Why Toner Pads Are the New Skincare Power Players

The use of disposable materials (predating toner pads) in skincare has been a topic of controversy over the last half-decade.

The beauty industry has shifted its allegiance from the cleansing wipes that dominated routines in the early 2000s. Clogging landfills and stressing out skin, they were the perfect storm of environmental and skin barrier disruption, condemned much like supermarket shopping bags and plastic straws as the cause of landfill clogging. So it may come as a surprise to hear that pads are widely used in South Korean beauty practices.

K-beauty is known for its innovation and skin-first philosophy, so, as you can imagine, these are not like the make-up wipes of time gone by. Ultra-thin and made up of fabrics that only enhance the formula, the applicator becomes like a tool. Typically dual-sided, pre-soaked with advanced kind-to-skin ingredients and complete with a mini set of tweezers that brings joy to the application, there are a lot of reasons to jump back into the world of skincare pads. Their ease of use, speed, travel-friendly nature and the optimal active infusion only add to the list. But most importantly of all, it’s the results.

Glowy, hydrated complexions may be just a swipe away with these multi-tasking skincare products designed to soothe, nourish and exfoliate.

Below are Vogue’s favourite toner pads

• Why it is Vogue-approved: While the collagen mask gets the most airtime on social media, it’s the Zero Pore Pads that are widely considered to be the best product in the Medicube collection. The exfoliating pads are gentle, easy to use and great for travel. They are soaked in a combination of AHAs and BHAs (lactic acid and willow bark, respectively) that buff the skin, refine pores and smooth out uneven texture. The fabric itself is double-sided, and on one, you’ll find it’s textured to enhance the exfoliation, while the other is smooth to impart hydration. Sweep over the skin for a glassy finish.
• Best for: gentle exfoliation

Anua

PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: The glow is immediate with the Anua PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad. Recommended to me by a beauty expert with a radiant complexion, these pads have been a fixture in my routine ever since to recreate that same level of luminosity. They are pre-soaked, and emphasis on the word soaked, with a hydrating combination of hyaluronic acid and peptides as well as PDRN, an emerging ingredient derived from salmon DNA and becoming more ubiquitous on UK beauty shelves thanks to Korean imports. Skin looks plump and smooth after just 10 minutes of application. The rounded pads are small, so you can wipe across the face or leave the treatment in situ under the eye or in areas of concern. As previously mentioned, they are absolutely coated in the formula, which leaves enough to layer over the neck, décolletage and even the arms.
• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid
• Count: 60 pads
• Application time: five to 10 minutes

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Mediheal is known best for its broad collection of pads that are specifically catered to suit common concerns, be it spots or dark marks, as is the case for the Madecassoside Blemish Pads or visible pores and uneven texture where you would harness the power of the Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pads. But universally adored and tolerated, the Watermide Moisture Pads are one of the most popular. This is for the intense hydration that it offers, using 10 types of hyaluronic acid with all different weights to support the skin barrier, hydrate and soothe. The pads are ultra-thin and invisible on application. They can be used after cleansing to replace the toner step, patting the remnants into the skin to encourage maximum absorption or as a mask as part of a self-care ritual. The brand recommends keeping them in the fridge for cooling and depuffing.
• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid
• Count: 100 pads

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Its collagen sheet masks are what gave Biodance name-brand recognition among beauty enthusiasts, and you can expect much of the same hydration boosting, skin softening and firming from the toner pads, which have been infused with a trio of supercharged ingredients. Two types of collagen are used: collagen water for its quick absorption and a low molecular weight alternative to encourage skin elasticity. Then there’s galactomyces ferment filtrate to even skin tone, and the well-known and loved bonus of moisture-enriching hyaluronic acid. These well-tolerated ingredients ensure that all skin types, even those with sensitivities, can apply these pads without concern. They can be followed by make-up too, without pilling, which means you can include as part of an AM routine as well as PM.
• Key ingredients: collagen peptide, galactomyces ferment filtrate, hyaluronic acid
• Count: 60 pads

Torriden

Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Multi Pad

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Lesser known than the likes of medicube, Torriden excels in its hydration collection that will be very appreciated by those prone to irritation. The Dive-In range, in particular, in which these pads take a starring role, is made up of five types of hyaluronic acid for deeper, thorough moisture boosting. They are best suited for those with dehydrated, dry and blemish-prone complexions, the latter due to the willow bark and tea tree infusion.
• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid
• Count: 80 pads

• Why it’s Vogue-approved: Larger in size than some of its contemporaries, you can cover a wider surface area with the brightening benefits of NEEDLY’s vitamin C-infused pads. Use every other day (rather than daily) to minimise the chance of irritation. It is worth noting that essential oil is included.
• Key ingredients: Vita C complex
• Count: 60 pads

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