Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner for dry sensitive skin
Green Fusion Complex
Salicylic Acid
Neem Seed Oil
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Warning
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the toners alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 exfoliation for your dry and flaky skin due to the presence of glycolic acid and lactic acid, which can cause dryness and irritation. Glycerin is included for humectant action, but may not fully counteract the drying effects for your dry skin.
- The inclusion of salicylic acid further aids in decongesting pores and smoothing texture, but may exacerbate dryness and irritation for your sensitive skin.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliating toner only in your PM routine, starting 1×/week since your skin is sensitive. Carefully build up frequency only if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the exfoliating toner after using your cleanser and before your final moisturizer. This ensures it works effectively on clean skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin using your hands. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on completely dry skin to ensure better tolerance for your sensitive type. Let it absorb fully before moving to the next step.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area. Keep this product separate from other strong acids or retinoids to protect your skin barrier.
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
Why does Lovi advise against Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner for dry sensitive skin?
This toner is a poor match because its glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid can cause dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin, and its glycerin may not fully counteract these drying effects. An exfoliating toner for this skin needs plenty of hydrating ingredients and gentle exfoliants that boost moisture without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid make this toner a poor fit because they can cause dryness and irritation on dry and sensitive skin. To work well on this skin type, a product of this type needs effective hydrating and soothing ingredients, like aloe barbadensis leaf juice and sodium hyaluronate, that boost moisture and support the skin barrier without causing irritation.
What does Green Fusion Complex do for dry sensitive skin?
Green Fusion Complex helps calm sensitive skin and provides extra moisture to relieve dry areas. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports overall skin comfort when used regularly.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliating toner is a poor match for your dry sensitive skin because acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid, along with eucalyptus and peppermint oils, may cause dryness, redness, and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients, gentle hydrators, and barrier-repairing components to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You should not use this toner on your dry sensitive skin because its acids and strong ingredients are likely to cause dryness and irritation. Instead, this skin needs gentle hydrators and soothing ingredients to keep it soft and calm without irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
This toner is a poor match for your dry sensitive skin because its acids can easily cause dryness and irritation. If you still choose to use it, start just once a week to see how your skin reacts, and look for gentle hydrating ingredients instead.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores since it contains salicylic acid and glycolic acid to help clear them out, but it can easily worsen dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A product for this skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to keep skin soft and calm without stripping its natural moisture.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Combined 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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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