I’ve been a lover of Korean skincare for years—long before I was a bonafide beauty editor and K-beauty products were readily available Stateside. Now, in 2025, I feel like I have extensive knowledge of Korean brands, products, ingredients, and techniques. In fact, over half of my skincare routine is made up of Korean items. There’s no denying that it’s a hotbed of skincare innovation.
I used to rely on Korean sheet masks to give my skin a glow, I now use another Korean skincare staple…one that’s perhaps lesser known in the U.S., although it’s becoming more popular with each passing day. I’m talking about toner pads.
These aren’t the toner pads of yesteryear. You know, the ones that were all the rage in the mid-2000s and were soaked in harsh, astringent solutions? (If I even go near one of those, my dry, sensitive skin will freak out.) No, these are differnet. They’re hydrating, softening, soothing, and plumping. Basically, they’re my key to an easy, instant glow. Ahead, learn all about Korean toner pads, how to use them, and which ones I think are worth adding to your cart.
What Are Toner Pads?
Toner pads are small pieces of cotton soaked in a serum-like solution. Just like traditional toners, they target a variety of skin concerns. You can buy toner pads that brighten dark spots and discoloration. You can buy toner pads that treat and prevent breakouts. You can even use ones that soothe redness and irritation. In other words, there are toner pads for pretty much any skin concern.
How to Use Toner Pads
There are a couple of different ways to use toner pads. Start by cleansing your skin (I like to use the Korean double-cleansing method that involves using an oil-based cleanser to break down sunscreen and makeup, followed by a water-based formula to whisk away any remaining oil or debris. It ensures the cleanest skin possible).
Then, you can A) sweep a toner pad across your skin, throw it out, and move on to the rest of your skincare routine. This is an efficient way to use them and gives your skin an instant boost of hydration and skin-benefitting ingredients. However, I prefer a different method. You can also B) stick them to your skin and wear them for a few minutes as if they’re mini sheet masks. This will keep your skin in contact with the skin-benefitting solution for a longer time, which could boost results. Plus, the cotton acts as an occlusive, locking the solution’s moisture on the skin and thereby preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
The best part is that they don’t fall off your face like sheet masks so often do. They’re often incredibly thin and generously soaked with the solution, so they stick to the skin like magic. Gone are the days of constantly adjusting a sheet mask while you go about your business.
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)
I use toner pads like they’re mini sheet masks every night. I apply one toner pad to each cheek, one to my forehead, and often, one to my chin and/or the sides of my neck. Then, I’ll style my hair or apply body lotion while I wait for them to work their magic. After about five minutes or so, I remove them and move through the rest of my skincare routine.
Sure, you’ll go through them faster than if you just swipe one across your skin, but I think it’s worth it. It’s been just under a month of using them, and I can tell my skin is calmer, smoother, plumper, and glowier. This is one K-beauty staple I won’t be giving up anytime soon.
My Skin Immediately After Using Toner Pads
My sensitive, redness-prone skin always looks and feels calmer after I let toner pads sit on my face for 5-10 minutes. It’s also smoother and plumper than it was before, but to me, the most noticeable difference is how dewy my skin looks. I mean, look at that glow! It sets my skin up perfectly for flawless makeup application….although, do I really need makeup when my skin looks this good?
The 10 Best Korean Toner Pads
Innisfree
Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening + Exfoliating Toner Pads
Innisfree’s new toner pads are soaked with pure vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten dull skin and fade dark spots and acne scars. There’s also green tea enzymes and PHA, which gently exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells. Finally, a soothing complex made up of ingredients like hyaluronic acid and allantoin treats irritation.
BIODANCE
Collagen Gel Toner Pads
Biodance is such an underrated Korean skincare brand. These toner pads have a unique, gel-like texture that soaks the skin in hydration. These ones have ultra-low molecular weight collagen water, hyaluronic acid, and galactomyces ferment filtrate to refine pores, improve elasticity, and even out the skin tone.
BIODANCE
Cera-Nol Gel Toner Pads
If you struggle with redness and/or irritation, these are the toner pads for you. They contain D-panthenol, 1o-layer hyaluronic acid, 5-layer ceramide, and 10% glacial water to soothe, hydrate, and strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier. To put it another way, these toner pads are basically like a Band-Aid for stressed skin.
MEDIHEAL
Madecassoside Blemish Pad
Mediheal is another Korean skincare brand I use regularly. These toner pads are specifically formulated to soothe, clear, and prevent breakouts. They’re soaked with a solution that contains Centella Asiatica and Madecassoside (a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredient).
MEDIHEAL
Collagen Ampoule Pad
These toner pads use a combination of micro-particlized collagen, ceramides, and milk protein to improve skin elasticity and minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
MEDIHEAL
Vitamide Brightening Pad
As someone who struggles with sun damage, I use this brightening toner pads all the time. They use 3% niacinamide, sea buckthorn, and seven essential vitamins to diminish dullness, dark spots, and discoloration.
MEDIHEAL
Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pad
For effective (yet non-irritating!) exfoliation, reach for the Mediheal Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pads. They use natural papaya enzymes and Lipohydroxy Acid (LHA) to slough off dead skin cells and debris without irritating sensitive skin.
MEDIHEAL
Watermide Moisture Pad
These hydrating toner pads quench dry, dehydrated skin with woodland forget-me-not flowers and glacial water. Plus, thanks to a cooling effect, they also help de-puff tired skin. I always pack these in my carry-on. They’ve become a travel skincare staple!
ANUA
Heartleaf 77 Toner Pad
These toner pads contain 77% heartleaf extract, which is the ultimate skin-soothing ingredient, as well as PHAs for gentle exfoliation that helps enlarged pores appear smaller.
Jiyu
Anti-Aging Toner Pads
These TikTok-viral toner pads are soaked with so many super ingredients. There’s alpha-arbutin, licorice root extract, snail mucin, niacinamide, peptides…need I go on? They’re the ultimate anti-aging product.
