Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion for oily acne-prone skin
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
Witch Hazel Extract
Microbiote Complex
Aquatic Plant Extracts
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansing toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this product contains Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, which help regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, offering moderate cleansing and pore decongestion.
- Glycerin and Saccharide Isomerate provide general hydration and soothing benefits, supporting your skin's overall health.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your cleansing toner 3 times a week, and move to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your cleansing toner after cleansing, and before using your moisturizer or SPF. This fits smoothly right into your daily skin care steps.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the cleansing toner into your skin. Avoid rubbing it and let it absorb for a minute before layering other products.
- Apply the cleansing toner on dry skin for better tolerance against blemishes and breakouts. Clean and dry skin helps the product work best for oily types.
- Avoid the eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use and pair with SPF in the morning.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with combination to oily skin generally praise this alcohol-free toner for its ability to control shine and refine pores without stripping moisture. A significant portion of long-time customers express disappointment with the reformulation, citing a polarizing scent and a stickier finish compared to the discontinued "Iris" version.
Highlights
Controls oil & shine Often Mentioned
- “Mattifies T-zone”
- “reduces sebum”
- “keeps skin shine-free”
Refreshing & gentle Often Mentioned
- “Feels clean”
- “non-drying”
- “soothing”
- “alcohol-free formula”
Reformulation disappointment Often Mentioned
- “Inferior to "Iris" toner”
- “miss the old formula”
- “"why change it"”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like "wet dog"”
- “rotting leaves”
- “overpowering fragrance”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Removes leftover makeup”
- “clears residue”
- “leaves skin pristine”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Spa-like fragrance”
- “fresh floral notes”
- “fruity aroma”
Refines pores Sometimes Noted
- “Tightens pores”
- “improves texture”
- “minimizes pore appearance”
Poor packaging design Sometimes Noted
- “Opening too wide”
- “pours too fast”
- “wastes product”
Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves tacky film”
- “feels heavy”
- “not fully absorbing”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “stinging”
- “redness”
- “allergic reaction”
Sources: lovi.care, clarinsusa.com, macys.com, boots.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion work for oily acne-prone skin?
Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, helping to regulate oil and calm inflammation while keeping the skin safe from irritation. However, this skin type needs products with potent exfoliating acids like BHA or salicylic acid to deeply clear pores and prevent breakouts.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract help regulate oil and reduce inflammation for your oily skin. This toner also needs potent BHA formulations, exfoliating acids like salicylic and glycolic acid, and clarifying botanical extracts to better target acne and breakouts.
What does Meadowsweet Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Meadowsweet extract helps balance oil and soothe breakouts, making it a great match for oily, acne-prone skin. It gently calms redness and helps keep pores clear to prevent new blemishes from forming.
What does Saffron Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Saffron Extract helps hydrate the skin while remaining stable in formulations designed for daily use. A product of this type for oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy moisturizing ingredients that boost moisture without clogging pores.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner goes in your evening routine as a cleansing step after makeup removal and cleansing, and before your treatment and moisturizer. To better fit oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that regulate sebum and clear pores.
Can I use it with salicylic acid, and in what order?
You can use this toner with salicylic acid by applying the acid first, waiting for it to dry, and then using the toner to hydrate and soothe your oily skin. This product of this type needs pore-clearing acids and oil-balancing ingredients like witch hazel extract and meadowsweet extract to properly target breakouts on acne-prone skin.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner in the evening as part of your routine for oily acne-prone skin, while other products may fit your skin better. To work well for this skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that regulate oil and soothe pores like Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has an excellent safety profile and contains soothing ingredients with no harsh additives. However, because it only offers moderate pore decongestion, oily acne-prone skin often works better with a product that includes stronger acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Hamamelis bark proanthocyanidins strongly increased the proliferation of cultured human keratinocytes and reduced transepidermal water loss and erythema formation in SLS-irritated skin, whereas the polysaccharide fraction had no effect.
Phytochemistry, 2001A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Chemical profiling and in vitro screening of Filipendula ulmaria extract and centrifugal partition chromatography fractions on Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes identified 28 compounds, with specific fractions upregulating genes related to skin barrier function, epidermal renewal, and stress responses.
Molecules, 2023Oral and topical botanical products containing ingredients like ashwagandha, saffron, l-theanine, and tocopherol reduced facial redness and pigmentation and improved sleep and certain mood parameters in healthy females with sensitive skin compared to baseline.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022Topical water-in-oil cream containing 3% Crocus sativus extract demonstrated absolute physical stability across various storage conditions and produced a significant increase in skin moisture and changes in transepidermal water loss compared to the base in human volunteers.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014Topical cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract increased LOXL1 expression twofold, decreased elafin synthesis, restored functional elastic fibers, reduced nonfunctional elastin aggregates, decreased wrinkles, and improved skin firmness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Witch hazel bark extract and hamamelitannin showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, supported keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay, and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, whereas their skin microbiota metabolite ellagic acid stimulated inflammatory mediator release.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025Hamamelis virginiana bark extract inhibited Cutibacterium acnes-induced IL-6 release and TNF-α-induced IL-8 release in human keratinocytes without showing antibacterial or antibiofilm activities.
Antioxidants, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maris Aqua Sea Water Eau De Mer, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium Edta, Potassium Sorbate, Phenylpropanol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
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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