Reviewed: Flesette’s Cream Toner is an Anti-Ageing Powerhouse

Since the launch of its Visible Repair line of anti-ageing skincare products a few years back, Flesette has been steadily building a loyal following. We review their popular Soft Blending Elixir in this article, a dual layer anti-ageing cream toner to help roll back the years. 

When it comes to anti-ageing skincare, there isn’t any kind of magic bullet. A good anti-ageing regime starts with preventative care, even before the first lines begin to appear, consistency and choosing the right combination of products with hydration as key and even your diet plays a part.

While toners used to be astringent formulas that purify and tighten pores but were also drying, new generations of kbeauty toners are hydrating and come packed with a host of skincare benefits including anti-ageing benefits. We reviewed one of this new generation toners, the Visible Repair Soft Blending Elixir from Flesette and I was pleasantly surprised. Read on for the full review.

Overview

About My Skin: Dry Skin Prone to Sensitivity

So, I actually chose to review this product because my skin tends to be dry and can even get flaky if I don’t moisturise regularly. Along with the dryness, it can also feel tight, itchy and sensitive at times. I wanted to see what this hydrating toner could do for my skin. As with others who suffer from dry skin, skin elasticity and wrinkles are a major concern and I wanted to see what this toner could do.  

Appearance: Milky Liquid with a Pleasing Floral Scent  

This anti-ageing toner has two distinct layers with a thicker looking, opaque cream layer on the top and a lighter appearing, translucent liquid below which was fascinating. Logically, one would expect the denser cream layer to be below and if I do ever find out why the cream layer is on the top, I’ll be sure to update this post.

To use the toner, you need to shake the bottle well in order to combine the two layers and once combined it has a milky appearance that resembles milk but with a slightly thicker texture that is something between a toner and an essence. The toner has a pleasant floral scent that I found really pleasing but some may find a little too strong.

Application: Use at Night After a Double Cleanse Night or As Needed

Because this is more of a hydrating treatment toner or a toner essence, it’s important that you cleanse your skin thoroughly with a double cleanse or with a cleansing or purifying toner before applying the Visible Repair Soft Blending Elixir.

This hybrid toner is really rich and hydrating and it doesn’t get fully absorbed by the skin instead leaving behind a thin protective and nourishing layer of antioxidant rich protective oils that help prevent moisture loss while protecting your skin against environmental stressors. Impressively, it left my usually dry skin with that healthy, soft and dewy appearance so sought after in kbeauty.

However, because of the natural oils used in this toner and the protective layer that’s slightly greasy, I preferred to use the Soft Blending Elixir in my evening routines which are more restorative and anti-ageing focused. Used in the mornings, I found it to be a tad stifling in Singapore’s humid climate but this is really a matter of personal preference and you can use it in your morning routines as well. 

I found this toner to be also very useful when it comes to “skip-care” - shortening your skincare routine when you don’t have time, are too tired or just plain lazy. Because it is cream based and very moisturising, applying this toner almost feels like you’ve gone through the toning and moisturising steps all at once making this a useful product to have in certain situations like when you’re trying to travel light.

Results: Healthy, Dewy Skin

The results are hard to argue with as you can literally see and feel it just after just a single use. My usually dry skin had a healthy dewy glow to it and felt hydrated and supple. I also noticed that my skin looked smoother and felt “silky” after using the Visible Repair Soft Blending Elixir. 

In fact, the first time I used this 2-in-1 toner, I had a small scaly patch on my cheek, a reminder of my lack of skincare discipline. To my surprise, the dry scaly patch of skin was almost completely gone the next morning, a clear testament to its restorative and protective effects. Truly worthy of the title of “Elixir”.

What’s In It?

The Visible Repair Soft Blending Elixir has an astounding 51 ingredients listed in it. Quickly running through the extensive list of ingredients, there are no fillers that I could identify and in fact, there are no less than 9 different types of botanical oils and 8 botanical extracts. This is on top of 5 different anti-ageing peptides and proven skincare actives like Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Ceramide and more! *poof* Mind blown!

It feels like Flesette referenced the skincare hall of fame in coming up with this formulation and with that many ingredient, it would be impractical for me to run through every one but here are a few that are present in higher concentrations and I felt was interesting:

• Hyaluronic Acid - A popular and proven skincare ingredient with many benefits, I counted 3 different types in the Soft Blending Elixir.
• Jojoba Oil - Loaded with healthy fatty acids and antioxidants, that help support skin healing and lighten pigmentation. This natural oil is similar to natural sebum and doesn’t clog your pores.
• Niacinamide - A type of Vitamin B3 with many skincare benefits, including preventing premature signs of ageing such as fine lines and treating dark spots and uneven skin texture.
• Glutathione -  Naturally occuring antioxidants produced by our bodies, it reduces oxidative sress on your skin and has amazing anti-ageing properties. 
• Kakadu Plum - More commonly found in Australian products than in kbeauty and is incredibly rich in Vitamin C. It’s used to treat acne, inflammation, pigmentation, fine lines and more!
• Fig - A rich source of antioxidants, it can also enhance skin hydration, prevent moisture loss and pigmentation and improve overall skin tone.

This is just a snapshot of what is in it and there is really so much more to this elixir-toner. If you’re interested, hop on over to the product page for the full list of ingredients.

Verdict: Undeniably Good But Incorporate Selectively

Kbeauty is renowned for its innovations in skincare and the Visible Repair Soft Blending Elixir is a great example of the innovativeness of the Kbeauty industry. While it's described as a 2-in-1 toner, it has the richness and protective qualities of a moisturiser and a long list of skincare benefits that your skin will thank you for.

But the uniqueness of this product is also its one drawback that might prevent you from absolutely falling in love with it. Because of how rich it is, you will need to introduce this product carefully with the other products in your routine as using this Elixir in your toning step together with a rich serum and moisturiser might be too much for most, save for those with the driest skin.

Nevertheless, its versatility and effectiveness is hard to deny and it is a useful addition to any girl’s vanity. Regardless of whether you use it as a time saving alternative to a full routine or as a savriour for dry and dehydrated skin. Priced at S$52 (US$38) this is an affordable luxury product that is going to be well worth the money.

I would recommend this for normal to dry skin types, mature skin and those who are looking to improve skin elasticity, dull and uneven skin tone and to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If this sounds like you then I would suggest giving this 2-in-1 toner a try. 

Flesette Visible Repair Soft Blending Elixir S$52 (US$38) is now available on www.asianbeautyx.com.