The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner for dry skin
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Allantoin
PanthenolAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other toners fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 hydration for your dry or flaky skin due to the presence of Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid in concentrations that provide moisturizing benefits.
- The formula is highly suitable for dry skin, as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol work together to hydrate and soften the skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner as part of your PM routine once a week to start. If your skin is happy, you can slowly use it more often.
- Apply this exfoliating toner right after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. This keeps your skin care steps in the right order.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it soak in for a minute before the next step.
- Put the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin to help it work best. Avoid rubbing so your face stays calm and happy.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently describe this toner as an exceptionally gentle and hydrating exfoliant that provides a "glass skin" finish, making it a favorite for those with sensitive or dry skin who cannot tolerate stronger acids. While many report smoother texture and increased radiance, a significant portion of users note a distinct fermented scent and a minority experienced breakouts or found the finish slightly tacky.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “suitable for sensitive skin”
- “no stinging or burning”
- “gentlest exfoliant I've used”
Hydrating & plumping Mostly Mentioned
- “feels like a light moisturizer”
- “leaves skin plump”
- “very hydrating for dry skin”
- “milky and soothing”
Glow & radiance Often Mentioned
- “gives instant glass skin”
- “dewy finish”
- “skin looks brighter”
- “healthy glow”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “smoothed out roughness”
- “reduced texture irregularities”
- “face feels baby soft”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like yeast”
- “sourdough starter scent”
- “funky fermented smell”
- “smells like beer/bread”
Sticky or greasy Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a tacky film”
- “feels slightly greasy”
- “takes time to absorb”
- “heavy for oily skin”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused fungal acne”
- “broke me out in tiny bumps”
- “clogged my pores”
- “whiteheads appeared”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't notice any exfoliation”
- “no difference in dark spots”
- “too gentle to be effective”
- “just glorified water”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner work for dry skin?
The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner works moderately well for dry skin, offering safe hydration and softening without irritation. However, because its primary focus is exfoliation, dry skin needs an exfoliating toner rich in soothing and hydrating ingredients like aloe and sodium hyaluronate to fully address dryness and nourishment concerns.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol make this toner a good fit for dry skin by helping to hydrate and soften it. Dry skin of this type needs formulas packed with deeply moisturizing agents like aloe and sodium hyaluronate to fully address dryness and nourishment.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate do for dry skin?
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate helps dry skin feel soft and smooth by boosting skin moisture and improving the tiny surface lines of the skin. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to keep dry skin comfortable throughout the day.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into a dry skin routine as a hydrating step in the morning after cleansing, starting at once a week. Dry skin generally needs richer hydrating toners packed with nourishing oils and heavier moisturizing ingredients to truly thrive.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first in your routine to hydrate and soften dry skin before your retinol treatment. This approach is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula lacks harsh ingredients and includes panthenol to help calm the skin.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. To work best for dry skin, this type of product needs extra moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to keep the skin soft and smooth.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the formula avoids harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation. To fit dry skin even better, a product of this type needs richer nourishing oils or heavier moisturizers that lock in deep hydration.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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 dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical moisturizers improved skin barrier function and surface moisture, while a postbiotic moisturizer with yeast extract uniquely supported microbiome balance and modulated biomarkers of skin barrier, structure, and inflammation in participants and ex vivo explants exposed to environmental aggressors.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023A maintenance therapy with a cosmeceutical formulation containing hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid, ellagic acid, yeast extract, and salicylic acid over 20 weeks significantly improved even skin tone, spot intensity, spot size, and overall hyperpigmentation in 33 healthy subjects with moderate facial dyspigmentation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015A methanol yeast extract increases proliferation and migration while decreasing entrance into senescence and apoptosis phases in 3T3 fibroblast cells.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Topical 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, 2019The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Betaine, Sodium Pca, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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