La Mer The Oil Absorbing Tonic for dry skin
Algae Extract
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Glycerin
NiacinCaution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the products alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Low suitability for dry skin as alcohol denat and aluminum chlorohydrate can be drying and strip natural oils, offering limited benefits for hydration.
- While it offers moderate mattifying for oily skin due to caffeine and aluminum chlorohydrate, the drying ingredients make it unsuitable for your dry skin concerns.
How to apply
- Use this toner AM and PM every day to help with dry or flaky skin. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer to keep your skin soft.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the toner into your skin and let it absorb. Avoid rubbing.
- Apply the toner on slightly damp skin to help with moisture absorption.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this luxury toner is highly effective for oily and acne-prone skin, with many users reporting significant oil reduction and fewer breakouts. Some users find it soothing and refreshing, and a little goes a long way. However, the strong alcohol scent and high price are frequently mentioned drawbacks, and a moderate number of users experience irritation or find it too drying.
Highlights
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “Controls my oil without overdrying”
- “Provides a really nice natural matte finish”
- “Absorb the excess oils that would lead to breakouts.”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “Not worth the price”
- “Too expensive”
- “Waste of money if you don't need it.”
Strong alcohol smell Often Mentioned
- “Strongest alcohol stench I have smelt”
- “Smells extremely bad”
- “Definitely pick up an alcohol scent.”
Reduces breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Black heads are visibly reduced”
- “Significantly reduces excess sebum that can lead to adult breakouts”
- “Helps to shrink [zits] and bring it down within a couple of days.”
Soothing and refreshing Sometimes Noted
- “Feels really refreshing on the skin”
- “Soothes my skin and is a good prep”
- “Leaves a soft veil of clarity.”
Causes irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Burned my skin”
- “Drying the skin out”
- “Too harsh for my combination skin.”
Long-lasting value Rarely Noted
- “Consumed only a little amount”
- “Going to last me a few good months”
- “One bottle can last around 4 months.”
Inconvenient packaging Rarely Noted
- “Bottle has a cap and not a pump”
- “Hard to get the exact amount”
- “Prefer bottles with pumps.”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, chicprofile.com, beautybulletin.com, dailymusings.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with La Mer The Oil Absorbing Tonic for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because alcohol denat and aluminum chlorohydrate can be drying and strip natural oils, offering limited benefits for hydration. A toner for dry skin needs highly effective, soothing ingredients that provide significant hydration, skin barrier support, and nourishment without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for dry skin?
Alcohol denat and aluminum chlorohydrate make this toner a poor fit because they can be drying and strip natural oils from dry skin. A toner for dry skin needs soothing ingredients that provide significant hydration and support skin barrier health without irritation, such as propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, and peptides.
What does Algae Extract do for dry skin?
Algae extract helps keep dry skin soft by boosting hydration and protecting the skin barrier. It may also improve skin elasticity and smooth out rough areas while providing antioxidant benefits.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 2017
What does Laminaria Digitata Extract do for dry skin?
Laminaria Digitata Extract helps keep dry skin hydrated and smooth. This ingredient supports moisture balance and improves overall skin quality to keep your face feeling soft and comfortable.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You should use caution applying this toner with retinol on dry skin because alcohol and aluminum chlorohydrate may strip natural oils and increase dryness. If you still choose to use them together, apply this toner first and follow with your retinol after the skin is completely dry. A product for dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing botanical oils instead of drying components.
How often should I use this toner?
You should use caution with this toner on dry skin because alcohol and aluminum chlorohydrate can strip natural oils and cause dryness. A product for this skin needs gentle hydrators like glycerin and nourishing plant extracts to keep it soft and comfortable.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, but its alcohol and drying ingredients may strip your natural oils and worsen dryness. A toner for dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like extra glycerin and soothing plant extracts instead of drying agents.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.
Marine Drugs, 2022A skincare regimen containing Macrocystis pyrifera ferment consisting of a cleansing foam, a serum, and a moisturizer decreases the visible effects of inflammation and aging while promoting healing and improving patient satisfaction.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Macrocystis pyrifera ferment-containing creams decrease visible inflammation and signs of aging while enhancing barrier resilience and recovery.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Aqueous extracts from Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica exhibited antiviral activity against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2, and topical formulations significantly reduced the severity and duration of HSV-1 skin lesions in an animal model compared to mock treatment and acyclovir.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020Topical application of sesame oil combined with standard care significantly reduced infusion-related phlebitis in adults compared to a control condition, with a risk ratio of 0.54.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025Sesamol loaded silver nanoparticles gel showed a twofold increase in skin permeation and higher antioxidant activity compared to conventional formulations, demonstrating potential for topical wound healing delivery.
Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2024Treatment with moderately ozonated sesame oil accelerates cutaneous wound closure and enhances cell response, angiogenesis, and VEGF and cyclin D1 expression in SKH1 mice compared to oil with lower or higher peroxide values and controls.
Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2011A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
Ingredients
Declustered Water, Water, Eau De-Structuree, Alcohol Denat, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Algae Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal Seed, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sucrose, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Algin, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Triethanolamine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caffeine, Parfum, Disodium Edta-Copper, Green 5 Ci 61570, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Mica, Blue 1 Ci 42090, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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