IMESO Citron Mist Toner with Niacinamide & Hyaluronate 100ml | Pro Backbar

Can a toner for uneven-looking skin stay gentle? We read the INCI before the label.

Most practitioners hear “toner” and expect a thin, watery product with little to say. The INCI shows a base of Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide and 1,2-Hexanediol, with Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Allantoin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice behind them. We would use it as a prep and refresh step after cleansing for dull, uneven-looking skin. Read the list below the way a supplier would: what is there, in what order, and what that suggests about the feel on the skin.

At a glance

• Toner, 100ml backbar bottle.
• Niacinamide is listed.
• Panthenol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate and Hyaluronic Acid are listed for hydration.
• Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Allantoin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice are listed.
• Fragrance is listed.

Reading the formula

Order of the list. The list opens with Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide and 1,2-Hexanediol, so this is a water-based toner. 31 ingredients are listed in full below, and we describe only what the INCI shows.

Comfort. Panthenol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid add a moisture-rich, comfortable feel.

Tone-focused. Niacinamide is a familiar choice for skin that looks uneven or dull.

Soothing side. Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Madecassoside add a calming, comforting feel.

Supple look. Adenosine and Sodium DNA are listed for skin that looks less firm. We describe them as listed and do not rank them.

Ferments. Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles and Lactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Ferment Filtrate are listed as supporting ingredients.

Care points. Fragrance (or fragrance allergens) is listed; Sodium DNA is animal-derived. Check your market rules and patch test sensitive clients.

Which clients

Closest fit, in her own words:

• “I want a brighter-looking finish to the facial.”
• “My complexion looks tired by the evening.”

Less suited: clients with sensitivity to human- or animal-derived ingredients, clients who avoid fragrance, reactive or irritated skin and clients straight after a procedure. For that last group, follow your own aftercare protocol.

In the treatment room

• Storage: keep the bottle closed, away from direct sunlight and heat, and follow the storage line on the pack.
• Opening date: write it on the bottle when you open it.
• Patch test: test on a small area and wait 24 hours before a full-face first use.
• Where it fits: a prep step after cleansing, before the main treatment, with the product name written on the menu so clients can ask for it again.
• Backbar handling: use cotton pads or a clean pump for each client and keep the bottle closed.

Product details

Full ingredients (INCI): Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Adenosine, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Madecassoside, Lactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Ferment Filtrate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Sodium DNA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool

FAQ

What size is it?
100ml, a backbar bottle.

Does it contain fragrance?
Yes. Fragrance or fragrance allergens are listed in the INCI.

Is any ingredient animal-derived?
Sodium DNA is listed in the INCI. Check that it is permitted in your market.

Choose the treatment your clients need, not the ingredient. A client who says “I want a brighter-looking finish to the facial.” does not need a product name. She needs a prep and refresh step after cleansing she can feel, and a reason to book the next visit. Make it a named step in your menu and the rebooking follows.