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Korean toner pads: how to pick hydrating, calming or exfoliating pads (5 picks)
Toner pads are pads pre-soaked in toner that you swipe on or rest on your skin, and Olive Young even keeps a separate weekly chart just for them. Here's how the three main types differ, how to use them without overdoing it, and five pads that sell well in Korea.
Updated Oct 29, 20265 picks
What a toner pad is, and why Korea loves them
A toner pad is a cotton or fabric pad already soaked in toner or essence, usually sold in a jar of 60 to 100. You can swipe one over clean skin in place of a toner, or rest it on your cheeks for a few minutes like a mini sheet mask. One jar does both jobs, which is a big part of the appeal.
In Korea, pads are a category of their own. Olive Young keeps a separate weekly best-seller chart just for pads, and the top 30 for Sep 28 to Oct 4, 2026 (as compiled by Beautics-LAB) included pads from MEDIHEAL, Skinfood, numbuzin, Abib, medicube and Torriden.
Our picks, from gentlest to strongest
Paid links · Store and booking links in this guide are affiliate links: when you buy or book through them, K for All earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the store before you buy. How we pick: we compare official information, specs, prices and published reviews; we haven't personally tested every product.
Ordered by search popularity in Korea: Naver search trends for the last 7 days, re-ranked daily. No one pays for a spot.
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1Best for calming: a Korean best seller that fills the jar with essence
SKINFOOD Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad (60 pads)
A Skinfood carrot pad set was No. 2 on Olive Young's weekly pad chart for Sep 28 to Oct 4, 2026. Carrot root extract leads the ingredient list, followed by glycerin and beta-glucan, with sodium hyaluronate and allantoin further down. After cleansing, wipe a pad over your face. The list also includes essential oils such as lavender, sage and orange peel oil, so patch-test first if fragrance bothers your skin. On Amazon it is sold by Skinfood Co., Ltd.
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2Best for oily skin and visible pores: the exfoliating pick
medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 (70 pads)
medicube says these dual-textured pads contain AHA and BHA and recommends them for enlarged-looking pores, excess oil, blackheads and rough texture. Swipe the embossed side over clean skin from the center outward, then the smooth side, and pat in what's left. medicube says they can be used daily, but suggests starting a few times a week if your skin is very sensitive, and also makes a gentler 'Mild' version. On Amazon they are sold by Medicube & Aprilskin.
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3Best for breakout-prone skin that also feels irritated
MEDIHEAL Teatree Trouble Pad (100 pads)
MEDIHEAL's 'derma toner pad' listings held No. 1, 4 and 9 on Olive Young's weekly pad chart in early October 2026. This tea tree pad is built on tea tree leaf water with lactobacillus ferment, allantoin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate. MEDIHEAL suggests two ways to use it: swipe it over clean skin morning and night, or leave it on the forehead, cheeks and chin for 15 minutes as a mask. As of October 2026 the Amazon listing is sold by Mediheal Cos and ships from Amazon.
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4Best for sensitive skin: one soothing side, one smoothing side
numbuzin No.1 Centella Re-Leaf Green Toner Pad (70 pads)
Each pad has a green side made with ground cica and a white bamboo side. numbuzin's Amazon listing says to use the white side for hydration and gentle exfoliation and the green side for soothing, or to split a pad and lay it on like a mini sheet mask. Centella asiatica, licorice root and heartleaf extracts come first on the ingredient list, and the listing calls it non-comedogenic. It is sold by numbuzin Official on Amazon.
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5Best for hydrating: a cooling pad you leave on for a few minutes
Torriden DIVE-IN Multi Pad (80 pads)
Torriden soaks these pads in its 5D hyaluronic acid complex with panthenol and allantoin, and says the formula suits even sensitive skin. Its directions: after washing, place pads wherever skin needs soothing, wait 3 to 5 minutes, then wipe gently, keeping away from the eye area. As of October 2026 the Amazon listing is sold by Torriden and ships from Amazon.
The three kinds of pads
Pads look alike in the jar, but what's in the essence decides how strong they are. Before you buy, read the ingredient list and sort the pad into one of three groups.
- Hydrating pads: built around moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol. Torriden's DIVE-IN Multi Pad is one.
- Calming pads: built around plant extracts that brands describe as soothing, such as centella (cica), tea tree, heartleaf or carrot. The numbuzin, MEDIHEAL and Skinfood pads fit here.
- Exfoliating ('peeling') pads: contain acids that loosen dead skin cells, listed as AHA (for example glycolic or lactic acid), BHA (salicylic acid), PHA or LHA. medicube's Zero Pore Pad is one. These need the most care.
How to use a pad: swipe or rest
Use a pad after cleansing, in place of your toner, then go on to serum and moisturizer. Pick up a pad with clean fingers or the tweezers some jars come with, and either swipe it from the center of your face outward or lay it flat on the areas that need it.
How long to leave it on depends on the product. Torriden says 3 to 5 minutes for its hydrating pad, and MEDIHEAL says up to 15 minutes when you use its tea tree pad as a mask. Dermatologist Dr. Hee Jin Koh told The Zoe Report that she rests pads on her forehead, cheeks and chin for about five minutes, using hydrating pads on her cheeks and stronger exfoliating pads on her T-zone. Whatever you do, follow each pad's own directions: medicube's Zero Pore Pad, for example, is meant to be swiped.
Exfoliating pads: go slow
Acid pads are chemical exfoliants, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to match exfoliation to your skin type. For dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin, it suggests a mild chemical exfoliator, and it warns that people with darker skin tones should avoid strong exfoliation, which can leave dark spots. Its rule of thumb: the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often you need it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds that AHAs can make skin more sensitive to the sun. It advises using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and limiting sun exposure while you use AHA products and for a week afterward.
- Start with a few times a week, as medicube suggests for very sensitive skin, and add days only if your skin stays comfortable.
- The AAD says not to exfoliate while using prescription retinoids, retinol or benzoyl peroxide, which can worsen dryness or even cause breakouts, and never on cuts or sunburn.
- Moisturize right after: the AAD notes that exfoliating can be drying.
- Wear sunscreen every morning, especially with AHA pads.
If your skin is acne-prone or sensitive
Be choosy. The AAD's acne advice is to use gentle, alcohol-free products and to avoid anything that irritates your skin, including astringents, toners and exfoliants. A soothing pad can still fit that advice, but a pad that stings, burns or leaves you red is a sign to stop. Acne treatments also take time: the AAD says it may take several weeks to a few months to see a difference, and that a board-certified dermatologist can help if breakouts keep coming.
Patch-test any new pad first. The AAD's method is to apply the product to a quarter-sized spot, such as the inner arm, twice a day for seven to 10 days. If you get a reaction, wash it off and don't use it again.
FAQ
Do I still need a toner if I use toner pads?
No. A toner pad replaces the toner step: use it after cleansing, then go on to your serum and moisturizer.
Can I use toner pads every day?
It depends on the type. Brands make hydrating and calming pads for daily use, morning and night. With exfoliating pads, start slowly: medicube suggests a few times a week for very sensitive skin, and the AAD says the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often it's needed.
How long should I leave a pad on my face?
Follow the label. Torriden says 3 to 5 minutes for its hydrating pad, MEDIHEAL up to 15 minutes for its tea tree pad as a mask, and Dr. Hee Jin Koh told The Zoe Report she leaves pads on for about five minutes. Some pads, like medicube's Zero Pore Pad, are meant to be swiped instead.
Can I use an exfoliating pad with retinol?
Be careful. The AAD advises against exfoliating while you use prescription retinoids, retinol or benzoyl peroxide, because it may worsen dry skin or cause breakouts. If you want to combine them, ask a dermatologist first.
Do I need sunscreen after using an AHA pad?
Yes. The FDA says AHAs can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, and advises sunscreen, protective clothing and less sun exposure while you use them and for a week afterward.
Read next on K for All
Why toner pads are trending in KoreaHeartleaf skincare for sensitive skinKorean skincare routine for beginnersBest Korean sunscreens for oily skin
Sources (11)
Beautics-LAB – Olive Young weekly pad ranking (Sep 28–Oct 4, 2026)The Zoe Report, reprinted by MEDIHEAL – Korean toner padsAAD – How to safely exfoliate at homeAAD – Acne: tips for managingAAD – How to test skin care productsFDA – Alpha hydroxy acidsTorriden – DIVE IN Multi PadMEDIHEAL – Teatree Trouble Padmedicube – Zero Pore PadsAmazon – numbuzin No.1 Centella Re-Leaf Green Toner PadAmazon – SKINFOOD Carrot Carotene Toner Pads