Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner for combination skin
Green Fusion Complex
Salicylic Acid
Neem Seed Oil
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Average
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as gluconolactone, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid work to decongest pores and refine texture, though ingredients like glycerin and witch hazel water provide general hydration that is less targeted for oily shine.
- The blend of witch hazel and eucalyptus leaf oil offers soothing benefits, which is beneficial for combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner during your PM routine. Start once a week and slowly build up if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner right after cleansing and before your favorite moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to get the best results for your combination skin.
- Always avoid the sensitive eye area and wear daily SPF to protect your skin.
People Say
★3.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this toner was a favorite for very oily and acne-prone skin, effectively controlling oil and clearing pores. However, it was often too harsh, drying, and heavily fragranced for sensitive or combination skin types.
Highlights
Excellent oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “keeps oils at bay”
- “instantly mattifies”
- “controls shine all day”
Pore & acne clearing Often Mentioned
- “cleared all blackheads”
- “refines pores”
- “helps clear up acne”
Overpowering scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like insecticide”
- “strong eucalyptus scent”
- “smells like DEET”
Strong sensation Often Mentioned
- “stings a little”
- “burns upon application”
- “unbearably irritating”
Deep cleaning Sometimes Noted
- “removes residual dirt”
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “purifies skin”
Refreshing sensation Sometimes Noted
- “feels refreshing”
- “cooling effect”
- “invigorated skin”
Drying/Stripping Sometimes Noted
- “stripped my skin”
- “made me more oily”
- “tight dry feeling”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “weird residue”
- “sticky finish”
- “tacky feeling”
Sources: lovi.care, skinsort.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, totalbeauty.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner work for combination skin?
Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner offers moderate exfoliation for your combination skin, using a mix of acids to clear pores and refine texture while soothing the skin without causing irritation. However, because it relies on general hydration rather than targeted oil control, an exfoliating toner for this skin needs a balanced blend of exfoliating acids and hydrating ingredients that manage oily shine and dry areas effectively.
BioMed Research International, 2020Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
This toner suits combination skin because salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconolactone clear out pores and smooth texture, while witch hazel and eucalyptus soothe the skin. To work best for combination skin, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients that control oily shine while also providing balanced hydration for dry areas without causing irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Skin Research and Technology, 2023
What does Green Fusion Complex do for combination skin?
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an evening routine after your cleanser. A combination skin type needs a toner that gently clears pores while providing balanced, everyday moisture to keep the skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner in your evening routine on nights you are not applying retinol to help prevent irritation. Combination skin works best with targeted oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight hydration rather than heavy acids mixed with strong treatments.
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week in your routine, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Combination skin of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide or green tea extract along with targeted oil control and gentle hydration to manage both dry and oily zones effectively.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconolactone to clear out pores and smooth texture. However, it may cause a strong sensation and dryness for some people. Combination skin needs targeted oil-control ingredients and balanced hydration that manage shine without stripping moisture.
BioMed Research International, 2020Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (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, 2017A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Hamamelis 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, 2001Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Combined topical Neem oil and oral Haridra powder achieved 50% wound healing in 70% of patients with chronic non-healing wounds after 8 weeks, outperforming either monotherapy.
Ayu, 2014Neem oil loaded phospholipid vesicles modified with argan oil protected keratinocytes and fibroblasts from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and improved cell proliferation and migration to promote wound healing compared to untreated cells.
Antioxidants, 2021Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Why other toners fit combination skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Polysorbate 20, Witch Hazel Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Oleth-20, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Menthyl Lactate, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Peppermint Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract Kelp Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linolenic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium Gluconate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Limonene
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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