Everything You Need To Know About Korean Toner Pads

Korean toner pads are the skincare shortcut you didn’t know you needed, offering a mess-free, efficient way to tone, exfoliate, and treat the skin. But what are toner pads, and are toner pads better than toner? These pre-soaked pads combine the benefits of liquid toner with added convenience and targeted care. Whether you’re using exfoliating toner pads to smooth skin or calming heartleaf toner pads to reduce redness, there’s a perfect match for every skin type. And with bestselling K-Beauty brands like Biodance and Numbuzin jumping on the Korean toner hype, there’s really never been a better time to add one to your routine. 

Keep scrolling to find the perfect toner pad for your skin.

Where do we start? They’re the ultimate skincare multitaskers – compact, pre-soaked, and ready to use anytime, anywhere, without any spills or hassle. Each pad is drenched in skin-loving ingredients tailored to specific concerns, from pore care to hydration to calming sensitive skin. And these pads don’t just tone, they exfoliate, soothe, and treat in one easy swipe. With formulas packed with powerful ingredients like heartleaf extract, Centella Asiatica, PHA, and ceramides, it’s no wonder this new K-beauty favourite is topping the charts. 

Both toner pads and toners help balance your skin, clear leftover residue, and prep for skincare, but toner pads take it a step further. While liquid toners need cotton pads or hands to apply, toner pads come pre-soaked and ready to use, making them quicker and mess-free. Plus, they typically feature a textured surface which gently exfoliates the skin while delivering targeted treatments. In short: toners win on versatility, but toner pads are the more convenient, travel-friendly upgrade that combines ease with irritation-free exfoliation. 

Step 1: Cleanse your skin

Start with a freshly cleansed face to ensure your skin is free from makeup, SPF, and impurities.

Step 2: Grab a toner pad

Take one Korean toner pad from the container using clean fingers or the provided tweezers (if included) to keep things hygienic.

Step 3: Swipe gently

Using the pad, gently swipe across your face, starting from the center and moving outward. Avoid the eye area. If the pad has two sides (like a textured exfoliating side and a smooth side), use the textured side first for gentle exfoliation, then the smooth side to calm and hydrate.

Step 4: Let it absorb

Give your skin a few moments to absorb the remaining essence, no rinse needed. 

Step 5: Follow with the rest of your routine

Continue with serum, moisturiser, and SPF (if it’s daytime). Toner pads help your skin absorb the next steps more effectively.

With the launch of toner pads rising, it can be hard to know which one is best. A cult favourite, the Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is loved for its pore-tightening, exfoliating formula that leaves skin feeling ultra-smooth. But that’s just the beginning. Whether you’re looking to calm sensitivity, boost hydration, or refine texture, there’s a toner pad for every skin goal. From ANUA and Biodance, to Numbuzin, and of course, Medicube, we’ve got the perfect match for your skin.

1. Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0

Best for: Smoothing rough texture, decongesting pores, and controlling excess oil (great for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin)

Main ingredients: AHA, BHA, panthenol, glycerin, and Centella Asiatica

Medicube’s Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is a global favorite for tackling clogged pores, blackheads, and uneven texture. Soaked in a potent blend of AHA and BHA, these dual-textured pads exfoliate dead skin while clearing out excess sebum deep in the pores. Added panthenol helps to calm inflammation, restore moisture, and support skin healing. Use the embossed side for gentle exfoliation and the smooth side to calm and hydrate. Clinical tests by Medicube show a 47.1% reduction in sebum and 87.3% decrease in pore waste, making it a must-try for anyone chasing smoother, clearer skin. 

2. Numbuzin No.5 Vitamin-Niacinamide Concentrated Toner Pad

Best for: Brightening dull skin, fading dark spots, and refining acne-prone skin

Main ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, vitamin E, LHA, PHA

Part of Numbuzin’s No.5 line for acne-prone skin, the No. 5 Vitamin-Niacinamide Concentrated Toner Pads are soaked in a potent essence enriched with vitamin C, niacinamide, and vitamin E to even out skin tone, reduce dark spots, and protect the skin barrier. Gentle LHA and PHA exfoliate dead skin cells and help unclog pores, revealing a clearer, more radiant complexion. Made from 100% gauze cotton with a jelly coating for a smooth, hydrating application, they leave skin luminous and refreshed without irritation. Free from artificial fragrance and mineral oil, they’re a great pick for oily, combination, normal, and acne-prone skin looking to glow.

3. Numbuzin No.4 Pore Zero Peeled Egg Toner Pad

Best for: Detoxifying pores, controlling oil, and smoothing acne-prone skin

Main ingredients: Anti Sebum P (evening primrose, arrowroot, pine leaf), LHA, PHA

Designed for oily, acne-prone skin, Numbuzin’s No.4 Pore Zero Peeled Egg Toner Pads deeply cleanse pores while reducing excess sebum, leaving skin as smooth as a peeled egg. The dual-sided pads feature an embossed side with gentle LHA and PHA exfoliants to slough off dead skin and unclog pores, and a smooth side infused with Anti Sebum P, a soothing blend that strengthens the skin barrier and hydrates. Part of Numbuzin’s anti-ageing No.4 line, these pads refine skin texture, manage breakouts, and boost elasticity, making them a powerful addition to any acne-fighting routine.

4. ANUA Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad

Best for: Gentle exfoliation and soothing sensitive, redness-prone, or acne-prone skin

Main ingredients: PHA (gluconolactone), heartleaf extract, madecassoside

Perfect for low-maintenance skincare lovers, ANUA’s award-winning Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad multitasks by exfoliating and calming skin in one step. The embossed side uses gentle PHA to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and clear blackheads and whiteheads, revealing smooth, bright skin. Flip to the smooth side, soaked in heartleaf and madecassoside, to soothe breakouts, reduce redness, and calm flaking. Ideal for sensitive or irritated skin, these pads deliver effective results without fuss, making them perfect for travel and everyday use.

5. Biodance Cera-nol Gel Toner Pads

Best for: Intensive hydration and soothing sensitive, dry, or irritated skin

Main ingredients: D-Panthenol, multi-layered hyaluronic acid, multi-layered ceramides, mineral-rich glacial water

Biodance’s Cera-nol Gel Toner Pads deliver next-level soothing and hydration with their unique gel texture soaked in the Cera-nol Complex, a blend of D-Panthenol, 10-layer hyaluronic acid, and 5-layer ceramides that deeply moisturises, restores the skin barrier, and calms irritation. Infused with 100,000ppm mineral-rich glacial water, these pads provide a burst of cooling moisture and enhance ingredient absorption, leaving skin refreshed and glowing without stickiness. Ultra-gentle with a 0.00 irritation index, they’re perfect for daily use on sensitive or reactive skin, offering relief from dryness, redness, and environmental stress while prepping skin for makeup or a natural glow.

6. innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads

Best for: Brightening dull skin, evening tone, and gently exfoliating sensitive skin

Main ingredients: Vitamin c, green tea enzyme, niacinamide, panthenol

The Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads from innisfree combine the brightening power of vitamin C with the gentle exfoliation of green tea enzyme to combat dullness and reveal a more radiant complexion. The textured side is infused with niacinamide and panthenol to refine texture, fade dark spots, and soothe the skin, while the bamboo side hydrates and refreshes. pH-balanced and dermatologically tested, these pads are suitable for daily use on sensitive skin and are ideal for improving hyperpigmentation and uneven tone without irritation. Travel-friendly and easy to use, they offer a quick boost of brightness and hydration in one effortless swipe.

7. Numbuzin No.3 Radiance Glowing Jumbo Essence Pad

Best for: Brightening dull skin, smoothing texture, and soothing breakouts

Main ingredients: Niacinamide, gardenia, curcumin, 50 fermented ingredients (including rice, soybean, and barley)

Targeting dull, uneven skin, the Numbuzin No. 3 Radiance Glowing Jumbo Essence Pads are infused with 50 fermented ingredients to deeply nourish and refine the skin’s texture. The formula features a Golden Calming Complex, including antioxidant-rich gardenia and curcumin, to calm irritation and breakouts, while niacinamide brightens dark spots and minimises the look of large pores. Made from biodegradable cotton derived from natural stems and seeds, these vegan pads are thin, soft, and designed for maximum essence delivery. Dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic, they’re safe for all skin types, including sensitive, and deliver visible radiance in as little as two weeks.