🇨🇦Canada

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner for oily skin

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

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few toners fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin is provided by glycolic acid and witch hazel water, which work to exfoliate and regulate oil production, addressing your concerns about shine.
  • The moderate concentration of glycolic acid offers effective chemical exfoliation for smoothing texture and controlling oiliness.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliating toner once a week at first, then increase frequency only if your skin feels fine.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
  • Gently press a few drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it dry.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best results.
  • Avoid the eye area and always use sunscreen during the day.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

Users 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 oily skin?

This toner is a great fit because glycolic acid and witch hazel work together to gently exfoliate your skin and control excess oil, helping to keep shine under control. The moderate concentration also helps smooth out your skin texture safely and effectively.

Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?

Glycolic acid and witch hazel water make this toner a great fit for oily skin because they exfoliate the surface and help regulate oil production to control shine. The moderate amount of glycolic acid also helps smooth texture safely without harsh ingredients.

What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?

Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.

Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011

What does Witch Hazel do for oily skin?

Witch Hazel helps calm irritated skin and may reduce redness and swelling. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is generally well tolerated by sensitive skin types.

Phytochemistry, 2001Molecules, 2025

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

This exfoliating toner fits into an oily skin routine as a weekly step to start, or used more often if your skin tolerates it well. Glycolic acid and witch hazel water help exfoliate skin and control oil.

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

You can use this toner with retinol on alternating nights or in separate routines, because using strong exfoliants and retinol together at the same time may cause irritation on oily skin. Apply this toner first on clean skin when you use them on different days.

How often should I use this toner?

Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week to see how your skin reacts. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.

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

This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause major breakouts, though you may experience some initial purging as the glycolic acid clears out your skin. The formula helps control oiliness and smooth texture safely without harsh ingredients, though a few shoppers do report mild stinging.

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).

What the research says

  • Repeated 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, 2000

  • Serial 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, 2017

  • A 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, 2018

  • Hamamelis 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, 2001

  • Witch 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, 2025

  • 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, 2024

  • A 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, 2021

  • Sustainable 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.

  • 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

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Prices checked 2 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?

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