COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner for combination skin
Glycolic Acid
Betaine Salicylate
Willow Water Bark
Pyrus Malus Fruit Water
Panthenol
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few toners fit it even 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 high suitability for your combination skin as glycolic acid and betaine salicylate provide keratolytic action to address oily shine, while butylene glycol offers humectant benefits.
- The presence of willow bark water and allantoin further supports gentle exfoliation and soothing effects, complementing the primary actives.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliating toner during your PM routine. Start once a week and slowly build up if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner right after cleansing and before your favorite moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to get the best results for your combination skin.
- Always avoid the sensitive eye area and wear daily SPF to protect your skin.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is widely praised by users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin for its ability to gently exfoliate and balance pH without causing irritation. Users frequently report smoother skin texture, reduced whiteheads, and a "glass skin" glow, though some find it too gentle to produce dramatic or immediate results.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “extremely gentle”
- “no irritation”
- “good for beginners”
- “great daily exfoliator”
Acne & pore control Often Mentioned
- “helps with whiteheads”
- “pores less visible”
- “controls excess sebum”
- “cleared breakouts”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “softens skin”
- “glass skin effect”
- “reduced bumps”
Convenient packaging Sometimes Noted
- “fine mist spray”
- “hygienic nozzle”
- “easy to use”
- “refreshing mist”
Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating”
- “leaves skin supple”
- “not drying”
- “doesn't strip skin”
Slow or no results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “takes time to see results”
- “too gentle”
- “no dramatic difference”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “bad reaction”
- “bumps appeared”
- “irritated my skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “spray disperses too widely”
- “runs out fast”
- “leaky bottle”
- “broken nozzle”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “weird smell”
- “faint soap smell”
- “rotting fruit scent”
- “chemical odor”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, yesstyle.com, sokoglam.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner a great fit for combination skin?
This toner is a great fit because glycolic acid and betaine salicylate help clear away oily shine while keeping skin balanced. Willow bark water and allantoin provide gentle soothing effects, and ingredients like butylene glycol help maintain moisture without irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for combination skin?
Glycolic acid and betaine salicylate help manage oily shine, while butylene glycol brings in moisture. Willow bark water and allantoin add gentle exfoliation and help keep your skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
What does Glycolic Acid do for combination skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and brighten combination skin by gently loosening dead surface cells to speed up skin renewal. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, but it needs a reliable sunscreen during the day since it makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995Archives of Dermatological Research, 1997
What does Betaine Salicylate do for combination skin?
Betaine Salicylate helps keep combination skin clear and smooth by clearing out pores and calming redness. It is unlikely to cause irritation, making it gentle enough for everyday use on mixed skin types.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This toner goes in the evening routine after cleansing as a treatment step. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps 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 toner with retinol by applying the toner first, waiting for it to dry, and then applying your retinol. Because this toner gently exfoliates and helps clear oily shine while soothing the skin, using it alongside retinol is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation when introduced gradually.
How often should I use this toner?
Start using this toner once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. The glycolic acid and betaine salicylate help clear away dead skin and oily shine, while the safe formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it contains gentle exfoliating and soothing ingredients with a safe profile. Some reviewers do mention minor breakouts, but the formula helps clear oily shine without harsh effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Glycolic 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, 2019A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020A cosmetic cream with 6% wild apple fruit water extract showed good stability, antioxidant activity, no skin irritation, increased skin hydration, and a bleaching effect on artificially induced skin hyperpigmentation in human volunteers.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Repeated 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, 2000Serial 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, 2017Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, 2020Topical 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, 2002Moisturizer 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, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Willow Bark Water Bark, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethyl Hexanediol
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
How does it fit your skin?
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