COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner for oily acne-prone skin
Glycolic Acid
Betaine Salicylate
Willow Water Bark
Pyrus Malus Fruit Water
Panthenol
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best toners for oily acne-prone skin.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 and acne, blemishes, and breakouts as glycolic acid and betaine salicylate work synergistically to deeply exfoliate, clear pores, and regulate oil production.
- Allantoin and panthenol further enhance this formula by providing soothing and hydrating benefits, ensuring comfort without compromising efficacy for your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start using your exfoliating toner once a week and slowly increase frequency if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or other treatments.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid any harsh rubbing .
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to ensure the best results .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use daily SPF while using exfoliating active products.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is widely praised by users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin for its ability to gently exfoliate and balance pH without causing irritation. Users frequently report smoother skin texture, reduced whiteheads, and a "glass skin" glow, though some find it too gentle to produce dramatic or immediate results.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “extremely gentle”
- “no irritation”
- “good for beginners”
- “great daily exfoliator”
Acne & pore control Often Mentioned
- “helps with whiteheads”
- “pores less visible”
- “controls excess sebum”
- “cleared breakouts”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “softens skin”
- “glass skin effect”
- “reduced bumps”
Convenient packaging Sometimes Noted
- “fine mist spray”
- “hygienic nozzle”
- “easy to use”
- “refreshing mist”
Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating”
- “leaves skin supple”
- “not drying”
- “doesn't strip skin”
Slow or no results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “takes time to see results”
- “too gentle”
- “no dramatic difference”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “bad reaction”
- “bumps appeared”
- “irritated my skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “spray disperses too widely”
- “runs out fast”
- “leaky bottle”
- “broken nozzle”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “weird smell”
- “faint soap smell”
- “rotting fruit scent”
- “chemical odor”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, yesstyle.com, sokoglam.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is an exceptional fit for oily, acne-prone skin because glycolic acid and betaine salicylate team up to deeply exfoliate, clear pores, and balance oil. At the same time, allantoin and panthenol help calm and hydrate your skin so it stays comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid and betaine salicylate make this toner a great fit by deeply exfoliating, clearing pores, and balancing oil on oily skin. Willow water bark helps reduce extra oil, while allantoin and panthenol keep your skin calm and comfortable.
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and soothing breakouts. It exfoliates the surface to keep pores clear and leaves the skin feeling smooth.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Dermatologic Surgery, 2014
What does Betaine Salicylate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Betaine Salicylate helps clear out clogged pores and calm angry blemishes on oily, breakout-prone skin. It is a gentle exfoliator that smooths rough areas while being less likely to cause irritation than stronger acids. A product for this skin type also needs oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or zinc to keep shine in check.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an evening routine right after cleansing and before your treatment product or moisturizer. Start using it just once a week to see how your skin reacts, and if you tolerate it well, you may carefully use it more often. The gentle exfoliating acids and calming ingredients help clear pores and control oil without causing irritation.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol by applying the toner first in your routine, but it is unlikely to cause irritation only if your skin is already used to both ingredients. Using them together helps clear pores and smooth your skin, while calming components like panthenol keep your skin comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Glycolic acid and betaine salicylate help clear pores and regulate oil, while allantoin and panthenol keep your skin calm and hydrated.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is a superior fit for oily acne-prone skin because glycolic acid and betaine salicylate deeply exfoliate and clear pores while regulating oil production. It is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts thanks to soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol that keep your skin calm and comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A 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, 2025A 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, 2019Repeated 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, 2017Bioactive 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, 2022A 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 formulations containing 1.25% Malus sp. extract or 0.75% rutin protected against UVB-induced sunburn cells, caspase-3 activation, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, lipid peroxidation, and metalloproteinase formation in ex vivo skin explants and 3D tissue-engineered skin.
Rejuvenation Research, 2020Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Willow Bark Water Bark, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethyl Hexanediol
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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