PCA SKIN Hydrating Toner for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Watermelon Fruit Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Panthenol
Ascorbic Acid
High
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few toners fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2019
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 hydration for your oily skin, with glycerin and watermelon fruit extract providing moisturizing effects, but lacks targeted ingredients to address acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract and Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract offer humectant action, which is beneficial for oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like glycerin and panthenol and avoids harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin feels fine.
- Apply your hydrating toner after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it ⏱absorb for a minute before adding your next product.
- Applying the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin helps your face absorb it better. This keeps your oily skin balanced and hydrated.
- Be sure to avoid the eye area when applying. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any reaction.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers 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 acne-prone skin?
PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is a great fit because it offers moderate moisture with glycerin and watermelon fruit extract while avoiding harsh substances that could irritate oily skin. Ingredients like apple and lentil fruit extracts help draw moisture into the skin, and panthenol helps keep your skin feeling calm and comfortable.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, watermelon fruit extract, pyrus malus fruit extract, and lens esculenta fruit extract make this toner a great fit because they provide moderate moisturization without weighing down oily skin. Panthenol also helps soothe the skin while keeping it comfortable.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Watermelon Fruit Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Watermelon Fruit Extract helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by providing soothing and antioxidant benefits that reduce everyday stress and irritation. Because this ingredient is generally light and refreshing, it is unlikely to clog pores while supporting a balanced, clear complexion.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This hydrating toner is used after cleansing in your morning routine. It helps keep your skin feeling soft and calm with ingredients like glycerin and panthenol, though it does not target breakouts.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with your retinol, applying the toner first to damp skin to help hydrate before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to irritate your oily skin because it contains soothing ingredients like panthenol and glycerin.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner twice a day in the morning and evening, and also as part of your weekly routine, since it provides gentle moisture without irritation. Its soothing ingredients help keep your skin calm while offering light hydration.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it provides moderate hydration with soothing ingredients like glycerin and panthenol that are unlikely to irritate your skin. However, since it lacks targeted ingredients to address blemishes and breakouts, this skin type typically needs added ingredients that gently exfoliate and clear pores.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this toner 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, 2017A cosmetic cream with 6% standardized wild apple fruit extract and a conventional emulsifier demonstrated stable antioxidant activity of 19.25 %RSC, increased skin moisturization, and a decreased melanin index by -31.40 without causing skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2019Dermocosmetic 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, 2022Topical 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, 2002A 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Coniferyl 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, 2025Topical 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, 2020Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic 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, 2020Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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.
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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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