Toner pads are fairly new to the beauty industry. It was first introduced as an exfoliating pad which is like a gentle version of chemical peels that minus all the bad things about it. As we all know, chemical peels cause so many side effects such as burning, redness, scarring, and even infection.
Hence, exfoliating pads are introduced to add to your skincare routine. Exfoliating pads are cotton pads that are soaked with acids that will help your skin to shed off dead skin cells. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid are commonly found in the exfoliating pads because they are safe and effective to use on the skin.
Toner pads are basically an “evolve” version of the exfoliating pads. They come in different sizes and ingredients to knock out different skin problems such as dryness, flakiness, dull skin, and even acne.
Toner Pad Types
- moisturizing
- exfoliating
- brightening
- calming
Moisturizing Toner Pads
Moisturizing toner pads are packed with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and Butylene glycol. It is suitable for all skin types, especially dry skin. Most moisturizing toner pads come with plain cotton pads without texture on top. You can use the moisturizing toner pad before your makeup to make your makeup last all day with a healthy glow.
Example:
Laniege Cream Skin Quick Skin Pack
Exfoliating Toner Pads
Exfoliating pads could be your friends or enemy depending on how you use them. It contains chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or fruit enzymes that will lift dead skin cells and make your skin look radiant and youthful.
Always start with a lower concentration when you are new to acids and slowly work your way up. We do not recommend anyone to use exfoliating toner pads daily unless it contains a low percentage such as 1-2% glycolic acid. Make sure you moisturize your skin each time you use an exfoliating toner pad.
Example:
Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad
Cosrx One Step Original Clear Pads
Brightening Toner Pads
Brightening toner pads are infused with ingredients such as yuzu, vitamin C, and black rice bran extract. All of the ingredients mentioned are great sources to brighten up dull skin.
We recommend adding a brightening toner pad to your skincare routine for anyone who has acne scars, dark spots, or dull skin. If you have the habit of staying up late, brightening toner pads works well on you too. Just use a few brightening pads and leave it on for 3-5 mins before you apply any makeup. Your skin will be energized and ready to go.
Example:
Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Toner Pad+
Abib Yuja Probiotics Blemish Pad Vitalizing Touch
Calming Toner Pads
Calming toner pads are gaining popularity for good reason. Calming toner pads are formulated with soothing and calming ingredients that will aid sensitive and irritated skin. It works best if you have acne or sensitive or dry skin.
Ingredients such as heartleaf extract, calendula extract, and tea tree oil are commonly found in calming toner pads. These ingredients contain anti-inflammatory properties that will quickly calm and comfort irritated skin.
Example:
Skinfood Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad 60ea
The Lab by blanc doux Green Flavonoid™ 2.5 Pad
Types of the Cotton Pads
Generally speaking, there are 3 main types of cotton pads that are commonly found in toner pads.
- Gauze
- Embo
- Plain
As the picture shows above, gauze and embo pads are embellished with texture while plain pads have textures just like your regular cotton pads. Some of the toner pads combined both textures on one cotton pad. In that way, you can use the gauze or embo sides to gently exfoliate dead skin cells while the plain side of the cotton pads can be used when you want to leave it on like a mask on the targetted area.
How to Use Toner Pads?
Toner pads are simple to use and incorporate into your skincare routine. It should be used as your first step of skincare after you clean your face thoroughly.
These pads will slough away dead skin cells that build up on your skin. You can use moisturizing, calming, and brightening pads morning and night, twice a day. But for exfoliating pads, we recommend using them 2-3 times per week to avoid over-exfoliation.
Use a tweezer or applicator to pick up one toner pad from the container and use the toner pad to sweep on your skin gently. Remember not to rub your skin forcefully. If you do not have any tweezer, make sure your hands are clean before you dip your hand into it.
You can skip your regular toner application if you are using the toner pads. But if your skin is dry, go ahead and add another layer of toner before your serum. Lastly, seal all the goodness into your skin with a good moisturizer.
In addition, you can use moisturizing, brightening, and calming toner pads on the targetted area to combat skin problems. Leave it on your skin for 3-5 minutes, remove it and then follow with your regular skincare routine.
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Can I use toner pads every day?
The answer is yes and no. You should be able to use toner pads daily if it does not irritate your skin. Pick one that is gentle and safe enough to use on your skin daily.
Can Toner Pads Replace Toners?
The short answer is yes, as long as the toner pad is gentle enough to use daily for your skin type. That being said, exfoliating pads/ peeling pads are probably not the best choice among all. However, it’s probably not the best idea to replace your toner. Here’s why.
- Hygiene problem
- Pricey
Most toner pads are packed in a plastic jar, where you’ll get 50-70 pads inside. All the wet pads are packed in a small container without proper sealing, as you could imagine, it is the perfect place for bacteria and germs. Moreover, you might dip your hands into the jar to get the pad out. Hence, it’s best to use a tweezer to keep the product from external germs and bacteria.
Even though the products are formulated with preservatives to keep them safe from bacteria, it is still less ideal compared to a toner in a bottle.
Secondly, it’s not surprising that the toner pads have a higher price point compared to the regular toners. It only contains less than 100 pads inside. If you were to use it twice daily, you will have to purchase new toner pads almost every month.
Conclusion
The toner pads are great to add to your skincare routine just like a sheet mask. You do not have to use them daily, but it’s great to have them twice a week, especially for exfoliating pads. You should always be extra cautious to add a new skincare product into your routine. Do a patch test before you apply it directly to your face.
