Product Review: Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic

By Melissa Barlow on November 11th, 2009

girl-washing-face-lrg
Toner has never been a big part of my daily routine. I’ve tried dozens of toners over the years and I always find them way too harsh for my sensitive skin. Also, because toner is not a regular product I use, I never remember that I have a new one to try until after I slather my face with moisturizer. So naturally I’ve had a bottle of Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic in my bathroom for a while, unopened, looking sad and lonely on my counter. I just never remembered to use it.

Boscia is the North American offshoot of Japan’s largest holistic skincare company, Fancl. All of Boscia’s products are botanically based and preservative-free utilizing Willow Herb and Jojoba Leaf in every product (except the blotting papers). Willow Bark is an anti-irritant and good for sensitive skin while the Jojoba Leaf is an antioxidant that battles all those nasty free radicals.

First, the fact that it comes in a pump is a nice touch. I did a little research and found that because Boscia is preservative-free all of the products are packaged so that your hands cannot contaminate your remaining product. Japanese regulations are so strict, in fact, that Boscia is actually packaged in a clean room to ensure your product is completely bacteria free. I have to admit I’m kinda impressed.

After a recent hair removal incident I tried the Smooth Away and it worked. However, I pressed WAY too hard, and as a result, my face was left raw, tender and more than a little red. I was all out of Aloe and worried about what my skin would look like in the morning, so I decided to give Boscia a try.

The scent of this toner is light and clean smelling, and it really seemed to calm my angry skin. There was no burning or stinging, which surprised me considering what I did to my face, and the redness did go down a bit. Further, my skin felt cool and hydrated as soon as I applied it. What I didn’t like so much, though, is that it takes a while to dry, during which there was a slight slip to my skin f, almost like a coating, that eventually went away, but … I still didn’t like it.

In the end, I’m glad I had this toner on hand and I will continue to use it if my skin is ever irritated, but not every day. I’m just too lazy. I have a feeling this toner is perfect for a sunburn though, and I will definitely get some next summer and would recommend it for any one with sensitive skin, rosacea or eczema.