Best overall
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
8.6Excellent
The cult 2% salicylic acid leave-on exfoliant: reliably unclogs pores and smooths texture, with irritation the main risk.
Toner5$37.00
Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Viral two-sided AHA/BHA toner pads that many buyers like for pores and texture, while skeptics find them stripping or underwhelming.
7.3
Good
Beauty score
#9 of 9 exfoliants & masks
Community
—/10
- Format
- Toner
- Size
- 70 pads
- Price per oz
- $7.10 / oz
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: Combination skin · Oily skin · Dry skin
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
Viral two-sided AHA/BHA toner pads that many buyers like for pores and texture, while skeptics find them stripping or underwhelming.
Medicube's Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is a jar of 70 dual-textured toner pads, with an embossed side for exfoliating and a smooth side for a final swipe, soaked in lactic acid, salicylic acid and willow bark. It is a TikTok Shop phenomenon with more than 270,000 sold on Medicube's own listing, and some Reddit users credit it with smoother texture and clearer pores. Skeptics on r/AsianBeauty say it did nothing, others find it stripping, and the formula contains alcohol and citrus essential oils.
Best for
- Oily or combination skin with blackheads and enlarged-looking pores
- A low-stakes first AHA/BHA exfoliant
- People who prefer the convenience of pads over liquids
What we love
- Two-sided pads: an exfoliating embossed side and a smooth finishing side
- AHA plus BHA (lactic acid, salicylic acid, willow bark) aimed at oil, blackheads and rough texture, per Medicube
- Hugely popular, with 270K+ sold on Medicube's own TikTok Shop listing
- Some Reddit users report smoother texture and clearer pores
Worth knowing
- Contains alcohol denat. and several citrus and herbal essential oils
- Reddit users in r/AsianBeauty and r/acne report it doing nothing or feeling stripping
- Pre-soaked pads cost more per use than a liquid exfoliant with similar acids
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.3Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%7.3
Some buyers on r/SkincareAddicts and r/acne credit the pads with smoother texture and clearer pores, while r/AsianBeauty users in a thread about overhyped products say they did nothing.
- Formula & ingredients20%6.8
Lactic and salicylic acids with betaine salicylate and willow bark give gentle daily exfoliation, but alcohol denat. and multiple citrus and herbal essential oils raise the irritation risk.
- Texture & experience15%7.6
The two-sided pads make exfoliating quick and mess-free, but several Reddit users describe them as stripping.
- Value20%7.4
At $24 for 70 pads on Medicube's site the cost per use is reasonable, though one Reddit user notes the same acids cost far less as a liquid.
- Community love15%7.2
More than 270,000 sold on Medicube's TikTok Shop listing and many positive creator reviews contrast with a skeptical, often negative reception in skincare-enthusiast subreddits.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Dual-textured pads: an embossed side for exfoliating and a smooth, silky side for a final swipe
Format
Toner
Fragrance
Contains fragrance — Essential-oil scented (orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender oils in the INCI)
Size
70 pads / 100 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- LaLactic acidExfoliants & acne actives — ingredient guide
- SaSalicylic acidExfoliants & acne actives — ingredient guide
- PaPanthenolHydrators — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Medicube lists a fruit-complex AHA, 0.45% white willow bark (as a natural BHA source) and cypress tree leaf as key ingredients; the INCI also includes lactic acid, salicylic acid, betaine salicylate, panthenol, alcohol denat. and several citrus and herbal essential oils.
How to use
After cleansing, swipe the embossed side across the face from the center outward, then go over it again with the smooth side and pat in what remains.
Full ingredient list (INCI)49 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Water,
- Methylpropanediol,
- Trometamin,
- Lactic Acid,
- Alcohol Denat.,
- 1,
- 2-Hexanediol,
- Panthenol,
- Glycereth-26,
- Salicylic Acid,
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP,
- Copolymer,
- Betaine,
- Trehalose,
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate,
- Ethylhexylglycerin,
- Glycerin,
- Allantoin,
- Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate,
- Disodium EDTA,
- Butylene Glycol,
- Sodium Hyaluronate,
- Betaine Salicylate,
- Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil,
- Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil,
- Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil,
- Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil,
- Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil,
- Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil,
- Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil,
- Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract,
- Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract,
- Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract,
- Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract,
- Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract,
- Ethyl Hexanediol,
- Centella Asiatica Extract,
- Slix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract,
- Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract,
- Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract,
- Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract,
- Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract,
- Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract,
- Portulaca Oleracea Extract,
- Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Flower Extract,
- Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract,
- Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract,
- Pueraria Lobata Root Extract,
- Limonene
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
5 verbatim quotes · 2 positive · 1 mixed · 2 critical
r/SkincareAddictsPositive
Salicylic acid! I love the medicube zero pore pads. Start own slow.. 2-3x a week.
r/acnePositive
I had this same texture issue and I used their zero pore pads. Mine cleared up like 80% within 10 days.
r/KoreanBeautyMixed
And on the Medicube pads, I wouldn't expect dramatic results, but if this is your first BHA product they're a reasonable low-stakes way to find out whether your skin gets on with it.
r/AsianBeautyCritical
for me was the medicube zero pore pad...i've used all of the pads and did nothing for my skin, so i just did not bought it again.
r/acneCritical
Stop using the medicube pore pads they are SO stripping. If you want to exfoliate do it once weekly and try a low percentage Mandelic acid.
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$24.00
for 70 pads / 100 ml
Per ounce
$7.10
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
Right around the going rate per ounce for exfoliants & masks. Our value score: 7.4/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
No discussions yet.
Tried Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Can I use Zero Pore Pad 2.0 every day?
Medicube says the pads are gentle enough for daily use, morning and night, but suggests people with very sensitive skin start a few times a week. For an even gentler option it points to its Zero Pore Pad Mild.
How do I use the two sides?
Medicube says to start with the embossed side, swiping from the center of the face outward, then use the smooth side for a final pass and pat in the rest of the essence.
Is it fragrance-free?
No fragrance is listed by name, but the ingredient list includes orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender oils plus limonene, as well as alcohol denat.
Can I use it on the body?
Medicube says the pads can also be used on rough or oily areas such as the neck, chest, back or underarms, avoiding the eye area and freshly shaved or irritated skin.
Sources we checked (11)
- medicube.us/products/zero-pore-pad-1
- medicube.us/products/zero-pore-pad-1.json
- medicube.us/pages/brandstory
- shop.tiktok.com/us/pdp/zero-pore-pads-by-medicube-aha-bha-exfoliating-toner-pads/1729471510999109867
- reddit.com/r/SkincareAddicts/comments/1wiktj3/how_to_treat_these/
- reddit.com/r/acne/comments/1rs0j2d/so_insecureeeee_omfg/
- reddit.com/r/KoreanBeauty/comments/1vwqkuc/thoughts_on_this_anuamedicube_routine_for_oily/
- reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/1x1gdbv/whats_a_hyped_kbeautyjbeauty_product_that/
- reddit.com/r/acne/comments/1v32o3b/someone_please_help_me_i_feel_so_disgusting/
- youtube.com/watch?v=TbSHcL_7SNw
- youtube.com/watch?v=Cr8sckGRKi4
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If you’re weighing it up, also consider.
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Toner5$36.00
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The Ordinary
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Peel5$9.50
Cult favorite
Pixi
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Toner4$29.00