Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner Review
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Cosrx is a Korean beauty brand that has a wide range of best-selling products under their belt. One of their most popular lines is their Propolis line. The Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner is a toner that promises to hydrate and soothe the skin. It contains propolis extract, royal jelly extract, and honey extract to provide antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Let’s see how the toner lives up to those claims in thise Cosrx Proplis Synergy Toner review.
Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner Ingredients
The two main ingredients in the CosRx toner are Propolis Extract and Honey Extract. Both of these ingredients have incredible benefits for the skin, which we will examine closely below.
Propolis Extract, Honey Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Propolis Extract
This toner contains a whopping 72.6% Propolis Extract.
Propolis, or Bee Propolis, is essentially a mix of tree resin or sap and beeswax which bees use to create their hives. It’s extremely sticky and often referred to as bee glue. But in that glue are tons and tons (seriously tons) of vitamins, minerals and other compounds that are beneficial for the skin. In fact, so far it’s been shown that Propolis contains over 300 active compounds, plus other vitamins and minerals!
And that is where propolis gets all its skin benefits.
It is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it’s great for calming down irritated skin. It helps to reduce redness and fade post inflammatory hyperpigmentation like acne scars.
It’s also anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal, which means it’s incredibly beneficial for those with acne prone skin.
Propolis has also been shown to help stimulate collagen production and speed up wound healing.
It’s also been shown that Propolis has incredible antioxidant properties which means it can help neutralize free radicals from environmental factors like UV rays, pollution, etc. which can help prevent aging, lines, wrinkles, sun spots and sagging skin.
Honey Extract
This toner contains 10% Honey Extract.
Honey extract is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, amino acids and enzymes which makes it another powerhouse, multi-tasking ingredient.
Honey has humectant properties which means it helps to attract moisture to hydrate and moisturize the skin. It also has lots of anti-inflammatory and soothing properties which makes it a great ingredient for those with dry and sensitive skin types.
Like propolis, honey is also anti-bacterial and and anti-fungal, so the two together make a great anti-acne duo!
Honey has also been shown to help speed up wound healing and stimulate tissue repair.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a humectant that helps to attract moisture to the skin, which can help to re-hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s often found in skincare products because it provides lots of hydration without being heavy, which makes it a great ingredient for those with oily skin and dry skin.
Betaine
Betaine is an amino acids that has really awesome hydrating and moisturizing properties. Betaine is considered a humectant so it can instantly help to rehydrate the skin while providing anti-inflammatory properties to help calm irritation and reduce redness.
Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract
A plant extract that provides lots of antioxidant protection to defend skin against environmental aggressors like UV rays, pollution and other factors that can lead to skin and cell damage.
Panthenol
A provitamin of b5 that helps to moisturize and hydrate the skin. It’s a humectant that helps to attract and lock in moisture. It also has some anti-inflammatory properties which can help with acne and other inflammation related skin condition as well as irritation and sensitivity.
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate is a super hydrating humectant that attracts and holds on to moisture like no other. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it incredibly hydrating and moisturizing for the skin.
Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner Benefits
Wondering what does Cosrx propolis toner do? Well, a lot, actually! Here are some of the great benefits of this toner.
- Hydrates
- Plumps
- Smooths
- Calms
- Brightens
- Reduces inflammation
- Kills bacteria
- Protects
- Nourishes
Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner Review
Overall Thoughts
This has quickly become my all time favorite toner. Since dealing with perioral dermatitis, my skin has become so sensitive so I always look for soothing ingredients with lightweight hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
This toner is lightweight enough to do multiple layers and it pairs well with other essences, serums, moisturizers and creams on top.
I’ve been using this toner 2x for a few months now (and just repurchased my 2nd bottle) and love what it has done for my skin. Not only does it work well for the warm, summer months, it’s also been keeping my skin flake-free and irritation-free from the super cold weather we are having now.
Related post: Do You Wash Off Facial Toner?
Price
The CosRx Propolis Toner retails for around $25 depending on the retailer. Although you can get it in the $15-18 range if you buy from Korean retailers like Jolse (but keep in mind these can take weeks to arrive because it’s shipping from Korea!).
Packaging
The toner comes in a clear, plastic 5.07oz bottle with a flip lid. Of note, the plastic bottle is hard so that you can’t squeeze it, but you really don’t need to. The flip lid is perfect for this formula as it’s very watery and you can just shake out a few drops. The packaging is pretty basic – nothing fancy imo but still looks pretty.
Scent
Surprisingly, this toner really doesn’t have scent. I was expecting it to smell like honey, but I honestly don’t pick up any kind of scent from the bottle or from applying the toner.
It’s fragrance-free, but it doesn’t have any natural or chemical scent the way some skincare products do.
Formula
The formula of this toner is incredible – so many amazing benefits in Propolis and Honey, plus the added ingredients like Panthenol and Glycerin.
It has pretty minimal ingredients for a toner, which can be a huge plus for those with sensitive or acne prone skin types.
Texture
The CosRx propolis toner is very water, which can make it a little messy if you aren’t careful, but since it’s so watery, it spreads across the skin and sinks in almost instantly (which makes it a great toner for the 7-skin method!).
Since there’s so much propolis and honey, you would think this would be a thicker/stickier toner, but it does not leave any skin of sticky/tacky or heavy feeling on the skin.
Once it’s soaked in, it does leave the skin with a gorgeous finish – a nice glow, kind of like glass skin.
pH Level
I did some pH testing with my own strips and I got a reading of 5 for this toner.
For reference, the pH level of skin is between 4.5 and 6.2 so
Performance
This toner performs well in multiple steps of my routine. I use this toner immediately after cleansing and find that it sinks right in and instantly plumps my skin. Since adding this toner into my routine, my skin looks brighter and healthier and feels less irritated and sensitive.
I find that when I get a flair up of perioral dermatits, this is the perfect product to soothe it and reduce any redness and irritation.
I also love that it gives me skin a gorgeous glow and on days when I don’t wear makeup, it provides that lit from within look.
CosRx Propolis Synergy Toner Pros
- Instantly plumps the skin
- Soothing ingredients to calm redness and irritation
- Provides lightweight hydration perfect for those with oily skin types
- Can help with acne
CosRx Propolis Synergy Toner Cons
- May not be hydrating enough for drier skin types
CosDNA Rating
The Cosrx Ful Fit Propolis Synergy Toner has a really good rating on CosDNA, with only 2 ingredients scoring a 1 for acne. But those 2 ingredients are commonly found in most skincare products, so keep in mind a 1 is a very low risk of any kind of issues!
Is Cosrx Propolis Toner Good For Oily Skin?
Yes, the Cosrx Propolis toner is great for oily skin! It has lightweight ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin without being heavy or greasy. Plus, propolis and honey are both antibacterial which means they can help to kill acne causing bacteria and promote clearer skin.
What Is The pH of Cosrx Propolis Toner?
The pH of the CosRx Propolis toner is about 6.00, which puts it in the ideal range for a toner to help balance the skin’s pH after cleansing.
How Do You Use Cosrx Propolis Toner?
The toner should be used after cleansing and can be used with a cotton pad or your hands.
If using a cotton pad, simply shake a few drops onto the cotton pad and gently wipe across the skin.
If using hands, simply shake a few drops into the palm of your hand and apply to the skin with your fingertips and gently massage or pat into the skin until full absorbed.
Is CosRx Propolis Cruelty-Free?
Yes, the full range of Cosrx products are cruelty-free, including the Propolis line.
Cosrx Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner Review: Wrap Up
The CosRx Propolis Toner has quickly become one of my favorite products. I love how gentle and effective it is at calming my skin when irritations occur. If you’re looking for a lightweight but potent toner that’s packed with nourishing ingredients, definitely give this one a try. I think anyone with dehydrated, dry or sensitive skin types will love the hydration and soothing properties that this one has.
