Hello beautiful,
Today I am reviewing FabIndia’s Tea Tree Skin Toner. As my skin is oily, applying a toner after washing my face has been an important part of my daily skincare routine. Toners help in soothing your skin and restore the pH balance of your face after a wash. It helps in keeping the shiny skin in check. I am a regular user of this toner and I start getting frequent acne breakouts if I stop using it. 🙁
This is the first FabIndia’s product that I have used and I am really happy with it.
Before I begin with the review of the product, let me first explain what tea tree oil is-
Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor and a color that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colorless and clear. It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil should not be confused with tea oil, the sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis (beverage tea) or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.
About the product: An alcohol-free skin toner with tea tree oil that controls sebum and clears blemishes.
Directions for use: After washing your face and neck, spray the skin toner onto a cotton swab and gently stroke in an upward direction. Avoid contact with eyes.
Ingredients: Purified water, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Imid Urea, Tea Tree Oil, Salicylic Acid, Neem Extract, Turmeric Extract.
Net contents: 100 ml
Price: 135 INR
Shelf life: 36 months. Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. Natural ingredients may cloud or separate, this does not affect the quality or efficacy of the product.
Availability: Mostly all local stores stock it. You can also buy it from Fab India’s outlets or online.
My experience with the product–
Fab India is a trusted brand and I picked it up upon my cousin’s referral. I was happy with the fact that it has salicylic acid which is effective against acne and blemishes. Tea tree oil is famous for its antibacterial properties and helps in reducing allergic skin reactions. Neem extract has antiseptic properties while turmeric helps in improving complexion. It also helps in controlling the whiteheads on my skin. It gives a cooling sensation on application which is really soothing.
It comes in an elegant looking spray bottle with a cap and is green in color. It smells great. It is alcohol free and does not sting the skin on application. It gives a natural glow to the skin and keeps it oil-free for 2-3 hours.
As compared to other branded toners, its pocket friendly. Kaya Skin Clinic Purifying Toner Acne Free costs 290 INR for 100ml, Revlon Toner costs 715 INR for 120ml while Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner costs 299 INR for 150ml. Also, it is more effective against my oily skin than the other three.
Well I was initially a bit concerned about the presence of Propylene Glycol in the product due to its poor reputation but when I read more about this product, I got all my answers. Propylene Glycol has humectant properties i.e it tends to hold water to itself in order to prevent the product from drying. Glycerol has similar properties and is natural too. However, propylene glycol also affects the permeability of the skin opening it to toxins when present in high concentration of 25% and above. Generally cosmetics products have less than 5% propylene glycol.
The part that bothers me the most is that Propylene Glycol belongs to an alcohol family while they claim the product to be alcohol-free.
As far as Polysorbate 20 is considered it is used in products as a surfactant, emulsifier, and fragrance ingredient. It is derived from Lauric Acid and is also a chemical mixture of sorbitol ethylene oxide, according to Wikipedia. Polysorbate 20 can serve as a dispersing agent and mix oil and water, work as a fragrance solubilizer and stabilizer, act as a lubricator, and have a soothing effect on the skin. Polysorbate 20 is FDA and CIR approved.
Postives of FabIndia Tea Tree Skin Toner
- Contains Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, turmeric and neem extracts which are all effective against acne.
- Renowned brand.
- Good packaging.
- Pocket friendly.
- Nice fragrance.
- Effective against oily skin for 2-3 hours.
Negatives of FabIndia Tea Tree Skin Toner
- NOT alcohol-free as marketed in the product.
- Polysorbate 20 is known to cause skin irritation in some so its important to do a patch test before buying the product.
Would I buy it again? I will. Since it’s good for my skin and is effective against acne bursts. It also helps in reducing the pore size if used regularly. However when I find a similar product from any other brand which is truly alcohol-free, I will switch.
Rating: 3.5/5 for not being alcohol-free.
Recommended for: Oily , combination and acne prone skin.
