Best Korean Toner Pads for All Skin Types

Regardless if you’re new to the skincare world, you’ve most likely come across the word ‘Toner’. Depending on your lifestyle, skin type, and concerns, everyone’s skincare routine can vary. I like to use toner pads rather than toner or essence because it saves time whilst delivering a range of benefits for both moisturizing and physical exfoliating. Toner pads have been popular in the Korean beauty market for a few years, and are now almost the beginning of a Korean skincare routine. Here are the best 10 Korean toner pads for skin types.

Even though I suggest reading all recommendations to find the best fit for your skin type, if you prefer to check the top-rated products first, check my picks and the reviews directly.

Top 8 Korean Toner Pads

Toner Trend in Korean Skin Care

For a long time, toners were mainly packaged and sold as an astringent. They contained a large percentage of alcohol that stripped the skin of EVERYTHING, leaving it tight and dry. Luckily for us, toners have come a long way and have been formulated to fit multiple needs, for ALL skin types. Toners are now seen as a preparation stage for our pores. Their lightweight consistency makes them the perfect product to absorb deep within the skin, creating the best base for our other thicker products. Some routines consist of a cleanser and moisturizer, and others prefer to indulge in a hefty ’10 step skincare routine’.

What are toner pads?

Toner pads are essentially pads (usually made from cotton) that are pre-soaked in a toner. They are a hygienic way to distribute products onto our skin and can be used as both a gentle physical exfoliant or sheet mask. In addition, Toner pads save us that extra step of purchasing and applying toner onto a separate cotton pad. I like to think of toner pads as your exfoliator, sheet mask, and toner all in one. Making them great for everyday or traveling. 

Best Toner Pads for Dry Skin: The Lab by Blanc Doux Oligo Hyaluronic Acid 7 Multi-Formula Pad

This is a great moisturizing and soothing pad for dry, sensitive, and dehydrated oily skin. It comes with large, soft pads that are great to use as a mask and delivers the essence nicely. This is especially nice to use during the hot summer months when everyone’s skin could use some extra hydration and cooling. The 5 types of Sodium Hyaluronate work wonders in moisturizing and Panthenol helps to strengthen the skin barrier for rejuvenating and healthy skin. Furthermore, with all green level ingredients by EWG safety, this The Lab By Blanc Doux Pad is suitable for all skin types especially, sensitive skin as well.

! TIP :

Keep these pads in the fridge before use, for an extra cooling and de-puffing effect

Key Ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate(moisturizing), Panthenol(soothing), Centella Asiatica(soothing), Chamomilla Recutita(soothing) | Skin Types: All skin types | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: Yes

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Best Calming Toner Pads: Dermatory Cica Rescue Gauze Pad

This pad is a great option for dry and sensitive skin. It does a good job at cooling for days when the skin feels inflamed and needs extra hydration. Dermatory Cica Rescue Cauze Pad has two textures: one is a rougher gauze great for physical exfoliation and the other, is softer cotton which can be used to soothe the skin. This pad comes with a lot of essences and can be messy, but the excess of essence makes it great to use as a sheet mask. Guaiazulene works well as a gentle exfoliator as well known as PHA which is milder than AHA and BHA with large molecules. Not only it hydrates and soothes, but it also provides anti-bacterial properties to the skin. Are you struggling with dark circles and puffy eyes in the morning? If so, I recommend this toner pad due to the Caffeine contained in it!

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate(moisturizing), Allantoin, Centella Asiatica(soothing) | Skin Types: dry, combination, oily skin | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: Yes

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Best Toner Pads for Oily Skin: Bring Green Carrot Vita Toner Pad

Bring Green Carrot Toner Pad has been one of the trendiest items among Korean, especially for oily acne-prone skin. This product contains both BHA + PHA mild exfoliators great for Oily, Dehydrated oily, and Acne-prone skin. The pads are medium-sized, made from cotton with one textured side. This product works well as a toner mask and is good for brightening the skin whilst helping prevent acne with Willow Bark Extract which is a natural BHA to control excess oils and sebum. Plus, it can be also used for pimples on the breasts and back.

Key Ingredients: Gluconolactone, Willow Bark Extract(exfoliating), Tea Tree Leaf Oil(anti-acne), Panthenol, Allantoin(soothing) | Skin Types: combination, oily, acne-prone skin | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: No

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Best Brightening Toner Pads: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Toner Pad

This is a cult favorite in Korea and works wonders for brightening the skin’s complexion. Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Toner Pad has a slight yellow tint to it with a bunch of citric ingredients for vitamins. It also has one soft and one textured side. This is hydrating and great for use as a pack on specific areas like cheeks to reduce blemishes caused by acne or so. With mid natural exfoliating ingredient, Sugar cane controls excess sebum. However, this product does contain potentially irritating ingredients like lemon peel oil and various aroma oils so it is not recommended for sensitive skin. 

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid(brightening), Hyaluronic Acid(moisturizing), Allantoin(soothing), Sugar cane(exfoliating) | Skin Types: normal, combination, oily, acne-prone skin | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: No

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Best Toner Pads for Sensitive Skin: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Pad

This is a great toner pad for all skin types especially sensitive, dry and dehydrated oily skin. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Pad contains PHA and one side has a gauze for gentle exfoliation. The other side is soft cotton making it good to use over breakouts. This is a nice option for people who suffer from occasional breakouts and want a gentle daily exfoliator. What’s more, Panthenol, Betaine, and Allantoin work for protection, strengthen the skin barrier, and are soothing. Round LAB is a popular Korean cruelty-free and vegan brand with simple yet effective skincare ingredients for sensitive skin.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid(moisturizing), Betaine, Allantoin(soothing), Gluconolactone, Sugar cane(exfoliating) | Skin Types: All skin types | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: Yes

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Best Hydrating Toner Pads: COSRX One Step Green Hero Calming Pad

Cosrx has launched different types of toner pads for moisturizing, soothing, and anti-acne. This Green Hero Calming pad is good for sensitive, dry and acne-prone skin to soothe irritated skin with 75% Green tea water and Centella Asiatica. The pad is made from cotton and contains one textured side which works as a gentle exfoliator. 0.25% PHA is contained as a mild exfoliant. It’s a good choice for cooling and calming irritated skin when applied as a mask for a few minutes. Be aware of Bergamot Oil contained if your skin has a reaction to it.

Key Ingredients: Green Tea Water, Centella Asiatica Extract(soothing), Tea Tree Leaf, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract(anti-acne), Gluconolactone, Sugar cane(exfoliating) | Skin Types: All skin types | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: Yes

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Best-selling Toner Pads: SKINFOOD Carot Carotene Calming Water Pad

This Skinfood Carot toner pads is super moisturizing and soothing with mild formular that makes it suitable for all skin types. The meaning of Olive Young’s bestseller can be seen in the sense that it is used the most by women in Korea. The number of pads is 60, similar to other toner pads, but the weight is more than double. This means that the size of the pad is quite large and thick! Plus, the pad cotton is super soft.

Key Ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate(moisturizing), Beta-carotene from Carrot, Allantoin(soothing) | Skin Types: All skin types | Cruelty-free: Yes | Clean-beauty: Yes

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Cleansing Pads: Ariul Stress Relieving Daily Pick Toning Pad

Like with all of these pads, If it’s safe to use on the face then It’s safe for the body. This product contains the strongest concentration of chemical exfoliants like Salicylic Acid and Willow Bark Extract(BHA) and Glycolic acid(AHA) as well. It can be slightly sensitizing all over the face and therefore Is best as a pore mask to dissolve whiteheads or for body acne with Tea Tree Oil. The product comes in tissue-type packaging and Is also the most cost-effective.

Key Ingredients: Green Tea(soothing), Tea Tree Oil(anti-acne), BHA, AHA(exfoliating) | Skin Types: oily, acne-prone skin | Cruelty-free: No | Clean-beauty: No

Types of Toner Pads + How to Use them

Toner pads come in a variety of different ways. Depending on their ingredients and texture, they can be used to meet specific needs, for ALL different skin types.

The main types of toner pads include:

1. Cleansing Toner Pads

Cleansing pads are pre-soaked with cleansing water/oil. They help break down dirt, cleansing the face similar to a cleansing wipe.

How to use:
For makeup removal, place two pads on each eye and hold for a few seconds. Then, gently rub removing any eye makeup, and proceed to swipe all over the face and neck. Make sure to wash the skin after and go in with another cleanser.

2. Peeling (Exfoliating) Toner Pads

My favorite choice, Peeling pads. These are used for exfoliating the skin both chemically and physically. They contain AHA, BHA, or PHA and are often paired with a gauze texture for extra exfoliation. However, peeling pads can be harsh compared to other pads and are recommended to use only a few times a week. 

How to use:
After cleansing, use the textured side to lightly exfoliate the face. For a mask, place a few pads (cotton side) on areas with clogged pores and leave on for a few minutes. Finally, Pat in any remaining essence and continue with your routine. 

!TIP I like to cut my pads in half to fit my nose and chin area better.

3. Soothing/Hydrating Toner Pads

These pads are more suitable for daily use and contain ingredients that help hydrate/soothe the skin. Soothing pads are thinner in texture and adhere to the skin, making them good to use as a sheet mask. Plus, it works as a slightly physical exfoliating effect too.

How to use:
After cleansing, Swipe the pad over the face gently and pat in excess product. For a mask, place a few pads all over the face or in inflamed areas and leave on for 5-7 minutes that is shorter than a regular face sheet mask cause it dries quickly. Lastly, Pat in any remaining essence and continue with your routine.

! Toner pads dry quicker than sheet masks so don’t leave them on for too long.

4. Brightening Toner Pads

These pads can include brightening ingredients such as Niacinamide, Ferment Filtrate, Light exfoliants, or Vitamin C. They are gentler than peeling pads and can, therefore, be used more frequently. 

How to use:
After cleansing, Swipe the pad over the face gently and pat in excess product. For a mask, Place a few pads all over the face or in specific areas and leave on for 5-7 minutes. Lastly, Pat in any remaining essence and continue with your routine.

Before purchasing, don’t forget to check skincare ingredients on labels and where to look for information, EWG Skin Deep ratings could help you as a reference point. For details, head EWG (Environment Working Group) official website.

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