Seventy pre-soaked treatment pads combining chemical exfoliation with a four-part brightening system — the most active product in Medicube's Kojic Acid Turmeric range, and the one that does the heavy lifting on texture and dark marks.

Glycolic acid sits second on the ingredient list, immediately after water. That is a genuinely meaningful concentration, and it is the single most important thing to understand about this product. These are not a mild swipe-and-go toner pad; they are an exfoliating treatment. Medicube's own clinical testing reported a 49.69 percent reduction in dead surface cells and a 19.09 percent reduction in excess sebum. You will feel them working.

Around the glycolic acid sits salicylic acid to clear inside the pore, and a brightening quartet — kojic acid, niacinamide, ascorbic acid and turmeric root extract — each interrupting pigment formation at a different point. Offsetting all of that is an eight-form hyaluronic acid complex plus panthenol, allantoin and liquorice derivative, so the pads exfoliate without leaving skin stripped.

Key ingredients

• Glycolic acid (AHA), second on the list — the smallest AHA molecule and therefore the most penetrating. Dissolves the bonds holding dead cells to the surface, resurfacing texture and accelerating the clearance of pigmented cells.
• Salicylic acid (BHA) — oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore on congestion and blackheads rather than only on the surface. Also anti-inflammatory.
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3), fourth on the list — blocks the transfer of melanin to skin cells, regulates sebum and supports the barrier.
• Kojic acid — inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that produces melanin, addressing pigment before it forms.
• Ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) — antioxidant and brightening, working through yet another point in the pigment pathway.
• Turmeric root extract — antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; particularly relevant to post-inflammatory marks, where inflammation is the cause.
• Eight-form hyaluronic acid complex — sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid, hydrolysed HA, HA crosspolymer, potassium hyaluronate and further derivatives, hydrating at multiple depths to counter the acids.
• Dipotassium glycyrrhizate (liquorice) — calms redness and contributes mild brightening of its own.
• Panthenol and allantoin — soothing and barrier-supporting.
• Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) — the source of the pads' characteristic tint.
• Yuzu peel, chestnut shell, strawberry and gardenia extracts — antioxidant botanicals.
• Adenosine — a regulator-recognised functional anti-wrinkle active in Korea.

How to use

1. Cleanse and pat the skin dry.
2. Take one pad with the enclosed spatula or clean fingers — never with unwashed hands, which contaminates the whole tub.
3. Sweep gently across the face with the smooth side, avoiding the eye and lip areas. Do not scrub. The exfoliation is chemical; friction adds irritation without adding benefit.
4. Use the textured side only on areas that genuinely need it — the nose, chin and any congested patches — and only lightly.
5. Allow 30 to 60 seconds to absorb, then continue with serum and moisturiser. Do not rinse.
6. The used pad still holds essence — press it over the back of the hands, the neck or the chest rather than wasting it.

As a targeted compress

Lay a pad over a specific dark mark or congested area and leave for 3 to 5 minutes. Do this no more than once or twice weekly.

Recommended frequency

Medicube describe these as gentle enough for daily use. Given that glycolic acid sits second on the ingredient list, we would rather give you the more careful guidance:

• Start at 2 to 3 times per week, in the evening, for the first two to three weeks.
• Normal or resilient skin: build to every other evening. Daily use is achievable but is more than most people need.
• Oily, congested or acne-prone skin: every other evening, or daily if genuinely well tolerated.
• Sensitive or dry skin: once or twice weekly, indefinitely.
• Do not use on the same evening as a retinoid, another AHA or BHA product, or high-strength vitamin C. Alternate on separate nights.
• Do not use for three to five days either side of waxing, threading, peels, microneedling or laser.
• Timeline: smoother, brighter skin within one to two weeks. Visible fading of dark marks at 8 to 12 weeks.

If your skin becomes tight, shiny, stinging or unpredictably reactive, you are over-exfoliating. Stop for two weeks, use a barrier cream, and restart at half the frequency. Over-exfoliation is the most common self-inflicted skin problem there is.

Also for the body

These pads work well on the chest, back, shoulders and upper arms — for keratosis pilaris, rough texture and post-acne marks. A practical use for pads nearing the end of the tub.

Completing the routine

The third and most intensive step in Medicube's Kojic Acid Turmeric range, all of which we stock: the Resurfacing Toner preps daily, the Niacinamide Serum delivers concentrated actives, and these Pads provide the intensive exfoliating treatment two to three times per week. Used as a system they address pigmentation at every level of a routine.

Best suited to

Post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation. Uneven tone and rough or bumpy texture. Congestion, blackheads and enlarged-looking pores. Dullness. Oily and combination skin in particular, given the measured sebum reduction. Not the first choice for actively inflamed acne, very dry skin, or a compromised barrier — treat those first.

Specifications

• Quantity: 70 pads
• Product type: Pre-soaked exfoliating and brightening treatment pads; leave-on, no rinsing
• Key actives: Glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA), kojic acid, niacinamide, ascorbic acid, turmeric root extract, 8-form hyaluronic acid complex
• Pad format: Dual-textured — smooth side for general use, textured side for targeted areas
• Manufacturer clinical data: 49.69% reduction in dead skin cells; 19.09% reduction in excess sebum
• Use: Evening, after cleansing, before serum
• Suitable for: Face and body
• Skin type: Normal, combination, oily and congestion-prone; use sparingly on dry or sensitive skin
• Country of origin: Republic of Korea
• Approximate usage: 6–8 months at 2–3 uses per week

Good to know

Daily broad-spectrum SPF 50 is mandatory with this product. Glycolic acid, kojic acid and ascorbic acid all increase photosensitivity, and unprotected UV exposure stimulates exactly the pigment these pads are working to reduce. Using them without daily sunscreen is not merely ineffective — it is counterproductive.

A mild tingle on application is normal; persistent stinging or burning is not. Patch test on the jawline for 24 hours before first full use. Avoid the eye and lip areas. Do not use on broken, sunburned or actively inflamed skin. Always use the spatula — fingers introduce bacteria into a tub you will be using for months. Press the lid firmly closed after every use; the pads dry out quickly if the seal is broken. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under dermatological care, consult your doctor before use. Store away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep out of reach of children.