Shiseido’s toner-like product recommended for oily skin is their Pureness Balancing Softener. Step 3 of the 3-step Pureness line, if you will. (Step 1 reviewed here.) According to Shiseido, it is an, ” alcohol-free lotion that brings new radiance, softness, and balance to blemish-prone skin. Lightly rehydrates and leaves skin smooth and comfortable.” Why does Shiseido have an aversion to the word ‘toner’? I don’t know. The Pureness Balancing Softener isn’t a softener or a lotion — it’s toner.

First, I’ll have to spare you any home-shot images. The Pureness 3-step line basically looks like this, but the packaging is blue and the words are different.

After cleansing your skin, you apply the toner with a cotton ball evenly over your face. Nothing too crazy. The toner definitely does its job of prepping your skin for the next step (moisturizer) by removing any excess oil or makeup that your cleanser fails to pick up. All this without drying your skin out. A+, I say.

The only qualm against it that I have is that it’s costly for toner at $24 USD. Of the three steps, the toner goes out fast so there goes the ‘little goes a long way’ card to justify purchase. If you do have money to blow and oily skin, I’d say go for it.

Score: 4/5

For more information or to purchase, head here.

Disclaimer: A product sample was provided to me for review purposes-only. The opinions of this review are 100% my own.