Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic Review

Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic

Overall rating: 2/5 MYNT leaves

What does a toner do?

A toner can help aid a variety of things. It can help remove excess oils and clear pores that your initial wash missed. It can also help to prep your skin to better absorb your moisturizer or choice of products.

Is a toner necessary/essential?

Simply put - a toner is not always a necessary step in your skincare routine. For some, it is an excessive and expensive step that can be overlooked. However, for those with dry or oily skin, a good toner can effectively provide the moisture or minimize the oil leaving you with softer, smoother skin. I highly recommend water-based toners to avoid the harshness of alcohol-based toners that can strip your skin of essential oils.

Do you use toner?

Yes! I am constantly on the search for a toner that is suitable for my oily, acne-prone skin. My current toner (to be later reviewed) leaves my skin dewy without the greasiness.  

As a fan of the Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser, I was left sorely disappointed by the Grease Relief Face Tonic. With ingredients such as water, witch hazel, and aloe - this tonic aims to minimize the appearance of pores and breakouts. Other ingredients such as comfrey extract is said to reduce inflammation while golden seal and hops extract soothes and calms skin irritations.

I tried this toner for a little over two weeks before I had to stop. First off, I really enjoyed the herbal scent. Once it's on your skin, there is a cool tingle as it absorbs into your skin. But that was where the positives end for me. Though the initial feel was great, I found that by mid-afternoon, my face would be layered in a sheen of grease. It is absolutely dreadful to have to make multiple trips to the restroom to dab at my face throughout the day. Keep in mind that I sit in a cool air-conditioned environment for a majority of my day that does not require any sweaty activity whatsoever.

By the end of the week, I had sprouted a couple of zits along the sides of my cheeks. Having heard that it is common to react worse before it gets better, I continued using this toner twice a day, morning and night, for the next week. By the end of the week I had three painful cysts - two on my lower chin and one on the side of my nose. 

The very next day, I purchased a different toner.

Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic

Skin type: Oily, acne-prone

Ingredients: (From Olehenriksen.com)

Water (Aqua, Eau), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Sodium PCA, Symphytum Officinale Leaf (Comfrey) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Camphor, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oleth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Limonene, Linalool

Usage: Twice a day, morning and night, after cleansing. Apply with a cotton pad over the face and throat.
Comment(s): Herbal scent, cool tingling sensation, toner did not work well with my skin causing breakouts
Cost: $24.00
Recommended: No

-- MYNT