I’ve been using (and falling in love with) this toner for the past three weeks, so it’s time to write a review! I was lucky enough to score this product at a discount during the Glow Recipe NYC Pop-Up “Happy Hour” event on opening day. I may or may not have waited in line for two hours, but look, a Blossom Jeju product that I totally own now. My precious…

Product Description

The brand’s website for this product states:

This treatment formula softens the skin which allows ingredients to penetrate more deeply, enhancing the efficacy of your complete skin care ritual. A proprietary MOISTMAX complex derived from a potent blend of trehalose, beta glucan, and hyaluronic acid is proven to inhibit damaging free radicals and improve skin elasticity The cooling blend is made from camellia flower, revered since antiquity for its calming and hydrating benefits, which works to remove impurities and clarify the complexion for healthier-looking skin.The flower yields a precious oil that helps to hydrate, soothe, and tone the skin. With today’s technology, we are able to refine the purity of the extract, making it even more effective in skincare.

Even though the bottle I own lacks the “Treatment” in its name, I’m pretty convinced it’s the same product, so I’ll be considering them to be interchangeable going forward.

About the Brand

Blossom Jeju’s signature ingredient is Jeju Camellia Oil. They have two different skincare lines, the pink line for “radiance hydration” and the gold line for “deep repair anti-aging.” This toner is from (as is probably obvious) the gold line, which tends to be slightly more expensive.

Rich in hyaluronic acid, this pink label replenishes and retains an abundance of moisture for long-lasting hydration. The innovative hyaluronic acid gel formula’s velvety whipped texture has an immediate cooling effect to refresh the skin and the senses.

This gold label contains encapsulated liposomes that deliver active botanic ingredients to the skin and deliver intense anti-aging. It is formulated with boosting blend of six super-charged ingredients to preserve collagen, promote the production of hyaluronic acid, seal in moisture.

Packaging

120 mL

The box is very pretty! The design is the same as on the bottle. I also appreciate that the description and ingredients list are in English!

The bottle itself is sooo pretty. I’ve been lusting after Blossom Jeju products for a while, if only because, well, #myaesthetic. The pink line is actually even more up my alley, but this was the one that was on sale, so here we are. Still a lovely bottle, with the pretty gold flowers and everything.

The bottle is mostly opaque white, but you can see how much of the product is left if you hold it up to the light just right (v. important to me). The bottle has a nice weight to it; it feels nice in the hand.

It’s a shaker-type bottle, which I tolerate for toners (at least more than I do for emulsions, where that’s an insta-decant). I don’t really mind it in this instance because the dispenser hole is relatively small and the toner is quite fluid and thin, so it isn’t a struggle to get the correct amount out. I usually do around two to three little shakes per layer. All of that said, I would have preferred a (more hygienic) pump for ease of use.

Ingredients

CosDNA

Camellia Japonica Flower Water, Water, Propanediol(EcoCert®, Natural origin), Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Bisabolol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Levulinic Acid, Panthenol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Trehalose, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Arginine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Betaine, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Hyaluronic Acid, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Bioflavonoids, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Skin Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Fragrance

Potential Triggers/Irritants

Glycerin: A 2 on the safety scale. This is a very standard moisturizer, which is generally not a problem for most people.

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil: A 2 on the acne scale. Emollient, antioxidant. Contains oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids, which may cause acne if you are sensitive to one or all of those components.

Tocopherol: A 2 on the acne and irritant scales. Vitamin E, an antioxidant. Can cause rashes/hives if you’re allergic.

Fragrance: Between a 1 and 4 on the safety scale.

Notable Ingredients

My Impressions

Formula

Oh, how do I love thee, Blossom Jeju toner? Let me count the ways.

The texture of this formula is so beautiful. It’s light and milky, which feels very nourishing, but it sinks right into my skin very quickly, unlike some of the other popular toners I’ve tried (I’m looking at you, Whamisa Deep Rich Essence Toner). Because it’s so light, I can actually do the somewhere-between-3-and-7-skins method! Which, as it turns out, is actually a tragedy, because I am blowing through this shit like nobody’s business.

I’m waxing poetic about the formula over here, but let’s get to the really important thing: this smells like what I think heaven might smell like. If you are not into strongly scented products, this is not the product (or line) for you. But if you enjoy a truly luxurious nose-based interactive experience, I highly suggest literally anything from Blossom Jeju. They all smell like lovely, incredibly fragrant jasmine (and honeysuckle, according to other reviewers, though I’m not sure I could tell you exactly what that smells like myself).

Results

As I mentioned at the start of this intractable post, I’ve been using this product for over two weeks now. I use it morning and night after cleansing (or after an FTE) and before I sheet mask or apply my serums and essences. I’ve been using a base level of two layers each time, but fairly often I throw caution to the wind in do several more.

I took these photos on 04/09/17 and 04/21/17. I tried to color balance them so they would be reasonably comparable. This was actually pretty nice to see, because my textural issues and pigmentation seem to be decreasing. This was the only product I added in during that time period.

I don’t believe there have been any huge, amazing long-term changes in my skin as a result of using this toner, but I do think that on a short-term scale it:

does what it says on the tin and hydrates my skin nicely

is moderately soothing when my skin is irritated

plays nicely with the later steps of my routine even if I use multiple layers

smells like all that is right with the world

What’s the Verdict?

This is my general guideline when considering whether a product is a success or failure:

I’m a big believer in science, so my bar for products which contain no heavily studied or active ingredients is basically, “is this enjoyable for me to use?” I include under this banner the added qualifications of “doesn’t break me out or irritate my skin” and “doesn’t turn me into a shiny oil slick or a flaky desert,” both of which make a product a lot less fun to use, in my opinion.

For me, this product meets those criteria. The texture and scent make this toner a joy to use, and it fulfills its intended function. It’s something I look forward to using every time I do my routine.

I don’t want to say that when I run out of this I’ll never love again, but this is my favorite toner thus far, and I’ll super miss it when it’s gone. That said, effective hydrating toners are common. This product doesn’t do anything magical or special there. It just offers additional bells and whistles on top of that basic functionality.

Rating: 5/5 Kittens

This is a very good hydrating toner. It has very few “risky” ingredients, and it should be usable in all seasons. The only reason I would be reticent to recommend it is, well, the elephant in the room: the price.

This is an expensive product, a luxury product, so you are paying for more than just the bare minimum of effectiveness. You’re paying for the cosmetic elegance of the product and the “creature comforts,” like scent and special botanical extracts and such. Only you can decide if that trade-off is worth it for you.

I fully believe that there are cheaper hydrating toners which would be equally as effective in terms of pure hydration power, they just wouldn’t necessarily be as enjoyable to use. For me, those extras push this toner from “useful” to “excellent.”

Repurchase?

I really love this toner. Like, so much. But at that price… I don’t know. I have a hard time trying to justify it. I would probably at least switch the pink line toner, since that is marginally less expensive than this one. If I came across a good sale, though, like when I got this one… Yes, in a heartbeat.

Where Can I Get It?

Blossom Jeju – $55.00

Cult Beauty – £46.00

Today I leave you with one of the songs from Jealousy Incarnate, the popular drama staring fan-favorite actors BlueSteel McBroody and Korean Joseph Gordon Levitt.

Seriously, the soundtrack from this drama is one of my favorites of all time.

Okay, just one more.