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Exfoliating Toner: What You Need to Know

Woman in the ocean

Exfoliating toners and what you need to know about this resurfacing toner from Algenist!

In this blog post, I would like to dive into Algenist a little bit. They are a luxury skincare company that has been around for a long time, but they aren’t necessarily talked about very often.


This blog post may contain affiliate links or promo codes. By clicking these links or using these promo codes, I receive a commission at no extra cost to you. The links, if listed will take you to the product’s official website where you can make your purchase there. You are under no obligation to use any of the affiliate links or promo codes. I simply love that you are here!


Is Algenist a Cruelty-Free Company?

Algenist, Cruelty-free beauty

Algenist is an interesting company. They recently made all of their products vegan as soon as 2019 and are cruelty-free. On their website, it states that while they do sell their products in China, they are working with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) to make sure Algenist stays a cruelty-free company.

IIVS is an international outreach program that works with governments, such as China’s, to come up with alternative ways to test products that are up to that country’s standards, without testing on animals. You can learn more about them by tapping/clicking here.

Renewable Algae Oils

TerraVia, formally known as SolaZyme, is in charge of manufacturing Algenist and the process of developing renewable algae oils for personal care items and other categories. In fact, TerraVia made a partnership with Unilever in 2010 that they were going to supply them with $200 million dollars worth of renewable algae for personal care items. This is 3 million gallons of algae oil! That is how in demand this ingredient is! It’s big business.

TerraVia Logo

The use of algae in a skincare line came from a man named Arthur Grossman. He is the chief of Genetics at TerraVia but he is also the staff scientist at Carnegie Institution. Grossman is also an expert in algal photosynthesis and how algae protects itself from harsh environments. This knowledge is used to apply the use of algae in skincare and how Algenist can use it to help our skin.

Algenist uses Alguronic Acid from Algae that is naturally sourced and sustainably produced through biotechnology. They follow strict global guidelines and meet the European Union standards which are much more strict than those in the United States.

The skincare product that I would like to focus on in this blog post is their GENIUS Liquid Skin Resurfacing 2% BHA Toner.

What Does it Do?

This exfoliating toner is used to be your exfoliating product in your skincare routine. It is great for general resurfacing and getting rid of dead skin. It is also great for those who are suffering from acne and clogged pores.

By using a liquid, instead of a sold exfoliator, like a scrub, you will not irritate the breakouts on your face as much. You want to be gentle with them and have the mindset of healing. This toner is also said to help with hormonal concerns, whether it be acne, wrinkles, or loss of firmness.

Algenist, GENIUS Liquid Skin Resurfacing 2% BHA Toner.

Key Ingredients

Alguronic Acid

Alguronic Acid helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles

Vegan Collagen

Vegan Collagen helps to make skin plumper

Vegan collagen, exfoliating toner

Azelaic Acid

Azelaic Acid, exfoliating toner

Azelaic Acid helps make the exfoliation a soothing experience.

2% Salicylic Acid

2% Salicylic Acid helps to unclog pores and aids in exfoliation.

2% Salicylic Acid, exfoliating toner

How Do you Use a Exfoliating Toner?

For this specific exfoliating toner, it is gentle enough to use daily after you wash your face with cleanser. That being said, do not use a cleanser with exfoliating ingredients. You will over-exfoliate your face. You can use a cotton ball, cotton round, or a microfiber cloth like I like to use. Apply it on your face, neck, and décolleté’ (upper chest) in the morning and follow with sunscreen.

MakeUp Eraser, Spongebob

If you would like to know which microfiber cloth I use, I use one from MakeUp Eraser. They are eco-friendly and anti-microbial. You can use them for the whole week before washing them! They also have fun designs on them and they come in different sizes so you can use them for different things. Shop and use my promo code GLOW to get 15% off your purchase.

Let’s See Some Results from this Exfoliating Toner!

If you would like to see some results from Algenist’s exfoliating toner, these are results from a woman with breakouts and clogged pores. Her results happened after just 10 days! Your results may vary.

Algenist, BHA exfoliating toner results

If you want to look at another form of exfoliation, you can look at my honey scrub blog post by clicking or tapping here.

Witchy Tip

When you dream about green algae, it means that you are meant to grow and thrive. You can use this same meaning and put it into use in your practice. Algae grows in the sun, so having a small jar of seawater that has algae in it is a perfect way to represent fertility, growing as a person and incorporating the sun water that has been made in the process of its existence. Because there is an eco-system in this jar, there is also bacteria. I would strongly advise against using this water for a bath or ingesting it in any way.

If you don’t have access to seawater and algae, you can always use this toner in your self-care routine. The algae ingredients inside of it applied to your skin, can also be a spiritual growth ritual just for you. A great angel affirmation to say when applying your toner would be,

“I am a magnet for positivity. I consciously attract positive energy to me by radiating positive energy from within.”

My Final Thoughts on Exfoliating Toners

Algae in the ocean

If you would like to use a gentle exfoliation product, this would be a great product to try. Not everyone enjoys a scrub due to the texture and sometimes the mess. It’s understandable. The same rules apply however, when exfoliating. Please use as directed and if your skin is unhappy with this product, you could be overusing it, so cut back on the days you use it, or simply discontinue using it. Worst case scenario, you could be having an allergic reaction, so please be aware of your body’s reaction to this product.

The idea of renewable algae sounds amazing! Not only is this great for the planet but it also means that the means of getting this ingredient is cheaper, which means the savings goes down to the rest of us. Algae is an amazing ingredient.

If you would like to check out MakeUp Eraser, I have a promo code with them that will save you some money! Use my promo code GLOW to get 15% off your purchase. You can use this promo code with any product on their website as many times as you would like. To shop MakeUp Eraserclick here! When you use my promo code, I earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Would you try a resurfacing toner? Let me know below in the comments. 

The images in this blog post belong to Canva, Algenist, and MakeUp Eraser and have been used with permission by those sources.

Disclaimer:

The views expressed on this site are the author’s own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a doctor, dermatologist or suitable professional should you have any such concern.

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