Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner for acne-prone skin
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Extract Tree
Willow Bark Extract
Centella Asiatica ExtractHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few toners fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 excellent exfoliation for your acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid and willow bark extract work to smooth texture and target pore congestion.
- The formula is highly suitable for your combination skin, with multiple forms of hyaluronic acid providing essential hydration to balance the exfoliating action.
- The safety profile is excellent, with Centella Asiatica Extract and a lack of harsh ingredients ensuring minimal irritation risk for your skin.
How to apply
- You can use this exfoliating toner in your PM routine. Start by using it 1 time per week and increase slowly if your skin is happy.
- Apply your exfoliating toner right after cleansing and before your moisturizing steps. This helps your skin stay clean and clear.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid rubbing to keep your face calm.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best comfort. Let it dry for a minute ⏱ before moving on.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid putting the product too close to your eyes.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis toner is widely praised as a gentle yet effective exfoliant suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin, often described as a milder alternative to harsher BHA products. Users consistently report smoother skin texture, reduced blackheads, and minimized pores without the dryness typically associated with salicylic acid, thanks to the addition of hydrating ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Highlights
Gentle and non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “didn't sensitize my skin”
- “no irritation unlike other BHAs”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't strip the barrier”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels so smooth”
- “dissolved all the texture”
- “wipes away closed comedones”
- “face feels noticeably smoother”
Effective pore care Sometimes Noted
- “minimized blackheads”
- “pores look smaller”
- “clears clogged pores”
- “improved sebaceous filaments”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “super hydrating for a BHA”
- “doesn't feel stripping”
- “leaves a luminous finish”
- “moisturizing unlike others”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight and watery”
- “layers nicely under makeup”
- “non-greasy feel”
Tacky finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a tacky finish”
- “slightly sticky feeling”
- “best applied before other steps to hide tackiness”
- “feels sticky until dry”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “skin reacted badly”
- “unsure if purging or reaction”
Too gentle Rarely Noted
- “didn't work for me”
- “effect not as drastic”
- “too mild for my oily skin”
- “prefer stronger BHAs”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like burning rubber”
- “distinctive tea tree scent”
- “pungent chemical smell”
- “scent is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes ANUA BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner a great fit for acne-prone skin?
ANUA BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner is a great fit because salicylic acid and willow bark extract clear pore congestion and smooth texture, while multiple forms of hyaluronic acid balance the exfoliation with essential hydration. Centella asiatica extract and a gentle formula design help ensure a low risk of irritation for your skin.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and willow bark extract make this toner a great fit by smoothing texture and clearing pore congestion in acne-prone skin. Centella asiatica extract and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid help balance the exfoliation with soothing moisture and minimal irritation risk.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016BioMed Research International, 2020
What does Bha do for acne-prone skin?
BHA helps clear acne-prone skin by clearing out pores to reduce both inflammatory and non-inflammatory breakouts. It also helps calm redness and lower oil production, and is unlikely to cause harsh side effects when used regularly.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner goes in the evening routine, placed after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps 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 toner with retinol, but it is best to use them on alternate nights or apply the toner first and wait until it dries before applying retinol to help prevent irritation. Using soothing ingredients like Centella asiatica helps keep the skin calm when combining active products.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Salicylic acid and willow bark extract help smooth texture and clear clogged pores while keeping irritation risk low.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid and willow bark extract target pore congestion while keeping irritation risk low. While some reviewers mention potential breakouts, the formula's gentle ingredients like Centella Asiatica extract help keep skin calm.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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, 2020Twice 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, 2024The 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, 2023Cosmetic 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, 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, 2010A 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, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Topical 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, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, C12-14 Pareth-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Willow Bark Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Ceramide Np, Butylene Glycol, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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