Augustinus Bader The Exfoliating Toner for dry skin
Tfc8 Trigger Factor Complex 8
Salicylic Acid
Gluconolactone
Lactobacillus Wasabia Japonica Extract Root Ferment
Sodium Hyaluronate
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin due to gluconolactone and salicylic acid, which promote skin renewal and smoothing. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration, but the formula lacks sufficient emollients for optimal moisture retention on dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
- While the toner offers general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, its primary exfoliating function is not perfectly aligned with the specific needs of dry or flaky skin.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner as part of your PM routine once a week to start. If your skin is happy, you can slowly use it more often.
- Apply this exfoliating toner right after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. This keeps your skin care steps in the right order.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it soak in for a minute before the next step.
- Put the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin to help it work best. Avoid rubbing so your face stays calm and happy.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis 3-in-1 toner is frequently described as a gentle yet effective treatment for achieving smoother, more radiant skin, often referred to as 'glass skin.' While many users with mature or dull complexions report a visible glow and refined pores, a portion of users with sensitive skin experienced irritation, and some found the results subtle for the high price.
Highlights
Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Made my skin incredibly soft and supple”
- “texture is noticeably smoother”
- “sweeps away dead surface cells”
Expensive product Mostly Mentioned
- “Not worth the price tag”
- “nice but overpriced”
- “can't justify the cost for a toner”
Boosts radiance Often Mentioned
- “Noticeable glow in the morning”
- “dull skin is left glowing”
- “gives a healthy radiance”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “No issues with sensitivity”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “doesn't dry the skin out”
Refines pores Sometimes Noted
- “Really refines your pores”
- “clogged pores feel clarified”
- “gets rid of blackheads”
Caused irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Face turned very red and itchy”
- “broke me out bad”
- “caused severe reactions”
Subtle results Rarely Noted
- “Noticed no difference”
- “results were meh”
- “didn't do much for my skin”
Sources: lovi.care, bloomingdales.com, bluemercury.com, spacenk.com, sephora.my, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Augustinus Bader The Exfoliating Toner work for dry skin?
Augustinus Bader The Exfoliating Toner works moderately well for dry skin, offering gentle smoothing and hydration, but it lacks enough rich moisturizers to fully lock in moisture. For dry skin, a product of this type needs rich softening ingredients and heavy hydrators to prevent moisture loss.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help provide hydration for dry skin, though this type of product also needs rich moisturizing ingredients to keep moisture locked in.
What does Tfc8 do for dry skin?
TFC8 is unlikely to be the right fit for dry skin unless it is paired with rich, nourishing ingredients and moisture-locking barriers that stop water loss and keep the skin soft.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?
Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an evening routine after cleansing, but because it is an average fit for dry skin, you should start using it just once a week. Dry skin needs products that provide gentle exfoliation alongside rich moisturizers and heavy creams to lock in moisture.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner in your evening routine, but use it carefully on separate nights from your retinol to avoid irritation on dry skin. Dry skin types need gentle exfoliating acids combined with rich moisture-locking ingredients and protective emollients to keep the skin barrier smooth and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
Start using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your dry skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. To keep dry skin comfortable and soft, this type of product also needs rich moisturizing ingredients that lock in moisture.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as it contains no heavy oils or harsh ingredients. However, because it contains exfoliating acids, it may cause mild irritation or slight flaking if your skin is sensitive.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2024Glycolic 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, 2019Gluconolactone and tartaric acid significantly lower transepidermal water loss and erythema after sodium lauryl sulphate challenge compared to vehicle, untreated control, and glycolic acid in healthy subjects.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Isosaponarin isolated from wasabi leaf increased type I collagen production in human fibroblasts by up-regulating TbetaR-II and P4H expression.
Journal of Natural Medicines, 2010Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Lactobacillus Wasabia Japonica Extract Root Ferment, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Papain, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Algin, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride
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
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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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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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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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