Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner for dry skin
Green Fusion Complex
Salicylic Acid
Neem Seed Oil
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Warning
- WarningDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the toners 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry skin due to the presence of gluconolactone, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and exacerbate dryness.
- While the formula is free of harsh ingredients and safe for your dry skin, the keratolytic action of these acids makes it highly unsuitable for your primary concern of dryness.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner as part of your PM routine once a week to start. If your skin is happy, you can slowly use it more often.
- Apply this exfoliating toner right after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. This keeps your skin care steps in the right order.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it soak in for a minute before the next step.
- Put the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin to help it work best. Avoid rubbing so your face stays calm and happy.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★3.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this toner was a favorite for very oily and acne-prone skin, effectively controlling oil and clearing pores. However, it was often too harsh, drying, and heavily fragranced for sensitive or combination skin types.
Highlights
Excellent oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “keeps oils at bay”
- “instantly mattifies”
- “controls shine all day”
Pore & acne clearing Often Mentioned
- “cleared all blackheads”
- “refines pores”
- “helps clear up acne”
Overpowering scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like insecticide”
- “strong eucalyptus scent”
- “smells like DEET”
Strong sensation Often Mentioned
- “stings a little”
- “burns upon application”
- “unbearably irritating”
Deep cleaning Sometimes Noted
- “removes residual dirt”
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “purifies skin”
Refreshing sensation Sometimes Noted
- “feels refreshing”
- “cooling effect”
- “invigorated skin”
Drying/Stripping Sometimes Noted
- “stripped my skin”
- “made me more oily”
- “tight dry feeling”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “weird residue”
- “sticky finish”
- “tacky feeling”
Sources: lovi.care, skinsort.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, totalbeauty.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against the Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner for dry skin?
This exfoliating toner is a poor match because its acids can strip your dry skin of its natural oils and worsen dryness. Dry skin needs products with effective hydrating ingredients and soothing extracts that add essential moisture without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for dry skin?
Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and gluconolactone make this toner a poor fit because they strip natural oils and worsen dryness. Dry skin needs products with soothing extracts, aloe, and sodium hyaluronate to keep skin soft and provide essential moisture.
What does Green Fusion Complex do for dry skin?
Green Fusion Complex helps dry skin by boosting hydration and making the skin feel soft and smooth. Because this product is a weak fit for dry skin, a product of this type needs richer plant oils and soothing ingredients to properly care for dry skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?
Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliating toner is a poor match for your dry skin because its acids can strip natural oils and worsen dryness. Dry skin needs a gentle routine focused on mild cleansers, hydrating toners, and rich moisturizers to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You should avoid using this exfoliating toner on dry skin because its acids may strip away natural oils and worsen dryness. Instead, dry skin needs hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts to keep the face soft and smooth.
How often should I use this toner?
This toner is a poor match for your dry skin because its acids can strip natural oils and worsen dryness. Dry skin needs a gentle hydrating toner that uses soothing, moisture-binding ingredients instead of exfoliating acids.
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 acids may strip away your natural oils and make your dryness much worse. Dry skin needs a gentle hydrating toner with soothing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid instead of strong exfoliating acids.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Combined topical Neem oil and oral Haridra powder achieved 50% wound healing in 70% of patients with chronic non-healing wounds after 8 weeks, outperforming either monotherapy.
Ayu, 2014Neem oil loaded phospholipid vesicles modified with argan oil protected keratinocytes and fibroblasts from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and improved cell proliferation and migration to promote wound healing compared to untreated cells.
Antioxidants, 2021Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Polysorbate 20, Witch Hazel Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Oleth-20, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Menthyl Lactate, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Peppermint Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract Kelp Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linolenic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium Gluconate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Limonene
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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