🇸🇦Saudi Arabia

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner for dry sensitive skin

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

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner

Average

  • LowDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other toners fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 due to glycolic acid, which can help smooth skin texture but may cause dryness and irritation for your dry and sensitive skin.
  • While Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract is included for potential soothing effects, the primary exfoliation from glycolic acid is not ideal for addressing dryness or flakiness.
  • The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that would cause irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliating toner only in your PM routine, starting 1×/week since your skin is sensitive. Carefully build up frequency only if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner after using your cleanser and before your final moisturizer. This ensures it works effectively on clean skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin using your hands. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation.
  • Apply the exfoliating toner on completely dry skin to ensure better tolerance for your sensitive type. Let it absorb fully before moving to the next step.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area. Keep this product separate from other strong acids or retinoids to protect your skin barrier.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

Users frequently praise this toner as a potent and affordable exfoliant that effectively smooths rough texture and minimizes the appearance of pores, particularly for oily or congestion-prone skin. Due to its high 10% glycolic acid concentration, it is often described as too harsh for sensitive skin types, with some users reporting stinging or irritation.

Highlights

  • Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin has never been softer”
    • “smooths out rough skin”
    • “resurfacing effect is noticeable”
  • Great value Often Mentioned
    • “great affordable option”
    • “good value”
    • “lasts for ages”
  • Reduces pores & acne Often Mentioned
    • “got rid of my bacne”
    • “clears blackheads effectively”
    • “pores look smaller”
  • Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
    • “radiant glow”
    • “brighter and shinier”
    • “glow skin in next day”
  • Irritation and stinging Sometimes Noted
    • “felt really irritated”
    • “turned red”
    • “feels a bit stingy”
  • Too strong/drying Sometimes Noted
    • “too strong for my face”
    • “skin hated it”
    • “drying to the surface”
  • Purging/Breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “worsened my acne”
    • “breakout purging”
    • “caused reaction”
  • Small packaging Rarely Noted
    • “bottle is a little small”
    • “wish it was bigger”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.com, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The INKEY List Glycolic Acid work for dry sensitive skin?

This toner offers moderate exfoliation that may help smooth your skin, but it can also cause dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A product for this skin needs plenty of hydrating ingredients and gentle exfoliants to boost moisture and improve texture safely.

Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract is included in this toner for potential soothing effects, but the glycolic acid may cause dryness and irritation for your dry and sensitive skin. An exfoliating toner for this skin needs plenty of hydrating ingredients and gentle exfoliants that boost moisture retention and support the skin barrier without causing irritation.

What does Glycolic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Glycolic acid can be too harsh for dry sensitive skin and may cause irritation, so this skin type needs gentle calming ingredients and deeply nourishing moisturizers to keep the skin barrier safe and smooth.

Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997

What does Witch Hazel do for dry sensitive skin?

Witch Hazel helps calm dry sensitive skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while keeping moisture locked in. It is unlikely to cause discomfort when you choose an alcohol-free formula that hydrates as it protects.

Phytochemistry, 2001International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022

Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This toner works for your dry sensitive skin once a week as an exfoliating step, though other products fit it better. To properly care for this skin, a product of this type needs gentle exfoliating ingredients paired with extra soothing and moisturizing benefits.

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

Using this exfoliating toner with retinol may easily lead to extra dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs gentle soothing ingredients and extra moisture to keep skin calm and smooth.

How often should I use it?

Start using this exfoliating toner just once a week, as strong acids may cause dryness and irritation for your dry and sensitive skin. If your skin tolerates it well and stays calm, you may carefully use it more often. To truly care for dry and sensitive skin, this product type needs gentle smoothing ingredients and extra soothing agents that build hydration and protect your skin barrier.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, though mild purging may happen when you start using a glycolic acid product. Reviewers rarely mention breakouts, but stinging and dryness are more common concerns with this formula. A product for this skin needs gentle hydrators and soothing plant extracts to keep skin soft and calm without irritation.

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).

What the research says

  • Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.

    International Journal of Dermatology, 2000

  • Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2017

  • A Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract increased LOXL1 expression twofold, decreased elafin synthesis, restored functional elastic fibers, reduced nonfunctional elastin aggregates, decreased wrinkles, and improved skin firmness.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018

  • Hamamelis bark proanthocyanidins strongly increased the proliferation of cultured human keratinocytes and reduced transepidermal water loss and erythema formation in SLS-irritated skin, whereas the polysaccharide fraction had no effect.

    Phytochemistry, 2001

  • Witch hazel bark extract and hamamelitannin showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, supported keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay, and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, whereas their skin microbiota metabolite ellagic acid stimulated inflammatory mediator release.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025

  • Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.

    Molecules, 2021

  • Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

Why other toners fit dry sensitive skin better

  • A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.

    Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

  • Glycerol accelerates barrier repair and improves stratum corneum hydration compared to untreated and base-treated sites.

    Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999

Ingredients

Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Witch Hazel Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Betaine, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

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 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Saudi Arabia.

How does it fit your skin?

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