I guess we are all used to acids now. AHA, BHA or PHA? They started to be very common. Axis-y, a South Korean skincare brand created Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner with an idea to clear the pores and calm the skin. To make such formula, they had to mix Salicylic Acid, hidden under the name BHA, Centella Asiatica and Tea Tree. The final form can blow your mind. This toner is probably the most popular Axis-y product, and today I want to show you why Axis-y products became so popular in a short amount of time.
About Axis-y
Axis-y is quite a young K-beauty brand. According to Axis-y's Facebook page, the brand was established in December 2019. The brand makes climate inspired skincare solutions. What does that mean? Our skin has to deal with lots of danger like pollution, UV radiation (free radicals) and the change of weather and temperatures. The real challenge for the skincare brand is to make a product that will be effective, and at the same time, it'll deal with our lifestyles. All products from Axis-y contain natural plant extracts, and the brand itself believes that skincare should be personal. The company keeps a great connection with customers on Instagram which I think is crucial for beauty brands - we might not always agree, but respecting each other is better than some companies who try to bully people for saying their honest opinion out loud. All Axis-y products contain 6-1-1 Advanced Formula which should work for problematic skin as well as for people in humid climates.
What's BHA?
BHA stands for Beta-Hydroxy Acid, a chemical exfoliator. You probably heard about these 3 different exfoliators - AHA, BHA and PHA. AHA is the largest group, but it's also the strongest group of exfoliators. Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid or Lactic Acid - they all belong to AHA group. They penetrate the skin deeper than BHA and PHA, we use them to remove dead skin cells and to fight with the imperfection of the skin. You probably heard about PHA - some people tell it's AHA for sensitive skin. PHA is a mild exfoliator, I was taught that PHA is a strong moisturizer. BHA is an acid that works better for pores, it's the easiest way to maintain your pores. Pores do not shrink, everyone has them and to make them less visible we can keep them clean. There are a couple of ways to deal with pores, but BHA is the easiest one in my opinion.Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner - Packaging
The packaging is nice. It fits the entire Axis-y series. I enjoy the turquoise bottle and how easy it is to apply on the toner onto your hand or pad - both ways work well even if acid toners should be applied with a pad. I do not use and pads, I just apply toner with my bare hands to produce less waste since the BHA percentage is not very high.
Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner - Texture & Scent
It's a liquid texture with a delicate scent, but you can smell Tea Tree Oil in this formula.Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner - Ingredients
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hieracium Pilosella Extract, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Carbomer, Dimethyl Sulfone, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
What do you expect to see in Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner? I guess we should start some "bets" at the beginning of each post because some ingredients are typical for a brand. Axis-y will always remind me of Houttuynia and Centella. It's not a surprise that one of the main ingredients used in Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner is actually Centella Asiatica Extract, an ingredient that stays in skincare trend. Although during my internship I had no client asking me about Centella Asiatica, still I can't deny that this ingredient has the power to change your skin. Lots of ingredients used in skincare have a long history of use in medicine. This ingredient isn't different because Centella is a part of Ayurveda, a traditional (or if you prefer - alternative) medicine used by people for ages. Nowadays we associate it with India. Centella is a herb mainly used in skincare for its healing properties. It speeds up the healing process, that's why acne-prone skin loves it. If you're pregnant or you plan pregnancy then try to find body care products with Centella Asiatica because it can have a positive meaning on skin elasticity as well as stretch marks. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water is a hydrosol distilled from Aloe Vera leaves. It is used to calm the skin. Butylene Glycol is a solvent with moisturizing properties.
Usually, when people see Alcohol in skincare, they treat it as the worst thing that exists. The fact is that Alcohol has a positive and negative meaning for our skin. It all depends on the amount of Alcohol. One of the main reasons why companies use this ingredient in their products is better penetration of the skin, thanks to Alcohol substance gets deeper than when it's used on its own. We can't deny that Alcohol kills microorganism and bacteria. It's a long topic, but if you ever search for alcohol to sanitize your hands or makeup brushes - search of Isopropyl Alcohol in 40-70% solutions, they are more effective than 90% versions. To balance such a drying ingredient, we have Sodium Hyaluronate, popular moisturizer. It's a salt form of Hyaluronic Acid.
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract is an essential oil. EO's are controversial because they are not as safe as people think. Essential oils are similar to Alcohol, some are positive and some are negative because they can cause allergic reactions and be phototoxic or photosensitive. Tea Tree Oil is a good guy, it's super helpful in curing acne. It shouldn't be used straight on your skin, it needs to be diluted. It has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Another ingredient on our list is Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Bilberry is an edible berry, it has a dark, from blue to a black colour and it's rich in anthocyanins. This makes them potential antioxidants. Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract has moisturizing properties. Saccharum Officinarum is used to produce sugar and this species is typical for New Guinea. It has other property which you might like, I know Sugar Cane mostly as a brightening ingredient. While Sugar Cane is the most common source of sugar, the other source - sugar beet - is used to make your life bit sweeter. Betaine is derived from sugar beets. It's an amino acid that keeps your skin moist and you might want to use it in your haircare routine. We don't stop with sugar! Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract reminds everyone of Canada and pancakes! Sugar Maple extract is a natural AHA exfoliant and because of that it can help with dark spots, brighten the skin and help with moisture of the skin.
Citrus family is strong in Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner. Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract is a source of Vitamin C with a lovely scent. It's also a weak exfoliant. Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract is also a source of Vitamin C. It's a delicate exfoliant with brightening and antibacterial properties. Last, but not least is Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract is an exfoliant that brightens your skin. It’s popular for normal skin type and dull skin. Some companies use Grapefruit Fruit Extract in anti-aging products. Where's the main star of the formula? Salicylic Acid is known as BHA, an exfoliant that helps with pore care. A small amount of Salicylic Acid cleans the pores which translate to fewer acne problems. It is recommended for acne-prone skin and young teenage skin due to these properties. Don't expect that it'll change your skin like Glycolic Acid (the most effective AHA), Salicylic Acid is mild, but its power is focused on pores.
Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract is another antioxidant used by Axis-y. It has soothing and antimicrobial properties. It's effective for acne-prone skin, especially if you have problems with sebum production. Houttuynia Cordata Extract - Heartleaf is a plant used for ages in Chinese Traditional Medicine as well as Korean Traditional Medicine. According to Axis-y, Houttuynia prevents UV damage, protects the skin from bacteria and fungi and moderates sebum production. Heartleaf is an antioxidant with antibacterial properties and it's ideal for sensitive skin. Many K-beauty brands started to use it as the main star ingredient right after Centella and not-so-effective, but still popular - Mugwort (Artemisia). Hieracium Pilosella Extract has a funny name - Mouse-ear Hawkweed Extract. It is told to be an antioxidant with antimicrobial properties. It helps with inflammation and it can help with acne-prone and oily skin. Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract has a typical scent - like all Star Anise ingredients and products. Star Anise Seed, also called Badian is a plant which you probably know from your kitchen, but it has a long story of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was used to treat various health problems like nausea. Some brands use Star Anise as an astringent.
Lotus comes in many forms. Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract is used in skincare as an antioxidant. Another ingredient on the list has a huge meaning for Chinese culture. Paeonia Suffruticosa is a symbol of wealth and good luck. This plant is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Mu Dan Pi and it can be used to cure nosebleeds. In skincare, companies use Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract as an anti-inflammation treatment. Scutellaria Baicalensis have similar roots. We know this herb from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Skullcap Root Extract is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can brighten your skin a bit. Scutellaria hides under the name Huang Qin and it helps with inflammation and allergy. Another ingredient on the list will blow your mind. I'm not kidding! Gluconolactone is a PHA acid. It's a delicate cousin of AHA, ideal for sensitive skin. It's a weak exfoliant, but it attracts the moisture. That's all sensitive skin needs. It helps with wrinkles and makes the skin barrier stronger. What else do we need? It's a good antioxidant which you need to try. Arginine is an amino acid, a moisturizer with antioxidant properties. I've never heard about Rheum Palmatum Root Extract before. I know rhubarb since every summer we make a cake with rhubarb and it's quite a tradition here, but Chinese Rhubarb is a new thing for me. It's an astringent.
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract should be quite known to you if you are following K-beauty skincare trends. In 2019 we had a massive number of new products inspired by Mugwort. Artemisia comes in many different forms. Artemisia Princeps is called Japanese Mugwort, but also Korean Mugwort. For me, this ingredient will always remind me of Korea because of "The Legend Of Dangun" - here you can find a link in the illustrated version. Artemisia has wide use in culinary, but does Artemisia work for the skin? We still have a lot to learn about Mugwort, we need more research to find out if Artemisia has a positive or negative meaning to the skin. It is told that it can be moisturizing, good for acne-prone skin but most sensitive skin. I guess Axis-y wanted to make me happy because we can find in this formula one of my favourite ingredients. Panax Ginseng Root Extract is a Hanbang ingredient. Ginseng has a wide use - just like Mugwort, but I feel like from all herbs available, we appreciate ginseng the most. Ginseng is an antioxidant that can cost a lot, even skincare based on this ingredient might have a higher price than other skincare products. It improves blood circulation and nourishes the skin. Skincare series for mature skin is based on this powerful antioxidant and people believe that it can help with wrinkles. I love Ginseng, but to balance the situation - Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil. It's an essential oil that can be relaxing, but some people are allergic to EOs.
Let's focus a bit on different groups of ingredients. Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner contains emulsifying ingredients such as Sorbitan Sesquioleate and PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. Chlorphenesin and Ethylhexylglycerin are preservatives.
My Experience With Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner
I was a bit worried about how my skin is going to react to Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner. My skin has some issues with acids, I like Mandelic Acid the most. BHA? It depends on the formula. Somehow Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner changed my life. I do not imagine my evening routine without it. It's a delicate formula ideal for teenagers. You can't do any harm to your skin unless you don't know how to treat acids. The tips are short:1. Be careful if you use BHA and other acids like AHA and PHA. I used Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner with PHA and AHA, but both treatments were delicate - I prefer AHA creams than AHA liquid solutions. DON'T OVEREXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN!
2. Be careful with other actives. It's better to use one active than add 10 actives to your routine.
3. Use BHA at night, because some foundations have huge problems with BHA and application of a foundation will take 100 years and still, it won't look good. This solution can be used twice a day, but it won't always go well with makeup.
4. SUNSCREEN IS A MUST WHILE USING ACIDS!
I've tried to use it twice a day, but soon it turned out that my foundations don't like the solution. Usually, Vitamin C treatments and acids don't work well with my makeup. I'm surprised that my skin had no issue with this toner when I was using a Gluconolactone cream. Even Axis-y says it on the website that it's better to stop using Retinol and Vitamin C while using Axis-y Toner, but instead, you should focus on suncare and keep the bottle away from the sun. The pores are way cleaner, I don't have as much problem with acne as before. The pores are less visible. If you hope that Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner will shrink your pores then I'll disappoint you a bit. PORES CAN'T SHRINK! Everyone has pores, and if you see a photo of a model with no pores, it's all makeup and computer edit. You can make pores less visible by caring for them and BHA is one of the pore care treatments. Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner is a cruelty-free solution. It doesn't contain any animal ingredient, artificial scents or colourants. If your skin has no problems with Essential Oils then I can recommend this toner for you.
Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner Price & Where to buy it?
200 ml of Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner costs $25 and you can get it straight from Axis-y website. There's also The 611 Skincare Set that contains Axis-y Toner, Gel Cleanser, Ampoule, Serum and Axis-y Cera-Heart My Type Duo Cream (the review of Cera-Heart My Type Duo Cream is on Kherblog) for $99.I guess Axis-y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner is a first toner which I've tried in 2019 and it's my TOP 1 toner. I'm not a fan of spending money on toners, but this one is worth its price.
Have you ever tried Axis-y products before? How does your pore care look like?
*** This post was made in collaboration with Axis-y, even though it still shows my personal opinion on the topic and product**
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