Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner for oily skin
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Sodium Hyaluronate
Vitamin E
NiacinamideAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 suitability for your oily skin as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide excellent hydration, but it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to fully address oily shine.
- Allantoin and tocopherol offer soothing benefits, supporting your skin's overall health without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in your AM and PM routine every day to keep skin fresh.
- Apply this product after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb.
- Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers frequently note its rich, milky texture provides immediate relief from flakiness and tightness, leaving skin feeling plump and soothed without heaviness.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin is so hydrated”
- “no longer dry/flaking”
- “milky and moisturizing texture”
- “relieves that tightness”
Calms redness Often Mentioned
- “cleared out 90% of the redness”
- “calms down any irritation”
- “soothes redness and sensitivity”
Gentle texture Sometimes Noted
- “milky texture”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “doesn't feel sticky”
- “feels like a liquid lotion”
Repairs skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “repair their barrier”
- “skin feels instantly nourished”
- “restores comfort”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “texture on my forehead”
- “stinging burning sensation”
- “caused irritation”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey for a toner”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
- “not hydrating enough”
- “thin toners don't work”
- “need more moisture”
- “still felt dry”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “comes out very quickly”
- “spills easily”
- “hard to control amount”
- “messy bottle”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice-eu.com, makeupalley.com, dermstore.com, influenster.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Paula's Choice Enriched Calming Toner work for oily skin?
This toner works moderately well for oily skin because sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide great hydration, but it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to fully address oily shine. It is safe and soothing without causing breakouts, though oily skin ultimately needs oil-controlling agents to manage shine effectively.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this toner a good fit by providing effective hydration without adding heavy oils. To truly suit oily skin, this type of product also needs oil-controlling agents to fully manage oily shine.
What does Evening Primrose Oil do for oily skin?
Evening primrose oil is unlikely to make oily skin more oily, as studies show it does not significantly change skin oiliness. However, this skin type still needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that help balance oil without clogging pores.
What does Borage Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Borage seed oil helps calm oily skin while keeping it balanced and supported without feeling heavy. Because oily skin still needs moisture to stay healthy, this light oil helps maintain the skin barrier and is unlikely to clog pores.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This hydrating toner goes right after your cleanser in the morning and during weekly care routines. To better control oily shine, this skin type needs a product that also includes ingredients to balance oil.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying it right after cleansing and before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it has a very gentle formula, and this type of skin needs a toner that also includes oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this hydrating toner daily in your morning routine, as it provides good moisture and soothing benefits for your skin. Because it lacks sufficient oil-controlling ingredients, oily skin also needs a product that targets excess shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it is made without harsh ingredients and has a safe, soothing profile. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from it. Oily skin works best with products that contain oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Topical application of tocopherol succinate ethosomal gel decreased erythema, melanin, and sebum levels while improving moisture content and skin elasticity in 34 human women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Alpha-tocopherol loaded nanostructured lipid carrier gel provided enhanced moisturizing and anti-aging properties in human volunteers over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Tocopherol succinate-loaded ethosomal gel increased skin deposition, stability, moisture, and mechanical properties in 13 human subjects compared to a control gel over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019Cutaneous application of linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid triglycerides reduced the high rate of transepidermal water loss in essential fatty acid-deficient rats, whereas other fatty acid triglycerides had no effect.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1976Topical 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, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Dimethiconol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Ascorbyl Palmitate Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Superoxide Dismutase, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Disodium Edta, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
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.