La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion for oily skin

High
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few toners fit it even 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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by algae extract and panax ginseng root extract, which offer seboregulation and antioxidant activity, respectively, addressing your concerns about oily shine.
- The presence of citric acid in moderate concentrations offers excellent exfoliating and smoothing texture, while glycerin and algae extract provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliating toner once a week at first, then increase frequency only if your skin feels fine.
- Apply the exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press a few drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it dry.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best results.
- Avoid the eye area and always use sunscreen during the day.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this toner for its ability to deeply hydrate and soften the skin while effectively removing residual impurities. It is frequently noted for refining skin texture and minimizing the appearance of pores, leaving the complexion feeling calm, balanced, and prepped for subsequent skincare steps. The high price is a significant drawback for many, though some find the strong fragrance and bottle design to be minor issues.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin has never felt so hydrated”
- “instantly turns skin soft”
- “removes tightness immediately”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “hard to stomach the price”
- “very expensive for a toner”
- “luxury splurge”
Refines pores Often Mentioned
- “flushes out pores”
- “pores look smaller”
- “refines skin texture”
Luxurious experience Sometimes Noted
- “smells like heaven”
- “refreshing ritual”
- “feels like a treat”
Soothing & calming Sometimes Noted
- “calms my redness”
- “soothes sensitive areas”
- “very gentle and refreshing”
Poor bottle design Rarely Noted
- “pours out too fast”
- “hard to control amount”
- “wasted product due to bottle”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “stung my sensitive skin”
- “redness after application”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “could not deal with the smell”
- “too perfumey”
- “scent lingers too long”
Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, bloomingdales.com, spacenk.com, johnlewis.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion a great fit for oily skin?
La Prairie Cellular Refining Lotion is a great fit for oily skin because it contains algae extract and panax ginseng root extract, which help control oily shine and provide antioxidants. It also includes citric acid to smooth your skin texture, along with glycerin and algae extract for soothing hydration without harsh irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
This toner is a great fit for oily skin because algae extract and panax ginseng root extract help control shine and provide antioxidant benefits. Additionally, citric acid smooths the skin texture, while glycerin supports needed hydration without feeling heavy.
What do Glycoproteins do for oily skin?
Glycoproteins help keep oily skin balanced by supporting the skin barrier and improving overall texture without clogging pores. An average or poor fit for oily skin needs oil-free hydrators like hyaluronic acid and gentle clarifying ingredients like niacinamide to manage shine and keep skin smooth.
What does Ginseng Root Extract do for oily skin?
Ginseng Root Extract helps calm oily skin and protects it from daily stress and UV damage. This ingredient also helps reduce inflammation and keeps the skin balanced, though an oily routine also needs lightweight, oil-free hydration and gentle cleansing to stay clear.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an evening routine as a cleansing toner after your cleanser and makeup remover. Lovi routines start exfoliating toners once a week, and you can carefully use them more often if your skin tolerates them well.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first, waiting until it dries, and then following with your retinol treatment. This approach helps manage oily shine while keeping your skin calm, and it is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this exfoliating toner once a week in your routine, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. The product features gentle exfoliating acids and soothing plant extracts that help manage oily shine without the risk of harsh irritation.
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 safe ingredients and gentle exfoliating acids that help keep skin smooth without irritation. It is generally safe for daily use.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, and geraniol).
What the research says
Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A 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, 2017Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Topical application of 3% Equisetum arvense ointment significantly promoted wound healing and reduced pain intensity after episiotomy in nulliparous mothers compared to a placebo group.
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 2015Creams incorporating methanolic extracts of olive, burdock, mallow, and marsh horsetail exerted significantly higher moisturizing and skin tearing force effects compared to control cream in rats and mice, with marsh horsetail showing the maximum effect, while licorice extract did not show a significant increase.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Oleth-20, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Algae Extract, Glycoproteins, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Chamomile Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Urea, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Magnesium Aspartate, Glycine, Butylene Glycol, Benzophenone-4, Alanine, Creatine, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Yeast Extract, Tetrasodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ext, Violet 2, Blue 1 Ci 42090
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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