Do you know the popular beauty-related abbreviations trending in Korea these days?
It’s about Korean Essence Pad or Toner Pad.
In Korea, there are recent Korean buzzwords “Dakk-To” and “Heupt-To.” These terms refer to whether you use toner by wiping it on with a cotton pad (“wiping toner”) or by patting it on for absorption (“absorbing toner”).
However, if you search for “Dakk-To” on YouTube, the most common result is “Don’t use wiping toner!”
The main reason for this is that the act of physically rubbing your face can be harmful to the skin. Additionally, with the recent rise of mildly acidic skincare products, many believe that using toner is no longer necessary.
Then why many Korean say toner is no longer necessary?
In the past, it was common to apply basic skincare products over leftover residues on the face due to not double cleansing. To remove these residues, people used to soak cotton pads in toner and wipe their faces.
I remember seeing TV programs from about 10 years ago that showed before-and-after shots of how much dirt was removed using toner-soaked cotton pads.
However, double cleansing has become a norm in Korea, reducing concerns about leftover residues on the skin.
Another reason for using toner is to maintain the skin’s optimal pH balance. Skin is healthiest when it is in a mildly acidic state with a pH of about 5.5-5.9. In contrast, acne-prone skin typically has a pH of around 7.5, and atopic skin has a pH of about 8.0, which is more alkaline.
Cleansers generally work better when they are alkaline, so after using an alkaline cleanser, toner is used to quickly restore the skin to a mildly acidic state. Nowadays, many savvy consumers are aware of this and there is a growing trend of mildly acidic cleansers with a pH of around 5-6. As a result, the belief that toner is unnecessary has become more common.
However, if you do not double cleanse or use a lot of alkaline cleansers, you might still need toner.
So, how should you use toner pads or essence pads, which are quite popular in Korea these days?
It’s very simple. If you are in a hurry in the morning and don’t have time to unfold and apply a mask pack but still want good makeup application, just apply essence pads to your face.
Depending on the type of pad, traditional mask packs are heavier and cover the entire face, making it difficult to do anything else while wearing them. On the other hand, pads adhere well to specific areas and can be used for a shorter period, making them suitable for light skincare.
Therefore, I think that on hot summer days or if you have oily skin and find heavy skincare products burdensome, a light skincare routine with essence pads followed by a light moisturizer can be effective. This will definitely help your makeup look better and last longer.
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