Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner for oily skin
Squalane
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Willow Bark Extract
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
GlycerinSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best toners for oily skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by betaine salicylate and microcitrus australasica fruit extract, which effectively minimize pores and control shine by providing targeted chemical exfoliation.
- Willow bark extract and lavender flower water further soothe your skin, while squalane and glycerin offer hydration without a greasy feel, ensuring a balanced complexion.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing botanical extracts.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliating toner once a week at first, then increase frequency only if your skin feels fine.
- Apply the exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press a few drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it dry.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best results.
- Avoid the eye area and always use sunscreen during the day.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is highly regarded for its gentle exfoliation and pore-minimizing effects, with many users appreciating its hydrating formula that avoids the dryness often associated with BHA products. Most users with oily and combination skin report smoother texture and clearer pores. A small number of users experienced breakouts or found the fragrance irritating, and some noted issues with the packaging or a sticky residue.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin feeling clean but not stripped”
- “most hydrating BHA I've used”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “doesn't damage moisture barrier”
Hydrating formula Often Mentioned
- “sinks in nice and hydrates”
- “leaves skin bouncy”
- “moisturizing toner”
- “restores radiance”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “face feels so smooth”
- “texture was significantly different and softer”
- “got rid of rough patches”
- “skin looks flawless”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like a spa”
- “delicious cucumber scent”
- “light and refreshing smell”
- “botanical scent”
Refines pores Sometimes Noted
- “clogged pores disappeared”
- “pores look really clean”
- “helps reduce pore appearance”
- “cleared up sebaceous filaments”
Expensive price Sometimes Noted
- “pricey for a toner”
- “expensive but worth it”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “good but pricey”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “comes out too fast”
- “needs a different stopper”
- “runny product spills easily”
- “shards of glass in bottle (rare)”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “covered in blemishes overnight”
- “caused deep throbbing acne”
- “got breakout after use”
- “messed my whole face up”
Fragrance irritation Rarely Noted
- “fragrance caused redness”
- “irritating for sensitive skin”
- “don't like the lavender oil”
- “strong scent”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves an oily film”
- “feels a bit sticky”
- “shinier look to the face”
- “takes time to absorb”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.sg, biossance.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, influenster.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner one of the best fits for oily skin?
This toner is one of the best fits for your oily skin because it uses beta hydroxy acid and fruit extract to control shine and minimize pores. It also keeps your complexion balanced with soothing plant extracts and light hydration that feels comfortable instead of greasy.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
This toner is a great fit for oily skin because betaine salicylate and microcitrus australasica fruit extract minimize pores and control shine, while willow bark extract and lavender flower water soothe your skin. Additionally, squalane and glycerin help provide hydration without leaving a greasy feel.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
What does Bha do for oily skin?
BHA helps clear pores and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing extra shine and calming breakouts. It works deep inside pores to sweep away oil and dead skin cells, which helps keep skin looking clear and smooth. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin hydration while controlling excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2014
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an oily skin routine as a cleansing toner used in the evening after your cleanser, starting once a week and slowly increasing if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol by applying the toner first, waiting for it to dry, and then following with your retinol. Because both products work actively on the skin, starting slowly helps minimize the risk of dryness or irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. Chemical exfoliants help clear pores and control shine, but starting slowly helps your skin adjust safely.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it is specially formulated to clear pores and control shine on oily skin. Some reviewers do mention occasional breakouts, and exfoliating ingredients like betaine salicylate may sometimes cause mild initial purging.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citronellol).
What the research says
A 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, 2017A 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, 2022Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Cryotherapy 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, 2024A 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, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical treatment with 2% Salix alba bark extract cream improved dark circles, skin microcirculation, and elasticity in 29 subjects over 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2023Transgenic 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, 2024The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Willow Bark Extract, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Squalane, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Betaine Salicylate, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water Rosemary Leaf Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water Lavender Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Oil Leaf, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract Flower, Amber Powder, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citronellol
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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