Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner for oily skin
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Extract Tree
Willow Bark Extract
Centella Asiatica ExtractSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best toners 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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by salicylic acid and willow bark extract, which effectively exfoliate and regulate sebum to address oily shine and pore congestion.
- Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract and various forms of hyaluronic acid offer additional soothing and hydrating benefits, enhancing overall skin comfort and barrier support.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliating toner once a week at first, then increase frequency only if your skin feels fine.
- Apply the exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press a few drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it dry.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and dry skin for the best results.
- Avoid the eye area and always use sunscreen during the day.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis toner is widely praised as a gentle yet effective exfoliant suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin, often described as a milder alternative to harsher BHA products. Users consistently report smoother skin texture, reduced blackheads, and minimized pores without the dryness typically associated with salicylic acid, thanks to the addition of hydrating ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Highlights
Gentle and non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “didn't sensitize my skin”
- “no irritation unlike other BHAs”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't strip the barrier”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels so smooth”
- “dissolved all the texture”
- “wipes away closed comedones”
- “face feels noticeably smoother”
Effective pore care Sometimes Noted
- “minimized blackheads”
- “pores look smaller”
- “clears clogged pores”
- “improved sebaceous filaments”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “super hydrating for a BHA”
- “doesn't feel stripping”
- “leaves a luminous finish”
- “moisturizing unlike others”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight and watery”
- “layers nicely under makeup”
- “non-greasy feel”
Tacky finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a tacky finish”
- “slightly sticky feeling”
- “best applied before other steps to hide tackiness”
- “feels sticky until dry”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “skin reacted badly”
- “unsure if purging or reaction”
Too gentle Rarely Noted
- “didn't work for me”
- “effect not as drastic”
- “too mild for my oily skin”
- “prefer stronger BHAs”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like burning rubber”
- “distinctive tea tree scent”
- “pungent chemical smell”
- “scent is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes ANUA BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner one of the best fits for oily skin?
This toner is one of the best fits for your oily skin because salicylic acid and willow bark extract effectively exfoliate and regulate sebum to address oily shine and pore congestion. Tree extract and hyaluronic acid offer additional soothing and hydrating benefits to enhance your skin comfort, while its safe formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and willow bark extract make this toner a great fit because they effectively exfoliate and control oil to help prevent shine and clogged pores. Melaleuca alternifolia tree extract and hyaluronic acid add soothing and hydrating benefits to keep your skin comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Bha do for oily skin?
BHA helps clear pores and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing extra shine and calming breakouts. It works deep inside pores to sweep away oil and dead skin cells, which helps keep skin looking clear and smooth. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin hydration while controlling excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2014
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 exfoliating toner goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting at once a week.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first, letting it dry completely, and then following with your retinol on separate nights or alternating days to prevent dryness and irritation. Using them too closely together may increase skin sensitivity, so it is best to introduce them slowly.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well without irritation, you can carefully use it more often. Salicylic acid and willow bark extract help clear pore congestion and oily shine while keeping your skin comfortable.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it features salicylic acid and willow bark extract to help clear pore congestion and regulate oil. Some reviewers mention a low potential for breakouts, which may happen as your skin adjusts to the exfoliating ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Twice 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, 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, 2024Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A 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, 2024Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer 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
Ingredients
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, C12-14 Pareth-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Willow Bark Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Ceramide Np, Butylene Glycol, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 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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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
How does it fit your skin?
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