5 best pore pads that I reviewed in 2026

If you’ve been anywhere near the skincare side of TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen pore pads taking over your feed. These little toner-soaked discs have become one of the most viral beauty items of the year, promising smoother skin, fewer visible pores and that ultra-satisfying “clean sweep” feeling after each use. What started as a niche K-beauty staple has now exploded into a global trend — and for good reason.

Pore pads are designed to help wipe away the imminent appearance of enlarged pores by gently exfoliating, clarifying, and balancing the skin. While they don’t erase pores (nothing can!), consistent use can help minimize their visibility and improve overall texture. The best formulas mix chemical exfoliants, hydrating ingredients and skin-soothing botanicals to deliver gradual, noticeable results without irritation.

“Pore pads are pre-soaked cotton pads, with one side meant for gentle exfoliation, and the other side that is smooth, meant for hydration,” Roy Kim, MD, San Francisco-based plastic surgeon, exclusively shared with Post Wanted. “They are usually soaked with calming ingredients that may be unique to the West, but are pretty standard for K-beauty: green tea, mugwort, centella, fermented extracts.”

But like any viral product category, not all pore pads are created equal. Some boast beautiful packaging and buzzy marketing but fall flat on performance. Others — often the underrated or lesser-known picks — quietly deliver impressive clarity and smoothness without the hype. With the massive surge in options, it’s become harder than ever to sort genuine results from social-media sparkle.

That’s where this guide comes in. I’ve been testing skincare products professionally for more than five years, and when pore pads started trending, I made it my mission to put nearly all the top-talked-about formulas to the test. I sourced the viral treasures that have nearly broken the Internet, side-by-side with the hidden gems that rarely get screen time but deserve the spotlight

In this review-driven guide, you’ll find the pore pads that truly stood out: the ones that left skin my clearer, softer and more refined with continued use. Whether you’re new to pore-care or searching for your next holy-grail exfoliating pad, these rigorously tested picks will help you cut through the noise and choose the formula that fits your routine best.

The MEDIHEAL Vitamide Brightening Pad are the pore pads I constantly think about when I’m not using them, and are truly an underrated skincare product — but that’s going to end now.

I love any product that can help minimize pores and brighten the skin (who doesn’t?). Among all pore pads tested, these created the most striking difference in my overall complexion when I looked in the mirror.

Containing vitamin C to naturally brighten and niacinamide to balance, this duo is likely the prominent reason why these pore pads are so revolutionary. The size of each pad is a hair smaller than most others on the market, allowing it to blend into the skin well. It’s also easier to maneuver the pad all along the face.

While the grippy tool isn’t my favorite, I don’t care — I’ll literally grab the pad with my hand because I simply love using them day and night. Plus, I love how 100 come to each tub, so I’ll be well-stocked for a few months at a time (thank goodness).

Key ingredients: Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Sea Buckthorn | Pad count: 100

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If you’ve been following Post Wanted coverage for a while, you know that buying the medicube Zero Pore Pads is your VIP pass (seriously, they sell like hotcakes among our readers).

After reviewing the bulk of medicube, the Pore Pads are, in fact, worth it. They’re offered at an affordable price point, contain AHAs and BHAs to clarify and tone the skin and come with 70 pads per tub to make it even more of a value.

Not to mention, they’re a K-beauty product — double points for me, obviously — and contain salicylic acid to help calm acne-prone and oily skin. They’re pretty much a jack-of-all-trades pick; unlike MEDIHEAL’s brightening pads, there’s not a key benefit that using these pads won’t give you. As a whole, they’re well-rounded (in their literal sense, too) and 100% worth it for the money.

Key ingredients: Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid | Pad count: 70

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While Korean pore pads are all the rage, don’t sleep on the SEPHORA COLLECTION Clarifying Peel Pads. First off, they’re encased in the smallest packaging I’ve tested, making them the most perfect for travel.

For acne-prone skin types, specifically, the inclusion of salicylic acid as a key ingredient is the winning factor here. They’re also unscented, so I love using them on my sensitive skin. The salicylic acid helps mitigate the excess oil I typically experience on my T-zone.

While they don’t provide the most luxurious feel, that’s why I like them — they’re straight to the point. After cleansing, these are excellent to use to gently rid away impurities and exfoliate. For less than $20, they’re certainly a top formula I reviewed.

Key ingredients: Salicylic Acid, AHA, PHA | Pad count: 65

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PDRN — aka, salmon sperm — is a K-beauty active ingredient I’m avidly testing. While more research has to be done on how it’s beneficial for anti-aging, using a pore pad is one of the best ways for it to penetrate into the skin, according to a dermatologist.

“Efficacy in topical skincare products depends on formulation and delivery to penetrate the skin barrier,” Jane Yoo, MD, dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in NYC, shared with The Post. “As such, the most proven results for PDRN come from injection-based or high-penetration medical treatments, not standard topical creams.”

It feels great on my sensitive skin, which is impressive since it contains retinol, an ingredient I typically steer clear of. However, its dewiness and inclusion of PDRN and niacinamide ingredients allow it to be soothing. Plus, I love the oversized pad that feels like I’m having a spa day at home. As a whole, these pads are great for an array of skin types while holding a fair price point.

Key ingredients: PDRN, Niacinamide, Retinol | Pad count: 70

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Another K-beauty brand I’ve reviewed in its entirety is Biodance, the maker of the acclaimed Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask you’ve likely seen all over TikTok. Its Collagen Gel Toner Pads are not in the spotlight quite as often — but they’re extremely handy for dry skin.

These are some of the dewiest pore pads I’ve encountered. The formula packed onto each round absorbs quickly into my skin, doubling as a serum and really making a splash onto my dry skin. It’s quite slippery — which some users may not care for — but I’m diggin’ it.

With collagen, these pads help my skin look radiant and supple. Each pad is immersed in hyaluronic acid, allowing the formula to be exceptionally hydrating and ideal for dry skin. Bonus points if you love K-beauty as I do.

Key ingredients: Collagen, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid | Pad count: 60

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How I tested

Pores, pores no more! For each pore pad tested, this is the criteria that I followed for each formulation:

• Adhesion and fit: I assessed how well each pore pad adhered to the skin and whether it conformed comfortably to facial contours without lifting or slipping during wear.
• Pore debris removal: I evaluated how effectively the pore pad extracted visible oil, sebum and debris from the pores after removal.
• Skin comfort and reaction: I noted any sensations during use and checked for redness, irritation or sensitivity immediately and shortly after removal.
• Ease of use: I considered how simple the pore pad was to apply, wear for the recommended time, and remove without causing unnecessary discomfort.
• Post-use skin appearance: I observed how the skin looked and felt after use, focusing on smoothness, cleanliness and any temporary tightening or dryness.

An FAQ on pore pads

What are pore pads?

“Pore pads are pre-soaked and sometimes dual-textured facial pads that combine the steps of exfoliating and hydrating into one product,” Dr. Yoo shared. “The textured side exfoliates to clear out dead skin cells and sebum, while the silky side helps to soothe and hydrate the skin afterwards.”

What are the benefits of using pore pads?

It’s important to know that pore pads aren’t used to erase pores. Rather, they’re designed “to help slowly, over time, help clear up pores, hydrate skin and make skin texture more clear,” Dr. Kim explained.

Yoo noted that pore pads can also help clear blackheads and whiteheads, improve skin texture and control excess oil.

How do you use pore pads?

To use pore pads, cleanse your face first. Gently swipe the textured side of the pad across your skin, then flip it and use the smooth side,” Yoo shared. “You can use them in the morning or evening one to three times a week, but never on the same night as other exfoliants, such as retinol.”

How long does it take to see results with pore pads?

According to Kim, it typically takes a couple of weeks for some results and one to three months for slow and steady results. However, with some, like our best overall pick, you *may* notice smoother skin after just one use, which Yoo also noted.

What ingredients should I look for in pore pads?

You should look for BHAs, like salicylic acid, and AHAs, like glycolic or lactic acid, to exfoliate and unclog pores. These should be paired with soothing ingredients, like allantoin or panthenol to hydrate and calm the skin.

Let’s backtrack: what causes pores to be visible on the face?

Pores are genetic, so it’s not really possible to totally eliminate them. “Pores are openings of the pilosebaceous units — the exit point for sebum/ oil from sebaceous glands, sweat and perspiration and hair,” Kim explained. “If pores are healthy, they are very hard to see. If pores are not healthy, they are more visible.”

What’s the difference between pore pads with AHA, BHA, PHA and enzyme exfoliants?

AHAs, like glycolic and lactic acid, are water-soluble. “They work on the skin’s surface to exfoliate, smooth texture, and improve the look of fine lines,” Yoo described.

BHAs, like salicylic acid, are oil-soluble. “They can work on the surface and inside the pores to dissolve oil and debris, making them especially effective for targeting clogged pores and acne-prone skin.”

What didn’t make the cut

When testing the best pore pads, these were the few that didn’t make the final cut and why:

• Bioré The Original Deep Cleansing Pore Strips: The Band-Aid feeling didn’t work for me. Nothing really came off, and I’d recommend formula-soaked pore pads instead. You can target them on the nose if that’s a problem area.
• innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads: These aren’t the best for sensitive skin. They sting a bit if you have an active blemish, feel a bit sticky and aren’t fragrance-free.

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This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best vitamin C serums on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos of 2025. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.

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