Erno Laszlo VTM Micro-Essence, Travel Size | Restorative Facial Lotion | Formulated to Rejuvenate Dry, Damaged Skin | Refines Pores & Improves Texture | 1.7 Fl Oz

This Laszlo VTM Micro-Essence is a luxe product in a particularly pretty black and white glass bottle. This alcohol free essence lotion feels comfortable to my dry and sensitive skin. I’ve used it daily a couple weeks and it doesn’t sting or make my skin feel tight or irritated. This has a light to moderate flowery fragrance, but it smells good and doesn’t trigger headaches or allergies despite sensitivities to some fragrance. I use this essence lotion after cleansing and skip a toner as this preps my dry skin well. I always follow with a serum (usually Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid) to target my specific skin concerns.The essence is a mix of water and oils and is liquidy but has a thick, gel-like consistency with little pink bubbles that look like oil suspensions. I shake it lightly and usually apply it with my fingertips to pat this essence into my skin. It can be applied with a cotton round but my skin feels dry easily, so I prefer leaving this hydrating essence on my skin and only use it on a cotton wipe on infrequent occasions when my skin still feels like it has residual makeup after cleansing. This essence absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave any sticky or tacky residue.I flinders this refreshing and feel it benefits my dry skin as it’s soothing and hydrating. Also, despite having dry skin, I still get some congested pores in the nose and chin areas at times and feel like this essence clarifies and tightens my pores so they appear smaller; it benefits me like a toner except it’s not strong or drying. I feel like my skin feels soft and smooth, and it also looks brighter and lightly dewy after use. While this essence could do without chemical fragrance and red dye, I do find the aesthetic pleasing on top of enjoying the benefits. Love it. 5 stars.Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Propanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Castor Oil/IPDI Copolymer, Carbomer, Parfum (Fragrance), Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hydroxide, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Octocrylene, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Saccharide Isomerate, Homosalate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Amodimethicone, Tocopherol, Octyldodecanol, Copper Gluconate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 15880

Erno Laszlo is a brand that feels a little nostalgic. It's been around for almost 100 years, and is still sold in high-end department stores and Sephora, plus their own stores. A few years ago, they came out with a new line of cosmetics for younger women with a light diffusing foundation that was AHMAZING. Trouble is, they ditched the line after only 2 months because it didn't catch on fast enough, and that's when I learned that the brand can be very flighty. They drop lines quickly and change directions for their target customer base -- older women or younger women. I hated seeing great products dumped before they even had a chance to find a following, and stopped using them altogether. This is the first product I've seen since. It really spoke to me, so I ordered it.The VTM Micro Essence, Pink, Fresh/Sweet/Lightly Floral is signature Erno Laszlo. A gorgeous, glass bottle and pink emulsified toner using a new technology that suspends oil drops in gel. I prefer the method of "hand patting" the thicker toner on skin rather than applying with a cotton square. The light, floral scent is feminine and soft, but still too strong for me. This is an issue with several premium skincare lines. At least this one isn't as strong as some brands, like Lancome. I'm not usually a fan of fragranced skincare because fragrance is a major cause of allergic reaction. Meadowfoam and Raspberry Oil can also cause allergic reactions, so I'm very cautious with testing the essence. I got tired of smelling it after just 5 minutes. The ingredients, however, are more trendy with botanical oils, marine extract, and I assume the fragrance is from the heavily scented Madonna Lily that was actually added to even out skin tone.It's very nice for the right woman who likes everything it has to offer, but I always question whether a toner is worth almost $100. Yes, it's lightweight, absorbs well to smooth/nourish/firm skin. Still ... I can't overlook the fragrance or addition of sunflower seed oil (a cheap skin oil that I dislike even if I wasn't allergic to it). I would definitely have rated it higher without either one of those letdowns. Not to mention that I have no other Laszlo skincare to pair with this toner, and it's never optimal to mix lines, especially one with so many trigger ingredients and high fragrance. Lovely, but not for me and my sensitive, allergy-prone skin.