Name: Noni Balancing Toner
Brand: celimax
Rating: 4.5 (18 reviews)

The Cellmax Noni Moisture Balancing Toner may come in a small, lightweight kit size, but its performance is anything but small. True to its nature as a toner, it has an incredibly thin consistency. When I first used it, the feeling of "it's just like water" was strong as I poured it into my hand. Surprisingly, this water-like toner left a deep impression by providing a definite sense of hydration the moment it touched my skin. After application, it refines skin texture and gives a plump feeling to the skin, while also leaving a fresh finish, making it an excellent first step in skincare. The first reason I liked this product was its absorption. Even among hydrating toners, there are quite a few that feel sticky or sit on the surface, but this one absorbs into the skin incredibly quickly without any such concerns. Even after applying and absorbing one layer, you can layer it again without any stickiness or heaviness. Instead, it feels like your skin is "drinking it up". Thanks to this, you can apply it without worry even on busy mornings, and the more you layer, the more it builds up hydration, feeling like it's filling your skin from within. The second thing I appreciated was its gentle feel. When using toners, sensitive skin can sometimes experience stinging or redness, but I could use this product without any irritation even on days when my skin was sensitive. While it does have a subtle aroma reminiscent of cica, it's not artificial and absorbs so gently that it feels almost unscented when it touches the skin. Especially when your skin feels a bit tight after cleansing, saturating a cotton pad with this toner and wiping your face can help refine skin texture while also providing a soothing effect. Because the toner's hydration is light and absorbs quickly rather than feeling heavy, it also does a great job as a booster, enhancing the absorption of subsequent products. I typically followed up with an ampoule and cream, and found that the toner left my skin noticeably softer, allowing the ampoule to absorb even better. While the ingredient 'noni' might seem unfamiliar, using the product makes you appreciate its charm - it provides a soothing effect without irritation while simultaneously improving skin elasticity. Another advantage is its small, lightweight size, perfect for travel or to pop in your makeup pouch. It's not heavy, doesn't have a screw-top structure, and you can simply open the cap and dispense the product easily, which I found very convenient. It was quite useful as portable skincare when I wanted to quickly refresh my skin while traveling. Especially when heavy, viscous products can be a burden, I appreciated that this was easy to carry yet functionally sufficient. Lastly, I really liked how suitable it was for use before makeup. Hydrating before makeup is essential, and this toner leaves behind moisture without any greasiness, helping to create a smooth base for makeup without causing it to lift. Particularly on days when I use a powder-type cushion, it helps refine my skin texture beautifully, making it a must-have in my skincare routine.

While the Cellmax Noni Moisture Balancing Toner is generally a gentle and refreshing hydrating toner suitable for daily use, it certainly had its drawbacks. The first point I'd like to mention is that while it provides hydration, it lacks in moisturizing power. Although you feel the instant hydration when it touches your skin, I had a strong impression that this moisture doesn't last long and evaporates quickly. Especially in dry winter indoor air or air-conditioned summer environments, using it alone would leave my skin feeling tight again after just a few minutes. As a result, due to its insufficient moisturizing effect when used alone, I had to pair it with an ampoule or cream, making it difficult for the toner alone to provide enough satisfaction for my skin. Of course, the role of a toner is typically to provide a light initial hydration step, but recently there have been many multi-functional products that can provide hydration, soothing effects, and radiance with just one toner. In comparison, the Cellmax Noni toner felt like it was "sticking too much to the basics". Another disappointment was that the thin consistency actually reduced its ease of use. The very watery texture meant it would run through my fingers when dispensed into my hand, or feel like it was evaporating into the air before I could apply it to my skin. While it absorbs well when used as an exfoliating toner with a cotton pad, applying it with hands made it difficult to control the amount, resulting in a lot of waste. While it's fine for a toner to have a light texture, it should have at least a slight viscosity to stay on the skin when applied by hand. This product, true to the description "just like water", often resulted in spillage before I could even apply it if I wasn't careful. The cap structure was also slightly disappointing. Perhaps due to its kit size, instead of a typical screw-top, it has a snap-on cap. This made me worry about potential leakage if accidentally pressed during travel, and indeed, the cap didn't seem to close very tightly. Especially when carrying it in a pouch for use during travel, I felt there was a risk of the contents leaking inside the bag, so it wasn't a structure I could carry with complete peace of mind. The scent, which I initially found subtle and pleasant, became somewhat tiring with continued use as the slight herbal and tingling notes repeated. Even though I'm not particularly sensitive to fragrances, the 'cica-like' scent, while fine on the skin, could sometimes feel irritating to the nose. This was particularly disappointing for me when using it at night, as I had hoped for a subtle, relaxing scent. While the product emphasizes the 'noni' ingredient, I couldn't really feel any definite effects on my skin. The soothing effect was very subtle, and I didn't feel it provided significant help on days when my skin was particularly sensitive. Especially, due to the lack of differentiation from other ingredients, it was difficult to strongly feel the brand's unique selling point of "a product containing noni". Lastly, I was disappointed that there were no noticeable skin changes with continued use. The reason I ended up alternating with other toners before even finishing one bottle was ultimately because "this product doesn't have any clear, distinct advantages". It left a strong impression of being a product that's not really bad, but not particularly good either - straddling the line of 'mediocrity'. While it's fine if you're looking for a non-irritating basic step, I couldn't think of any compelling reasons to repurchase it.

This toner's incredibly thin and refreshing texture makes it much more satisfying when used as an exfoliating toner, for layering, and as a soothing pack! In the morning, I use it generously on a cotton pad as an exfoliating toner. It's become an essential pre-makeup routine for me, helping to clear away dead skin cells and excess oil that accumulate overnight while refining skin texture. In the evening, I either layer it two or three times on my skin right after cleansing, or use it as a soothing pack by soaking cotton pads and placing them on my cheeks, chin, and forehead for about 5 minutes. This really helps calm my skin. I found this method particularly effective on days when my skin felt heated from wearing a mask or when it was feeling sensitive. One tip: since this toner is truly as thin as water, when applying with your hands, it's best to dispense it widely on your palms and then gently press it onto your face as if you're cradling it. This reduces waste from dripping and also improves absorption!

Korean Reviews

Noni Balancing Toner

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