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SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for sensitive skin

Average

  • SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • Low RiskSafety

Works for sensitive skin; other toners fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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

  • Suitable for normal skin due to galactomyces ferment filtrate and salicylic acid, which offer superb skin conditioning and mild keratolytic action, respectively.
  • It provides general skincare benefits like hydration and mild exfoliation with glycerin and salicylic acid, which are supportive for redness and irritation but not targeted to address them.
  • The product is generally safe for your normal skin, with some risks of irritation due to the presence of salicylic acid and lactic acid.

How to apply

  • Use your exfoliating toner as part of a PM routine once a week to start. Carefully increase frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It fits right into your usual step for toners.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep redness down.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner on completely dry skin to help improve your skin's tolerance. This helps protect your sensitive face.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area . Skip strong acids or retinoids on the same night.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, watery toner is widely praised by users with combination and oily skin for its ability to gently exfoliate and remove residual impurities left after cleansing. Many report smoother texture, balanced sebum production, and improved absorption of subsequent skincare products. Some users with dry skin find it less hydrating, and others feel the results do not justify the luxury price tag.

Highlights

  • Expensive price Mostly Mentioned
    • “Pricey for toner”
    • “Not budget-friendly”
    • “Luxury cost”
  • Excellent skin prep Often Mentioned
    • “Removes leftover dirt”
    • “Aids absorption”
    • “Feels clean”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “Smoother skin”
    • “Gentle exfoliation”
    • “Refines pores”
  • Balances oil production Sometimes Noted
    • “Controls T-zone oil”
    • “Reduces sebum”
    • “Refreshing feel”
  • Lightweight and gentle Sometimes Noted
    • “Watery consistency”
    • “Non-sticky”
    • “Suitable for sensitive skin”
  • Underwhelming results Sometimes Noted
    • “No visible difference”
    • “Average performance”
    • “Not miraculous”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Small bumps”
    • “Purging”
    • “Skin irritation”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Fermented smell”
    • “Weird odor”
    • “Smells like saliva”

Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, bloomingdales.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does SK-II Clear Lotion work for sensitive skin?

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion works moderately well for sensitive skin, though it may cause some irritation because it contains salicylic acid and lactic acid. A product of this type needs to pose no risk of irritation, provide calming ingredients for redness, and balance its exfoliating action with plenty of soothing and hydrating components.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

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

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate and sodium hyaluronate help condition and hydrate sensitive skin. However, because this toner contains salicylic acid and lactic acid, it carries a risk of irritation. Sensitive skin needs exfoliating toners that pose no risk of irritation, contain calming ingredients to soothe redness, and feature rich hydrating components.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

What does Pitera Ferment Filtrate do for sensitive skin?

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate helps calm redness and smooth rough patches while supporting the skin barrier, making it a gentle option for sensitive skin. It helps reduce daily fluctuations in skin irritation and redness, keeping the face feeling soft and comfortable.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003

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

This exfoliating toner works just once a week for sensitive skin, starting out slow to avoid redness or irritation. Because other products fit this skin type better, a sensitive skin routine needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydration rather than strong acids.

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

You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol, but because it contains salicylic acid and lactic acid, it may cause irritation on sensitive skin. Use this toner before retinol on alternate nights to lower the chance of redness, and finish with a gentle moisturizer.

How often should I use this toner?

Start by using this exfoliating toner just once a week to see how your sensitive skin reacts, as it contains salicylic acid and lactic acid which may cause irritation. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. An average fit for sensitive skin like this needs gentle soothing ingredients and extra hydration to keep the skin calm and comfortable.

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

This toner may cause breakouts or irritation on sensitive skin due to salicylic acid and lactic acid. To work well for sensitive skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that keep the skin calm and comfortable.

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
  • 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, 2017
  • Twice 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, 2024
  • A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.

    Skinmed, 2021
  • Galactomyces ferment filtrate promotes epidermal interconnectivity, barrier development, cell adhesion, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, and protects cellular bioenergetics against stress in keratinocytes and ex vivo skin explants compared to untreated controls.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
  • Galactomyces ferment filtrate activates AHR and NRF2, upregulates filaggrin and terminal differentiation markers, exhibits antioxidative activity, promotes antiinflammatory IL-37, and downregulates CDKN2A, IL-33, CXCL14, and IL6R in epidermal keratinocytes.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004
  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992
  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
  • 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

Why other toners fit sensitive skin better

  • Topical 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, 2002
  • A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002

Ingredients

Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Pitera Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peg-150, Cellulose Gum, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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