This week’s fixation: hydrating toners that don’t cause breakouts. I’m at the horrid age where anti-aging and anti-acne are both concerns. Shoot me now. Tretinoin is great for both, but I needed more hydration to protect my barrier. So I tried the semi-viral tween skincare brand Bubble, with surprising results.

I haven’t used a toner since the rubbing alcohol and witch hazel days of the mid 2000s. I’ve always thought they were a rather useless part of a skincare routine, but this new era of hydrating toners had me intrigued enough to give Bubble’s Milky Toner a go.

💡 Pro tip: to open this (awkwardly designed) bottle, twist the top until it pops up, then shake a few drops into your hand.

Product: Bubble Cosmic Silk Hydrating Milky Toner

Price: $16 for 3.4 oz at Ulta

✅ Why It Works: This toner feels like a lightweight lotion. It absorbs surprisingly well. It makes a nice hydrating, priming layer before I apply my moisturizer. I appreciate that I don’t need to apply with a cotton round. It also doesn’t pill under makeup, so I can use it both morning and night. The best part? It doesn’t break me out.

❌ Why It Doesn’t: The bottle is a pain — it could be much better designed. I feel like I’m wasting product. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

💸 Buy It? Yes! This is a nice boost for dry winter skin, and it’s very soothing for those of us who use retinoids.

Rating: ✨✨✨✨.5/5

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