Toners get a bad rap. I came of age at a time when we were warned against them. The kind you could buy at the supermarket—an astringent, bright-coloured liquid—would sting upon application and word got around that toners were best avoided altogether. Even as a beauty director, the stigma surrounding toners stayed with me and I was never quite convinced they offered benefits to the skin. But since being reintroduced to Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner this year, I’ve realised what I’ve been missing—a good toner isn’t just for swiping away the last of your makeup but can also offer hydration and other skin-loving benefits to your complexion. It’s all about finding the right one.

For me, Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner is an absolute hero product in this space. It’s a best-seller and one I’ve been aware of for some time because it looks good too. I even had a bottle perched on top of my beauty cabinet because the rose-coloured liquid and floating blooms are so beautiful to look at—yes, there are actual hand-picked rose petals swimming around in this toner! But each evening, I’d skip straight from my cleanser to my serums, too afraid to integrate this step into my regimen.

Like the name (and floating petals) suggest, Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner is infused with real rose petals, rose fruit extract and rosewater. These gentle ingredients work to tone the skin—meaning it removes dirt and impurities left behind after cleansing without stripping the skin of its natural moisture or negatively impacting the pH level. 

These are serious beauty benefits but it’s not what converted me to being a die-hard fan of this toner. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner uses hyaluronic acid, a deeply hydrating ingredient which attracts and maintains moisture. This, combined with Angelica leaf extract, which also helps the dermis retain moisture, gives you 46% more hydration for six hours after application. After use, my skin is left supple and dewy, while my complexion is perfectly primed for the rest of your skincare ritual. I’ve found that my serums or moisturisers penetrate the skin better and become instantly more effective when applied after this toner.

To apply, I pour directly into my hands and pat all over my face, neck and décolletage, after cleansing and lightly drying my face. (You can also use a reusable cotton pad if you prefer). Then, it’s time for my evening serums or any actives, before finishing with a moisturiser. In the morning, I prefer a splash of water to a cleanse and then I sweep the toner all over my face, before applying moisturiser, makeup and my SPF. 

I love that Fresh’s toner is alcohol-free, meaning there’s no chance of it stripping away my skin barrier, and it’s formulated without other nasties like sulfates and phthalates. (It achieved Clean At Sephora certification for its ingredient list, which is always a big tick for me!). The US-based brand has sustainability at its core and operates with a conscious approach to what goes into its formulas. 

I’m definitely a toner convert now, though Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner is the only one for me. It’s good timing—Fresh has just launched a new 400ml ‘jumbo’ size of the toner (in addition to its 100ml and a 250ml options)—so now I never have to worry about running out of it either. 

Try Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner for yourself here.