We’ve blogged before about whether or not skin toners really restore skin pH and we still don’t really don’t understand why anyone would need to use one. So imagine our surprise when we saw that the third best selling beauty product on Amazon.com is Olay Oil Minimizing Toner! Is this product any different than other toners? Let’s look at the label.
Olay Oil Minimzing Toner Ingredients
Water
The main solvent, ‘natch.
SD Alcohol 40
Alcohol will help solubolize and wipe away any excess facial oil. So this is probably responsible for the “oil minimizing” properties of the product. Unfortunately, it can also dry out skin. Ah, the eternal mysterious conflict of toners.
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract
An extract that can give a skin tightening effect. Not sure why they named it after a Virginia ham.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Could help moisturize skin if there’s enough in the formula.
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Solubolizer that helps keep the formula clear and uniform. Especially the fragrance (see below.)
Allantoin
Skin calming agent. I guess you need this after dousing your face with ethanol and fragrance.
Menthyl Lactate
Provides a cooling sensation so you feel good about spending all that money on a toner.
Fragrance
Does a toner really have to smell good? Sheesh!
Blue 1, Yellow 5
Colorants. Hey, it’s gotta look pretty.
This looks like a pretty standard toner. But if you want to buy Olay Oil Minimizing Toner
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you need a well-formulated toner, though those are hard to come by. I’m no chemist or expert, but I do know the SD Alcohol 40, Witch Hazel, and Menthyl Lactate are all very damaging to skin. Most toners are formulated with ingredients like these, unfortunately
Interesting! I relooked more carefully at MK’s new (well, new to the US) toners/fresheners and the ingredients look very different then these ones. Perhaps I will share when I have a minute.
I could say that there will always be different reactions of people to different products. Maybe Olay can be too strong to certain skin types but there will always be those who will reap the benefits of using it. The best solution to this, I think, is to keep on educating ourselves on what skin care products contain and on the effects that it could bring to the user.