PCA Skin Smoothing Toner for oily skin
Lactic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Hydrastis Canadensis Extract
Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, lactic acid and citric acid offer moderate exfoliation to smooth texture and refine pores.
- Aloe and calendula extracts provide soothing benefits, complementing the exfoliating action for comfortable wear.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your soothing toner 3 times a week and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply your soothing toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the soothing toner into your skin with your hands. Let it absorb for a minute before moving on ⏱ to the next step.
- For the best results , apply your soothing toner to slightly damp skin to help it sink in better.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before using the soothing toner for the very first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis toner is highly effective for users with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, successfully reducing breakouts and controlling excess oil without causing excessive dryness. Users frequently report a noticeable improvement in skin texture and pore size, describing their complexion as smoother, clearer, and more refined after consistent use.
Highlights
Clears acne and oil Often Mentioned
- “controls oiliness”
- “reduces breakouts”
- “keeps face clear”
- “great for acne-prone skin”
Refines and shrinks pores Often Mentioned
- “pores were less clogged”
- “minimized appearance of pores”
- “pores look smaller”
- “tightens pores”
Non-stripping formula Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “feels clean not dry”
- “no tight feeling”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
Smooths skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “makes skin very smooth”
- “removes dead skin cells”
- “improves skin texture”
- “leaves skin soft”
Stinging or burning Sometimes Noted
- “burns and feels like pins”
- “stings upon application”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “tingles a bit too much”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “very stripping”
- “dried out my skin”
- “too harsh for dry areas”
- “left dry patches”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “a bit expensive”
- “pricey for a toner”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “expensive but worth it”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smell isn't that great”
- “medicinal smell”
- “strong chemical scent”
- “scent is overpowering”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, pcaskin.com, skincareessentials.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes PCA Skin Smoothing Toner a great fit for oily skin?
PCA Skin Smoothing Toner is a great fit because lactic acid and citric acid gently smooth texture and refine pores on oily skin. Aloe and calendula extracts bring soothing benefits that keep the skin comfortable, while the formula has a very safe profile without harsh ingredients.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Lactic acid and citric acid help smooth texture and refine pores by providing gentle exfoliation, while aloe and calendula extracts calm the skin. These ingredients work together to give oily skin a comfortable, smooth feel.
What does Lactic Acid do for oily skin?
Lactic acid helps manage oily skin by significantly reducing oil production and pore size while improving moisture levels. It supports a clearer and smoother look through gentle surface renewal.
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily skin?
Aloe vera leaf juice helps hydrate oily skin by increasing water content in the outer skin layer without adding heavy oils or modifying water loss. It is also often combined with treatments to help calm redness and reduce acne breakouts.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Skin Research and Technology, 2006
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This soothing toner goes in the evening routine for oily skin as a cleansing toner, used after cleansing and before treatments and moisturizers. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps like exfoliating toners once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results can carefully use them more often.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use PCA Skin Smoothing Toner in the same routine as retinol by applying the toner first to smooth texture, and following with retinol once your skin is completely dry. This helps keep your routine comfortable while avoiding irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week to see how your oily skin tolerates the exfoliating acids. If your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
PCA Skin Smoothing Toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, and the lactic and citric acids may bring up minor purging as they gently clear out texture. Aloe and calendula extracts help calm the skin so it stays comfortable while you use it.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Daily 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, 2021A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006A 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 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, 2001Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020A carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogel film loaded with berberine reduced keratinocyte hyperproliferation by 25% and controlled oxidative stress and inflammation markers in vitro.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2022Berberine dose-dependently inhibited basal and TPA-induced expression and activity of MMP-9, and suppressed TPA-induced IL-6 expression in normal human keratinocytes.
Phytomedicine, 2008Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Hedera Helix Stem Extract Leaf, 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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.