, because I like to see how much product I have left, as well as to keep an eye on the consistency of the toner (because changes in colour or texture would mean that it is not good to use). The bottle is made of plastic, so it isn’t too heavy aside from the product weight, but it still feels sturdy and good quality.
It comes in a 180mL bottle, which is a good size and is said to last 1-2 months with every day use. However, seeing how little of the product that I’ve used to far, I think that this will last me a lot longer than just a month. That being said, while they’re generous with the amount, this isn’t very travel friendly and I would decant it to travel with.
The bottle also comes in a brown and purple cardboard box. Unfortunately, mine got a little knocked up in postage (which is annoying but happens often) but I still think that it looks alright. It fits in the the Klairs brand but could be improved design wise. It just isn’t as exciting or pretty as the bottle design!
Ingredients
Looking on the product page, there is information on both of the versions, so I feel that I should write about them both for comparison sake. The original toner contained non-irritating essential oils, which was also suitable for sensitive skin but gave a stronger scent. They have been removed in the second, unscented version. Thusly, the original is recommended for those who like natural oil scents and the new version for those who are sensitive to that.
Below is the ingredients list, which is taken from the Supple Preparation Unscented Toner product page:
Supple Preparation Facial Toner
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1
Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Portulaca, Oleracea Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Copper Tripeptide-1
Comparing the two ingredients lists on CosDNA, they have very similar analyses. Most of their ingredients are a level 1 (meaning that they are low irritation) except for one moisturiser/antioxidant (Tocopheryl Acetate) which is a level 3 and appears on both lists, as well as Lemon Peel Oil – which is also a level 3 – but is only present in the original version.
In comparison to some of the other lists that I’ve seen, this is pretty good! If you are looking into the original version, I would definitely recommend checking the essential oils to see if you’re sensitive to any of it first. Overall though, this seems relatively safe for people with sensitive skin to try out.
Product Claims & Formula
This product has four main claims and, while I’m usable to test how effectively it rebalances my skin, I can definitely say that it delivers on all of the other promises:
- Faster absorption, enhanced hydration
- Balance pH level
- Calming formula
- Non-irritation
It also claims to prolong hydration “by more than 20% of conventional toners” through the use of hyaluronic acid (my fave) and beta-glucan.
The formula of this toner is light and obviously water based, but it is also a little bit thicker and gel-like when you first dispense it – it’s a bit hard to explain. It also does have a very light, mild fragrance (there is a difference between unscented and unfragranced products, which I am still looking into and don’t fully understand yet, so I recommend checking this out yourself) which is reminiscent of the Rich Moist Soothing Cream – it isn’t very fun but it isn’t overwhelming or irritating at all. It also fades very quickly, so is still good for those who are more sensitive.
Application
The toner comes with a little cap (see below) to dispense it from. it’s fairly standard for most toners but, since this formula is a little thicker too, I would personally prefer something easier to work with. It isn’t a deal breaker though. It’s still quite watery (see images below) and I personally found it to be easiest just pat into the skin with hands. It absorbs into the skin really quickly and gives you an instant boost of hydration.
For those who like to do the 7 Skin method (or basically the layering of toners for hydration), then this is a good one to use because of how hydrating it is, as well as how lightly the toner applies. It’s also good to use in the mornings under make up, because it absorbs well and gives your skin a nice plumpness and healthy glow to start off your base.
For myself, I was using it both in the mornings and at night. At night, I would also apply multiple layers (up to three) depending on how my skin felt. I think that you’re the best judge of what your skin needs, so it’s a personal choice how you want to layer things.
Overall, this new release from Klairs is a great addition to my skincare line and I’ll be continuing to use it – though maybe I should finish off my current one first because I am starting to drown in the number of open products that I have.
As the Supple Preparation Unscented Toner promises, it absorbs well and is super hydrating, as well as calming on skin with a slight cooling sensation when first applied. I also didn’t experience any irritation while using it – which is, obviously, essential. Aside from moisturising my skin though, the toner doesn’t have any other remarkable effects – no brightening, no change in my skin texture or anti-acne results.
However, that is probably the best thing about Klairs products. They aren’t excessive and, as their promise, they’re simple but enough.
So, here’s the verdict!
WHAT IS IT?
An unscented, light and hydrating skin toner
THE GOOD
- Well designed, clear bottle packaging
- Light, but also slightly gel-like formula
- Absorbs into the skin easily
- Easy to layer
- Super hydrating and leaves skin immediately plump
- Works well under make up
- Mild scent
- Non-irritating ingredients list
THE BAD
- Average box packaging
- No remarkable or excess benefits
RATINGS
- PACKAGING | 3/5
- PRICE POINT | 4/5
- INGREDIENTS | 5/5
- HYDRATION | 5/5
- SOOTHING | 4/5
- ABSORPTION | 5/5
OVERALL RATING? 7.7/10
WOULD I RECOMMEND?
This is a product that I would especially recommend to those with sensitive skin or who are prone to irritation, since their list is very clean on the CosDNA check. Even for myself, who may enjoy more scents in my skincare since I’m not as sensitive, I enjoy this product because of the formula.
WHERE TO GET IT FROM
This product was sent to me for review by Wishtrend and you can get it from their website. It is selling for USD$21.99 and you can choose between the original version (which contains essential oils) or this new, unscented version.
Click the below banner to go to the product page or the linked name for their homepage!
