Kiehl's Calendula Toner Review [Must-Read]
If you're looking for a gentle alcohol-free toner, you'll want to keep reading this Kiehl's Calendula Toner review! Spoiler alert: it did not make it onto my all time favourites list and I have a few better alternatives for you down below!
Quick facts:
Formulation: Alcohol-free, Fragrance-free but NOT Paraben-free
Texture: A floral water based toner with real calendula flowers inside
Scent: Natural calendula scent, no added fragrance
Where to buy: Kiehl's offical website, Sephora, Amazon (but mixed reviews on leaky packaging on Amazon)
Price: $47 USD for 250ml
Main pros: This toner is quite gentle on the skin, doesn't dry out the skin and is a last step in getting rid of any impurities after cleansing. I also love the natural scent of it and all the pretty calendula petals are a plus!
Cons: It's a bit overpriced compared to some of the kbeauty alternatives that are less than half the cost (I'll list a great alternative further down this post), especially when you look at the ingredients list and the first item is just water. All the other 'marketing' ingredients are likely below the 1% mark.
My verdict and suggested alternatives: 6/10. It's not bad, it's gentle and will get the job done! I just think there might be better out there, especially compared to kbeauty toners out there:
1. If you want literally just the simplest thing to help balance your skin after cleansing or just as a pick-me-up for your skin, try the Avene Thermal Water (review here). Especially if you know you live in a place with 'hard water' or you just have irritated skin, spray the Avene thermal water on a cotton round and use it as you would a toner. You will likely find that it gives a similar effect!
2. If you have dry skin or combo skin and need something calming/soothing: check out the I’m From Mugwort Essence (review here). It is 100% Mugwort Extract, aka Artemisia Princeps Extract, which is SO good as a skin soother. It's been used medicinally for literally hundreds of years to soothe skin issues. Same price but I think a bigger bottle than the Kiehl's toner too.
3. If you have combo/oily skin and you want something to help control the oil but still be really gentle, get this ISNTREE Green Tea Fresh Hydrating Face Toner (I haven't gotten around to reviewing it yet), but it is 80% Green Tea Extract from Jeju Island in Korea, Allantoin, Natural Extracts, Hyaluronic Acid, and Centella Asiatica Extract. Again, so much value. So much more effective and no parabens or other harsh chemicals either.
Why the Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner is not the best value
There are three marketed featured ingredients in Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Toner. Calendula, Allantoin, and Great Burdock Root, but if you read the full list of ingredients, you'll see that Water, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben and other things come before the plant extracts.
Aqua/Water, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Arctium Lappa Extract (Great Burdock Root Extract), Calendula Officinalis Extract (Calendula Flower Extract), Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Allatoin, Hedera Helix Extract (Ivy Leaf/Stem Extract), and Althaea Officinalis Root Extract.
www.kiehls.com
What is Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner good for?
Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner has a gentle formulation, free from harsh additives, making it suitable for sensitive skin, providing a soothing experience without causing irritation. Don't get me wrong, I do think it effectively cleanses the skin and it does feel refreshing, I just think it's overpriced for what it is.
Is Kiehl's Calendula toner worth it?
It's not bad, it'll do the job. But compared to some of the best kbeauty toners out there now, you can get way better value elsewhere. (See recc's above)
My Verdict
In short, while the Kiehls calendula toner is a decent product, there are better natural toners out there now catering to specific skin types, made with higher concentrations of plant extracts or featured ingredients. If you have sensitive skin you can even opt for something like a water spray (ie. Avene Thermal Spring Water is 100% water, but the quality of the water is the standout ingredient).
So, this toner has not made my all-time favourites list.
Let me know if you've found this review useful or if there's another product by Kiehl's you'd like me to review, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
*This post may contain affiliate links. However, these are always my honest opinions*