Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion for oily skin
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
Witch Hazel Extract
Microbiote Complex
Aquatic Plant Extracts
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansing toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Suitable for your oily skin due to the presence of Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, which offer seboregulating and anti-inflammatory actions, providing moderate cleansing and pore decongestion.
- Glycerin and Saccharide Isomerate offer hydration, supporting general skincare benefits for your oily shine concerns, though these are mostly supportive and not directly targeted.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing witch hazel leaf extract.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of AM and PM routines. Start using your cleansing toner 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your cleansing toner after cleansing and before applying your moisturizer or SPF. This fits right into the middle of your daily skincare steps.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the cleansing toner directly onto your skin. Avoid rubbing it in and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the cleansing toner to completely dry skin for the best control of oily shine. Clean skin helps the product work more effectively.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use to check for comfort.
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 oily skin?
Clarins Purifying Toning Lotion works moderately well for oily skin, helping control oil and clear pores safely with witch hazel and meadowsweet extracts. Since other products manage oil and brighten skin better, an oily skin type needs a toner with exfoliating acids and stronger oil-balancing ingredients.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
This toner is a good fit for oily skin thanks to Spiraea Ulmaria Extract and Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, which help balance oil and calm the skin, along with glycerin and Saccharide Isomerate for light hydration. To work even better for this skin type, a product like this needs exfoliating acids like AHA and BHA to brighten the skin, clear pores, and better manage excess shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
What does Meadowsweet Extract do for oily skin?
Meadowsweet extract helps balance oily skin by naturally keeping extra shine in check and keeping pores clear. It is unlikely to dry you out while it works to calm your skin and keep your face looking smooth and fresh.
What does Saffron Extract do for oily skin?
Saffron extract is unlikely to cause greasy buildup and may help keep oily skin balanced by fighting oxidative stress. Because oily skin needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that calm shine without clogging pores, a product of this type needs non-greasy botanical extracts and antioxidants to stay fresh all day.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020BioMed Research International, 2026
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing toner goes in your evening routine, after cleansing and makeup removal. Oily skin works best with products that balance oil and clear pores using ingredients like Spiraea Ulmaria and witch hazel extracts, while keeping skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this toner with salicylic acid, and in what order?
You can use this cleansing toner with salicylic acid by applying the salicylic acid treatment first, letting it dry, and then following with this toner or using them on alternate days to prevent irritation. Oily skin works best with products that provide stronger oil control and pore clearing ingredients alongside balancing hydration.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this cleansing toner in your evening routine. It works for your oily skin through ingredients that help balance oil and calm the skin, though an oily skin type needs products with stronger oil control and pore-clearing ingredients.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it contains soothing witch hazel and balancing extracts that help keep pores clear without harsh ingredients. To manage oily shine better, this type of skin needs a product with stronger oil-controlling ingredients and deeper pore-clearing actions.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Hamamelis 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, 2001A 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, 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, 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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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
How does it fit your skin?
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