Medik8 Press & Glow for acne-prone skin
Pha Polyhydroxy Acid
Gluconolactone
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other toners fit it better.
- The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 due to gluconolactone, which helps smooth texture and provides mild exfoliation, while glycerin and aloe leaf juice offer general hydration and soothing benefits supportive for acne-prone skin.
- The formula provides moderate suitability for combination skin by balancing humectant action with mild exfoliation, though it lacks specific ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is generally safe for your combination skin, with a low risk of irritation from gluconolactone.
How to apply
- You can use this exfoliating toner in your PM routine. Start by using it 1 time per week and increase slowly if your skin is happy.
- Apply your exfoliating toner right after cleansing and before your moisturizing steps. This helps your skin stay clean and clear.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid rubbing to keep your face calm.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best comfort. Let it dry for a minute ⏱ before moving on.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid putting the product too close to your eyes.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 4.0k+ reviewsUsers frequently report that it hydrates well, creates a perfect base for makeup, and pairs effectively with Vitamin A (retinol) routines. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. A small minority experienced dryness or a lack of visible results.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Gentle enough for twice-daily use”
- “No stinging or redness like other acids”
- “Does not strip the skin barrier”
Improves glow Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin looking glass-like and radiant”
- “Noticeable everyday glow”
- “Smoothed out my texture significantly”
- “Skin feels baby soft immediately”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Feels hydrating rather than drying”
- “Leaves skin feeling fresh and plump”
- “Acts like a moisture magnet”
- “Doesn't leave face feeling tight”
Packaging & usability Sometimes Noted
- “Love the press pump dispenser”
- “Easy to use and refillable”
- “Controls the amount of product perfectly”
- “Sustainable refill option is a bonus”
Caused dryness Rarely Noted
- “Made my face very dry and tight”
- “Left my skin feeling parched”
- “Too drying for my winter skin”
- “Highlighted dry patches”
No results Rarely Noted
- “Didn't notice any difference”
- “Just felt like water”
- “Not bad, but not amazing”
- “Saw no change in hyperpigmentation”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for a toner”
- “Price is ridiculous for the amount”
- “Refills are still quite pricey”
- “Not worth the money compared to others”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused stinging and redness”
- “Broke me out in tiny bumps”
- “Too harsh for my barrier”
- “Experienced irritation after a few days”
Sources: lovi.care, medik8.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, sephora.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medik8 Press & Glow work for acne-prone skin?
Medik8 Press & Glow works reasonably well for acne-prone skin by offering moderate exfoliation and hydration with a low risk of irritation. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients to directly address blemishes and breakouts, acne-prone skin needs products with effective exfoliants like salicylic acid or willow BHA, along with ingredients that control oil and calm the skin.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Gluconolactone in this toner helps smooth texture and gently care for breakouts, while glycerin and aloe leaf juice provide calming hydration. An exfoliating toner for acne-prone skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid or willow BHA to target oil and breakouts directly, alongside soothing and hydrating components.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Polyhydroxy Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Polyhydroxy Acid helps clear mild to moderate acne by reducing pimples and bumps while keeping your skin calm and comfortable. It is unlikely to cause irritation or dryness, making it a gentle option for sensitive skin types prone to breakouts.
What does Gluconolactone do for acne-prone skin?
Gluconolactone helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and non-inflamed blemishes. It is well tolerated and tends to cause fewer side effects than traditional treatments.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner fits in the routine as an exfoliating step, starting just once a week and slowly used more often if your skin tolerates it well. It is generally safe for acne-prone skin with a low risk of irritation, though caring for this skin effectively also needs specific ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner in your routine, but because it lacks specific ingredients to directly target breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and soothing hydration for best results.
How often should I use it?
Start using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. An acne-prone skin type needs a product that directly targets blemishes and breakouts.
Can Medik8 Press & Glow clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Medik8 Press & Glow is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, and may even help improve blemishes with a low risk of irritation. However, because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients, an acne-prone skin routine works best when it includes specialized ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to directly clear pores.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A 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, 2017Combining 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, 2023Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Gluconolactone and tartaric acid significantly lower transepidermal water loss and erythema after sodium lauryl sulphate challenge compared to vehicle, untreated control, and glycolic acid in healthy subjects.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provided antiaging benefits comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen while demonstrating enhanced mildness and better tolerance in subjects.
Cutis, 2004Gluconolactone treatment significantly increased facial skin hydration in 16 healthy women, with no significant differences between 10% and 30% solutions.
Skin Research and Technology, 2021Opuntia ficus-indica extract and its isorhamnetin-glucosyl-rhamnoside suppressed nitric oxide, COX-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production in vitro and inhibited croton oil-induced ear edema in vivo.
BioMed Research International, 2015Opuntia ficus-indica extract activated AHR-NRF2 signaling, inhibited reactive oxygen species generation, and upregulated filaggrin and loricrin expression in human keratinocytes.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2015Pre-treating normal human keratinocytes with an Opuntia ficus-indica cladode water extract protected against UVA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by inhibiting free radicals, lipid peroxidation, and GSH depletion.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2017A 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, 2010An acai oil-based organogel containing hyaluronic acid showed no cytotoxicity and provided a high level of hydration, thermal protection, and hyaluronic acid release after 6 hours of application in in vitro and ex vivo tests.
Pharmaceutics, 2024Phenolic compounds from açai fruit, specifically malvidin and cyanidin derivatives, strongly protect immortalized fibroblasts against UV-A-induced oxidative stress by preventing ROS production, GSH depletion, lipid peroxidation, and stress-pathway protein phosphorylation compared to unprotected irradiated cells.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2017Nanotechnological hydrogels containing desonide nanocapsules and açai oil increased epidermal drug retention and reduced ear edema and inflammatory cell infiltration comparably to a commercial formulation with twice the drug concentration in an animal model of acute skin inflammation.
Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2022
Why other toners fit acne-prone skin better
A 30% supramolecular salicylic acid peel improved the global acne grading score and skin barrier indicators, decreased cutaneous microbiome richness and evenness along with Staphylococcus proportion, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and increased caveolin-1 expression in 28 patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023A 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, 2020Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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