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PCA SKIN Hydrating Toner for oily skin

PCA SKIN Hydrating Toner

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few toners fit it even 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

  • Excellent suitability for oily skin is provided by Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract and Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, which offer humectant and mild keratolytic actions to manage oiliness.
  • Glycerin and watermelon fruit extract deliver excellent hydration, while Panthenol and Oenothera Biennis Root Extract offer soothing benefits that support your oily skin.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your hydrating toner in your AM and PM routine every day to keep skin fresh.
  • Apply this product after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb.
  • Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

Users consistently report that it effectively removes residual dirt and makeup while leaving the skin feeling refreshed, plump, and perfectly prepped for subsequent skincare steps, though a small minority of users experienced breakouts or found the product too expensive.

Highlights

  • Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
    • “provides just the right amount of hydration, leaving my skin feeling refreshed and never dried out”
    • “did a better job of hydrating my skin and making it feel nourished”
    • “Amazing hydration.”
    • “leaves skin feeling smooth and hydrated”
  • Gentle and soothing Often Mentioned
    • “gentle, soothing, and won't irritate”
    • “first toner that doesnt hurt my skin”
    • “calms redness and irritation”
    • “clean without stripping it”
  • Refreshing feel Often Mentioned
    • “incredibly refreshing, unlike any others I have used before”
    • “Love how refresh it feels.”
    • “leaves skin feeling refreshed, revitalized”
    • “refreshing experience. I love how it sprays on easily”
  • Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
    • “removes residue leaving my face very hydrated”
    • “couldn't believe how much it was left on face after washing”
    • “seeing the bits of makeup my cleanser and wipes didn't catch was always a thrill”
  • Expensive product Sometimes Noted
    • “high price point is a drawback”
    • “a bit too expensive for the amount you get”
    • “PCA is much more expensive”
    • “pricey upon the first purchase”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “my skin broke out like crazy after using it for a week”
    • “developed a bunch of tiny acne spots all over my face”
    • “not for acne prone skin”
  • Subtle results Rarely Noted
    • “didn't notice a change in my skin until I compared my before and after photos”
    • “didn't notice my complexion looking any more radiant”
    • “felt more like a soothing, wind-down step rather than game-changing skincare”

Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, bluemercury.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstreet.com, whowhatwear.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes PCA Skin Hydrating Toner a great fit for oily skin?

PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is a great fit for oily skin because it uses apple fruit and lentil extracts to manage oiliness while keeping your skin calm and hydrated with glycerin, watermelon fruit extract, and panthenol. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

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

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract and Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract help manage oiliness, while Glycerin and watermelon fruit extract deliver light hydration. Additionally, Panthenol and Oenothera Biennis Root Extract provide soothing benefits that help keep oily skin calm and smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Glycerin do for oily skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

What does Watermelon Fruit Extract do for oily skin?

Watermelon Fruit Extract is unlikely to cause greasy buildup on oily skin, as it provides lightweight hydration without heavy oils. This type of skin benefits most from light, water-binding ingredients that keep pores clear while maintaining a fresh, balanced feel.

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

PCA Skin Hydrating Toner goes in your morning routine right after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is also used weekly in your routine following your cleansing mask and before your treatment.

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

Yes, you can use this hydrating toner with retinol by applying the toner first to damp skin and following it with your retinol treatment. This product is unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components that support your oily skin.

How often should I use this toner?

You can use this hydrating toner daily in your morning routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer and spf. It helps manage oiliness while keeping your skin calm and hydrated without causing irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

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

PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a low complaint rate for breakouts and relies on soothing, gentle ingredients like glycerin and panthenol. Its formula helps manage oiliness while keeping your skin calm and balanced without the risk of heavy irritation.

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

  • A 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, 2024
  • Dermocosmetic creams containing 6%, 12%, and 15% of standardized wild apple fruit ultrasonic extract increased skin hydration proportionally to extract concentration after 28 days of application on healthy volunteers without altering transepidermal water loss or skin pH.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
  • 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 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, 2017
  • The mixture of Helianthus annuus L. and Oenothera biennis L. oils showed good oxidative stability and biocompatibility without irritant or phototoxic effects on 3D EpiDerm models, suggesting that Oenothera biennis L. oil can prevent the oxidative damage of Helianthus annuus L. oil.

    Plants, 2022
  • 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
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Coniferyl alcohol derived from seed watermelon promoted linoleic acid-stimulated lipogenesis by approximately 2.2-fold at 300 µM and increased total lipid content in SZ95 sebocytes compared to controls.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2020
  • Moisturizer 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, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic 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
  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003
  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009
  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Watermelon Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Oenothera Biennis Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Sodium Lactate, Disodium Edta, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Stem Extract Leaf, Sodium Pca, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Carrageenan, Jania Rubens Extract, Ascorbic Acid

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.