I've been through 4 tubs of these Korean toner pads - my dry skin has never been so hydrated, dewy and texture-free
For targeted and intense hydration, these toner pads are a non-negotiable in my routine.
From banishing dryness to delivering cooling relief mid-heatwave, the Mediheal Collagen Ampoule pads have become the one skincare step I never, ever skip. The proof is in the four tubs I've emptied, and the fifth currently en route to my doorstep.
As someone with quite temperamental and dry skin, I've long been on the hunt for a product that could deliver lasting hydration. The kind you can feel and see, without compromising how my everyday makeup wears. Of course, many of the best face moisturisers can work wonders for conditioning and protecting your skin, while priming it for foundation. But there's actually another step I do before my creams to supercharge my skin.
Korean toner pads, specifically Mediheal's pink collagen ones, have become a non-negotiable in my routine. In fact, I use two almost every morning (our team's monthly beauty empties will attest to this too), and my skin has never been so dewy, plump and texture-free.
Why I've rinsed through 4 tubs of Mediheal's Collagen toner pads
Pre-soaked in a nourishing blend of collagen, ceramides and milk protein, these toner pads drench your skin in a hydrating essence. The formula works to maintain moisture, which it does incredibly well in my experience. The pads themselves are made from a vegan-certified, nano-hole fabric that feels very comfortable and soft on the skin - I haven't found that it tugs or pulls on the skin at all. Each tub boasts 100 pads and comes with a pair of tweezers (that can be stored inside the lid) to help extract and separate the pads with ease.
They say a picture paints a thousand words, and these three certainly speak to how much I love and use these toner pads. There's 100 in eah tub, all pre-soaked in a blend of collagen, ceramides and milk proteins, and over the last six or so months, I've been through four of them, such is my love for their nourishing formula and glow-giving results.
As mentioned, I've always struggled with dryness and tight-feeling skin, especially around my nose and under-eye area. For years, I've had stubborn texture that my best foundations would accentuate, and even very rich creams wouldn't completely banish it. But since adding these to my morning routine, along with an excellent barrier cream (Byoma's Barrier+ Repair Treatment), I finally feel like I've got it under control.
The pads douse your skin in hydration that actually lasts. The texture is very thin, almost water-like, sinking in gradually and leaving a lovely silky, dewy finish - not a sticky, tacky one like some serums can. It really feels as though your skin is lapping up the essence, and while you can just gently wipe the square-shaped pads around your face, like you would a cotton pad, you can also let them sit on the skin - and the latter is what I do.
How I use the Mediheal toner pads
Every morning I pry out two with the little tweezers provided (to help separate them), placing one on each cheek. I then let them sit there for about five minutes while I finish the rest of my body care routine, before finally wiping them across the rest of my face and down my neck, rubbing the residue in with my hands and applying my moisturiser.
This little ritual became my favourite morning step during all the heatwaves this summer, as they offered a moment of cooling relief. And even now, as the seasons are shifting, I've kept doing it, as I just love how refreshing they feel on my puffy, just-woken-up face.
This is actually a very popular way to use them; in fact, you can go further than I do and apply multiple pads to your face and neck, like your own custom face mask - especially if you feel as though your skin could do with a more intensive treatment. Personally, I prefer to keep it to two, so I don't rinse through them too quickly (I'm already on pot no. 5, remember), and I do still spread the formulas across my entire face anyway.
This is a bit less glamorous (but who doesn't love an unsexy beauty tip), but I also use them around my ears too, to banish any flaky bits, especially around my earrings. I think it's worth mentioning that I used them to prep my skin on my wedding day this summer too, which again, speaks to how much I swear by them.
Since adding them to my core routine, my skin has been so glowy and smooth. All my pesky dry patches have been kept at bay, my face and neck feel softer to the touch, and even my makeup has never looked better. The conditioning formula really shines through my base products, without causing any pilling or separation.
They've truly made such a tangible difference to my complexion - and in case you're keen to try them yourself, they're actually featured in a few beauty calendars this year. Including the Boots 24 Days of Skin Advent Calendar.
