Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner for skin with dark spots
Lavender Oil
Lavender Flower Extract
Glycerin
Saponins
Chlorphenesin
High
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansing toners for skin with dark spots.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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
- Excellent suitability for your normal skin is provided by glycerin and lavandula angustifolia flower extract, which offer humectant and anti-inflammatory actions, respectively, though the formula lacks ingredients to directly address your pigmentation concerns.
- The presence of saponins and polysorbate 20 offers moderate cleansing benefits, supporting general skin health without targeting your primary goal.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing lavandula angustifolia oil.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using your cleansing toner 3 times a week and work up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- Apply your 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.
- Apply the cleansing toner on clean and dry skin for the best results .
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis alcohol-free toner is praised for purifying and hydrating combination skin, leaving it balanced, soft, and refreshed. Users frequently note its gentle, non-stripping properties and a refreshing lavender scent, with many appreciating its ability to enhance the absorption of subsequent skincare products. Some users find the lavender scent strong, and a few mention potential dryness for dry skin types.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH.”
- “Purifies without completely stripping my moisture barrier.”
- “Remarkably gentle, making it perfect even for my slightly sensitive skin.”
Refreshing scent Often Mentioned
- “The lavender scent is soothing and authentic.”
- “A delicate and refreshing scent.”
- “Smells absolutely incredible... made me feel like I'd just visited a spa.”
Convenient spray Sometimes Noted
- “The nozzle disperses a fine even mist.”
- “I love that it comes in a spray bottle!”
- “I always love a good toner mist.”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Helped soften my skin texture and calms down any irritation.”
- “My skin is literally glowing and looking healthy.”
- “Leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft.”
Strong lavender scent Sometimes Noted
- “Lavender smell is strong!”
- “Heavily scented, so if you don't like lavender, I would probably avoid.”
- “Only so-so on the scent... my least favorite of the scents.”
Potential dryness Rarely Noted
- “Some users with dry skin said their skin became dryer with use.”
Spray bottle preference Rarely Noted
- “Only wish it was not a spray.”
- “I apply with the mist or unscrew the cap and use a cotton ball.”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, lemon8-app.com, thecharmingdetroiter.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner a great fit for skin with dark spots?
Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner is a great fit because glycerin and lavender flower extract keep skin smooth and calm, while the formula's very safe profile avoids harsh ingredients that could upset your skin. Even though it lacks ingredients to directly fade dark spots, its gentle cleansing and soothing benefits support overall healthy skin.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin and lavender flower extract make this toner a great fit by keeping your skin soft and calm, though the formula does not include ingredients that actively target dark spots. A product for this skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade dark spots.
What does Lavender Oil do for skin with dark spots?
Lavender oil is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, but it may help calm redness and soothe irritation in your skin. Because this type of skin needs extra brightening and antioxidant support, look for ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and licorice root.
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 2015Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Lavender Flower Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Lavender Flower Extract is unlikely to provide much help for dark spots because plant extracts like this generally lack strong clinical evidence for lightening skin. Products used for dark spots on this type of skin need proven ingredients like soy or licorice that have clear evidence for evening out skin tone.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleansing toner goes in your evening routine, right after your makeup remover and cleanser. It is unlikely to irritate your skin and helps keep it soft.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleansing toner in your evening routine before your retinol treatment. Glycerin and lavender flower extract help keep your skin calm and hydrated, while the soothing formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner in your evening routine as part of your regular cleansing steps. It is very gentle on normal skin, keeping your face calm while helping maintain overall skin health.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or purging, as it has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients and no harsh components that typically trigger irritation. It helps keep skin calm and balanced while offering gentle cleansing.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, geraniol, parfum, and limonene).
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, 2017Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Tea tree oil effectively treated acne while lavender and rosemary oils demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties in derma cosmetic applications based on an evaluation of various essential oils.
Frontiers in Medicine, 2025A blend of Lavandula angustifolia flower extract and dipeptide-4 reduced oxidative and glycation markers, enhanced ATP, SOD, autophagy, and melatonin production, and improved tissue morphology in human skin models and fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026The 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, 2012Saponins of Korean red ginseng protect the skin from particulate matter-induced damage by decreasing levels of reactive oxygen species, leptin, inflammatory cytokines, and melanin.
Nutrients, 2022Lycoperoside H from tomato seeds improved epidermal dehydration by stimulating ceramide synthesis and increasing total stratum corneum ceramides by approximately 1.5-fold and ceramide (NP) by approximately 2-fold in reconstructed human epidermal keratinization models, while exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects in animal tests.
Molecules, 2021Total saponins of Panax notoginseng ameliorated sodium dodecyl sulfate-induced barrier impairment in a reconstructed human epidermis model by alleviating stratum corneum thickening, upregulating barrier-related proteins, and regulating a multi-pathway network involving lipid metabolism.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Chlorphenesin, Linalool, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Saponins, Tromethamine, Geraniol, Parfum, Limonene, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Lavender Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf Sweet Betty Root Extract Leaf
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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