Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner for dry skin
Pha Polyhydroxy Acid
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Watermelon Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Licorice Root Extract
Low
- LowDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the toners alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin due to gluconolactone and betaine salicylate, which can help smooth texture but may also lead to dryness.
- While glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide general hydration, they are not the primary focus for addressing your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your dry skin as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner as part of your PM routine once a week to start. If your skin is happy, you can slowly use it more often.
- Apply this exfoliating toner right after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. This keeps your skin care steps in the right order.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it soak in for a minute before the next step.
- Put the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin to help it work best. Avoid rubbing so your face stays calm and happy.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 4.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is highly regarded for its hydrating and gently exfoliating properties, resulting in smoother skin and a radiant glow. It is particularly effective at minimizing pores for oily and combination skin types.
Highlights
Hydrates skin Mostly Mentioned
- “extremely hydrating”
- “skin felt bouncy”
- “floods skin with moisture”
Glow and radiance Often Mentioned
- “glass skin look”
- “instant glow”
- “luminous finish”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells delicious”
- “refreshing watermelon scent”
- “like a jolly rancher”
Good texture Sometimes Noted
- “satisfyingly thick”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “not sticky”
Refines pores Sometimes Noted
- “pores look tighter”
- “helped with congestion”
- “smoother texture”
Expensive price Sometimes Noted
- “pricey for the size”
- “not budget friendly”
- “expensive”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused painful pimples”
- “bad breakout”
- “skin purging”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “hard to get product out”
- “heavy glass bottle”
- “travel size is difficult”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “feels tacky”
- “didn't absorb well”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “synthetic scent”
- “sickly sweet”
Sources: lovi.care, cultbeauty.co.uk, sephora.my, skinsort.com, ipsy.com, glowrecipe.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner a weak match for dry skin?
This toner is a weak match because its exfoliating ingredients can lead to dryness, while its hydrating ingredients are not the primary focus for your skin concerns. An exfoliating toner for dry skin needs effective hydrating and nourishing ingredients, along with humectants and emollients to ensure optimal moisture.
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for dry skin?
Gluconolactone and betaine salicylate make this toner a poor fit because they exfoliate and can lead to dryness. This skin needs a product with rich hydrating and nourishing ingredients, like humectants and emollients, to ensure optimal moisture.
What does Polyhydroxy Acid do for dry skin?
Polyhydroxy Acid helps keep dry skin hydrated and comfortable while smoothing its surface without causing irritation or barrier damage. It effectively binds moisture and supports the skin barrier while delivering gentle anti-aging benefits.
What does Bha do for dry skin?
BHA helps dry, flaking skin by gently clearing away dead buildup while improving moisture levels when paired with soothing hydrators like ceramides. Salicylic acid may help smooth rough patches, though dry skin types need to watch for irritation and support their skin barrier.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliating toner starts once a week in the evening for dry skin, as acids may lead to dryness. If your skin tolerates it well, you can carefully use it more often. Dry skin needs a product focused on rich hydrators and nourishing oils to keep it soft and smooth.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this exfoliating toner in the same routine as retinol, as both can easily leave dry skin feeling irritated and flaky. If you do use them on different days or times, apply the toner after cleansing and let it absorb completely before moving on to your moisturizer or treatment.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this exfoliating toner once a week to see how your dry skin responds, as it can cause dryness. To properly care for dry skin, this type of product needs extra hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, alongside gentle exfoliants.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This exfoliating toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, though some reviewers have reported minor breakouts. It helps smooth texture, but dry skin needs richer hydrating ingredients and barrier-supporting care to stay comfortable.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Coniferyl alcohol derived from seed watermelon promoted linoleic acid-stimulated lipogenesis by approximately 2.2-fold at 300 µM and increased total lipid content in SZ95 sebocytes compared to controls.
Molecules, 2025Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Combining 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
Why other toners fit dry skin better
Cosmetic 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, 2016Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract Cactus Extract, Watermelon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Water, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyglutamate, Betaine Salicylate, Willow Bark Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Watermelon Extract Fruit Ferment, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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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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