Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner for oily acne-prone skin
Green Plum Extract
Glycolic Acid Aha
Salicylic Acid Bha
Glycerin
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
High
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few toners fit it even better.
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
- Excellent for your oily skin, this toner effectively addresses acne, blemishes, and breakouts with high concentrations of glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which exfoliate and cleanse pores while regulating oil production.
- The inclusion of glycerin and rice bran water provides essential hydration, ensuring a balanced and comfortable feel without compromising the formula's efficacy for your skin type.
- This product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients and is well-suited for daily use on oily, non-sensitive skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start using your exfoliating toner once a week and slowly increase frequency if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or other treatments.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid any harsh rubbing .
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to ensure the best results .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use daily SPF while using exfoliating active products.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin highly praise this toner for its gentle exfoliating properties and effective sebum control, leading to smoother texture and a radiant glow. While it absorbs quickly and hydrates without stripping, some users with very dry or sensitive skin have reported occasional irritation or initial breakouts.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly into skin”
- “no sticky residue left”
- “feels like refreshing water”
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “skin feels softer immediately”
- “great introduction to acids”
Non-stripping hydration Often Mentioned
- “doesn't dry me out”
- “hydrating despite the acids”
- “leaves a nice glow”
Controls oil/sebum Sometimes Noted
- “less oily by midday”
- “pores appear smaller”
- “cleared up my blackheads”
Initial breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused small whiteheads initially”
- “purging lasted two weeks”
- “broke me out at first”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “smells a bit weird”
- “has a fermented scent”
- “scent is off-putting”
Sensitivity reactions Rarely Noted
- “stung my sensitive skin”
- “caused redness around nose”
- “irritated my dry patches”
Too gentle for some Rarely Noted
- “didn't see drastic changes”
- “too weak for stubborn acne”
- “prefer stronger glycolic toners”
Sources: lovi.care, stylekorean.com, yesstyle.com, beautyofjoseon.com, hikoco.co.nz, skinsider.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is a great fit because it contains glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which clear out pores and help control oil to keep breakouts at bay. At the same time, glycerin adds essential moisture so your skin stays comfortable without feeling heavy or greasy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017BioMed Research International, 2020
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is a great fit for your oily skin because it contains glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which exfoliate, clear out pores, and help control excess oil. It also includes glycerin to keep your skin feeling soft, balanced, and comfortably hydrated.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017BioMed Research International, 2020
What does Green Plum Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Green Plum Extract helps balance oily skin and keeps pores clear by managing oil production. This type of skin needs ingredients that control oil and soothe redness to stay calm and smooth.
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear breakouts and smooth oily skin by exfoliating dead surface cells. It may reduce both inflamed and non-inflamed blemishes when used regularly, though a product of this type also needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide or ceramides to keep skin calm and comfortable.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before your treatment and moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating toners once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol by using them on alternate nights or spacing them out, as combining potent acids and retinol at the same time may easily irritate your skin.
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. The glycolic and salicylic acids help clear breakouts and manage oil, while glycerin keeps your skin feeling balanced and comfortable.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, this toner may cause initial breakouts or purging on oily acne-prone skin because its glycolic and salicylic acids deeply exfoliate and clear out pores. It has a great safety profile with no harsh ingredients, though a few reviewers have reported mild initial breakouts.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2020Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A 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, 2017The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Prunus mume ripened seed extract protects against ultraviolet-induced skin aging in mice and human HaCaT cells by increasing SIRT1 and collagen levels while decreasing MMP-1, MMP-13, and ROS generation compared to untreated ultraviolet-exposed controls.
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021The novel compound FA-1 isolated from Prunus mume protects human bronchial epithelial cells and keratinocytes from cigarette smoke extract-induced DNA damage and apoptosis by reducing oxidative stress and augmenting ALDH isozymes and DNA repair proteins.
Scientific Reports, 2018Repeated 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, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010The 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, 2012Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rice Bran Water, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Fructose, Tocopherol, Glucose, Sodium Pca, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, C12-14 Pareth-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, 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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