Lancôme Tonique Douceur

RRP: £18.50/200ml; £30/400ml

--What does the promo say?--
"This alcohol-free lotion enriched with soothing plant extracts is the perfect finishing touch to makeup removal for dehydrated skin. It gently tones and refines the skin, removing any remaining impurities, without depleting its natural oils. Leaves skin feeling clean, soft and refreshed and ready for your daily treatments."

--Packaging--
Modern, sophisticated and subtly voluptuous, the Lancôme flower logo is carved into the curved blue bottle, and the brand name can be seen adorning the clear lid. Would be a perfect match for any modern bathroom.

--Application--
After cleansing, pour a small amount of toner onto a cotton wool ball and sweep over your face. Your skin is then ready for a face mask or your usual moisturiser.

--Appearance--
A transparent liquid. Nothing too unusual here.

--Scent--
While this contains papaya to hydrate, and pineapple to heal, my first impression of this was actually of violets. However, now that I'm aware of the description, I'd definitely say that it's the papaya that comes across more strongly.

--Texture and consistency--
Refreshing and non-irritating; just what you need to wake you up in the morning.

--Effects on the skin--
Again, this was just a sample trial, so any effects that I saw will have been highly limited. However, while it was pleasant to use, I think most of the legwork had already been done by Lancôme's Exfoliance Clarté exfoliator, so use of this toner lacked the wow-factor for me that my Clinique Anti-Blemish toner provides.

--Value for money--
If given the choice, I'd definitely plump for this over Molton Brown's toner, which at roughly the same price was extremely average. It also has the advantage of keeping your skin soft and supple without the tightness that comes immediately after using Kiehl's Blue Astringent Lotion. However, I'd need to see some seriously impressive results for me to opt for this over Clinique's Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion and Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic (both of which are cheaper and deliver stellar results).

perfect partners
Photogénic Ultra Confort SPF12 foundation, £22.50
Nutri Intense mask, £29.50
Galatée Confort cleanser, from £19.50
Bi-Facil cleanser, £18.50

Molton Brown Skinbalance Toning Lotion

RRP: £18 for 200ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Our skinbalance toning lotion exfoliates your face and removes dead skin cells. While softening skin using American pumpkin enzymes, pink grapefruit, lime and yeast extract combine to strengthen the skin and reduce moisture loss. Alcohol-free and gentle enough to use around the eye area, this is suitable for all skin types."

--Packaging--
A nice, round, curvaceous bottle made from clear plastic, with a luxurious silver-effect screwtop lid and a few peaceful flower-style decorations. Clearly part of the Molton Brown brand and would look sophisticated on anyone's bathroom shelf.

--Application--
After cleansing, soak a cotton pad with some toner and wipe around your whole face to remove any traces of dirt and makeup.

--Scent--
None of the scents really come through individually, but the overall result is a natural sweet smell which I guess comes from the pumpkin enzymes and yeast extract. Very pleasant to use, and the scent is minimal too, meaning little or no interference with perfume.

--Appearance--
A clear, watery liquid. After use, skin appears slightly mattified and less oily.

--Sensation--
No effects, which means this would probably be good for sensitive skin. Very light and gentle.

--Effects over time--
It seems to remove residual traces effectively, which in itself would indicate an improvement in skin condition. However, I didn't find that my acneic skin saw much improvement at all, which was a shame, and suggests that this toner may work better with other skin types (normal-dry-sensitive).

--Value for money--
It seems a little foolhardy to trust something that claims to be 'for all skin types', so if you have a specific skincare need, you would be better spending the £18 on a product from a company that can provide that, such as Clinique, Lush, or Liz Earle. As an oily skin type I saw little or no difference in the condition of my skin, so would be unlikely to purchase this again. I would, however, be more willing to try some Molton Brown products more specific to my skin type to see if they can deliver on other promises.

perfect partners
Skinfresh Facial Wash, £20
Instant Matte Shine Control, £29
Skinboost Nourishing Tonic, £32
Active Defence City Day Hydrator, £29