Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner for combination skin
High
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- 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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide superior hydration to combat oily shine, complemented by Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide for enhanced moisturizing benefits.
- Sambucus Nigra Flower Water further supports skin hydration, making it a great choice for maintaining balanced moisture levels.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this hydrating toner in your AM and PM routines. Start 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this hydrating toner after your cleanser and before your moisturizer or SPF. This keeps your skin balanced and ready.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute before the next step.
- Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better. Clean skin gives the best results for your oily shine goal.
- Avoid the eye area when using your hydrating toner. Always do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers with dry, sensitive, and combination skin frequently report that this toner provides deep, long-lasting hydration and a glowing finish without alcohol or fragrance. It is often seen as a great value compared to more expensive alternatives. Some users experience a soapy lather upon application, and a moderate number report breakouts, possibly due to the snow mushroom or texture.
Highlights
Great value Mostly Mentioned
- “huge bottle for the price”
- “lasts forever”
- “great budget alternative”
- “cheaper than Laneige”
- “unbeatable value”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels cushioned”
- “relieved my dry patches”
- “hydration lasts all day”
- “soothed my redness”
- “plumped my skin immediately”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “no stinging on sensitive skin”
- “great for barrier repair”
- “smells like nothing”
- “super gentle formula”
Soapy lather Often Mentioned
- “foams up when rubbed”
- “feels like soap on face”
- “lathers if skin is wet”
- “weird bubbly consistency”
- “thought I forgot to rinse cleanser”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels like a serum”
- “glides on smoothly”
- “leaves a dewy finish”
- “milky and viscous”
- “makes skin look like glass”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “caused whiteheads on forehead”
- “clogged my pores”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pours out too fast”
- “hard to control amount”
- “wastes product”
- “hole is too big”
- “spills easily”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “feels tacky after drying”
- “heavy residue”
- “didn't absorb fully”
- “felt gross on skin”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner a great fit for combination skin?
This toner is a great fit for your combination skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide deep moisture to help balance oily areas, while Tremella Fuciformis and elderflower water keep your skin feeling soft and well-hydrated. It is very unlikely to cause irritation, making it gentle and safe for daily use.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide superior hydration to combat oily shine on combination skin, while Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide and sambucus nigra flower water add extra moisture to keep your skin balanced. These gentle ingredients help hydrate dry areas without causing irritation or heaviness.
What does Tremella Mushroom do for combination skin?
Tremella mushroom helps combination skin by holding onto moisture and fighting daily damage from the sun and environment. It may keep your skin feeling soft and smooth while supporting your natural skin barrier without clogging pores.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2015Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2023
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This hydrating toner fits in the morning routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, and also during weekly care after cleansing masks. It helps keep moisture levels balanced without causing irritation thanks to its gentle, hydrating ingredients.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this hydrating toner with your retinol routine, applying it right after cleansing to prep your skin with moisture before your retinol treatment. This approach helps maintain balanced moisture levels and is unlikely to cause irritation since the formula is gentle and designed to support your skin.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use it?
This hydrating toner is a great fit for your combination skin, helping you keep balanced moisture levels without feeling heavy or causing irritation. You can use it in the morning and during your weekly routine as part of your regular skincare steps.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a very low risk of a sticky finish and lacks harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. Reviewers only moderately mention breakouts, and its gentle, hydrating ingredients help maintain balanced moisture without clogging pores.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Is it 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, 2017Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides effectively alleviate UVA-induced photodamage in human dermal fibroblasts by reducing ROS and MDA, increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, up-regulating Nrf2 while down-regulating Keap1 expression, and increasing collagen I, elastin, and hyaluronic acid content.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Snow mushroom alcohol-based hand rub gel significantly improved skin moisture better than the placebo through 180 minutes while maintaining comparable antiseptic efficacy in 20 human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Tremella fuciformis extract demonstrates potential cutaneous benefits including skin antiaging, photoprotection, wound healing, and barrier protection based on in vitro and animal models.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2023Tremella fuciformis inhibits melanogenesis by decreasing melanin content and tyrosinase expression in B16F10 cells while promoting wound healing in human HaCaT keratinocytes and Detroit 551 fibroblasts.
In Vivo, 2022Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012Elderberry extract reduced reactive oxygen species, matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression, and inflammatory cytokine secretion while promoting procollagen type I synthesis in UVB-irradiated human skin keratinocytes.
Cytotechnology, 2019Water extract and bioferment from Sambucus nigra fruit exhibit antioxidant properties, stimulate cell proliferation, and prevent free-radical-induced damage in human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023Sunscreen formulations containing Helichrysum arenarium, Sambucus nigra, and Crataegus monogyna extracts exhibit broad-spectrum UV protection, high photostability, and remarkable antioxidant properties, fulfilling official requirements for sunscreen products.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2013A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Daily 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, 2021Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, 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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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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