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SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion

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 your oily skin is provided by salicylic acid and lactic acid, which have keratolytic action to manage oiliness and improve texture, complemented by pitera ferment filtrate for overall skin health.
  • The formula offers excellent exfoliation due to the presence of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid in high concentrations, effectively smoothing texture.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Pitera Ferment Filtrate.

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

★4.2Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, watery toner is widely praised by users with combination and oily skin for its ability to gently exfoliate and remove residual impurities left after cleansing. Many report smoother texture, balanced sebum production, and improved absorption of subsequent skincare products. Some users with dry skin find it less hydrating, and others feel the results do not justify the luxury price tag.

Highlights

  • Expensive price Mostly Mentioned
    • “Pricey for toner”
    • “Not budget-friendly”
    • “Luxury cost”
  • Excellent skin prep Often Mentioned
    • “Removes leftover dirt”
    • “Aids absorption”
    • “Feels clean”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “Smoother skin”
    • “Gentle exfoliation”
    • “Refines pores”
  • Balances oil production Sometimes Noted
    • “Controls T-zone oil”
    • “Reduces sebum”
    • “Refreshing feel”
  • Lightweight and gentle Sometimes Noted
    • “Watery consistency”
    • “Non-sticky”
    • “Suitable for sensitive skin”
  • Underwhelming results Sometimes Noted
    • “No visible difference”
    • “Average performance”
    • “Not miraculous”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Small bumps”
    • “Purging”
    • “Skin irritation”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Fermented smell”
    • “Weird odor”
    • “Smells like saliva”

Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, bloomingdales.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes SK-II Clear Lotion a great fit for oily skin?

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion is a great fit for oily skin because salicylic acid and lactic acid help manage oiliness and smooth texture, while pitera ferment filtrate supports overall skin health with a very safe and soothing formula.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

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

This toner is a great fit for oily skin because salicylic acid and lactic acid help manage oiliness and smooth texture, while Pitera ferment filtrate supports overall skin health. These ingredients work together safely to provide excellent exfoliation without causing irritation.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

What does Pitera Ferment Filtrate do for oily skin?

Pitera ferment filtrate helps calm oily skin and keeps it balanced by supporting a healthy skin barrier and fighting daily stress. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and may improve overall texture so your skin stays smooth.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022

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 fits into an oily skin routine as a cleansing toner used in the evening after your cleanser. Lovi routines start exfoliating toners once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.

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

You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol by applying the toner first, allowing it to absorb completely, and then following with your retinol on alternate nights to prevent irritation. The formula contains salicylic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid to smooth texture, which works well alongside retinol when introduced gradually.

How often should I use this toner?

Start by using this toner once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Its exfoliating acids help manage oiliness and smooth texture while staying gentle on your skin.

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 it has a very safe profile without harsh ingredients, and only a few reviewers mention breakouts. Salicylic acid and lactic acid help manage oil and smooth texture, while soothing pitera ferment filtrate supports overall skin health.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

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, 2020

  • Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021

  • Twice 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, 2024

  • Cosmetic formulations containing glycolic acid, lactic acid, a fruit acids mixture, or malic acid ester thickened the epidermis and increased cell and nuclear volume in hairless mice compared to controls and salicylic esters.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002

  • A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.

    Skinmed, 2021

  • Galactomyces ferment filtrate promotes epidermal interconnectivity, barrier development, cell adhesion, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, and protects cellular bioenergetics against stress in keratinocytes and ex vivo skin explants compared to untreated controls.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • Galactomyces ferment filtrate activates AHR and NRF2, upregulates filaggrin and terminal differentiation markers, exhibits antioxidative activity, promotes antiinflammatory IL-37, and downregulates CDKN2A, IL-33, CXCL14, and IL6R in epidermal keratinocytes.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2010

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Pitera Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peg-150, Cellulose Gum, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

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

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