Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion for dry sensitive skin
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
Witch Hazel Extract
Microbiote Complex
Aquatic Plant Extracts
Caution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the cleansing toners alongside fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
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 excellent pore decongestion for oily skin due to high concentrations of witch hazel leaf extract and spiraea ulmaria extract, but it is moderately unsuitable for your dry skin because it lacks emollient and occlusive ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate needed for barrier repair and humectant action.
- While it provides general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, these are mostly supportive and irrelevant for your dry or flaky skin concerns.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your cleansing toner 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin feels good.
- Apply your cleansing toner after washing your face and before putting on your moisturizer or SPF. This step comes right after cleaning your skin.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the cleansing toner into your skin with your hands. Let it soak in for a minute before adding more products.
- Since your skin is dry and sensitive, apply the cleansing toner on dry skin for better comfort . This helps your face stay calm and happy.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when putting on your cleansing toner. Do a quick patch test before using it for the first time.
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
Why does Lovi advise caution with Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion for dry sensitive skin?
This toner is a poor match for your dry sensitive skin because it lacks softening and sealing ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate needed for barrier repair and moisture retention. A product for this skin needs rich hydrating and soothing ingredients that lock in moisture and support the skin barrier without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
This toner is a poor fit because it lacks the softening and sealing ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate that dry sensitive skin needs to repair its barrier and hold in moisture. A product of this type for this skin needs plenty of moisturizing and soothing ingredients to boost hydration and smooth texture without causing irritation.
What does Meadowsweet Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Meadowsweet extract helps calm dry sensitive skin by soothing irritation and easing redness. It provides gentle care without harshness, making it comfortable for skin that easily reacts to products. A product for this skin type also needs deeply nourishing and moisturizing ingredients to keep the face soft and smooth.
What does Saffron Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Saffron extract helps keep dry sensitive skin hydrated and soft while reducing the look of fine lines. It also provides antioxidant and repairing benefits with a low risk of irritation.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This toner is a poor match for dry sensitive skin because it lacks softening and barrier-protecting ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate. Dry skin needs soothing, creamy formulas with nourishing ingredients and rich hydrators to keep the skin barrier strong and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this toner with salicylic acid, and in what order?
You should exercise caution using this toner on dry sensitive skin because it lacks the nourishing ingredients and moisture-locking agents needed to comfort dry skin. When combining it with salicylic acid, apply the acid first, let it absorb, and follow with a gentle, soothing toner and a rich moisturizer to help prevent irritation.
How often should I use it?
This toner is a poor match for your dry and sensitive skin because it lacks soothing and sealing ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate, which are needed to repair the skin barrier and lock in moisture. Dry skin needs gentle products packed with nourishing hydrators and rich protectors to stay soft and comfortable.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, as its witch hazel and meadowsweet extracts focus on clearing pores rather than heavy moisturizing. However, because it lacks rich ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate to repair the skin barrier, a product of this type for dry skin needs nourishing oils and protective ingredients to keep it soft and comfortable.
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, 2017A 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, 2025Chemical 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, 2018Hamamelis 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, 2001Witch 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, 2025
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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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
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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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