Isntree Clear Skin BHA Toner for combination skin
Betaine Salicylate
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Seaweed Complex Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Licorice Root Extract
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other toners fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your combination skin, as betaine salicylate and willow bark extract help to clear pores and balance oil production, though it does not specifically target oily shine.
- Glycerin and Centella Asiatica Extract provide general hydration and soothing benefits, which are supportive for your skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Centella Asiatica Extract and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract.
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 400+ reviewsThis toner is highly regarded for its gentle exfoliation, making it suitable for sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin types. It effectively refines skin texture and manages oil production without causing dryness. However, some users find it too mild for treating severe acne or blackheads.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “Super mild on my skin, I use it every morning and night.”
- “Great for sensitive skin, didn't cause any stinging or redness.”
- “The only BHA that doesn't destroy my skin barrier.”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “My skin feels noticeably smoother and softer.”
- “Helped get rid of tiny bumps and rough patches.”
- “Texture is much more refined after a few weeks.”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “My oily skin is feeling less shiny by midday.”
- “Helps balance my oil production without stripping.”
- “Cuts through excess sebum really well.”
Hydrating and non-drying Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves my skin feeling clean but hydrated.”
- “Doesn't dry me out like other BHA products.”
- “Watery texture that absorbs well and feels moisturizing.”
Too mild for acne Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't see much difference on my blackheads.”
- “Too weak for my stubborn acne.”
- “Good for maintenance, but don't expect miracles for deep pores.”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Has a slight funky smell that I don't love.”
- “The scent is a bit off-putting, like old plants.”
- “Smells a bit weird, maybe due to the chestnut extract.”
Watery consistency Rarely Noted
- “Very watery, hard to apply with hands without spilling.”
- “Runs through fingers easily, need a cotton pad.”
- “Felt like just putting water on my face.”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, skinsort.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Isntree BHA Toner work for combination skin?
This toner offers moderate exfoliation for combination skin, as betaine salicylate and willow bark extract help clear pores and balance oil production, though it does not specifically target oily shine. Glycerin and Centella Asiatica extract provide general hydration and soothing benefits, which are supportive for your skin and help keep it calm. To work best for combination skin, a product of this type needs powerful exfoliating ingredients that manage oily shine and smooth texture while providing balanced hydration without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Betaine salicylate and willow bark extract help clear pores and balance oil production, while glycerin and centella asiatica extract provide gentle hydration and soothing benefits for your skin. To be a better fit, a product of this type needs powerful exfoliating and brightening ingredients that actively target oily shine while keeping the skin balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
What does Betaine Salicylate do for combination skin?
Betaine Salicylate helps keep combination skin clear and smooth by clearing out pores and calming redness. It is unlikely to cause irritation, making it gentle enough for everyday use on mixed skin types.
What does Bha do for combination skin?
BHA helps keep combination skin clear by diving deep into pores to sweep away dead cells and excess oil, which reduces breakouts and calms redness. It is generally very safe and unlikely to cause irritation when used in a daily routine.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This toner goes after cleansing in your evening skincare routine, starting at once a week and slowly increasing if your skin handles it well. To work better for combination skin, a product of this type needs extra ingredients that specifically target oily shine.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol, but it is best to apply the toner first, let it absorb, and then follow with retinol to keep your skin calm and clear. Because this toner combines exfoliating acids with soothing plant extracts, it is unlikely to cause irritation when used in the same routine, though combination skin also needs products that specifically target oily shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your skin handles it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. Combination skin needs products that balance oil and provide gentle hydration without causing irritation.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation on combination skin, as it contains soothing components and lacks harsh ingredients that typically trigger reactions. To better manage oily shine and clear pores on this skin type, a product should include ingredients that specifically target excess oil production.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2017Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Treatment with a cream containing 10% Laminaria japonica extract increased skin hydration by 14.44% and reduced transepidermal water loss to about 20% of control levels over an 8-hour period on human forearms.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Seaweed mud application improved cellulite severity, tissue structure, elasticity, hydration, dermal organization, and reduced circumferences, inflammation, and lipid deposition in sixty women over four weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Seaweed oligosaccharide-zinc complex significantly ameliorates symptoms of acne vulgaris by reducing sebum production and Propionibacterium acnes populations compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Why other toners fit combination skin better
Gluconolactone chemical peels lower skin pH and transepidermal water loss while demonstrating seboregulatory properties in 16 female subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Daily 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, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soy Isoflavones, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum
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
How does it fit your skin?
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