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Augustinus Bader The Exfoliating Toner for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Augustinus Bader The Exfoliating Toner

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few toners fit it even 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 excellent exfoliation for your combination skin, as gluconolactone and salicylic acid work to smooth texture and decongest pores, effectively addressing oily shine.
  • The inclusion of papain and hydrolyzed rice protein further supports skin renewal and hydration, complementing the primary exfoliating agents.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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

★4.2Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

This 3-in-1 toner is frequently described as a gentle yet effective treatment for achieving smoother, more radiant skin, often referred to as 'glass skin.' While many users with mature or dull complexions report a visible glow and refined pores, a portion of users with sensitive skin experienced irritation, and some found the results subtle for the high price.

Highlights

  • Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “Made my skin incredibly soft and supple”
    • “texture is noticeably smoother”
    • “sweeps away dead surface cells”
  • Expensive product Mostly Mentioned
    • “Not worth the price tag”
    • “nice but overpriced”
    • “can't justify the cost for a toner”
  • Boosts radiance Often Mentioned
    • “Noticeable glow in the morning”
    • “dull skin is left glowing”
    • “gives a healthy radiance”
  • Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
    • “No issues with sensitivity”
    • “gentle enough for daily use”
    • “doesn't dry the skin out”
  • Refines pores Sometimes Noted
    • “Really refines your pores”
    • “clogged pores feel clarified”
    • “gets rid of blackheads”
  • Caused irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “Face turned very red and itchy”
    • “broke me out bad”
    • “caused severe reactions”
  • Subtle results Rarely Noted
    • “Noticed no difference”
    • “results were meh”
    • “didn't do much for my skin”

Sources: lovi.care, bloomingdales.com, bluemercury.com, spacenk.com, sephora.my, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Augustinus Bader The Exfoliating Toner a great fit for combination skin?

This toner is a great fit because salicylic acid and gluconolactone smooth texture and unclog pores to help manage oily shine on combination skin. Papain and hydrolyzed rice protein further support skin renewal and keep the skin hydrated. The formula is also safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that might cause irritation.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023BioMed Research International, 2020

Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?

Salicylic acid and gluconolactone make this toner a great fit by smoothing texture, clearing pores, and helping control oily shine on combination skin. Papain and sodium hyaluronate further support skin renewal and keep moisture balanced.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023BioMed Research International, 2020

What does Tfc8 do for combination skin?

Tfc8 is unlikely to address the specific balancing needs of combination skin, as this skin type requires lightweight hydration and gentle oil control rather than deep repair mechanisms.

What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This exfoliating toner goes in your evening routine as a cleansing toner after makeup remover and cleanser. Start using it once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often.

Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this toner alongside retinol by applying the toner first and waiting a few minutes before putting on your retinol. Using them together helps smooth your texture and clear pores, though you should start slowly to make sure your skin stays calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012

How often should I use this toner?

Start by using this toner once a week to see how your skin responds, and if you tolerate it well and get good results, you can carefully use it more often. It smooths texture and decongests pores to help address oily shine without causing irritation.

Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This toner helps smooth texture and decongest pores for combination skin, so it is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. However, since it contains exfoliating acids, it may cause initial purging as your skin renews.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023BioMed Research International, 2020

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2023

  • 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, 2020

  • Glycolic 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, 2019

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Topical 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

  • Gluconolactone and tartaric acid significantly lower transepidermal water loss and erythema after sodium lauryl sulphate challenge compared to vehicle, untreated control, and glycolic acid in healthy subjects.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997

  • Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.

    The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992

  • A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provided antiaging benefits comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen while demonstrating enhanced mildness and better tolerance in subjects.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Isosaponarin isolated from wasabi leaf increased type I collagen production in human fibroblasts by up-regulating TbetaR-II and P4H expression.

    Journal of Natural Medicines, 2010

  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022

  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Lactobacillus Wasabia Japonica Extract Root Ferment, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Papain, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Algin, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play