innisfree Pore Refining Toner for skin with dark spots
Green Persimmon Extract
Willow Bark Extract
Orchid Extract
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Average
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other products fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate benefits for pigmentation with ingredients like Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, but lacks highly specialized ingredients for optimal effectiveness.
- Suitable for normal skin due to the presence of Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract and Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, which offer antioxidant activity and mild astringent properties, respectively, supporting skin balance.
- The product is safe for your normal skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients, and the presence of soothing ingredients like Orchid Extract and Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- You can use this toner AM or PM. Start by applying it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply this toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute before moving on.
- Apply the toner to clean, dry skin to help with your pigmentation goals.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis bi-phase toner is widely praised by users with oily and combination skin for its ability to instantly mattify the face and control sebum throughout the day. While many report smoother skin texture and less visible pores, those with sensitive or dry skin frequently caution that it can be overly drying or cause irritation.
Highlights
Excellent oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “Matte me up”
- “no shine even after lunch”
- “controls oil all day”
- “perfect for summer grease”
Pore minimizing Often Mentioned
- “pores reducing a lot”
- “minimize appearance of pores”
- “pores look smaller”
- “smooths skin like pores”
Refreshing sensation Sometimes Noted
- “refreshing feel”
- “cooling sensation”
- “absorbs almost immediately”
- “non-sticky”
Skin smoothing Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin soft”
- “refines skin texture”
- “smooth finish”
- “removes residue”
Drying or stripping Sometimes Noted
- “overly harsh”
- “felt dry and tight”
- “stripped my skin”
- “not for dry skin”
Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “cystic acne got worse”
- “mild breakouts”
- “caused blemishes”
- “painful red bumps”
Inconvenient usage Rarely Noted
- “forget to shake”
- “particles settle”
- “annoying to shake”
- “residue at bottom”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “burning sensation”
- “caused redness”
- “painful itchy bumps”
- “stings on cheeks”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com.au, oliveyoung.com, innisfree.com, kbeautyhobbit.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does innisfree Pore Refining Toner work for skin with dark spots?
This toner works moderately well for skin with dark spots, providing some balance and antioxidant activity while leaving skin feeling smooth. However, it lacks highly specialized brightening ingredients, so skin with dark spots needs formulas with targeted brightening ingredients like Niacinamide alongside hydrating and soothing components.
Biomolecules & Therapeutics, 2013Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract offers moderate benefits for dark spots, helping to promote a clearer look. This toner also needs specialized brightening ingredients like Niacinamide and extra hydrating components like Glycerin to give this skin optimal results.
What does Green Persimmon Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Green Persimmon Extract helps fade dark spots and uneven areas by stopping excess pigment from forming after sun exposure. This ingredient may visibly brighten skin tone with regular use.
What does Willow Bark Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Willow bark extract is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, but it helps clear away dead skin and calm redness for a more even tone. To properly target dark spots, this skin type needs brighteners like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside gentle exfoliants.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This toner goes in the morning after cleansing and before your moisturizer, or in the evening after your cleanser and before a treatment. To truly help with dark spots, this skin type needs targeted brightening ingredients like specialized vitamin C or niacinamide serums.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to damp skin, letting it absorb, and then following with your retinol. Because this product lacks highly specialized ingredients to fade dark spots, skin with dark spots needs dedicated brightening ingredients like vitamin C or alpha arbutin alongside your retinol routine.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner daily in your morning routine, as it helps balance normal skin while offering moderate benefits for dark spots. To better address dark spots, this skin type needs products that include highly specialized brightening ingredients.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This toner is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores since review complaints about breakouts are low and it is free of harsh ingredients. Skin with dark spots works best with a product that includes highly specialized brightening ingredients for optimal effectiveness.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Hesperidin inhibited melanosome transport in melanocytes and showed a skin lightening effect in a pigmented reconstructed epidermis model.
Biomolecules & Therapeutics, 2013Dermocosmetic emulgels loaded with Diospyros kaki fruit extract significantly increased moisture and elasticity while reducing wrinkles, roughness, and scaliness compared to an insignificant control.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019Pre-treatment with 200 μg/mL persimmon tannin-Aloe gel composite (PT-A-1) protects human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) against X-ray irradiation by reducing apoptosis and suppressing intracellular reactive oxygen species generation.
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2020Topical application of a cosmetic cleanser containing Diospyros kaki folium, Polygonum cuspidatum, and Castanea crenata var. dulcis extracts reduced skin oil content by 77.3%, pore number by 24.83%, and pore size by 71.43% in healthy volunteers compared to a control cleanser.
Biomedical Reports, 2015Camellia japonica oil activated the human COL1A2 promoter, induced type I procollagen synthesis, inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity, and reduced trans-epidermal water loss without inducing adverse reactions in human skin.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Persimmon tannin extract at a medium dose of 20% more significantly inhibited ultraviolet B-induced skin pigmentation in guinea pigs compared to the arbutin group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical application of methanolic extracts of Persimmon leaves accelerates skin tissue regeneration, increases tissue antioxidants and hydroxyproline, and modulates inflammatory mediators and growth factors in rats with excisional neck injuries compared to the vehicle group.
Journal of Molecular Histology, 2025A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Phalaenopsis orchid flower water extract attenuated high glucose-induced cellular senescence, reactive oxygen species production, cell cycle arrest, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in human dermal fibroblasts via Nrf2/HO-1 activation and senescence marker protein-30 restoration.
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2025Camellia oleifera Abel shell 1,3-butanediol extract decreased facial melanin levels by 59% from baseline at 6 weeks compared to a placebo group showing no effect in 30 female subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Camellia japonica placenta extract treatment upregulated hair growth marker genes in human follicle dermal papilla cells in vitro and improved scalp moisture, sebum, keratin, and erythema in 42 adult female participants in vivo.
FEBS Open Bio, 2021Camellia japonica flower extract protects against urban air pollutant-induced skin damage by scavenging radicals, inhibiting ROS generation, reducing MMP-1 and lipid peroxidation, and increasing collagen synthesis in in vitro and ex vivo models.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019Topical application of Citrus reticulata fruit extract provided instant relief from lactic acid-induced skin discomfort and increased skin tolerance by inhibiting TRPV1 activation and expression.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Fermented Citrus unshiu peel extract inhibited MMP-1 expression and decreased SA-beta-gal positive cells by approximately 45% at 0.1% concentration in ultraviolet-A-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts compared to untreated irradiated cells.
Phytotherapy Research, 2012
Why other products fit skin with dark spots better
Topical lycopene-based emulgel significantly enhanced skin hydration and elasticity while reducing erythema, melanin, and sebum contents in human volunteers compared to a placebo formulation over 12 weeks.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2022
Ingredients
Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Orchid Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Willow Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Clove Flower Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit 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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.