As a beauty and skincare enthusiast, I have a bathroom cabinet overflowing with various brands. However, despite hearing positive things about Medik8, I had never tried their products until a Face The Future beauty box landed on my doorstep, containing the brand’s Press & Glow exfoliating toner.
Medik8 recently launched a massive winter sale, offering up to 40% off selected items. Sadly, the Press & Glow toner isn’t included, but there are plenty of other top-selling products available, including the Intelligent Retinol Smoothing Night Cream now priced at £47, down from £59. You can also get the Intelligent Retinol Vitamin A Serum for £44, and the Cream Cleanser is now just £18.
Priced at £32, Medik8’s Press & Glow is slightly more than I’d typically spend on a toner, but it comes in a generous 200ml bottle that’s sure to last a while. After using it for a month, I believe it’s worth every penny.
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The product claims to be ‘clinically proven to deliver glowing skin in just four weeks’, so I was keen to see if it could revitalise my dull skin during the dreary winter months. Press & Glow is fragrance-free and designed to gently eliminate dead surface skin cells, revealing a ‘smoother skin texture’ with a ‘noticeable everyday glow’.
The brand claims that over time, the toner will help to create a ‘visibly perfected skin surface’ which is better at absorbing active ingredients like vitamin C and A. It’s also recommended for creating a smoother base for makeup.
The toner is gentle enough to be used twice daily, even on sensitive skin, as it’s formulated using polyhydroxy acid gluconolactone which isn’t drying on the skin like traditional PHAs can be. After the Face The Future box arrived, I was so excited to try Press & Glow that I used it that evening after washing and cleansing my face.
I love the design of the bottle; you open it by twisting the lid then place a facial pad over the top and firmly press down a few times. The toner comes out of three tiny holes and instantly absorbs into the pad.
I swept it over my face and I did experience some stinging, however I expected this as my skin can be quite sensitive when I use a new product. The toner absorbed instantly, leaving my face looking refreshed and my skin feeling smooth.
It had also removed tiny traces of makeup leftover after cleansing. Considering every toner I have used in the past has made my skin feel so dry and tight that I have reached for my moisturiser right away, I was really impressed that Press & Glow didn’t have this effect.
I had to doublecheck that I hadn’t already applied my night time moisturiser afterwards without thinking, as the toner had made my skin super soft with no dryness whatsoever. When I woke the next day, my skin wasn’t as bright or soft, but a post-shower application of Press & Glow quickly revived it. The product continued to sting upon application for about a week which is worth noting if you have sensitive skin, however I now feel no discomfort.
I would say there’s a noticeable improvement in my skin’s appearance. I had a break from using the toner when I recently went on holiday and took a travel-sized alternative with me, and my skin looked duller. This suggests Medik8’s toner definitely works, but also that results are only seen and felt while using the product; it’s not a long term solution unless you continue using it every day.
I’m not alone in loving Medik8’s Press & Glow toner, as it’s earned an impressive 4.9 out of five rating on the website from over 1,200 reviews. One customer shared: “I was pleasantly surprised by the difference I noticed after just a few days of using this product. It really seems to enhance the effects of my moisturisers and serums.”
Another wrote: “I use this daily after cleansing my skin, it leaves my skin feeling fresh, smooth and glowing. This is one of the most important parts of my skincare routine, as I feel like it creates the perfect base for a serum.”
While the vast majority of feedback for Press & Glow has been positive, one customer was less than satisfied, noting: “Sadly it’s not for me. I was hoping this would give a glow to my dull, mature, dry skin, but no. It just made my face very dry and tight feeling.”
If you’re keen to introduce the Press & Glow toner into your skincare routine, you can purchase it here for £32. The Medik8 winter sale can be shopped here.
For those considering alternative toners, LookFantastic is offering The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner for £11.50. Meanwhile, Boots has the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic priced at £18.