Toner Pads: What They Are and How to Use Them

Toner pads are one of Korean skincare's star products: cotton or fabric discs soaked in toner and ready to go. They simplify your routine, travel easily and have more than one use. Here's everything you need to know.

What are toner pads?

They come in a jar with dozens of discs pre-soaked in a toner formula. Depending on the brand, they may contain hydrating, soothing, brightening or gently exfoliating ingredients. Many have two sides: a textured one for light exfoliation and a smooth one for applying.

What they're for

• Removing leftover cleanser or impurities after washing your face.
• Balancing and hydrating your skin before serum.
• Gently exfoliating, in the case of pads with acids.
• Working as a quick mask on specific areas.
• Refreshing your skin during the day or after the gym.

Types of toner pads

• Hydrating: with hyaluronic acid, collagen or PDRN. For every skin type.
• Soothing: with centella, heartleaf or aloe. Ideal for sensitive skin.
• Brightening: with vitamin C or niacinamide, for dull skin or uneven tone.
• Exfoliating: with AHA, BHA or PHA. For oily skin, pores or texture. Use them only a few times a week.

Want to know more about classic toner? Read what face toner does.

How to use them

As a toner

1. Cleanse your face. If you don't have a good cleanser yet, read how to choose a face cleanser.
2. Grab a pad with the tweezers that usually come with the jar.
3. Sweep it from the center of your face outward, avoiding the eye area.
4. Pat so your skin absorbs the remaining liquid.
5. Follow with serum, moisturizer and, in the morning, sunscreen.

As a quick mask

Peel the pad into layers (many can be split) and place them on your cheeks or forehead for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and pat in.

For touch-ups

Carry a few in a small container to refresh your skin after a workout.

How often to use them

• Hydrating and soothing: daily, morning and night.
• Exfoliating: 2 to 3 times a week, at night. Don't combine them with retinol on the same night.

With exfoliating or brightening pads, sunscreen is a must in the morning. Review the common slip-ups in sunscreen mistakes to avoid.

Hygiene tips

• Use the tweezers, not your fingers.
• Close the jar tightly so the pads don't dry out.
• Respect the shelf life after opening.

Common mistakes

• Scrubbing hard with the textured side.
• Using exfoliating pads every day when you don't need to.
• Swiping them over your eyes.

Shop it at BeautyRosee

PDRN and collagen toner pads, plus vitamin C pads from Goodal, in Korean skincare and skincare.

FAQ

Do toner pads replace toner?

Yes, they do the same job in a more convenient format.

Do they go before or after serum?

Before: right after cleansing.

Can I use them every day?

Hydrating and soothing pads, yes. Exfoliating ones, only a few times a week.

Are they OK for sensitive skin?

Choose soothing pads without acids or fragrance, and patch-test them first.

Keep reading

• Skincare Guide: Your Complete Routine, Explained
• How to choose a face cleanser
• Face mist: what it does