NOTE: This review has been updated on 12/07/2025 with information on the latest version of this toner.
I never understood why women use toner. It may help remove the last traces of impurities left on your skin, but what does that say about your cleanser? Some toners hydrate skin, but if you need more moisture, why not switch to a richer moisturizer? And don’t get me started on astringents. They dry out my skin like crazy, and irritate it too.
So, I’m not exactly eager to add a toner to my skincare routine. Maybe that’s it took me so long to try Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion. Did it make me change my mind about toners? Sadly, not. Here’s why:
What’s In Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion?
GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
The beast of this toner is Glycerin, which is usually the main ingredients in any hydrating products. For a reason/.This moisture magnet attracts and binds water to the skin, increasing its moisture content. All that extra moisture makes your skin so plump and soft.
Related: What Is Glycerin & Why Is It In All My Skincare Products?
CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN) EXTRACT TO SLOW DOWN WATER LOSS
Don’t let the long name scare you. It’s a red algae that grows in the rocky parts of the Atlantic coast of Europe. It’s full of carrageenans, a group of substances that create a barrier on the skin that prevents water loss. The more moisture stays into your skin, the softer and suppler it gets.
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Aqua (Water): Universal solvent that dissolves other ingredients and forms the base of the formula.
- Trehalose: Sugar-based humectant and antioxidant that helps skin retain moisture and fend off oxidative stress.
- PPG-26-Buteth-26: Emulsifier/solubiliser that keeps oils and fragrance evenly dispersed in water-based products.
- Phenoxyethanol: Broad-spectrum preservative that protects against bacteria, yeast and mould.
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: Non-ionic surfactant and solubiliser that improves the clarity and stability of fragranced formulas.
- Carbomer: Thickening polymer that creates smooth gels and stabilises emulsions.
- Chlorphenesin: Antimicrobial preservative that helps curb bacterial and fungal growth.
- Benzyl Alcohol: Multifunctional aromatic alcohol used as a preservative, solvent and fragrance component. May cause irritations.
- Parfum (Fragrance): Proprietary scent blend that gives the product its characteristic aroma. Can cause irritations, especially in sensitive skin.
- Xanthan Gum: Natural polysaccharide that thickens, stabilises and suspends particles for a uniform texture.
- Disodium EDTA: Chelating agent that binds metal ions, boosting preservative effectiveness and overall stability.
- Ethylhexylglycerin: Skin-conditioning agent and preservative booster that enhances antimicrobial performance.
- Butylene Glycol: Humectant, solvent and penetration enhancer that improves ingredient absorption and texture.
- Laminaria Digitata Extract: Brown sea-kelp extract rich in minerals and polysaccharides; soothes, hydrates and replenishes skin.
- Sodium Hydroxide: Alkali used in tiny amounts to adjust and balance the product’s pH.
- Dehydroacetic Acid: Mild preservative effective against fungi and many bacteria.
- Sodium Carrageenan: Seaweed-derived thickener and stabiliser that imparts a silky, cohesive gel feel.
- Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract: Red-algae extract that forms a moisture-retaining film and adds skin-softening minerals.
- Ulva Lactuca (listed as “Ulva Lactic”) Extract: Green “sea-lettuce” extract packed with trace elements; helps moisturise and defend skin.
- Citric Acid: pH adjuster and gentle alpha-hydroxy acid that fine-tunes acidity and can aid surface renewal.
- Sodium Benzoate: Preservative that inhibits growth of yeast, mould and some bacteria.
- Limonene: Naturally occurring citrus fragrance molecule that adds a fresh scent (and can act as a solvent). It can be irritating.
- Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone: Synthetic fragrance note with soft floral-woody nuances. Like all fragrance ingredients, it can be irritating.
- Eugenol: Spicy, clove-like fragrance component that also offers antioxidant properties. It’s another common irritant.
- Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract: Baikal skullcap root rich in flavonoids; provides antioxidant and calming benefits.
- CI 14700 (Red 4): Water-soluble synthetic red colourant that gives the product its hue.
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E): Antioxidant that helps protect both the formula and the skin from free-radical damage
Texture
It’s one of those textures that feels fancy without trying: super light, a bit runny, but with just enough slip to feel luxe. Kind of like a gel that melted into water. It glides on smooth, soaks in fast, and leaves your skin feeling soft and calm without any stickiness or film. Just fresh, clean, and quietly hydrating.
Fragrance
It smells like skincare that’s trying to be a bit fancy.Clean, a little floral, kind of that fresh-out-the-spa vibe. Not in-your-face strong, but not totally invisible either. You’ll catch a whiff when you put it on, then it chills out and fades fast. If you’re picky about fragrance, you’ll notice it, but it’s more “nice background noise” than “loud perfume explosion.”
Packaging
Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion comes in a large bottle with a pump dispenser. It’s much more practical than the smaller sample size I have.
How To Use It
Pour a bit into your hand (not too much: it’s runny), then pat or swipe it onto clean skin with your fingers or a cotton pad. You can use it morning and night, right after cleansing and before serums or moisturiser. It’s basically your “prep” step, like giving your skin a soft drink before the main course. If your skin’s feeling irritated or dry, you can even do a couple layers to really soak it in.
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Performance & Personal Opinion
Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion is one of the most disappointing products I’ve tried. It’s true I never expect much from toners, but I do expect something. I got nothing. It was the same as applying water on my skin… Could it be it just doesn’t agree with my skin type?
Maria Galland says the lotion is for normal and sensitive skin that tends to be dry. Mine is combination tending to dry during the colder winter months. Maybe for dry skin, the tiny amount of extra hydration this toner provides would make a difference. For me, it didn’t. As I said, my skin wasn’t noticeably softer and smoother when I used it. I also didn’t find it soothing, but then my skin rarely gets irritated. Overall, nothing special here.
Related: How To Treat Combination Skin
What I Like About Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion
- The texture is light, silky, and refreshing without being sticky or greasy.
- It layers well and doesn’t pill when used with other skincare or makeup.
- Sleek and high-end packaging
What I DON’T Like About Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion
- It basically did nothing for my skin. No real hydration, no visible softness, no soothing effect.
- The fragrance, while subtle, still feels unnecessary in a product meant for sensitive skin.
- It’s expensive for what is essentially a very lightly scented water.
- Just not worth it if your skin needs more than a whisper of hydration.
Who Should Use This?
I’m afraid everyone would find this underwhelming. You may as well splash water on your skin.
Does Maria Galland Silky Soft Lotion Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIMS | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Intensively moisturising and soothing the skin. | It doesn’t provide that much hydration and soothing care. |
| A softly melting gel texture. | More runny than gel. |
| pH 5.0 – 5.5: restores the natural pH level of the skin to preserve the cutaneous ecosystem. | Most skincare products are formulated at this pH, so this isn’t anything special. |
Price & Availability
€35 at Maria Galland
Do You Need It?
If we’re being real… nah, probably not. It feels nice, sure, but that’s about it. Unless your skin is super dry and just needs something light to make your routine feel a bit fancier, you won’t miss this. There are plenty of other toners that actually do something. This one’s more of a “feels nice in the moment” than a “wow, my skin looks better” kind of product.
Aqua, Glycerin, Trehalose, PPG-26-Buteth-26 • Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Carrageenan, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ulva Lactic Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Eugenol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, CI 14700 (Red 4), Tocopherol
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
