Medik8 Press & Glow for oily acne-prone skin
Pha Polyhydroxy Acid
Gluconolactone
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other toners fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin due to gluconolactone, which helps smooth texture and provides humectant action alongside glycerin.
- While glycerin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice offer general hydration and soothing benefits for your oily skin, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is generally safe for your oily skin, with a low risk of irritation from gluconolactone.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start using your exfoliating toner once a week and slowly increase frequency if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or other treatments.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid any harsh rubbing .
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to ensure the best results .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use daily SPF while using exfoliating active products.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 4.0k+ reviewsUsers frequently report that it hydrates well, creates a perfect base for makeup, and pairs effectively with Vitamin A (retinol) routines. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. A small minority experienced dryness or a lack of visible results.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Gentle enough for twice-daily use”
- “No stinging or redness like other acids”
- “Does not strip the skin barrier”
Improves glow Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin looking glass-like and radiant”
- “Noticeable everyday glow”
- “Smoothed out my texture significantly”
- “Skin feels baby soft immediately”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Feels hydrating rather than drying”
- “Leaves skin feeling fresh and plump”
- “Acts like a moisture magnet”
- “Doesn't leave face feeling tight”
Packaging & usability Sometimes Noted
- “Love the press pump dispenser”
- “Easy to use and refillable”
- “Controls the amount of product perfectly”
- “Sustainable refill option is a bonus”
Caused dryness Rarely Noted
- “Made my face very dry and tight”
- “Left my skin feeling parched”
- “Too drying for my winter skin”
- “Highlighted dry patches”
No results Rarely Noted
- “Didn't notice any difference”
- “Just felt like water”
- “Not bad, but not amazing”
- “Saw no change in hyperpigmentation”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for a toner”
- “Price is ridiculous for the amount”
- “Refills are still quite pricey”
- “Not worth the money compared to others”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused stinging and redness”
- “Broke me out in tiny bumps”
- “Too harsh for my barrier”
- “Experienced irritation after a few days”
Sources: lovi.care, medik8.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, sephora.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medik8 Press & Glow work for oily acne-prone skin?
Medik8 Press & Glow offers moderate exfoliation and hydration for your oily skin with a low risk of irritation, but it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address your acne and breakouts. An exfoliating toner for this skin needs effective exfoliating acids and calming extracts that target blemishes, clear pores, and balance oiliness without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Gluconolactone helps smooth texture and provides moderate exfoliation with a low risk of irritation, while glycerin and aloe leaf juice offer hydration and soothing benefits. However, because this skin also needs targeted ingredients that effectively clear breakouts and refine pores, an exfoliating toner for oily acne-prone skin needs specialized blemish-fighting acids and calming botanical extracts.
What does Polyhydroxy Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Polyhydroxy Acid helps clear mild to moderate acne by reducing both inflamed and non-inflamed spots similarly to stronger treatments while keeping your skin calm and comfortable. It is unlikely to cause irritation or damage your skin barrier, making it a well-tolerated choice for oily and acne-prone skin.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
What does Gluconolactone do for oily acne-prone skin?
Gluconolactone helps clear mild to moderate breakouts by reducing both inflamed and clogged spots, while also calming redness and balancing oil. It tends to cause fewer side effects than other blemish treatments, making it well tolerated on easily irritated skin.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
Medik8 Press & Glow is an exfoliating toner that fits into an oily acne-prone skincare routine by starting at once a week, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing, with the option to use it more often if well-tolerated. While it offers moderate exfoliation and hydration with gluconolactone and glycerin, it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts, meaning oily acne-prone skin needs a dedicated blemish-fighting treatment containing ingredients like niacinamide or retinoids.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol, but apply it at a different time of day or on alternating nights to avoid irritation since your oily skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients alongside gentle exfoliation.
How often should I use it?
Start using this exfoliating toner once a week, and if your skin handles it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. This product is generally safe for your oily skin with a low risk of irritation.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause major purging on oily skin, but it lacks the targeted blemish-fighting ingredients needed to clear up acne and breakouts. A product for this skin type needs targeted blemish-clearing ingredients to effectively treat and prevent acne.
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, 2017Gluconolactone 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, 1992A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provided antiaging benefits comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen while demonstrating enhanced mildness and better tolerance in subjects.
Cutis, 2004Glycolic 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 treatment significantly increased facial skin hydration in 16 healthy women, with no significant differences between 10% and 30% solutions.
Skin Research and Technology, 2021Opuntia ficus-indica extract and its isorhamnetin-glucosyl-rhamnoside suppressed nitric oxide, COX-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production in vitro and inhibited croton oil-induced ear edema in vivo.
BioMed Research International, 2015Opuntia ficus-indica extract activated AHR-NRF2 signaling, inhibited reactive oxygen species generation, and upregulated filaggrin and loricrin expression in human keratinocytes.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2015Pre-treating normal human keratinocytes with an Opuntia ficus-indica cladode water extract protected against UVA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by inhibiting free radicals, lipid peroxidation, and GSH depletion.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2017A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010An acai oil-based organogel containing hyaluronic acid showed no cytotoxicity and provided a high level of hydration, thermal protection, and hyaluronic acid release after 6 hours of application in in vitro and ex vivo tests.
Pharmaceutics, 2024Phenolic compounds from açai fruit, specifically malvidin and cyanidin derivatives, strongly protect immortalized fibroblasts against UV-A-induced oxidative stress by preventing ROS production, GSH depletion, lipid peroxidation, and stress-pathway protein phosphorylation compared to unprotected irradiated cells.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2017Nanotechnological hydrogels containing desonide nanocapsules and açai oil increased epidermal drug retention and reduced ear edema and inflammatory cell infiltration comparably to a commercial formulation with twice the drug concentration in an animal model of acute skin inflammation.
Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2022
Why other toners fit oily acne-prone skin better
Two percent supramolecular salicylic acid showed similar efficacy to 0.01% adapalene plus 5% benzoyl peroxide in reducing acne lesions in 31 patients over 28 days.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2019Chemical 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, 2022Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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