Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner for combination skin
Dmae
Salicylic Acid
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Complex
Tetrapeptide-21
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 pore minimizing and exfoliation for your oily shine and combination skin, as salicylic acid and dimethyl mea work to decongest pores and gently cleanse. Zinc gluconate further aids in seboregulation, beneficial for managing oiliness and pore appearance.
- Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide some hydration, which is helpful for combination skin, though the alcohol denat. may counteract some of these benefits for drier areas.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents.
How to apply
- You can use this toner in your AM or PM routine. Start by using it 3 times a week and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the toner right after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer or sunscreen.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute ⏳ before your next step.
- For the best results apply it to clean skin so it can help control oily shine throughout the day.
- Always avoid the eye area and remember to do a patch test before your very 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
How well does Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner work for combination skin?
This toner works reasonably well for combination skin by helping to clear out pores and manage oily shine, though alcohol denat. may dry out your drier areas. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but a product of this type needs more balancing and clarifying plant extracts, along with extra hydrating ingredients, to truly suit combination skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and dimethyl mea help clear pores and reduce oily shine, while zinc gluconate manages oil production. Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin also provide light hydration for combination skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
What does DMAE do for combination skin?
DMAE helps firm combination skin and smooth out fine lines when used daily, though a product of this type needs added hydrating ingredients to keep dry areas soft while balancing oilier zones.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2005Skin Research and Technology, 2002
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This toner goes in the evening cleansing routine, after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. It works to decongest pores and manage oiliness with salicylic acid and zinc gluconate, though combination skin also needs balancing hydration that avoids drying out drier areas.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to clean skin and following with your retinol after it dries completely. Because this toner contains exfoliating acids and alcohol, using both together may dry out your skin, so you should start slowly and watch for any irritation.
How often should I use it?
Start using this toner once a week, and if your combination skin handles it well without dryness from the alcohol, you may carefully use it more often. Salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear oily shine, while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide hydration to balance the formula.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear out pores and manage oiliness. However, the alcohol denat. may sometimes dry out drier areas on your face.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A 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, 2026Daily 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, 2023A 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, 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, 2017Daily 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, 2010Different 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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