Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner for mature skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Ceramides
Panthenol
Sodium HyaluronateHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few toners fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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
- This product offers excellent hydration and addresses your concerns of wrinkles and fine lines due to high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate for moisturizing, alongside niacinamide and adenosine to promote collagen production and skin elasticity.
- Its formulation is highly suitable for your normal skin, with niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate working to provide humectant action and barrier repair.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like chamomile flower extract.
How to apply
- You can use this hydrating toner AM and PM every day to keep your skin smooth. Always pair with SPF in the morning to protect your skin.
- Apply your hydrating toner right after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better and lock in moisture.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 10.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is highly recommended for oily and combination skin types, effectively controlling sebum and providing lightweight hydration without a sticky feel. Users frequently report smoother skin texture and a noticeable reduction in pore appearance. Some users find pore size reduction to be highly effective, while others report minimal changes. A small number of users experienced breakouts or irritation, and some felt the product was too expensive for the results achieved.
Highlights
Lightweight hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Provides an internal level of hydration without leaving any heavy finish.”
- “Absorbed into the skin almost immediately.”
- “It is so watery... does not leave any finish whatsoever.”
- “Lightweight liquid formula feels weightless on skin.”
Balances oily skin Often Mentioned
- “It works great to balance oil and is very refreshing, especially in the summer.”
- “Helps control excess oil and shine temporarily.”
- “My skin is less oily and drier areas smooth out.”
- “Decent oil control, I blot my face less.”
Smoothes skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Makes my skin softer.”
- “Skin is more even, smooth, moisturized.”
- “My skin just feels fresh... smoother and brighter.”
- “Helps to remove skin flaking.”
Minimizes pore appearance Sometimes Noted
- “In 2 weeks I saw major improvement in pore size.”
- “My pores have gotten smaller.”
- “The impact on reducing my pores is amazing!”
- “My fave looks airbrushed when I use this regularly.”
Ineffective on pores Sometimes Noted
- “Did not notice any difference in my pores.”
- “Promise of pore minimization feels more like a marketing tactic.”
- “Limited impact on pores.”
- “Blackheads are almost the same.”
Causes breakouts/irritation Rarely Noted
- “My cystic acne in the jaw line has come back.”
- “Irritated skin, stung on application.”
- “Experienced little bumps coming up in my skin.”
Packaging leaks Rarely Noted
- “Spilled all inside the packaging.”
- “Pump had slightly come off.”
- “It was messy.”
Pricey for value Rarely Noted
- “I don't see the price tag as justifiable.”
- “Over-priced... just a good toner.”
- “Expensive for the amount that you get.”
- “Results aren't remarkable enough to justify the higher price.”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, paulaschoice.com, paulaschoice-eu.com, dermstore.com, sephora.sg, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Toner a great fit for mature skin?
This toner is a great fit because it uses high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to deeply moisturize, alongside niacinamide and adenosine to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. It is very safe and gentle for mature skin, relying on soothing chamomile flower extract and ceramides to repair the skin barrier without causing irritation.
Scientific Reports, 2024International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for mature skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide deep moisture, while niacinamide and adenosine help smooth lines and wrinkles on mature skin. Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate also support the skin barrier, keeping it soft and healthy.
Scientific Reports, 2024International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
What does Niacinamide do for mature skin?
Niacinamide helps mature skin by smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, reducing dark spots, and improving overall skin elasticity. It is also very well tolerated and supports a strong skin barrier to keep skin looking healthy.
What does Glycerin do for mature skin?
Glycerin helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth by drawing moisture into the outer layer and locking it in. This daily hydration boost supports the skin barrier, keeping dry areas comfortable and protected against irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This toner goes in your morning routine right after cleansing and before your moisturizer, and in your weekly routine after cleansing as well. It helps hydrate mature skin and softens the look of fine lines.
Scientific Reports, 2024International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to hydrate and prep your skin before your retinol product. Using a moisturizing toner with barrier-repairing ingredients helps smooth your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with stronger treatments.
How often should I use this toner?
This hydrating toner is a great fit for your mature skin and can be used daily in the morning as part of your regular routine. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide deep moisture, while niacinamide and adenosine help smooth fine lines and support elasticity.
Scientific Reports, 2024International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin because it has a very safe formula free of harsh ingredients and includes soothing chamomile. Reviewers rarely report any irritation or breakouts, and it helps keep your skin calm and smooth.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches showed similar or better efficacy on skin wrinkles, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration compared to adenosine cream in 22 female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Horse oil-spread and adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches significantly improved skin elasticity, hydration, dermal density, and wrinkles compared with adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches in 20 women without causing adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2005A 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, 2001Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Chamomile Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Pca, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oleth-10, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.