Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion for acne-prone skin
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
Microbiote Complex
Ficus Carica Extract
Laminaria Digitata ExtractAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other toners fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate hydration and soothing benefits for your combination skin, as glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice provide moisturizing effects, but it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively combat acne and blemishes.
- Saccharide isomerate offers humectant action, contributing to overall skin hydration, though it does not specifically address breakout concerns.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Laminaria Digitata Extract.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in your AM and PM routine. Start 3x a week and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply your hydrating toner 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.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 5.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this alcohol-free toner is highly regarded for its hydrating and softening effects, particularly for normal to dry skin types, leaving it plump and smooth without stripping. It also effectively removes residue and is gentle for sensitive skin. A significant number of users dislike the strong, polarizing scent and find the bottle design wasteful. Some long-time users are disappointed with a recent reformulation, noting changes in texture and scent, while a small group experiences a sticky finish.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “leaves face hydrated and smooth”
- “doesn't dry out my skin”
- “refreshing drink of water”
- “skin feels plump”
Softens skin texture Often Mentioned
- “makes skin silky smooth”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “improves texture”
- “face feels smoother”
Overpowering scent Often Mentioned
- “smell is so strong my eyes water”
- “smells like wet dog”
- “too perfumed”
- “medicinal scent”
Gentle and soothing Sometimes Noted
- “calms my skin”
- “soothing for dry parts”
- “no stinging”
- “very gentle”
Removes residue Sometimes Noted
- “removes every last trace”
- “gets all the extra particles”
- “perfect final cleanse”
Poor bottle design Sometimes Noted
- “pours out way too much”
- “opening is too big”
- “hard to control amount”
- “wasteful design”
Reformulation disappointment Sometimes Noted
- “miss the old yellow toner”
- “poor replacement”
- “not as good as the original”
- “bring back the old formula”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “slight sticky feeling”
- “tacky residue”
- “feels heavy”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, influenster.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion work for acne-prone skin?
This toner works reasonably well for acne-prone skin by offering moderate moisture and a low risk of irritation, though it lacks targeted ingredients to actively combat breakouts. To work best for this skin type, a product needs effective and soothing ingredients like niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, ginseng extract, and peptides to address blemishes while balancing hydration.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice help hydrate and soothe your acne-prone skin, though this toner lacks targeted ingredients to combat blemishes. For a better fit, acne-prone skin needs formulas with ingredients like niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, peptides, and soothing extracts that address breakouts while keeping skin balanced.
What does Aloe Vera Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Aloe vera extract helps calm redness and shrink breakouts while keeping oily or acne-prone skin comfortable. It may also lower the number of pimples and fade marks when used regularly.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
What does Saffron Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Saffron Extract helps protect acne-prone skin with its anti-microbial and repairing activities, making it beneficial for treating skin breakouts. Its antioxidant properties also support overall skin health and help calm inflammation.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion goes in the morning routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, and in weekly routines after a cleansing mask. It is safe for your acne-prone skin, though a toner of this type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to fit this skin best.
Can I use this toner with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this toner with niacinamide by applying the toner first to damp skin and following with your niacinamide serum once it absorbs. This product is safe for your skin and unlikely to cause irritation, though it needs added acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly care for breakouts.
How often should I use it?
You can use this hydrating toner morning and evening as part of your daily routine. It is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation, though an acne-prone skin type also needs targeted ingredients to actively combat blemishes.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like aloe and seaweed extract with no harsh components. However, it lacks targeted ingredients to actively combat blemishes, and a product for this skin needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral, citronellol, and coumarin).
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, 2017A 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, 2025A 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 cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Oral 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, 2020Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015A topical cream containing 4% Ficus carica fruit extract applied to the cheeks of human volunteers for 8 weeks significantly decreased skin melanin, trans-epidermal water loss, and sebum, and significantly increased skin hydration compared to a base control.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014A Ficus carica cell suspension culture extract reduced epinephrine, interleukin 6, lipid peroxide, and protein carbonylation, induced ceramide synthesis, and decreased transepidermal water loss and sebum production in skin cells and in vivo.
Antioxidants, 2021A skincare regimen containing Macrocystis pyrifera ferment consisting of a cleansing foam, a serum, and a moisturizer decreases the visible effects of inflammation and aging while promoting healing and improving patient satisfaction.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Macrocystis pyrifera ferment-containing creams decrease visible inflammation and signs of aging while enhancing barrier resilience and recovery.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Aqueous extracts from Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica exhibited antiviral activity against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2, and topical formulations significantly reduced the severity and duration of HSV-1 skin lesions in an animal model compared to mock treatment and acyclovir.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maris Aqua Sea Water Eau De Mer, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Phenethyl Alcohol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Linalool, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Geraniol, Saccharide Isomerate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, 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, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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