Neogen Dermalogy A-Clear Toner for combination skin
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other toners fit it 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 moderate exfoliation for your combination skin, as salicylic acid and glycolic acid help to decongest pores and smooth texture, while Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf provides general cleansing benefits.
- Panthenol and licorice root extract offer soothing and barrier support, though the formula is not specialized for your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your combination 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
★4.0Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited user data, this toner is described as a lightweight, non-sticky liquid that effectively balances sebum and hydrates without irritation. It is primarily recommended for sensitive and acne-prone skin, with users noting its ability to soothe redness and prep the skin, though opinions on its scent are mixed.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs smoothly”
- “non-sticky”
- “light tonic water texture”
- “cairan bening seperti air”
Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
- “excellent for soothing sensitive skin”
- “calm irritated skin”
- “no stinging or itching”
- “leaves skin plumped”
Availability issues Often Mentioned
- “hard to find”
- “out of stock”
- “possibly discontinued”
Sebum control Sometimes Noted
- “regulate sebum production”
- “lift remaining dirt”
- “balances skin's sebum”
Medicinal scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like tonic”
- “hesitant because of the smell”
- “herbal scent”
Mild effectiveness Rarely Noted
- “didn't feel benefits besides hydration”
- “doesn't recommend”
Sources: lovi.care, ipsy.com, reviews.femaledaily.com, neogenlab.us, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neogen A-Clear Toner work for combination skin?
This toner works reasonably well for your combination skin by using exfoliating acids to clear pores and smooth texture while panthenol and licorice root soothe your skin. However, it is not specialized for oily shine, so a product for this skin needs ingredients that effectively target oiliness alongside hydrating components like sodium hyaluronate to balance both dry and oily areas.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid help decongest pores and smooth texture, while panthenol and licorice root extract provide soothing and barrier support. Combination skin of this type needs a balanced approach with targeted ingredients for oily shine and strong hydration to care for both oily and dry areas effectively.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
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
What does Tea Tree Leaf Oil do for combination skin?
Tea tree leaf oil helps clear blemishes and balances oily areas without making your skin too dry. It targets acne-causing bacteria and reduces redness while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This toner goes in the evening routine after your cleanser and before your treatment, starting at once a week and slowly using it more often if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first in your evening routine, but use them on alternate nights if your skin feels dry or sensitive. Since this combination skin type needs balanced hydration and oil control, make sure to follow with a gentle moisturizer.
How often should I use this toner?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your combination skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. Combination skin needs ingredients like oil-absorbing agents and mattifying components to target oily shine.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation on combination skin, as it contains salicylic acid and glycolic acid to help clear out pores and smooth texture. However, because it is not specialized to tackle oily shine, combination skin may still need a product with stronger oil-absorbing ingredients and lightweight hydration to fully control excess oil and breakouts.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A 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, 2018Lactobacillus-fermented Chamaecyparis obtusa reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 65.3% compared to 38.2% with tea tree oil in 34 patients over 8 weeks, demonstrating superior efficacy, faster onset, and safety.
Dermatology, 2014A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 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, 2024Topical herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Topical oleuropein formulations reduced erythema, transepidermal water loss, and blood flow by approximately 22%, 35%, and 30% in healthy volunteers with UVB-induced erythema.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008An oil-in-serum formulation containing olive extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol improved skin barrier function and significantly reduced hyperpigmentation in participants with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after 45 days of application.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2026Repeated 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, 2017Topical 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, 2019Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Cocoate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Guaiazulene, Gluconolactone, Calamine, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Leaf Extract
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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