Garnier toner review

Cleanse, tone, moisturise.

All beauty guides chant this like some sort of creepy mantra. I understood the cleansing and the moisturising, but what's the point of toner?

I read a Wikipedia page did a little research - toner cleanses the face and apparently minimises the size of pores. I talked to a doctor (messaged a family member who's a GP) and it's not possible to actually change the size of your pores, it's just part of your face. When pores are clogged they dilate, so keeping them clean can make them less noticeable.

I started using toner a few years ago to see what it's all about. I've used a few in my time and so far I like this one the best.

Garnier Fresh Refining Toner Shine Be Gone!

This is a high street brand and is very affordable. I used to avoid toner that contained alcohol as I was worried that it would be too harsh on my sensitive skin. However, I suffer from blackheads so I fancied trying something stronger.

It's quite gentle and leaves a tingly feeling on the skin. I've used this daily for about a year now* and my blackheads aren't as bad as they used to be. I put a little on a cotton pad and sweep it over my nose and forehead. It seems to help clear the oil that builds up in the pores and manage the oil on my skin. This hasn't banished all blackheads, but it's helping me manage them.

Overall - very nice product.


Price? £3.29
Where can I get some? Boots or Superdrug
Size? 200ml
Cruelty free? No


*the bottle looks full because I photographed this a while ago