Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner for acne-prone skin
Green Fusion Complex
Salicylic Acid
Neem Seed Oil
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Superior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best toners for acne-prone skin.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
- The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin and acne concerns is provided by gluconolactone, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, which effectively decongest pores, smooth texture, and control oil production.
- Glycerin and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract offer hydration and soothing benefits, complementing the exfoliating acids for balanced results.
- The formula is safe for your acne-prone skin, featuring Witch Hazel Water and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to minimize irritation risks.
How to apply
- You can use this exfoliating toner in your PM routine. Start by using it 1 time per week and increase slowly if your skin is happy.
- Apply your exfoliating toner right after cleansing and before your moisturizing steps. This helps your skin stay clean and clear.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid rubbing to keep your face calm.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best comfort. Let it dry for a minute ⏱ before moving on.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid putting the product too close to your eyes.
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
What makes Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner one of the best fits for acne-prone skin?
This toner is a top fit for acne-prone skin because a blend of glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and gluconolactone effectively clears out pores, smooths rough texture, and controls excess oil. At the same time, glycerin and green tea extract provide soothing hydration while witch hazel helps keep irritation risks low.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This toner is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it contains glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and gluconolactone, which clear out pores, smooth rough texture, and control extra oil. Additionally, ingredients like glycerin and green tea extract help keep your skin calm and hydrated while the exfoliating acids do their work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
What does Green Fusion Complex do for acne-prone skin?
Green Fusion Complex helps calm acne-prone skin by targeting blemish-causing bacteria and reducing redness and swelling. Plant-based ingredients like green tea and other botanical extracts are shown to significantly decrease both red bumps and clogged pores over several weeks.
Phytotherapy Research, 2021The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2021
What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an acne-prone skin routine in the evening after cleansing, starting at once a week. People who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol by using them on alternate nights to help prevent excessive dryness or irritation. When using them in the same routine, apply the toner first to clean skin, let it dry completely, and follow with your retinol product.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this exfoliating toner just once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps prevent irritation while giving the acids time to clear pores and control oil.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because its salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconolactone clear out pores, smooth out rough texture, and keep oil under control. The formula is very safe for this skin type and is unlikely to cause new breakouts, though active exfoliating ingredients may cause some initial purging as they clear things out. Glycerin and green tea extract also help calm your skin and keep it comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A 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, 2020Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Hamamelis 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, 2001Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Combined 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
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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
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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