Review

SKINSATIONAL

Pixi Glow Tonic review: I tested the cult brightening toner for glowing skin

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Olivia Perl

Published: 11:00, 14 Mar 2024
Updated: 12:34, 11 Dec 2024

DREAMING of brighter, glowing skin? Read on for our Pixi Glow Tonic review – a product that promises just that.

The award-winning exfoliating toner is a hit with beauty editors and fans alike, with thousands of glowing reviews online praising it for its 'soothing' qualities.

It also helps to minimise breakouts, with ingredients like glycolic acid which gently exfoliates the skin and cleanses pores, as well as Ginseng, Aloe Vera and Fructose and Sucrose extracts which all help to lock in moisture and create that dewy glow.

But is this holy grail of toners too good to be true? I had the chance to put the cult product to the test and was keen to see if it's worth the hype. Read on to see how I got on with it...

Pixi Glow TonicCredit: Olivia Perl

Pixi Glow Tonic, from £10 at LookFantastic -

Pros

Generous bottle at 250ml
Skin feels exfoliated
Skin looks brighter after only a couple of uses
Cruelty-free
Reasonably priced

Cons

Can leave skin feeling dry
Results aren't instantaneous
It can't be used alongside some skincare ingredients

Pixi Glow Tonic review: quick summary

As someone who's never been entirely sold on toners, I was a little sceptical. But I shouldn't have been so cynical because this product was everything all the other beauty experts, online reviews and word-of-mouth feedback said it would be.

In short, I understand why it's called the Glow Tonic. After a few uses, you can see a noticeable improvement in the skin's texture: pores are less obvious, blemishes appear to have healed faster, and the overall effect of the skin is brighter.

The toner uses glycolic acid, a gentle chemical exfoliant that works to clear out dead skin cells without causing any physical damage to the skin. This is what leads to a smoother, brighter complexion.

I have combination skin that is a little sensitive, so I erred on the side of caution (as I would with any acids) and used the tonic once a day after my nighttime cleanse.

And I'm delighted to say my skin didn't become irritated. However, it's not one to use without moisturiser, because it makes skin feel tight and dry, so make sure to give your face the rehydration it needs before finishing your skincare routine.

The larger bottle is hugely generous at 250ml and you really don't need much, just a few drops on a cotton pad, so it lasts and lasts and lasts. I've barely made a dent in mine.

And the price doesn't match its reputation. The full-size bottle is a very reasonable £18 and I reckon that could last you a good few months before having to restock.

The only real downside to this product is you might have to consider altering your skincare routine to accommodate it. Glycolic acid can't be used with vitamin C, although we all should be doing this anyway, you really must wear SPF if you use the Glow Tonic in the morning because the acid makes skin far more sensitive to the sun.

But aside from that, this product really is worth the hype.

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Pixi Glow Tonic review: full review

Before reviewing the Pixi Glow Tonic, I had heard lots and lots about it. It's one of those cult products in the beauty world. But despite its reputation, I'd never tried it, so when it arrived I was intrigued as to whether it would live up to its glowing reviews.

It comes in a very generous 250ml (although there is a 100ml travel option also available) clear bottle and the distinctive peachy liquid is visible immediately.

I unscrewed the cap, put my (reusable) cotton pad over the top of the quite wide opening and tipped the bottle upside down briefly. This was all the product I needed to easily cover my entire face.

On first impressions, I immediately trusted the product. It smelt natural which was a good start because the idea of putting acids or anything chemical on the skin might feel a little unnatural – especially if you have any kind of sensitivity, like I do.

But when I swiped the cotton pad all over my face after my nighttime cleanse there was no stinging or redness. This is down to the lower percentage of glycolic acid as well as the inclusion of aloe, witch hazel and horse chestnut which soothe, firm and boost respectively.

There was, however, some tightness which was just down to the product dehydrating my skin. Easily solved with a swipe of hyaluronic acid, or just a normal moisturiser directly after application.

Admittedly, I didn't notice any change to my skin instantaneously, but it's like working out - consistency and patience are key.

Because my skin is a little bit sensitive already, I decided to use the toner every evening instead of once in the morning and once in the evening as the instructions recommended. That's a very important point to bear in mind: the instructions are only guidelines: it's crucial you listen to your skin.

If once a day is too much for you, that's okay. Switch it into your routine every other day; there are no hard and fast rules about how often to use this product.

After only a few days of using the Glow Tonic, I began to see an improvement in the texture of my skin, particularly around my cheeks and nose. Pores can't change in size, but the exfoliation from the toner means they become less visible. As well as that, my skin looked brighter, healthier and clearer.

Of course, there are factors to consider: sometimes there's just nothing you can do about that regular spot on your forehead at that time of the month, but the overall appearance of my skin definitely improved over those first few days, and continued to improve the more I used it.

There are some things to note, though. Glycolic acid is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) which means that it doesn't mix well with vitamin C. While I've been using the Glow Tonic I've cut all vitamin C products from my routine.

It also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun which, as we already know, plays havoc with our skin anyway, so if you are planning on using it in the morning make sure to always wear SPF afterwards and to keep applying it throughout the day so you don't damage your skin.

The best thing about this product is how reasonably priced it is at just £18 (for the 250ml bottle). I've been using mine for nearly a month and I've barely made a dent in it, so I'm confident it will last me a few more months at least.

Pixi Glow Tonic review: the verdict

This tonic has amassed cult status for a reason — it works. If I were to rate it out of five stars, I would give it the full marks, because it does what it promises.

My skin felt smoother, I could visibly see a difference in the texture around my forehead, nose and cheeks and every time I swiped the toner over my face it felt refreshed, brighter and clearer.

And at £18 for 250ml? I'll take three, please.

Pixi Glow Tonic, from £10 at LookFantastic -

Is Pixi Beauty vegan?

Not all Pixi Beauty products are vegan, although they do have some vegan options.

The brand is cruelty-free, though, meaning they don't test on any animals for any of their products anywhere in the world.

Can you use Pixi Glow Tonic daily?

Yes, you can use Pixi Glow Tonic daily. In fact, for best results, it's advised to sweep it over your face twice a day.

However, listen to your skin. Is it feeling a bit irritated or dry? Leave the tonic for today. But if your skin can handle it, use the Glow Tonic daily.

How much does Pixi Glow Tonic cost?

Pixi Glow Tonic comes in two sizes – 250ml and 100ml. At its usual retail price, you can buy the larger size for £18 or the travel size for £10.

However, it's of course always worth looking out for sales and special offers from retailers that stock the product. We've hunted around and found that you can currently save a third on selected Pixi products at Boots – taking the down to £6.67 and the down to £12: bargain!

Pixi Glow Tonic - 100ml, ~~£10~~ £6.67 -
Pixi Glow Tonic - 250ml, ~~£18~~ £12 at Boots -

Where can I buy Pixi Glow Tonic in the UK?

The cult classic is available from a wide variety of stockists and retailers including, of course, itself.

We've listed some other favourite shopping spots below, some of which might have special offers from time to time.

Is there an alternative to Pixi Glow Tonic?

If you're on the hunt for a Pixi Glow Tonic alternative that delivers radiant results, there are plenty of other products and brands you can try.

While Pixi's cult favourite tonic is coveted for its exfoliating prowess, several alternatives offer similar benefits. One option is , which is praised for its gentle yet effective exfoliation, leaving skin brighter and smoother.