PCA Skin Smoothing Toner for combination skin
Lactic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Hydrastis Canadensis Extract
Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few toners fit it even 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 lactic acid and citric acid work to smooth texture and address oily shine. Glycerin provides humectant action, supporting skin hydration.
- The blend of aloe and calendula extracts offers soothing benefits, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a low risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your soothing toner 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- Apply your soothing toner after cleansing, and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the soothing toner into your skin. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply the soothing toner on clean and slightly damp skin to help with absorption. This helps keep your skin feeling fresh and balanced.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis toner is highly effective for users with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, successfully reducing breakouts and controlling excess oil without causing excessive dryness. Users frequently report a noticeable improvement in skin texture and pore size, describing their complexion as smoother, clearer, and more refined after consistent use.
Highlights
Clears acne and oil Often Mentioned
- “controls oiliness”
- “reduces breakouts”
- “keeps face clear”
- “great for acne-prone skin”
Refines and shrinks pores Often Mentioned
- “pores were less clogged”
- “minimized appearance of pores”
- “pores look smaller”
- “tightens pores”
Non-stripping formula Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “feels clean not dry”
- “no tight feeling”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
Smooths skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “makes skin very smooth”
- “removes dead skin cells”
- “improves skin texture”
- “leaves skin soft”
Stinging or burning Sometimes Noted
- “burns and feels like pins”
- “stings upon application”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “tingles a bit too much”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “very stripping”
- “dried out my skin”
- “too harsh for dry areas”
- “left dry patches”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “a bit expensive”
- “pricey for a toner”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “expensive but worth it”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smell isn't that great”
- “medicinal smell”
- “strong chemical scent”
- “scent is overpowering”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, pcaskin.com, skincareessentials.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes PCA Skin Smoothing Toner a great fit for combination skin?
PCA Skin Smoothing Toner is a great fit because lactic acid and citric acid gently smooth texture and control oily shine while glycerin keeps your skin hydrated. Additionally, aloe and calendula extracts help soothe your skin and improve overall comfort with a low risk of irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Lactic acid and citric acid make this toner a great fit by smoothing texture and helping control oily shine, while glycerin helps keep your skin hydrated. Additionally, aloe and calendula extracts calm your skin and enhance comfort with a very low risk of irritation.
What does Lactic Acid do for combination skin?
Lactic acid helps balance combination skin by gently removing dead surface cells and managing oil while keeping moisture locked in. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, and instead supports a smooth, clear, and well-hydrated complexion across both oily and dry areas. This type of skin needs ingredients that gently clear pores without stripping natural moisture, such as balanced hydrators and mild exfoliants.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for combination skin?
Aloe vera leaf juice helps keep combination skin hydrated by increasing water content without making it oily. It also helps calm redness and supports skin recovery.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This toner fits into your morning routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. In your weekly routine, it goes near the end after your cleansing mask to help refresh your skin.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to smooth and hydrate your skin, followed by your retinol treatment once the toner has fully absorbed. This product has a low risk of irritation, but it is best to introduce them slowly to ensure your skin adjusts comfortably.
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 may carefully use it more often. The formula provides gentle exfoliation and soothing comfort with a low risk of irritation for your combination skin.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because its ingredients gently smooth texture and manage oily shine without heavy oils. It has a very low risk of irritation, though some people may occasionally experience mild stinging.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Daily 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, 2021Application 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, 2020A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010The 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, 2012Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020A carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogel film loaded with berberine reduced keratinocyte hyperproliferation by 25% and controlled oxidative stress and inflammation markers in vitro.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2022Berberine dose-dependently inhibited basal and TPA-induced expression and activity of MMP-9, and suppressed TPA-induced IL-6 expression in normal human keratinocytes.
Phytomedicine, 2008Transgenic 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, 2024Copper 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, 2021Topical 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Hedera Helix Stem Extract Leaf, Tetrasodium Edta
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.