Isntree Clear Skin BHA Toner for oily skin
Betaine Salicylate
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Seaweed Complex Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Licorice Root Extract
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin due to the presence of betaine salicylate and willow bark extract, which offer excellent keratolytic action and seboregulation to address oily shine.
- Additional humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide supportive hydration, while Centella Asiatica Extract and other botanical extracts offer soothing benefits.
- The product has a favorable safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin, thanks to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis toner is highly regarded for its gentle exfoliation, making it suitable for sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin types. It effectively refines skin texture and manages oil production without causing dryness. However, some users find it too mild for treating severe acne or blackheads.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “Super mild on my skin, I use it every morning and night.”
- “Great for sensitive skin, didn't cause any stinging or redness.”
- “The only BHA that doesn't destroy my skin barrier.”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “My skin feels noticeably smoother and softer.”
- “Helped get rid of tiny bumps and rough patches.”
- “Texture is much more refined after a few weeks.”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “My oily skin is feeling less shiny by midday.”
- “Helps balance my oil production without stripping.”
- “Cuts through excess sebum really well.”
Hydrating and non-drying Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves my skin feeling clean but hydrated.”
- “Doesn't dry me out like other BHA products.”
- “Watery texture that absorbs well and feels moisturizing.”
Too mild for acne Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't see much difference on my blackheads.”
- “Too weak for my stubborn acne.”
- “Good for maintenance, but don't expect miracles for deep pores.”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Has a slight funky smell that I don't love.”
- “The scent is a bit off-putting, like old plants.”
- “Smells a bit weird, maybe due to the chestnut extract.”
Watery consistency Rarely Noted
- “Very watery, hard to apply with hands without spilling.”
- “Runs through fingers easily, need a cotton pad.”
- “Felt like just putting water on my face.”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, skinsort.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Isntree Clear Skin BHA Toner a great fit for oily skin?
This toner is a great fit for oily skin because ingredients like betaine salicylate and willow bark extract help clear out pores and keep oily shine under control. It also includes soothing botanical extracts and gentle hydration that calm your skin without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Betaine salicylate and willow bark extract make this toner a great fit by helping control oil and clear pores. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate add light hydration, while centella asiatica extract helps calm the skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
What does Betaine Salicylate do for oily skin?
Betaine Salicylate helps oily skin by clearing breakouts while keeping it calm and moisturized. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and provides gentle care for skin that tends to get greasy.
What does Bha do for oily skin?
BHA helps clear pores and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing extra shine and calming breakouts. It works deep inside pores to sweep away oil and dead skin cells, which helps keep skin looking clear and smooth. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin hydration while controlling excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2014
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliating toner goes in the evening routine after cleansing. Lovi routines start exfoliating products once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol, but apply them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm and comfortable. Using them together on the same night may cause dryness or irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. The ingredients help control oily shine while soothing the skin, and it is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation for oily skin, thanks to ingredients that clear away excess oil without harsh side effects. It may cause mild purging as it helps clear out dead skin cells and buildup.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2019A 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, 2017Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A 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, 2020Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment with a cream containing 10% Laminaria japonica extract increased skin hydration by 14.44% and reduced transepidermal water loss to about 20% of control levels over an 8-hour period on human forearms.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Seaweed mud application improved cellulite severity, tissue structure, elasticity, hydration, dermal organization, and reduced circumferences, inflammation, and lipid deposition in sixty women over four weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Seaweed oligosaccharide-zinc complex significantly ameliorates symptoms of acne vulgaris by reducing sebum production and Propionibacterium acnes populations compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soy Isoflavones, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum
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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