Banila Co Dear Hydration Moisturizer, Toner, and Facial Mist Review

I have a complicated relationship with skincare products. That's because most moisturizers and toners either cause breakouts or make my skin even drier! I am so happy to find that this was not the case with Banila Co Dear Hydration Balancing Moisturizer, Toner, and Facial Mist. 

I loved Banila Co's Cover 10 Foundation and CC Cream, which I both used to create a poreless look. I have been using both frequently and I find them to be suitable for my acne-prone, dry, sensitive skin. I decided to give their skin care products a try since their makeup didn't give me pimples or emphasized my dry patches.

Banila Co's helpful beauty rep recommended their Dear Hydration line for my dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin because it's water-based. I used the product for a month so I can give an honest and accurate review of the products.

Here are the main features of this product line:

• All products in this line contain 70% to 80% water.
• Its Urban Water Guard System consists of mint, basil and neem leaf extracts that protect the skin from pollution, reduces stress and keeps the skin moisturized and free from acne-inducing dirt.
• It is suitable for all skin types, but is especially recommended for those with dry and rough skin.

Banila Co DearHydration Balancing Moisturizer Review

Most water-based moisturizers work for me, but I find that this type of moisturizers isn't enough to get rid of my dry patches. I still decided to give Banila Co Dear Hydration a try, because it was specifically created for dry skin. It is a lightweight water-based moisturizer, but it's not completely oil-free. This only means that it uses water as the main ingredient.

The product claims to help seal in moisture, plump the skin, and maintain water-oil balance.

Consistency: While it is water-based, the consistency is not too watery. It is liquid-like, smooth, and very slippery. It is very easy to spread. As you can see from the swatch below, the consistency is just slightly thicker than water. It will drip if you pump a lot of it on your tilted arm.

Scent: A faint soapy smell can be detected, but it quickly fades upon application.

Banila Co Dear Hydration Balancing Moisturizer 
Ingredients: You will not find an English translation of the ingredients on the box, but Banila Co's responsive customer service rep quickly provided me with an English translation of the ingredients. Here they are:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance(Parfum), Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-6, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract, Yeast Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin

I checked the ingredients and six have been flagged by cosmetic product ingredient analyzer COSDNA under acne or irritant categories. These are butylene glycol, cocos nucifera oil, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, laureth-23 and laureth-4. I find that being flagged for 5 to 6 ingredients by COSDNA is not alarming as this is common even among the bestselling moisturizers in the market today.

Unless you are sensitive to any of these ingredients, this product will most likely not cause any problems for you. I have dry and acne-prone skin but this didn't give me whiteheads or pimples.

Effect: I used this under my Neogen sunscreen every morning and at night after washing my face. This definitely helped me get rid of my dry patches and made makeup application smoother. 

Banila Co Dear Hydration Toner Review

I apply the toner in the morning, after washing my face and before applying my moisturizer. The product claims to have hydrating and calming effects while removing residual makeup and skin impurities that your makeup remover or facial wash did not take off completely. This preps the skin for moisturizer and makeup application.

Consistency: This is also lightweight and is only slightly sticky.

Scent: Like the balancing moisturizer, this also has a faint soap-like fragrance.

Banila Co Dear Hydration Toner Ingredients:

Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Trehalose, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance(Parfum), Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, Yeast Extract, Propylene Glycol, Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract

Only 2 ingredients have been flagged by COSDNA as a potential irritant or acne-causing factors. These are alchol denat and butylene glycol.

There have been much debate about alcohol in toners, but according to truthinaging.com, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel says alcohol, particuarly alcohol denat, which you would find in this toner's ingredients list, is safe for skin products. The website also says "almost every type of skincare product lists it as an ingredient, particularly those specifically designed to treat acne."

Effect: This does help get rid of leftover dirt and makeup that don't go away with my makeup remover and facial wash. It also did not dry out my skin. I like how it helps me have a clean canvas for my sunscreen, moisturizer, and makeup.

Banila Co Dear Hydration Facial Mist Review

Many consider facial mist to be a luxury item, but for me this is a must-have because it helps keep my makeup from looking cakey and also has hydrating properties that help prevent dryness.

Consistency: It feels like you just sprayed a super fine water mist on your face. You will not see big droplets of water when you spray this on your skin and it evaporates quickly. This does not mess up your makeup. It is also not sticky.

Scent: This smells like the balancing moisturizer and the toner. It has a subtle clean, soap-like scent.

Banila Co Dear Hydration Facial Mist Ingredients:

 

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodeceth-16, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Fragrance(Parfum), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sucrose Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract, Yeast Extract

COSDNA flagged 3 ingredients here, namely: butylene glycol, alcohol denat and dimethicone.

Before and after using Banila Co's Dear Hydration Toner, Balancing Moisturizer, and Facial Mist. Right photo shows skin that is visibly smoother.

My overall experience with Banila Co Dear Hydration moisturizer, toner, and facial mist:

I enjoyed using Banila Co's Dear Hydration line as it has helped me get rid of dry patches and made makeup application smoother. To some extent, I think this has helped prevent whiteheads and occasional pimples due to dry skin. I tend to get more whiteheads when my skin is too dry. 

I find the balancing moisturizer to be moisturizing enough both for cold and hot and humid weather. But if you are looking for a cream, heavy type of moisturizer, the balancing moisturizer may not be for you. Try the boosting cream from this line instead.