SkinCeuticals LHA Toner for acne-prone skin
High
- 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 glycolic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid work to decongest pores and smooth texture.
- This toner is highly suitable for your combination skin, providing effective pore-cleansing benefits.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers with oily, acne-prone, and aging skin report that this toner effectively decongests pores and refines skin texture without excessive irritation. While many praise its ability to clear breakouts and remove residual makeup, those with dry or sensitive skin often find it too drying or stripping.
Highlights
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “cleared my acne completely”
- “keeps my pores clear”
- “helps with blackheads”
- “minimizes acne breakouts”
Deep cleanse Often Mentioned
- “removes residual makeup”
- “gets all extra stuff off”
- “removes excess oil”
- “cotton pad shows dirt”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “gentle on oily skin”
- “lightly exfoliates without harshness”
- “no strong scent”
- “tingles but fades quickly”
Refines texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels softer”
- “leaves skin glass-like”
- “smoother and looking clearer”
- “improves skin tone”
Drying and stripping Sometimes Noted
- “dries out the skin”
- “left face feeling tight”
- “too harsh for dry skin”
- “created dry patches”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “overpriced for a toner”
- “pricey but effective”
- “not worth the money”
- “expensive for what it is”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out bad”
- “made skin worse”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “bottle leaks”
- “pump came off”
- “spilled inside packaging”
- “leaked during shipping”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, skinceuticals.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SkinCeuticals LHA Toner a great fit for acne-prone skin?
SkinCeuticals LHA Toner is a great fit for acne-prone skin because glycolic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid help clear out pores and make your skin smooth. The formula is gentle and safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, and salicylic acid make this toner a great fit because they help clear out clogged pores and smooth rough skin. This blend is very safe for daily use and helps keep oily skin under control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
What does Lipo Hydroxy Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Lipo Hydroxy Acid helps clear clogged pores and gently removes dead skin cells that cause breakouts. Because it works slowly on the surface, it is unlikely to irritate sensitive, oily skin.
What does Glycolic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and breakouts. It also helps fade dark spots left behind by acne and controls skin oiliness, with very few side effects when used properly.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Dermatologic Surgery, 2014
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This toner fits into a weekly evening routine as a cleansing step after your makeup remover and cleanser, followed by your treatment and moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating toners once a week, and you can carefully use them more often if your skin tolerates them well and shows good results.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
SkinCeuticals LHA Toner is a great fit for your acne-prone skin, offering excellent exfoliation as glycolic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid work to decongest pores and smooth texture. When using it with retinol, apply the toner first after cleansing, let it absorb, and then follow with your retinol treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this toner once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This helps clear out pores and smooth texture on acne-prone skin with a low risk of irritation.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner is a great fit for acne-prone skin because glycolic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid work to decongest pores and smooth texture. It is unlikely to cause breakouts, and its safe formula has a low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
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 novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013A 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, 2024Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012Repeated 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, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Alcohol Denat, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid
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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