Description
I’d been using pure rosewater as my toner in the morning and evening for a while with great results, but (as is my wont) I couldn’t help experimenting with ways to make it even better (i.e. adding active plant extracts and nutrient-boosters), and this is now my go-to blend. I use it each morning without fail (and love the lightly-floral dash of soothing, gentle clarity) and in the evenings it is the either the sole or final step in my embarrassingly sacred pre-bed ritual (it often comes after the Yellow Gold Cleansing Balm with Turmeric, Green Tea, Tea Tree & Meadowfoam, Precious Petals Flower Serum & Cleansing Balm with Organic Rosehip, Moringa & Tea Seed or Green Tea Rose Cleanse 2-in-1 Face Buff & Clay Mask with Rice & Rosehip).
The already-wonderful Bulgarian-distilled (alcohol free) rose water is enhanced by ingredients which are soothing, ultra-gentle and balancing. Geranium (which smells absolutely beautiful) is very balancing for both dry and oily skin and bentonite clay draws out impurities and excess oil. The toner has a natural hue from the clay and pure green tea, which infuses its antioxidant phytochemicals into the rose water, helping things along nicely.
Uses & Directions:
Shake well (the clay and green tea particles will drift through the toner, which is a naturally light amber/green hue) and gently stroke over face and neck with cotton pad or cloth.
It’s also lovely to use as a cooling mist (using the spritz cap option) and if you feel inspired to run it through your just-washed hair for it to dry with a little rose-scented pick-me-up (aloe vera imparts a little ‘hold’ as well, by the way), I certainly wouldn’t be one to judge.
Key ingredients/benefits:
BULGARIAN ROSE WATER (ORGANIC AND ALCOHOL-FREE): Beautifully timeless and refreshing, rose water regenerates, stimulates and hydrates the skin in a ‘softly softly’ sort of way, while its mild astringent quality helps tighten the pores. Suitable for all skin types and especially soothing for skin which is reddened, irritated, inflamed or bothered by acne. The natural and elegant fragrance of rose is also a classic aphrodisiac.
BENTONITE CLAY: Composed of aged volcanic ash, bentonite has an abundance of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, silica, sodium, copper, iron and potassium. Upon contact with water, its electronic charge changes, allowing it to bind with impurities and draw them away from your skin.
GREEN TEA: Calming, anti-inflammatory and full of potent plant antioxidants. The catechins in green tea are antibacterial agents that help fight acne-causing bacteria. See this page for a more lengthy run-down on the magic of tea.
Available option: spritz lid – for a gently refreshing boost.
ROSE GERANIUM ESSENTIAL OIL: Distilled from the flowers, leaves and stalks, and traditionally used by the Egyptians to promote radiant skin, this aromatic and sweet oil is rosy and uplifting, its aroma alone enough to earn its presence in this toner… But, just for fun, it is also said to improve circulation, balance sebum levels, help kill the bacteria responsible for acne, calm irritation and fade blemishes. Did I mention it smells beautiful?
ROSE QUARTZ: An extract of rose quartz is included in this toner, simply because it’s one of my favourite stones – I couldn’t resist! Rose quartz is said to be a calming, comforting stone, beneficial for healing emotional matters of the heart and for opening the mind to beauty and love. It’s ground to a powder and prepared with edible glycerin, water and xantham gum in order to drift delicately through the rosewater.
ALOE VERA: A well-known healing plant (a famous sun-damage diminisher!), aloe vera has all manner of brilliances; it helps reduce blemishes, it soothes, it moisturises (it’s decadently hydrating, plumping up skin) and it contains over 75 different nutrients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid. So now you know.
GENTLE PRESERVATIVE: Gentle preservatives are far less scary than what can happen to your skin if bacteria enters a water-based product & develops into something invisibly nasty, but even so, the preservative included in this recipe is lovely and gentle as well as effective. It consists of two naturally-occurring organic compounds, derived from natural ingredients (dehydroacetic acide & benzyl alcohol) and conforms to the requirements of COSMOS (Cosmetics Organic Standard) and ECOCERT.
Ingredients:
Rosa damascena (Organic Rose) flower water, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) leaf 
juice powder, Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) leaf extract, Quartz powder, Bentonite (Clay), Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) flower oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aqua, (Aqua), Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Lysine, Dehydroacetic acid, Sodium benzoate, Lactic acid, Potassium sorbate, Benzyl alcohol, Linalool*.
*Natural component of essential oil.
Holly –
I think a good toner is often underestimated in a beauty regime, and this is not something to miss out! This toner is wonderful. The rose aroma is gorgeous to inhale. The consistency is soothing and comforting on the skin (especially relaxing before bed), and refreshing without drying. I really love how my skin glows after using it.
Plus the bottle is brilliant – light but sturdy and the screw cap is totally non-drip, so you can easily take it away with you when travelling.
Rosie Forth –
This stuff amazed me – I’ve never had a toner that can work alone overnight without the need for anything else! This smells gorgeous and makes my skin feel so moisturized just by itself. Beautiful packaging too.
Claire –
This toner is lovely for delicate, stroppy skin. It is gentle, yet feels like it is doing a job and it smells wonderful. Lovely as part of a bed time skin routine!
Naomi –
Yet another item from Ella that has become my holy grail, my one and only toner I would ever use. And I never thought I would be so won over from something such as a toner! I use it day and night and it helps remove any cleanser or mask I didn’t pick up as well as soothing and moisturising my skin. It’s not sticky like I’ve found some toners to be and it smells lovely like roses, but not too strongly (and not artificial smelling since Leafology products aren’t full of rubbish!). The bottle has lasted me a good 3-4 months with twice daily use. Couldn’t say to buy this toner enough 🌹
jayteetoo –
This stuff is honestly heavenly. The smell just takes you away to somewhere magical. I would buy this for the smell alone but then, what it does to your skin is magical too! It is soooo soft! I like to use this after using the Yellow Gold cleansing balm but sometimes if I’ve had a really tiring day and can’t even bring myself to cleanse, I just swoosh this over my face and it feels like I’m still giving it a really good treat.
bethan watkins –
Im coming back for another bottle as this is soo good, and I can really feel the difference now, from having it, to not for a few month. Having this toner makes your skin care easy and feels like your really treating your self.
Claire Palastanga –
Beautiful refreshing toner, left my skin feeling fresh. Thank you