Just like our tastebuds, our skin, too, needs little treats to keep it from misbehaving. If masking feels like too much of a commitment—because tearing open a sachet, removing the plastic film, trying to avoid precious serum from dripping onto the floor, and binning it feels like a lot these days—then boy do we have the skincare shooter for you: toner pads.
What are toner pads, exactly? you ask? It’s not a new skincare concept. Pieces of material drenched with enriched liquid? We’ve been doing that since toners hit the market. The twist is that these are pre-soaked. Not only do these toner pads spare you from the hassle of a mask, but they are also ultra-convenient to stow away. In a neat box (which often comes with a tweezer to hygienically free one from the seemingly-conjoined pile) you could get dozens of applications depending on how you consume it, which also depends on the type of toner pads that you need for your skin type.
Though they are not must-haves in our books, they sure do pack a punch. Whether you’re on the hunt for a hydration booster or an acid-packed one, you can practically count on discovering one that will hit your sweet spot. For the most part, they are dosed appropriately for daily use, but there are potent toner pads reserved for careful usage. Depending on your skin’s needs, these are some highly acclaimed best toner pads and ways you can best incorporate them into your routine.
Best Toner Pads for Dry Skin
These are the ones to pull out when your skin’s hydration reserve runs low, or when you want a guaranteed great skin day. The award-winning Torriden Dive In Multi Pad is powered by hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights, which means it can lock in the ingredients at different layers of the skin, maximising the hydration benefit. The Mediheal Watermide Toner Pad, on the other hand, uses the near-mythical powers of Icelandic glacial water. Pure in nature, it is enriched with minerals unique to the region. The crown, however, goes to Banila Co’s Clean It Zero Pink Hydration Toner Pad. On top of the different sizes of hyaluronic acid, it also has an added bonus of anti-ageing niacinamide and ultra-soothing allantoin. Ultimately, these three superstars will help you achieve that bouncy, glass-skin effect that many aim for these days.
How to: Go ahead and take your time with these. Target your dry areas (typically cheeks and forehead) and leave the pad on for five minutes. Just don’t let the pads dry on your skin. Afterwards, swipe the toner pad across the skin to spread the serum all over.
Best Toner Pads for Acne-Prone and Oily Skin
We’ve all been there before: pesky pimples parading on the skin, and on a big day, no less. With where skincare is at today, there are plenty of paths you can take to secure blemish-free skin. Beef up your skincare routine by adding toner pads that are aimed at acne. First up is the Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad. The star ingredient, succinic acid, is a powerful antimicrobial, keeping pimples at bay. At the same time, salicylic acid works in tandem to exfoliate, revealing crystal-clear skin. But if your skin is sensitised, you may benefit from the COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad. While it’s chockfull of skin-identical and soothing ingredients, you can’t discount its exfoliant quality. We can only max on salicylic acid at 2%, but this toner pad is built differently. More than half the juice is made of willow bark extract, which works similarly to the beta hydroxy acid. Now that’s a loophole.
Finally, we bring out the big guns: the Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Peel Pads. The power combo of the duo offers a serious dose of resurfacing, eradicating even the worst of blemishes and the marks they leave behind. But don’t let its strength worry you; the peel pads are also imbued with calming ingredients, such as sodium hyaluronate, adenosine, and allantoin.
How to: With these, you may want to proceed with slight caution. Begin with a patch test, and if tolerated, only swipe it gently on the face. Once you’re more advanced in the routine, you may experiment with leaving it on for a couple of minutes. Always—and we mean always—apply sunscreen, especially when you are incorporating acids and retinol into your skincare.
Best Toner Pads for Sensitive Skin
This category is perhaps the friendliest one. Provided that you’re not allergic to any of these ingredients, then you should be good to go. A failsafe option? The Abib Heartleaf Spot Pad, a hypoallergenic candidate which boasts antioxidant, brightening, and soothing benefits. Alternatively, you can opt for the viral Skinfood Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad, which features ample skin-comforting ingredients like beta-glucan and carrot root oil. What’s special about this is that it gives the skin immediate and visible relief for dry and sensitive skin, especially for overheated skin. Doesn’t that sound like a treat in this Malaysian weather?
Locally, you can find Chuck’s All Good Soothing Toner Pads. Made up of nearly 90% Centella Asiatica extract, sensitised skin—and even eczema-embattled skin—would greatly benefit from these serum-soaked pads. Not only that, but these are also refillable.
How to: Keep it cool in the fridge to add a refreshing touch. Similar to the moisturising options, these can also be used as a flash mask or swiped across the face for instant relief.
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