I recently picked up the Sendo rose hydrolat toner at Fix Price, a store that sells a range of affordable and relatively effective cosmetics. What surprised me was that it actually works. I bought the toner along with a facial cleanser from the same brand, but I liked the cleanser a lot more - I'll explain why later. I got the toner as an experiment, and it didn't quite work for me.
There were tons of toner and cleanser options on the shelf, and I was looking for products specifically designed for mature skin or those that prevent wrinkles. In theory, the rose toner is meant for that, so I decided to give it a try. As for whether it's suitable for oily or dry skin, I wasn't too concerned about that.
For me, it was more important to test an anti-aging product and see if it's worth using in the long run.
My skin
30+ years old
Oily (combination);
Has inflammation;
Can get dry and flaky sometimes;
No deep wrinkles.
My skin's biggest issue is overactive sebaceous glands. Buying a toner for dry skin wasn't the most relevant choice. However, there's an idea that sebaceous glands work overtime if the skin is dehydrated, so I wasn't opposed to trying this experiment and moisturizing my skin further.
Sendo face toner
The product costs 55 rubles for 200 ml. The packaging is done in a 'Chinese style,' with a pink color scheme and red roses and a chubby cat drawn on it.
I was surprised to find that the packaging is minimal - all the information, ingredients, and manufacturer's claims are printed directly onto the label.
The toner has a transparent color with a slightly pink tint.
As for the consistency, it's as liquid as water.
I have to admit, the packaging and overall design of this product are really appealing. I mean, who wouldn't want to buy something that looks this good? All the pink and roses make it look like a beautiful product.
As expected, you're supposed to apply the toner to a clean face using a cotton pad.
I was happy to see that the ingredient list is pretty impressive. There's no alcohol in this product, which is a big plus for me. I remember buying a cucumber lotion when I was younger, and it contained alcohol, which would dry out my skin. This product, on the other hand, is a great value for money.
What's more, I'm glad to see that it contains a hydrolate, which is essentially a natural essential oil. I'm a big fan of essential oils - they're not only great for medicine, but also for skincare. Rose essential oil, in particular, is amazing for anti-aging. Too bad they don't list the concentration of the essential oil on the label.
I didn't notice anything particularly bad about the composition. After using the toner, I didn't experience any rejection or redness, and there were no allergic reactions. However, the results were a mixed bag, and there was something that left me a bit disappointed in the product.
My experience with it
The toner has a lovely pink color and a design with rose petals, and it also has a matching scent. The scent is actually quite pleasant, almost like a perfume. I was really impressed! It's incredibly sweet and pleasant, I'd say it's amazing. Using it is a pleasure, but the scent doesn't last long on the skin - it fades away almost immediately after a few minutes. So, if you don't like the scent, it won't be a problem for you because it won't last long anyway.
The dropper on the bottle is pretty impractical. Firstly, it's not airtight, so anyone can just pour out as much as they want, and secondly, the neck is too small. It's hard to dose the right amount of toner, so it's not very convenient to use.
Only a tiny amount of the toner is dispensed at a time, so you have to remove the cap and soak a cotton pad properly.
The dropper was a major letdown for me. But the cap comes off and goes back on easily, and the bottle itself is simple but reliable. It's made of flexible plastic, and if you drop it, it won't break or shatter, at least not if you drop it from a short height.
The toner is used quite economically. When applied to the skin, you can still smell the pleasant aroma.
I'm really impressed with how gentle this toner is on my skin. It doesn't sting, irritate, or dry out my skin at all. After using it, I don't get any flaky patches or redness, which is a big plus. The application process is pretty smooth and comfortable, and I didn't notice any sticky residue either.
Results were also impressive. I used the toner both with and without a gel, and I saw some decent results. The redness went down, my skin felt softer and fresher, and I noticed a difference within a week of using it. Even some dryness issues I had went away. However, my skin did get a bit oily, which wasn't ideal. I didn't get any breakouts or inflammation, but I did get a bit of a shiny, greasy look. The effect wasn't super dramatic, but for oily skin, this toner isn't the best fit.
To be honest, I didn't notice any significant smoothing of fine lines. Mine aren't super prominent to begin with, and I wouldn't rely on this toner for that anyway. However, it did help to reduce inflammation and sebum production.
Accumulative effect is pretty minimal too. Within a week of stopping use, most of the results disappear. I'm not really complaining about that, though - most budget-friendly skincare products don't have long-lasting effects anyway.
Verdict: I liked this product, even if it didn't quite work for my skin type. It's effective at tackling dryness and redness, though.
I have to admit, I didn't quite get the results I was hoping for with this toner. Unfortunately, I didn't notice a significant impact on fine lines. When I used it with other products, I did see a noticeable effect, but on its own, the toner just didn't deliver. I'm guessing it's because there's not enough rose essential oil in it.
Would I buy it again? Yeah, but only if I couldn't find a better option. This toner is a must-have for dry skin, and I feel a little bad that I don't have that type of skin myself.
Other reviews:
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2. How to moisturize your skin completely for free;
3. A procedure for evening out skin irregularities.