The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner for combination skin
Glycolic Acid
Witch Hazel
Propanediol
Butylene Glycol
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this toner effectively addresses oily shine with glycolic acid for exfoliation and witch hazel water for its astringent properties.
- Propanediol and betaine offer hydration, balancing the exfoliating action and enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner during your PM routine. Start once a week and slowly build up if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner right after cleansing and before your favorite moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to get the best results for your combination skin.
- Always avoid the sensitive eye area and wear daily SPF to protect your skin.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this toner as a potent and affordable exfoliant that effectively smooths rough texture and minimizes the appearance of pores, particularly for oily or congestion-prone skin. Due to its high 10% glycolic acid concentration, it is often described as too harsh for sensitive skin types, with some users reporting stinging or irritation.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin has never been softer”
- “smooths out rough skin”
- “resurfacing effect is noticeable”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “great affordable option”
- “good value”
- “lasts for ages”
Reduces pores & acne Often Mentioned
- “got rid of my bacne”
- “clears blackheads effectively”
- “pores look smaller”
Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
- “radiant glow”
- “brighter and shinier”
- “glow skin in next day”
Irritation and stinging Sometimes Noted
- “felt really irritated”
- “turned red”
- “feels a bit stingy”
Too strong/drying Sometimes Noted
- “too strong for my face”
- “skin hated it”
- “drying to the surface”
Purging/Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “worsened my acne”
- “breakout purging”
- “caused reaction”
Small packaging Rarely Noted
- “bottle is a little small”
- “wish it was bigger”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.com, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner a great fit for combination skin?
This toner is a great fit because glycolic acid clears away dead cells and witch hazel controls oily shine, while propanediol and betaine add moisture to keep your skin comfortable and balanced. The formula is very safe and gentle for combination skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Phytochemistry, 2001
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Glycolic acid and witch hazel water make this toner a great fit by clearing oily shine and balancing your skin. Propanediol and betaine help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated while gently balancing the exfoliation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Phytochemistry, 2001
What does Glycolic Acid do for combination skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and brighten combination skin by gently loosening dead surface cells to speed up skin renewal. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, but it needs a reliable sunscreen during the day since it makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995Archives of Dermatological Research, 1997
What does Witch Hazel do for combination skin?
Witch hazel helps calm redness, manages oily shine, and keeps skin feeling comfortable without making dry areas feel tight. It may also support skin barrier strength and reduce irritation.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This toner goes in the evening routine after double cleansing and before your treatment and moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps once a week, and you can carefully use them more often if your skin tolerates them well.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner alongside retinol by applying the toner first, waiting for it to dry, and then following with your retinol product on different nights or spaced apart to keep your skin calm. Using strong exfoliants and retinol together may increase the likelihood of dryness or irritation, so it helps to introduce them slowly.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Phytochemistry, 2001
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and tolerates it well, you may carefully use it more often. Glycolic acid helps smooth and refresh combination skin when introduced gradually.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for combination skin, as it features a safe formula that helps clear away dead skin cells to keep pores clean and clear. However, some users may experience occasional stinging or dryness if the exfoliating action feels too strong for their skin.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Hamamelis bark proanthocyanidins strongly increased the proliferation of cultured human keratinocytes and reduced transepidermal water loss and erythema formation in SLS-irritated skin, whereas the polysaccharide fraction had no effect.
Phytochemistry, 2001Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017A Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract increased LOXL1 expression twofold, decreased elafin synthesis, restored functional elastic fibers, reduced nonfunctional elastin aggregates, decreased wrinkles, and improved skin firmness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Witch hazel bark extract and hamamelitannin showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, supported keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay, and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, whereas their skin microbiota metabolite ellagic acid stimulated inflammatory mediator release.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025Hamamelis virginiana bark extract inhibited Cutibacterium acnes-induced IL-6 release and TNF-α-induced IL-8 release in human keratinocytes without showing antibacterial or antibiofilm activities.
Antioxidants, 2022A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.
Molecules, 2021Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Witch Hazel Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Betaine, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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
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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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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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