After a quick read through of Pixi Glow Tonic reviews online, it's clear that the exfoliating toner is an all around hit.

Made with 5% glycolic acid, witch hazel and horse chestnut, it promises to reduce signs of sun damage, wrinkles and scarring and leave skin looking bright and refreshed. It sounds too good to be true.

But the hundreds of five star reviews on Cult Beauty seem to suggest otherwise with some saying, "One of my favourite products," "amazing for my skin," and "brilliant and great value".

So, to see if these five stars held up, I put the cult hero to the test myself.

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• Pixi Glow Tonic, from £10 at LookFantastic – buy here

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 skeptical. 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 and, 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 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 is 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 like the instruction recommended and 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 in to 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. 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.

Is Pixi Beauty vegan?

Not all of 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. You can buy the larger size for £18 or the travel size for £10.

Where to buy Pixi Glow Tonic

This cult classic is available from the usual beauty suspects including Lookfantastic, Boots and Cult Beauty.

Or you can buy it from Pixi Beauty itself.

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 swipe the toner over my face it feels refreshed, brighter and clearer.

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

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