Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner for oily skin
Dmae
Salicylic Acid
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Complex
Tetrapeptide-21
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best products for oily skin.
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
- Offers excellent pore minimizing and moderate exfoliation for your oily skin, as dimethyl mea and salicylic acid work to decongest pores and smooth texture while balancing oil production.
- Zinc gluconate and copper gluconate further support seboregulation and skin health, contributing to a refined appearance.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like zinc gluconate.
How to apply
- Use your toner PM to control oily shine and start 3 times a week before working up to daily use.
- Apply the toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer to prep your skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the toner into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply the toner on clean, dry skin to ensure the best results for your oily type.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin frequently report that this toner effectively mattifies the complexion and visibly tightens enlarged pores, leaving skin feeling "squeaky clean" and smoother. While many praise its ability to control excess oil and refine texture, a notable subset of users finds the scent overpowering and the formula potentially drying or irritating for sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Controls oil Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs and controls visible excess oil”
- “leaves skin looking matte, refreshed and radiant”
- “skin is less oily”
- “keeps skin matte and fresh all day”
Shrinks pores Often Mentioned
- “pores are barely visible even in my magnifying mirror”
- “definitely makes my pores look smaller”
- “large pores on the bulb are barely visible”
- “helped to kind of shrink the pore size a little bit”
Strong scent Often Mentioned
- “smell reminds me of a summer camp bathroom”
- “strong, powdery, and just off”
- “didn't give it 5 stars because it has a strong smell”
- “slight odor that's not that great”
Deep cleanses Sometimes Noted
- “pulls make up and/or dirt... out of my skin”
- “gets your face squeaky clean”
- “rids skin of residue, excess oil and build-up”
- “gets all the gunk out of my pores”
Smoothes texture Sometimes Noted
- “left my skin with a slightly smoother texture”
- “made the texture of my skin a lot smoother”
- “skin feels radiant and revitalised”
- “smoother, more refined visage”
Drying or irritating Sometimes Noted
- “too drying for my skin”
- “began to get red dry patches”
- “skin broke out and reacted poorly”
- “dries out my skin”
High price Rarely Noted
- “pricey for a toner don't think it's worth it”
- “not worth the price”
- “expensive so I kept at it”
No results Rarely Noted
- “pores remained the same”
- “haven't seen a difference in my pores”
- “didn't feel clean-no benefits”
Sources: lovi.care, perriconemd.com, macys.com, lookfantastic.com, lovelyskin.com, skincareessentials.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner a great fit for oily skin?
Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner is a great fit because dimethyl mea and salicylic acid help decongest pores, smooth texture, and balance oil production. Additionally, zinc gluconate and copper gluconate support skin health and oil control to give oily skin a refined appearance safely without irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
This toner is a great fit for your oily skin because dimethyl mea and salicylic acid help clear out pores and smooth your skin while balancing oil production. Zinc gluconate and copper gluconate further support skin health and oil control, leaving you with a refined, comfortable look.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does DMAE do for oily skin?
DMAE is not specifically tailored to treat oily skin, as its main benefits are for firming and smoothing fine lines. A product for oily skin needs oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep pores clear and skin balanced.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2005Skin Research and Technology, 2002
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This toner goes in the morning routine right after cleansing and before moisturizing, and in the evening after removing makeup and cleansing before applying any treatments. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results can carefully use them more often.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first, allowing it to absorb fully, and then following with your retinol. Because this toner contains salicylic acid, combining it with retinol may sometimes cause dryness or irritation, so it helps to start slowly and monitor how your skin feels.
How often should I use this toner?
Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner is a great fit for your oily skin and can be started once a week as an exfoliating step in your routine. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. The formula uses salicylic acid and soothing agents to help clear pores and balance oil with a low likelihood of irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin because ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear out pores and balance oil production without harshness. It is very well suited to keep your skin smooth and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
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, 2020Twice 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, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Daily application of 3% DMAE facial gel for 16 weeks safely and efficaciously mitigates forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, improves lip shape and fullness and overall aging skin appearance, and increases skin firmness compared to placebo.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2005A gel containing 3% 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) increased skin firmness, demonstrated by increased shear wave velocity in 30 volunteers compared to a formulation without DMAE.
Skin Research and Technology, 2002A DMAE-based formulation increased dermal and collagen fiber thickness in hairless mice and enhanced stratum corneum water content in human forearm skin compared to control formulations, without significantly modifying mechanical properties.
Die Pharmazie, 2009Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026Copper-quercetin complex polycaprolactone nanoparticles exhibited sustained release, antioxidant activity, and a threefold increase in antibacterial efficacy without causing skin irritation in rats.
Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2023Topical tripeptide copper complex and high-dose helium-neon laser application accelerated wound healing time and granulation tissue filling compared to untreated control wounds in rabbits.
Veterinary Dermatology, 2008
Ingredients
Water, Alcohol Denat, Dimethyl Mea, Tetrapeptide-21, Zinc Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Salicylic Acid, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool
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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