Toner is a popular step in between cleansing and moisturizing, but there’s still debate whether it’s an essential skin care step or unnecessary. However, though experts agree it’s not essential, toning can help your skin look brighter, smoother and more hydrated over time. One of the easiest ways to incorporate a toner into your routine is by using pre-soaked toner pads, a popular staple in Korean beauty.
To help you find the right toner pads for your skin, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists about how to shop for them and their recommendations. NBC Select editors have also tested dozens of toner pads and reviewed our favorites below.
Best brightening$22.40$28.00
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Best toner pads
Best overall
These Medicube exfoliating toner pads are a favorite among our editors and Tarte founder Maureen Kelly. NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown noticed her skin looked smoother and brighter after a few weeks of consistent use. “They’re gentler than I expected, too; salicylic acid products are normally too harsh for me, but these don’t burn or irritate during or after application,” she says. “And you can’t beat the price, especially these days when everything is so expensive.”
They’re also a favorite of NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin: “I’ve used these every other night for about six months, and over time, they’ve completely changed my skin texture for the better,” she says. “It’s now so much softer and smoother, and the pads have visibly reduced pore size in my T-zone. I love that they’re double-sided: There’s a textured side that helps gently buff away dead skin cells, so I use it first, and then I flip the pad over to the smooth side and wipe it over my face, which has a soothing effect.”
Since I have very sensitive skin, I prefer to use Medicube’s Zero Pore Pad Mild, which have milder polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) rather than harsher salicylic and lactic acids.
Best brightening
After testing these toner pads for three months, NBC Select freelance newsletter editor Marilyn La Jeunesse was surprised to find that they almost erased the hyperpigmentation on her cheeks, and made her skin “practically glow.” “I loved them so much, I bought them for my mom and I six times,” she says. The pads have vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten and green tea enzymes to exfoliate. La Jeunesse recommends pairing it with the brand’s brightening serum.
Best for sensitive skin
These soothing toner pads come recommended by Dr. Mona Gohara, board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut, because they’re gentle and don’t strip your skin. They have PHAs, a milder class of exfoliating acids, to help smooth texture and buff away dead skin cells without causing irritation. “I like that they feel cosmetically elegant — soothing, lightweight, and easy to use — which matters because products people enjoy using are products they tend to use consistently,” says Gohara.
Best for dark spots
I have several color changes from past acne, and I’ve tried multiple products to lighten those spots over the past few years. After using these toner pads consistently for a month, I’ve noticed my skin looks so much brighter and smoother, especially my under eyes where I have the most darkness. I’ve seen a visible improvement in the dark spots on my face, too, so it’s much easier to go out without makeup and still feel confident. These pads also don’t irritate my sensitive skin, which is a huge plus when it comes to toners. I love how soft and thin the pads are, which feels extremely lightweight and easy to swipe across my face.
Best hydrating
NBC Select associate social media editor Caitlin Cusack loves a standard milky toner, but since she’s a fan of Biodance’s popular face masks, she recently decided to try out the brand’s toner pads. “They’re super hydrating, gentle and always leave my skin looking glowy after using them,” she says. “The packaging keeps them saturated and even comes with a little tool to pick them up. I’ve even used these on my body and have noticed a difference in the hydration.” The pads are thin and lightweight, and they’re soaked in collagen water, which helps firm skin and address fine lines, according to the brand.
Best for fine lines
Though these exfoliating pads are a splurge, they’re worth the price if you have fine lines, acne or hyperpigmentation. They come recommended by NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi, who says her skin looks brighter and texture is almost gone after using them consistently for a few months. Each pad is soaked with glycolic and lactic acids, which are alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate, brighten and smooth skin. They also have hyaluronic acid to boost hydration.
Best for redness
I struggle with rosacea and moderate redness, which tends to get worse during the hotter, sweatier months. Glow Recipe launched these toner pads earlier this year and sent them to me to try out, and I’m deeply obsessed; I primarily use them at night before bed, and they manage to soothe any redness and irritation from the day. They’re soft, thin and generously soaked in a combination of panthenol and centella asiatica (which soothes redness) and PDRN (which has healing properties and boosts collagen).
Best for acne-prone skin
These pads are pre-soaked with 2% salicylic acid and are great for those with oily, acne-prone skin, according to Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami. They not only help treat existing breakouts overnight, but they help prevent new pimples from forming, she says. The pads help reduce excess oil, help minimize redness and irritation, and clear up pores, according to the brand. However, keep in mind they can be drying, so use them only a few times per week if you have sensitive skin.
Most soothing
These toning pads are one of the best products in Dr. Althea’s lineup, and I love using them when I need an extra boost of hydration before applying my moisturizer and sunscreen. I have very dry skin that worsens during the colder months, so I use them to soothe dry patches, redness and rosacea-related bumps. The pads are stretchy and easy to tear apart (which makes them last much longer) and the lid packaging helps prevent the pads from drying out. They also include tiny tongs that help me avoid using my fingers. However, keep in mind the packaging leaks, so you’ll need to keep it upright to avoid a mess.
Best exfoliating
These Loops toner pads are a favorite of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. They have gluconolactone to gently exfoliate skin, salicylic acid to unclog pores, peptides to target fine lines and bakuchiol (a gentle retinol alternative) to smooth and brighten skin. The pads also combine centella asiatica, oat, aloe vera, panthenol and allantoin to calm skin.
How I picked the best toner pads
When selecting the toner pads on this list, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists, who recommended keeping the following factors in mind:
- Skin type: Your skin type plays a major role in the toner pads you choose and the ingredients you look for. Those with oily and acne-prone skin may benefit from pads that have salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and other exfoliants to help unclog pores and reduce excess oil. Dry or sensitive skin types may want more hydrating or calming ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and centella asiatica. Combination skin types should look for multitasking, dual-sided pads that can exfoliate and reduce oil with one side and hydrate drier areas with the other.
- Skin concern: Are you trying to calm redness, brighten dullness, unclog pores, hydrate skin or reduce breakouts? Look for ingredients that’ll help you achieve that goal.
- Quantity and value: Most come with 50 to 60 pads per package, so consider how many you get for the price and how long they’ll realistically last you.
Frequently asked questions
Toner pads are pre-soaked cotton pads saturated with skin care ingredients to hydrate, soothe, exfoliate and/or balance your skin in one easy swipe. “Think of them as the carry-on luggage of skin care: They’re compact, efficient and packed with everything you need,” says Gohara. Depending on the formula, toner pads can help remove leftover debris after cleansing, gently exfoliate dead skin cells, calm redness, boost hydration or prep your skin so the rest of your products absorb better, she says.
The ingredients you look for depend on your specific skin concerns, according to Gohara. Here are the main ones to consider:
- For hydration: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, ceramides
- To calm skin: heartleaf, centella asiatica, colloidal oatmeal, green tea, allantoin
- For acne or oily skin: salicylic acid, tea tree oil (carefully and sparingly, says Gohara), niacinamide
- For brightening: vitamin C, niacinamide, tranexamic acid
- For gentle exfoliation: lactic acid or PHAs, which are less irritating than harsher acids
Depending on the formula, both toner pads and traditional toners help target concerns like dullness, congested pores, excess oil or dehydration. Traditional toners are usually liquids that you pour into your hands or onto a cotton round, while toner pads come pre-soaked and ready to use directly from the package, says Gohara. However, “sometimes when using a cotton pad or cotton swab, the material absorbs most of the liquid. Toner pads are fully soaked, so the product can be evenly distributed on the skin,” says Woolery-Lloyd.
One of the biggest benefits of toner pads is that they’re generally much easier to use than traditional toners. “Skin care can sometimes feel like a chemistry lab at 11 p.m., and toner pads simplify the process,” says Gohara. “They’re portable, mess-free and because they come with a pre-determined amount of product already soaked into the pad, they also help prevent overuse and make application more uniform.” Many also have dual-textured sides: one slightly textured for exfoliation and one smooth side for calming or hydrating.
No, toner pads are not essential and more of an optional “supporting” step rather than a necessity, says King. “A good cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen are the true non-negotiables,” says Gohara. But toner pads can help support your other skin care products by addressing specific concerns like flaky skin, breakouts, uneven texture or irritation.
“They’re especially useful for people who struggle with consistency because they make skin care feel quick and approachable,” says Gohara. “But more steps do not automatically mean healthier skin. The goal is not to exfoliate your face into oblivion. The goal is balanced, functional skin that feels comfortable and healthy.”
Pay attention to how many exfoliating acids are packed into the formula. “More is not always better; skin care is not a competitive sport. Over-exfoliating can disrupt your skin barrier and lead to irritation, breakouts and inflammation,” says Gohara.
Meet our dermatologists
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Mona Gohara is board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut.
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist at her own private practice in New York City.
- Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd is a board-certified dermatologist and is the director of the Skin of Color division for the University of Miami Department of Dermatology.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an editor at NBC Select who has covered beauty, skin care, hair care and wellness for more than six years. I’ve also tested hundreds of skin care products to find the best ones worth buying. For this article, I spoke to three board-certified dermatologists and highlighted their recommendations for the best toner pads to buy. I also included NBC Select editor favorites.
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