Acwell 5.5 Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner for oily skin
Licorice Extract
Rheum Palmatum Root Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Psidium Guajava Leaf ExtractAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansing toners fit it better.
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
- This toner offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin, with Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides and Poloxamer 184 effectively removing impurities and excess oil. Licorice root water and green tea extract provide antioxidant activity and potential seboregulation, which are beneficial for oily skin.
- While it provides general hydration and cleansing, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target your concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like licorice root water and green tea extract and avoids harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of AM and PM routines. Start using your cleansing toner 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your cleansing toner after cleansing and before applying your moisturizer or SPF. This fits right into the middle of your daily skincare steps.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the cleansing toner directly onto your skin. Avoid rubbing it in and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the cleansing toner to completely dry skin for the best control of oily shine. Clean skin helps the product work more effectively.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use to check for comfort.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is widely praised as a "holy grail" cleansing step that effectively removes lingering impurities while balancing the skin's pH without stripping moisture. Users with dull or sensitive skin frequently report a noticeable brightening effect and improved texture, though a small minority experience breakouts or dislike the herbal scent.
Highlights
Deep cleansing ability Mostly Mentioned
- “removes dirt left after washing”
- “cotton pad comes off brown”
- “great for removing makeup residue”
- “cleans pores effectively”
Brightens and evens tone Often Mentioned
- “fades dark spots and acne scars”
- “gives a nice subtle glow”
- “skin looks more even and radiant”
- “helps with hyperpigmentation”
Hydrating and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump and moisturized”
- “doesn't leave face tight”
- “absorbs quickly without drying”
- “leaves skin feeling soft”
Gentle for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “soothing for sensitive skin”
- “mild and calming”
- “no stinging or redness”
Scent preference Sometimes Noted
- “strong herbal licorice smell”
- “scent is too potent”
- “smells like medicine”
- “dislike the citrus/bergamot fragrance”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me small bumps”
- “caused cystic acne flare-ups”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “skin reacted poorly”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “cap broke easily”
- “bottle leaks when traveling”
- “hard to control amount poured”
- “plastic feels cheap”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a tacky film”
- “feels slightly sticky after application”
- “residue sits on skin”
- “felt a bit heavy”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, sokoglam.com, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Acwell 5.5 Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner work for oily skin?
This toner removes excess oil and impurities from your oily skin while keeping it calm and hydrated, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, galactomyces, or exfoliating acids like AHA and BHA to properly manage shine and texture for oily skin.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Licorice root water and green tea extract help clean and calm oily skin with soothing properties. This toner needs ingredients like niacinamide, galactomyces, or exfoliating acids such as AHA and BHA to properly control oily shine and improve skin texture.
What does Licorice Extract do for oily skin?
Licorice Extract helps calm oily skin by lowering redness and soothing irritation. It may also manage swelling and regulate inflammatory responses at the breakout site, making it a good choice for keeping troubled skin calm and clear.
What does Licorice Root Water do for oily skin?
Licorice root water helps calm oily and breakout-prone skin by soothing irritation and reducing redness. It is unlikely to feel heavy or clog pores while providing antioxidants that help keep the skin clear and balanced.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing toner goes in the evening routine after your makeup remover and cleanser, followed by a treatment and moisturizer. It is safe for oily skin, but to better handle oily shine, this type of skin needs a product with specialized oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner in your evening routine before your treatment, as it is safe and soothing for your skin. Oily skin also needs ingredients like mattifying agents or oil-absorbing minerals to help directly target oily shine.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this cleansing toner in your evening routine as directed by your routine steps. This product of this type needs specialized oil-controlling ingredients to properly target oily shine for your oily skin.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin, as it is generally safe and causes very few complaints of breakouts among reviewers. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine, an oily skin type needs oil-absorbing or mattifying ingredients like clay or salicylic acid to help control excess oil and keep pores clear.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Licochalcone 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, 2015Combining 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, 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, 2025Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.
Molecules, 2023Topical application of the rhubarb charcoal-crosslinked chitosan/silk fibroin sponge scaffold effectively mitigated hepatic lipid accumulation, decreased inflammation, and attenuated oxidative stress in db/db mice via the AMPK signalling pathway.
Lipids in Health and Disease, 2024Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A toner with 6% guava extract significantly reduced skin oiliness on the forehead and nose compared to the base toner in 21 volunteers over 28 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Pre-incubation with guava crude extract significantly decreased apoptotic and dead cells and markers of oxidative damage while improving antioxidant enzyme activity in human dermal fibroblasts subjected to AAPH-mediated oxidative stress, compared to cells subjected to stress without prior pre-incubation.
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2018
Why other cleansing toners fit oily skin better
Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Application 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Licorice Root Water Root, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Poloxamer 184, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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