Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion for acne-prone skin
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
Witch Hazel Extract
Microbiote Complex
Aquatic Plant Extracts
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansing 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 benefits for your combination skin, as Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract provide astringent and anti-inflammatory actions to support your acne, blemishes, and breakouts. Glycerin and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract also offer general hydration and soothing effects.
- The cleansing and pore decongestion offered by high concentrations of Witch Hazel Leaf Extract and Spiraea Ulmaria Extract are supportive for your skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using the cleansing toner 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the cleansing toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the cleansing toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute before layering other products.
- Apply the cleansing toner on dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target blemishes.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with combination to oily skin generally praise this alcohol-free toner for its ability to control shine and refine pores without stripping moisture. A significant portion of long-time customers express disappointment with the reformulation, citing a polarizing scent and a stickier finish compared to the discontinued "Iris" version.
Highlights
Controls oil & shine Often Mentioned
- “Mattifies T-zone”
- “reduces sebum”
- “keeps skin shine-free”
Refreshing & gentle Often Mentioned
- “Feels clean”
- “non-drying”
- “soothing”
- “alcohol-free formula”
Reformulation disappointment Often Mentioned
- “Inferior to "Iris" toner”
- “miss the old formula”
- “"why change it"”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like "wet dog"”
- “rotting leaves”
- “overpowering fragrance”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Removes leftover makeup”
- “clears residue”
- “leaves skin pristine”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Spa-like fragrance”
- “fresh floral notes”
- “fruity aroma”
Refines pores Sometimes Noted
- “Tightens pores”
- “improves texture”
- “minimizes pore appearance”
Poor packaging design Sometimes Noted
- “Opening too wide”
- “pours too fast”
- “wastes product”
Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves tacky film”
- “feels heavy”
- “not fully absorbing”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “stinging”
- “redness”
- “allergic reaction”
Sources: lovi.care, clarinsusa.com, macys.com, boots.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion work for acne-prone skin?
This toner offers moderate benefits for acne-prone skin because ingredients like Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract provide soothing and pore-clearing actions to support breakouts. It is safe for your skin with no irritation risks, though a product of this type needs powerful active ingredients for blemishes alongside a balance of exfoliating acids and hydrating components to truly excel.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract make this toner a good fit by providing astringent and anti-inflammatory actions that support your acne, blemishes, and breakouts. Glycerin and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract also offer general hydration and soothing effects. A product of this type needs powerful active ingredients for acne and blemishes, plus exfoliating acids and hydrating components to control oil and refine skin texture without irritation.
What does Meadowsweet Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Meadowsweet extract helps acne-prone skin by balancing oil production and calming irritation, which keeps pores clear. It is a good fit for oily skin because it targets the factors that lead to breakouts while keeping your skin calm.
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?
This toner goes in the evening routine after your makeup remover, cleanser, and treatment, and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but acne-prone skin often needs a product that provides stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and deeper pore clearing.
Can I use this toner with salicylic acid, and in what order?
You can use this toner with salicylic acid by applying the salicylic acid treatment first, letting it dry, and then following with this toner and your moisturizer. This routine helps clear pores and soothe breakouts while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
You can use this toner in the evening as part of your routine for acne-prone skin. It is safe for your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients, though a product for acne-prone skin needs strong pore-clearing ingredients and oil-balancing benefits to fit better.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Hamamelis 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, 2001Chemical profiling and in vitro screening of Filipendula ulmaria extract and centrifugal partition chromatography fractions on Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes identified 28 compounds, with specific fractions upregulating genes related to skin barrier function, epidermal renewal, and stress responses.
Molecules, 2023Oral 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, 2020A Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract increased LOXL1 expression twofold, decreased elafin synthesis, restored functional elastic fibers, reduced nonfunctional elastin aggregates, decreased wrinkles, and improved skin firmness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Witch hazel bark extract and hamamelitannin showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, supported keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay, and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, whereas their skin microbiota metabolite ellagic acid stimulated inflammatory mediator release.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025Hamamelis virginiana bark extract inhibited Cutibacterium acnes-induced IL-6 release and TNF-α-induced IL-8 release in human keratinocytes without showing antibacterial or antibiofilm activities.
Antioxidants, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maris Aqua Sea Water Eau De Mer, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium Edta, Potassium Sorbate, Phenylpropanol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, 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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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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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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