Mixsoon H.C.T. Bubble Toner [150ml]

The unusual thing about this toner is that it arrives as foam. Mixsoon builds it on a set of very mild sugar- and glycerin-derived surfactants — polyglyceryl-4 caprate, decyl glucoside, polyglyceryl-10 laurate and coco-glucoside — so the product dispenses as a soft bubble cushion that collapses into a watery layer as it is patted in, and it is not rinsed off. That texture is the point: it spreads a hydrating, soothing layer across the face with almost no friction, which suits skin that is inflamed and sore to touch. Unlike the Bubble Cleanser in the same line, this formula carries no salicylic acid and no citric acid at all — it is the purely calming member of the H.C.T. family, with tea tree leaf extract and houttuynia cordata extract at 10,290 ppm each and centella asiatica extract at 10,185 ppm, plus camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf water, licorice-derived dipotassium glycyrrhizate and vitamin E. H.C.T. is Mixsoon's abbreviation for Heartleaf, Centella and Jeju Tea tree.

Key Benefits

• No AHA, BHA, retinol or vitamin C anywhere in the list — this is a soothing toner, so it can be used on the nights when an active routine is being rested, and alongside other treatments without acid-on-acid stacking.
• Houttuynia cordata extract (10,290 ppm) and centella asiatica extract (10,185 ppm) are the redness-calming core, the pairing Korean formulators reach for on reactive, blemish-prone skin.
• Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf extract at 10,290 ppm brings the clarifying side of the trio without a drying alcohol carrier.
• Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf water replaces part of the water phase with a polyphenol-rich green tea infusion — an antioxidant layer rather than plain aqua.
• Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, the water-soluble licorice root derivative, is a well-known anti-irritant used specifically for visible redness.
• Tocopherol (vitamin E) closes the list as a lipid-soluble antioxidant.
• Glycerin, dipropylene glycol and diglycerin build a layered humectant base, so the foam leaves skin genuinely damp rather than evaporating off.
• Alcohol-free, paraben-free and free of added fragrance and essential oil, with a light non-comedogenic-style profile that suits fungal-acne-cautious and sensitive-skin assortments.
• 150 ml in a foam pump gives a high number of applications per bottle — strong cost-per-use for a wholesale K-beauty range.

When to Use

Morning and evening, immediately after cleansing while the face is still slightly damp, as the first hydrating step before essence, serum, moisturiser and — in the morning — sunscreen. It is the step to reach for when skin is irritated rather than merely dry: post-shave redness, flushed cheeks after sun and heat, the tender skin around a healing breakout, or the tightness that follows a stronger acid or retinoid night. Because it contains no exfoliating acids, it can be used every single day, on the same day as an active treatment, and on the recovery days in between. It layers cleanly under niacinamide, panthenol and hyaluronic acid serums. Suitable for oily, combination, sensitive and blemish-prone skin; very dry skin will want a richer cream layered over it.

How to Use

Hold the bottle upright and press the pump once or twice into a clean palm — it dispenses a dense white foam rather than a liquid. Do not add water. Spread the foam over the whole face with the flats of the fingers, then pat lightly until the bubbles break down and the layer turns watery and clear; keep patting for another ten to fifteen seconds until nothing is left sitting on the surface. It is a leave-on toner — do not rinse. For a stronger calming effect on a red patch, dispense foam onto a cotton pad, press the pad flat over the area and leave it for three to five minutes before removing. Follow with essence and moisturiser. Use twice daily; there is no need to build up gradually.

Key Ingredients

• Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract (10,290 ppm) — the T of H.C.T., Jeju tea tree; the K-beauty standard for congested, oily and blemish-prone skin.
• Houttuynia Cordata Extract (10,290 ppm) — heartleaf, the H of H.C.T. and Mixsoon's house soothing botanical, associated with calming visible redness.
• Centella Asiatica Extract (10,185 ppm) — cica, the C of H.C.T.; the most widely used barrier-soothing botanical in Korean skincare.
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water — green tea leaf water, a polyphenol-carrying antioxidant water phase.
• Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate — licorice root derivative, a recognised anti-irritant for reddened, sensitive skin.
• Tocopherol (vitamin E) — antioxidant and formula stabiliser.
• Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Diglycerin — the layered humectant system that gives the collapsed foam its hydrating, non-tacky finish.
• Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate — very mild polyglyceryl surfactants and solubilisers that generate the foam texture.
• Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside — non-ionic sugar-derived surfactants among the gentlest available, completing the bubble system.
• Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin — the preservative-booster and conditioning system, allowing a paraben-free formula.
• Disodium EDTA — chelator that keeps the formula stable against hard-water minerals.

Precautions

No sun-sensitivity warning applies to this toner — it contains no AHA, BHA, retinol or vitamin C. Two things are still worth flagging. It foams because of its surfactants, so keep it out of the eyes and rinse with water if any gets in; it is a leave-on product for the face only, not an eye cleanser. And although tea tree here is a water-based leaf extract rather than tea tree essential oil, anyone with a known Melaleuca or Asteraceae-family sensitivity should approach it carefully. Do not apply to broken, cracked or sunburned skin. Patch test on the inner forearm or behind the ear before the first full-face use, particularly on very reactive or newly sensitised skin, and stop using it if redness, itching, stinging or any other unusual irritation develops — consult a dermatologist if it does not settle. Close the pump firmly, store away from direct sunlight and high heat, and keep out of reach of children.