guide to pixi tonics

When I say Pixi, I immediately think of Glow Tonic, the toner that put the brand on the skincare map.

But that’s not the only toner Pixi makes. They have a few in their stash – and most of them will do your skin more harm than good. *sighs*

I don’t want you to fall for a dud. So, I put together this quick guide to Pixi Tonics to help you choose the right one for your needs and ignore all the rest:

WARNING: All Pixi tonics are housed in see-through bottles without boxes. This is terrible for antioxidants: they degrade and lose their effectiveness when exposed to light. As there is no way of knowing how long they’ve been on the shop shelves, I recommend you buy yours online and store them in a dark place to slow down the degradation process. Or just buy something else that’s properly packaged. Just saying…

Pixi Rose Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: A soothing toner with rose flower extract to tone down redness.

Key ingredients: This toner is loaded with soothing ingredients, like green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile that calm down inflammation and redness. Rose extract is here, too, but it doesn’t do much for your skin.

Texture: Super light and refreshing.

Who should use it: Sensitive skin prone to redness.

Who should NOT use it: Most people won’t need a toner in their skincare routine.

Available at: Asos, Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients To Calm Down Irritated Skin

Pixi Vitamin C Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: An anti-aging Vitamin C toner.

Key ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, the pure form of Vitamin C. It fights free radicals, boosts collagen production and brightens skin. The catch? It’s very unstable and degrades quickly when exposed to light (the see-through packaging will kill it fast). To add insult to injury, the toner is loaded with citrus extracts that irritate sensitive skin.

Texture: Clear and watery liquid.

Who should use it: No one.

Who should NOT use it: This is one toner I do NOT recommend to anyone. Its formula is just an irritating mess!

Available at: Cult Beauty

Related: The Complete Guide To Vitamin C: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It

Pixi Milky Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: A soothing cocktail for sensitive skin.

Key ingredients: Chamomile, green tea and oats all have anti-inflammatory properties that calm down redness and irritation. Unfortunately, Pixi also added irritating natural extracts, like lemon and lavender, that trigger the very skin problems the toner is supposed to address!

Texture: Liquid.

Who should use it: No one.

Who should NOT use it: Again, this is a toner I do NOT recommend.

Available at: Cult Beauty

Related: 7 Irritating Natural Ingredients Lurking In Your Skincare Products

Pixi Retinol Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: An antiaging toner with retinol.

Key ingredients: Retinol, a form of Vitamin A that boosts collagen, fight free radicals and fades away dark spots. Plus, Vitamin C and other antioxidants to help fight premature aging. Unfortunately, antioxidants degrade quickly when exposed to light (see-through bottles are a no-no!). Oh, and there are a couple of extracts (including lavender) that can irritate sensitive skin.

Texture: Watery and cooling.

Who should use it: Retinol newbies on a budget – just store it somewhere dark to help the antioxidants last longer.

Who should NOT use it: There are better retinol products out there – even at the drugstore.

Available at: Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Related: The Complete Guide To Retinol: What It Is, What It Does & How To Do It

Pixi Glow Tonic (£18.00)

What it is: An exfoliating toner with glycolic acid.

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, an exfoliant that dissolves the glue that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the brighter and smoother skin underneath. It hydrates skin, too.

Texture: Watery liquid.

Who should use it: Dry skin looking for an effective exfoliant on a budget.

Who should NOT use it: Oily skin (it can’t unclog pores).

Available at: Asos, Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Related: Pixi Glow Tonic VS The Ordinary Glycolic 7% Toning Solution: Which One Is Better?

What’s your fave Pixi Tonic? Share your pick in the comments below.