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Toner is almost everyone’s favourite step to skip in their basic skincare routine. Although cleansing and moisturising might seem like the two most crucial skincare step, a toner can help prep your skin to better absorb that moisturiser. Besides, a toner removes excess dirt and chemical residue from your cleansers, apart from hydrating your skin.
Typically, about 90% of you will soak a cotton ball or pad with toner before wiping your face down. That’s the right way of getting rid of extra dirt, but you are not making use of its hydrating capabilities. You can always follow up with the splashing method, but the more effective way to hydrate your face is through toner masking.
What is toner masking?
Traditionally, beauty junkies will paste their faces with toner-soaked cotton pads for up to five minutes. It can be a tedious process, hence why Japanese Beauty brand, Lululun, designed a daily toner mask pack to ease this toning method with additional beauty benefits!
Structured for deep-skin masking
Made with 100% cotton and microfibre, this sheet mask has a three-layer structure. Its middle layer locks in the toner, while the two outer layers support the toner penetration into our skin. This makes the absorption rate higher by 65% as compared to other regular masks in the market. It allows the toner to reach into the deeper, inner layers of our skin when we leave them on for the recommended 10 minutes.
According to Lululun, the moisture can stay on the skin for three hours longer compared to wiping it with a cotton pad. Also, the sheet mask is stretchable, so it can better fit our face and the corner of our eyes.
Allergy-tested and ideal for sensitive skin
In general, the toning solution in both series is mild and made for daily use without irritating our skin. This allergy-tested toner is also free from alcohol, chemical, additives and fragrance; thus, it’s perfect for sensitive skin.
There are two main lines: The Lululun Precious Series that’s made to prevent ageing (and also better suited for those above 40), and the Lululun Classic Series for regular skin. The great people at Lululun sent us a pampering box of six products from these series, and our Beauty Team tried them out based on their skin types and conditions.
Our Beauty Editors Try...
Our Beauty team decided to try out all the different variations that Lululun has to offer, and here are the results after two weeks.
Patrick
Skin Type: Combination (Oily T-Zone and Dry U-Zone)
Skin Condition: Dehydration, Acne, Sensitive
My Skin Concerns
Due to the heavily polluted air and my unhealthy lifestyle choices, my skin tends to dehydrate, leading to overproduction of sebum that will clog my pores. Hence why my T-zone gets oily, and my U-zone gets dry and pale. Also, my skin is pretty sensitive towards bacteria that causes itchiness and redness, which will then lead to clogged pores and acne production - a condition I’ve suffered since young.
My current skincare routine
In the morning, I cleanse, tone, use a serum, eye cream and moisturise before applying sunblock. At night, I do a double cleanse to rid acne-causing bacteria, tone, use an ampoule, essence, serum, eye cream and a moisturiser. I also mask my skin once every two nights.
Lululun Precious Red Daily Mask (Age Defying Moisturising)
For my skin type and condition, I tried this variation for a week. Although the mask is designed for mature skin, it’s good for me to use anti-ageing products now to slow down the ageing process.
The toner in the Precious Red series is very concentrated, almost like a serum. This is due to the formation of Sake Lees and Fermented Glucosyl in the ingredients that helped moisturise my skin intensely. There are Ferulic Acids and powerful antioxidants in the toner to absorbs UV light, while the Rice Barn Oil and Tsubaki Seed Oil minimise dryness and smooth out my rough skin on my U-Zone.
Because this series is targeted at more mature skin, the concentrated toner leaves a bit of a sticky feeling on my skin and caused slight discomfort when I was sleeping. However, that’s pretty common when it comes to masking before bed, so it’s nothing to fuss about.
Lululun Classic Deep Moisturising Daily Mask (Blue)
The following week, I continue to keep my skin well moisturised with Hyaluronic Acid in this Deep Moisturizing Mask from the Lululun Classic series. I also find Glyceryl Glucoside in the ingredient to retain water in my skin layers. The toner is not as concentrated compared to the Precious series, so my skin is less sticky. Overall, the Deep Moisturizing mask leaves my skin looking plumped and glowy the next morning.
Did both the masks help?
I have very little to no breakouts when using the masks. They helped clear my skin, pimples, heat bumps and unclogged my pores. My skin tone is even, the texture is bright, and it glows the following morning, even without the presence of overnight essence and serums. The mask is good enough to replace my other skincare products. Although, it is recommended to still moisturize after using the toner mask.
I have very little to no breakouts when using the masks. They helped clear my skin, pimples, heat bumps and unclogged my pores. My skin tone is even, the texture is bright, and it glows the following morning, even without the presence of overnight essence and serums. The mask is good enough to replace my other skincare products. Although, I still moisturise after using the mask.
Men, take note!
Men, please clean-shave your face before using the sheet mask as it cannot stick to the skin when facial hair is at present. Besides, a clean-shaven skin allows the toner to easier penetrate the epidermis and into the deeper skin layers.
Jodee
Skin Type: Normal-Dry
Skin Condition: Dehydrated, Redness and Inflammation
My Skin Concerns
I’m not a strict skincare user, so I tend to suffer from dull complexion, dry and flaky skin. It’s a concern, especially when I need to wear makeup, which might not set on my skin. I suffer from occasional hormonal acne, which can leave dark spots on my face; not to mention the uneven skin tone and redness around my cheeks.
My current skincare routine
Due to skin sensitivity, I’ve switched from the Hada Labo cleanser to gentle ones like Cetaphil. I have to be strict when it comes to using an alcohol-free toner every day. Besides, I spray my skin with a facial mist before applying moisturiser for better absorption.
Lululun Precious White Daily Mask (Age Defying Whitening)
The avocado and apricot oil in the Precious White Toner Mask helped even out my rough skin patches, while the Double Hyaluronic Acid work to stimulate collagen and elastin production. It also reduces the size and visibility of fine lines and wrinkles on my face. Besides, the dragon fruit seed extract is high in vitamin B3, that is able to repair my skin from UV rays and prevent pigmentation.
Lululun Classic Deep Whitening Daily Mask (White)
The combination of Hyaluronic and Acid Sorbitol, Vitamin C, mandarin orange peel and Plantago seed extract in the Whitening Toner Mask from the Lululun Classic Series works to eliminate my dull skin, giving it that instant glow. Besides, there’s also Vitamin B5 and evening primrose seed to prevent melanin spots, repair damaged skin from UV rays and minimised inflammation.
Did both the masks help?
My skin is less dry the next morning, and it’s so much clearer, brighter and fairer. There’s no redness, dark spots and large pores, even though I didn’t apply any serums the night before. The sheet mask is very cooling and nice-smelling, plus I can stretch the fabric a little to fit my eyes, nose and mouth. Though it’s drenched in toner, both masks doesn’t leave my face feeling sticky.
Denise
Skin Type: Normal-Dry
Skin Condition: Dull & dehydrated
My Skin Concerns
Occasionally, my cheeks and lips can suffer from dryness. They’re especially bad when I travel to countries that have cold, dry air. My complexion is pretty dull due to lack of water, and my dark circles are deep, thanks to the lack of sleep. I also have mild blackheads, but I’m not too concerned about that.
My current skincare routine
There aren’t too many problems with my skin, hence why I use affordable drugstore products as they work well for my face. I remove my makeup with Rimmel, wash my face with Mentholatum, tone with Mamonde and fight sun’s heat with Biore. Once a week, I’ll exfoliate and mask my face before applying eye gel, essence, serum and night cream.
Lululun Precious Green Daily Mask (Age Defying Hydrating)
I’m impressed. Upon opening, this toner mask is drenched in toner, and once my 10 minutes are up, my skin feels firm, probably because of the Plankton Extract and Osmotic Collagen. There’s also Fermented Gluco Sugar that can penetrate deep into my skin layers for longer hydration, something my skin desperately needs.
However, about 4-5 minutes each time after application, I start to feel a tingling sensation but continue using the mask anyway. I rarely have reactions to skincare products so I’m not too sure which ingredient my skin is sensitive to that’s present in this mask.
Throughout the week, I didn’t apply any other skincare product onto my face after the toner, mainly because my skin already feels so hydrated upon removing the mask.
Lululun Classic Hydrating Daily Mask (Pink)
After a week, I switched to the Classic Hydrating Mask. I get a tingling sensation with this mask too, albeit a mild one. However, there is no redness or any burning sensation on my skin, so it didn’t bother me. The Cyclic Amino Acid and Glucooligosaccharide present help retain the moisture in my skin, while repairing dullness and tightening my pores. I also love how my skin feels refreshed after using this mask each time.
However, it isn’t as concentrated as Lululun’s Precious series, so I still feel the need to apply products onto my face. This toner dries up quicker as compared to their Precious series, and doesn’t leave a sticky feeling at all.
Did both the masks help?
My skin feels significantly more hydrated, especially after using the Precious series. I would wake up the next day to replenished, soft and bouncy skin, especially around the cheek area where my skin is drier. Although I do see effective results in replacing your toners with Lululun toner masks, I don’t see myself using it religiously due to my tight work schedule.
Conclusion
A really cool skin analyser (courtesy of the Lululun team!) that works to test how high or low your skin’s moisture and oil levels are
Toner masking is something new in Malaysia, but it seems to be picking up fairly quick among local beauty lovers. It’s an interesting experience, easier and more efficient with positive results, as compared to the traditional cotton sticking method. With various, high-quality and luxurious ingredients, there’s bound to be a Lululun mask for everyone.
The sheet mask is made using a high-quality material called Rayon, PET and Tissue (RPT), allowing the skin to absorb more toner and better prep the skin. In just seven days, each of us could see clear results - namely smoother and brighter skin. Also, most ladies in Japan have adapted daily toner masking even with a busy work schedule - would you give it a go?
Lululun’s Toner Face Masks prices start from RM 19.80 for the seven-piece pack, and from RM 85.80 for the 32/36-piece box.
They’re cruelty-free and environmentally-friendly, and we love that! Go green and get your masks online or at Sasa Malaysia outlets nationwide, and you’ll be on your way to more radiant skin.
