Which toner or pad suits your skin type?
Toners and pads aren't a must in every routine, but they can make a noticeable difference: they balance the pH after cleansing and ensure the following serums and creams are absorbed better. With pads comes a gentle chemical exfoliation that dissolves dead skin cells.
Which of the three products suits you depends on your skin type.
The Calming Toner is the choice for dry or sensitised skin. It contains witch hazel (lightly astringent), panthenol (provitamin B5, soothing) and hyaluronic acid. A low-dose glycolic acid gently removes dry skin flakes. An exception solution for a smaller group: skin that feels tight or looks red after cleansing, or skin in a recovery phase.
The Complexion Renewal Pads are the standard solution for most skin types. Salicylic acid (BHA, oil-soluble, penetrates into the pore) and glycolic acid (AHA, water-soluble, smooths the surface) dissolve pore-clogging cells and can reduce blackheads and dull skin. Urea and plant extracts balance the exfoliation with moisture.
The Oil Control Pads are the more intensive level for blemished, sebum-rich or acne-prone skin. With 2% salicylic acid - the highest concentration available over the counter - combined with mandelic acid and rosehip extract for sebum control. A cooling active soothes right after application.
All three products are part of the Getting Skin Ready routine from ZO Skin Health. Other brands implement the toning step differently: iS Clinical offers a mist as an alternative, mesoestetic works without a classic toner.
Toners and pads come after cleansing and before serum, eye care and cream. With the pads: start once a day, increase to twice a day as tolerated. Both pad variants increase light sensitivity - mineral sun protection during the day is a must. We also use these products in our skincare studio in Cologne - for matching the skin type, a short assessment by our team helps most.
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Frequently asked questions about toners and pads
What do toners and pads do in a skincare routine?
They close the cleansing block of a skincare routine. After cleansing, the skin's pH can be slightly shifted - a toner balances it, removes the last residues and prepares the skin for the following actives.
Pads go a step further: they combine toning with a mild chemical exfoliation. Actives like salicylic and glycolic acid dissolve dead cells and can refine the complexion.
When do I need a toner and not the pads?
The Calming Toner is the choice for a smaller group: dry skin, sensitised skin or skin in a recovery phase after treatments.
Specifically: if your skin feels tight after cleansing, feels rough, is slightly red or if acids (AHA/BHA) regularly irritate it, the toner is the right choice. It contains only a very low-dose glycolic acid, soothes with panthenol and allantoin and stabilises the skin barrier. For most other skin types, the pads are the more suitable choice, because in addition to toning they also take on a gentle exfoliation.
What's the difference between the Complexion Renewal Pads and the Oil Control Pads?
Both contain salicylic acid and glycolic acid, but in different concentrations and for different skin types.
The Complexion Renewal Pads are the standard solution for most skin types - including normal, slightly dry or slightly blemish-prone. The concentration is lower, urea and plant extracts balance the exfoliation with moisture.
The Oil Control Pads contain 2% salicylic acid - the OTC maximum, that is, the highest over-the-counter concentration. In addition, mandelic acid and rosehip extract for sebum control, plus a cooling active. They're for skin that is actively blemished - blackheads, frequent blemishes, a clear T-zone shine, acne-prone skin.
Where do toners or pads come in my daily routine?
Right after cleansing and before all active products. The standard order: cleansing - (exfoliation) - toner or pad - serum - eye care - cream - sun protection.
Important: you do not use toner and pads in parallel. Both occupy the same step of the routine. If you want to switch - for example because your skin is drier in winter than in summer - that's fine, but not on the same day.
Why is sun protection especially important after the pads?
Both pad variants contain salicylic acid and glycolic acid. Both actives dissolve dead skin cells and expose fresh cells - and these fresh cells are more sensitive to light than the old ones.
Without daily sun protection, the exfoliation works against damage that UV radiation causes anew every day. The mineral sun protection products in our range are formulated to be low-irritation and don't interfere with the pads' effect.