🇨🇦Canada

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for dry sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion

Caution

  • CautionDry Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the toners alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 and sensitive skin due to salicylic acid and lactic acid, which can exacerbate dryness and flakiness. Glycerin is included for humectant action, but may not fully counteract the drying effects.
  • The combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid provides texture smoothing benefits, but the overall formula is not ideal for managing dryness.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliating toner only in your PM routine, starting 1×/week since your skin is sensitive. Carefully build up frequency only if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner after using your cleanser and before your final moisturizer. This ensures it works effectively on clean skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin using your hands. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner on completely dry skin to ensure better tolerance for your sensitive type. Let it absorb fully before moving to the next step.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area. Keep this product separate from other strong acids or retinoids to protect your skin barrier.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, watery toner is widely praised by users with combination and oily skin for its ability to gently exfoliate and remove residual impurities left after cleansing. Many report smoother texture, balanced sebum production, and improved absorption of subsequent skincare products. Some users with dry skin find it less hydrating, and others feel the results do not justify the luxury price tag.

Highlights

  • Expensive price Mostly Mentioned
    • “Pricey for toner”
    • “Not budget-friendly”
    • “Luxury cost”
  • Excellent skin prep Often Mentioned
    • “Removes leftover dirt”
    • “Aids absorption”
    • “Feels clean”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “Smoother skin”
    • “Gentle exfoliation”
    • “Refines pores”
  • Balances oil production Sometimes Noted
    • “Controls T-zone oil”
    • “Reduces sebum”
    • “Refreshing feel”
  • Lightweight and gentle Sometimes Noted
    • “Watery consistency”
    • “Non-sticky”
    • “Suitable for sensitive skin”
  • Underwhelming results Sometimes Noted
    • “No visible difference”
    • “Average performance”
    • “Not miraculous”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Small bumps”
    • “Purging”
    • “Skin irritation”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Fermented smell”
    • “Weird odor”
    • “Smells like saliva”

Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, bloomingdales.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why does Lovi advise caution with SK-II Clear Lotion for dry sensitive skin?

This toner offers moderate exfoliation with salicylic acid and lactic acid, which can make dry and sensitive skin even drier and flaky. Glycerin is included to help hold in moisture, but it may not fully counteract the drying effects. An exfoliating toner for dry sensitive skin needs deep hydrating agents and gentle exfoliants that boost moisture retention and smooth texture without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, 2025

Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid and lactic acid make this toner a poor fit because they provide moderate exfoliation that may worsen dryness and flakiness. An exfoliating toner for dry sensitive skin needs rich hydrating agents and gentle exfoliants that boost moisture retention and smooth texture without causing irritation.

What does Pitera Ferment Filtrate do for dry sensitive skin?

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate helps dry sensitive skin by boosting moisture and calming irritation. It is unlikely to cause trouble and may help smooth out rough patches over time.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023

What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.

Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This toner is not a good fit for dry and sensitive skin because its acids may dry you out and cause flaking. A product of this type for your skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing agents to keep it soft and calm.

Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?

Using this exfoliating toner with retinol is likely to cause too much dryness and flakiness on your dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to help keep the skin comfortable.

How often should I use this toner?

This toner contains salicylic acid and lactic acid which can dry out your dry sensitive skin, so Lovi advises caution and suggests starting just once a week. If your skin handles it well without extra flakiness, you may carefully use it more often, though this skin type generally needs gentle hydrating and soothing ingredients to stay comfortable.

Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This exfoliating toner is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as reviewer complaints about breakouts are low. However, because it contains salicylic acid and lactic acid, it may worsen dryness and flakiness on this skin type rather than clog pores. A product for dry sensitive skin needs soothing and rich hydrating ingredients like ceramides and squalane instead.

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.

    Skinmed, 2021

  • Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

  • Galactomyces ferment filtrate promotes epidermal interconnectivity, barrier development, cell adhesion, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, and protects cellular bioenergetics against stress in keratinocytes and ex vivo skin explants compared to untreated controls.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • A 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, 2020

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Application 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, 2004

  • Topical 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, 1992

  • A 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, 2020

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Pitera Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peg-150, Cellulose Gum, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Buy online

Prices checked 24 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play