We may earn commission from the affiliate links on this page, but we only recommend products and services we love. We promise!
I'm a beauty girl through and through, but I'll admit I'm very lazy—or as I prefer to say, efficient—with my skincare routine. Despite being a beauty editor, my skincare drawer is actually basic AF compared to the decked-out #shelfies we usually see online filled with products for a comprehensive regimen, lol. (P.S. No hate if you love your big skincare shelf, btw! I honestly respect the effort and energy. *claps*)
That said, I usually prefer using products that hit two birds with one stone, such as a facial wash that also acts as an emollient balm for getting rid of makeup, a moisturizer that doubles as a makeup primer, and more. A recent addition to my bare-bones routine is toner pads because they do a lot of heavy lifting for my face such as toning, exfoliating, and brightening!
If you're also an efficient (*wink*) beauty girlie like me and you haven't added toner pads to your skincare routine, lemme put you on this godsent product real quick. Below, I'll walk you through what they are, their benefits, how to use 'em, and a shopping guide on the best ones to try out for different skin types and concerns.
Keep on reading to learn more:
What are toner pads?
As the name implies, toner pads are toner-soaked cotton rounds and are usually housed in tubs or jars. While they've experienced a surge in popularity thanks to the good ol' TikTok (we're looking @ you, Mediheal), they're nothing new in the South Korean beauty industry—you've probably seen the skincare regimen videos of your favorite K-pop idols where they leave toner-soaked pads on their skin to "prep" it for the next steps.
The reason why they're so popular is because of how multi-functional they are. Depending on the variant you choose, you can tone your face while exfoliating, hydrating, or keeping redness at bay. There's also no need to eyeball how much toner you actually need because they already come with a fixed amount every time.
How do I use toner pads?
The beauty of toner pads is that you can use them in a variety of ways—you're getting that ROI, fr. Here are some of the ways you can utilize them:
As a toner
One of the most obvious use cases for toner pads is to use it as a toner, just like you would with a regular cotton round that you drip liquid into. It's especially convenient if you don't want to bring a big bottle of toner with you when you're traveling.
As a sheet mask
A favorite method of K-pop idols, you can stick a few pieces of pads to your face to act as a makeshift sheet mask. Not only are they more comfortable to wear, but they're also less sticky than the traditional mask.
As a spot treatment
If you're dealing with acne, dark spots, or dryness in certain parts of your face, you can leave toner pads on those areas to really concentrate the product on them.
As a physical exfoliator
While we love our chemical exfoliants, we're not immune to loving that squeaky-clean feeling we get from using a physical one. Some toner pads offer textured cotton rounds to provide a deeper clean—just make sure to swipe them across your face v gently.
SHOP: The Best Toner Pads to Try, Based on Your Skin Type and Concern
Best toner pads for acne-prone skin: COSRX Original Clear Pad
Pesky pimples don't stand a chance against these COSRX toner pads, as they're formulated with willow bark water, 1% BHA, and tea tree oil—ingredients that will help heal acne and prevent new ones from forming. We love it when skincare superstars come together to maximize their joint slay!
COSRX Original Clear Pad, P750, Shopee and Lazada
Best toner pads for dry skin: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner Pad
ICYDK, the Internet-favorite Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner also comes in a toner pad version. It's loaded with the same ingredients we've all come to love with the OG—the brand-patented Hatching EX-07 for gentle exfoliation, mineral-rich deep sea water for a boost of hydration, and panthenol for soothing redness—in a more convenient format.
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner Pad, P1,318, Shopee and Lazada
Best toner pads for sensitive skin: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad
People with sensitive skin can still get in on the fun with these toner pads from SKIN1004. Its formula boasts of containing only 10 (!) gentle ingredients including centella asiatica that won't irritate or freak your skin out.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad, P599, Shopee and Lazada
Best toner pads for combination skin: NACIFIC Fresh Herb Origin Toner Pad
You get the best of both worlds with these toner pads from NACIFIC, thanks to their ability to moisturize your skin while also reducing the appearance of pores and lessening oiliness. Its main ingredients include a combination of herbal extracts that soothe the skin and sea buckthorn water that controls oil production.
NACIFIC Fresh Herb Origin Toner Pad, P900, Shopee
Best toner pads for reducing redness: numbuzin No.1 Centella Re-leaf Green Toner Pad
Dealing with irritated, red skin? Calm it down with these gentle double-sided toner pads from numbuzin. One side's formula contains ground centella asiatica leaves that soothe the skin, while the other contains bamboo extracts that offer a much-needed hydration boost.
numbuzin No.1 Centella Re-leaf Green Toner Pad, P812, Shopee
Best toner pads for brightening: SOLA Yuzu Burst Glow Toner Pads
Dull-looking skin will be a thing of the past once you incorporate these glow-boosting toner pads from SOLA into your skincare regimen. It's infused with AHA and BHA that will minimize the appearance of pores and reduce oiliness, but its star ingredient without a doubt is yuzu extract. It contains three times (!) more Vitamin C—say hello to brighter skin!
SOLA Yuzu Burst Glow Toner Pads, P595, Shopee and Lazada
Best toner pads for exfoliating: Mediheal Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pad
These peeling pads from Mediheal will make you want to incorporate a physical exfoliator into your routine, stat. This variant promises to smoothen your skin and reduce blackheads and whiteheads, thanks to its formula infused with natural papaya extracts and lipohydroxy acid (LHA).
Mediheal Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pad, P990, Shopee
Follow Cheska on Instagram.
Links are updated regularly and as much as possible but note that products can run out of stock, discounts can expire, and listed prices can change without prior notice.
For more discounts and deals, check out Cosmopolitan Philippines' exclusive vouchers.
