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

Lancôme Exfoliance Clarté

RRP: £25.50/100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Brighten up lacklustre skin with this refreshing gel formula for normal and combination skin. Formulated with white wax micro-beads, ultra-fine exfoliating grains and a cocktail of Pineapple and Papaya extracts to gently slough off dull skin layers and remove impurities. Leaves the skin clean, smooth and toned for a simply radiant complexion."

--Packaging--
The pale blue squeezy tube combines Lancôme's usual sophistication with practicality and prettiness, with the dark blue dots in the background proving a nice contrast to the brand's trademark flower logo. The brand name is also embossed onto the opaque white screw-top lid, and the overall effect is very pleasing.

--Application--
Mix a little of this in your palms with your cleanser and some tepid water, and rub gently over your face with your fingertips. Remove with a damp face cloth, gently buffing as you go.

--Appearance--
Slightly unusual: as well as artificial blue exfoliating beads, the clear gel is also populated by white lumps (the wax beads that contain spot-busting salicylic acid), which don't seem to stick to the skin after you've finished using the exfoliator (sometimes exfoliating agents can be difficult to be completely washed off the skin, but it wasn't problematic here).

--Scent--
Strangely, none: I was surprised to read of the presence of pineapple and papaya, since I couldn't smell them at all.

--Texture/consistency--
While the gel is mild, refined and comforting, you also simultaneously feel that the exfoliants are really doing their job (and all with no discomfort whatsoever). It washes off easily and there is no greasy, oily or otherwise unpleasant residue left on the skin after use.

--How does your skin feel afterwards?--
Squeaky clean! Really like all excess dirt and oil has been properly penetrated and removed without harshness. Smoothened and retextured.

--How does your skin look afterwards?--
Having only tried this on the basis of a tiny sample, it's tricky to tell, but given the depth of cleaning mentioned above and given the inclusion of salicylic acid, it's highly probable that visible improvements would be seen over time. Dry patches are also quickly banished, and this is something that can be seen more immediately.

--Value for money--
This is a tad pricey, yes. It's the most expensive exfoliator I've ever used, clearing the next most expensive (L'Occitane Almond Apple Sweet Peel) by about £6. While its efficacy is undoubted, it's a bit expensive for me to be able to use all the time, so I'd have to make do with it as a treat. Nevertheless, this is definitely one for the Christmas wish list.

perfect partner
Hydra Intense Hydrating Gel Mask, £29.50