PCA Skin Smoothing Toner for oily acne-prone skin
Lactic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Hydrastis Canadensis Extract
Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best toners for oily acne-prone skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily, acne-prone skin due to lactic acid and citric acid, which help refine pores and smooth texture.
- Glycerin and aloe vera leaf juice provide hydration and soothing benefits, complementing the exfoliating action for comfortable wear.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including calendula extract to minimize 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 well.
- Apply your soothing toner after cleansing, and before your moisturizer or SPF . This helps prepare your oily skin for the next steps.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the soothing toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid rubbing the product to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the soothing toner on clean and slightly damp skin to help with better absorption . This keeps your skin feeling fresh and comfortable.
- Always do a patch test before first use to check for any sensitivity. Avoid the eye area and stop use if irritation occurs.
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 oily acne-prone skin?
PCA Skin Smoothing Toner is a great fit because lactic acid and citric acid gently exfoliate and refine pores to keep oily skin smooth. Glycerin and aloe vera add lightweight hydration while calendula helps calm the skin and prevent irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Lactic acid and citric acid help refine pores and smooth texture by offering moderate exfoliation for your oily skin. Glycerin and aloe vera leaf juice provide soothing hydration, while calendula extract helps minimize irritation.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Lactic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Lactic acid helps oily acne-prone skin by gently clearing pores and reducing breakouts, which supports a smoother and clearer face. Using appropriate cosmetic acids helps calm red bumps and works well alongside acne treatments.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2010Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm redness and reduces acne breakouts for oily skin. Studies show it effectively targets acne lesions and lowers redness when used regularly.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This soothing toner fits into an evening routine after your cleanser, acting as a cleansing step before your treatment and moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating toners once a week, and you may use them more often if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to damp skin and following with retinol once it has fully absorbed. This helps refine pores and smooth texture while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week, and if your oily, acne-prone skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Lactic acid and citric acid provide moderate exfoliation to help refine pores and smooth texture, while glycerin and aloe vera leaf juice keep your skin comfortable.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
PCA Skin Smoothing Toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it contains lactic acid and citric acid, which help clear pores and smooth texture. However, it may cause mild stinging or burning for some users.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Daily 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, 2021A 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 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, 2018Application 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, 2020Topical 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006The 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
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