Beauty

These Glow Recipe Toner Pads Have Improved The Texture Of My Skin In A Few Weeks

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Bianca holding up the tub of toner pads with a light behind it
(Bianca Guzzo)

I try a lot of skincare. I love seeing which products are actually worth the hype and finding hidden gems that turn into staples. When I saw Glow Recipe had released a line of toner pads, I knew I had to give them a go.

The toner pads come in three different formulas that target different skincare needs. I’m looking to boost brightness and even out the skin tone around my eyes, so I went with the Vitamin C-infused formula. It also promises to soothe the under-eye, which made them even more appealing. After a few applications, I can say they’re worth every penny.

Let’s get into it.

My review of the Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads

Let’s start with the basics. The Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads come in a plastic tub and include a set of tweezers for easy, mess-free application. You get 115 grams of product, or 60 pads, which works out to 70 cents per pad, or $1.40 per pair. Compared to another leader in the K-beauty space, Mediheal Vitamin C Bright Toning Pads (100 toning pads/$36.00), they are definitely on the expensive side, but I do believe you get plenty of bang for your buck in terms of ingredients.

The airtight cap and set of matching tweezers on the top of the container of toner pads
glowrecipetonerpadstweezers The airtight cap and set of matching tweezers on the top of the container of toner pads. (Bianca Guzzo)

The plant-based cellulose pads are thinner than a sheet mask, and each one is thoroughly soaked in the skincare solution. which really allows the vitamin C blend, caffeine, and guava glutathione to work their magic. Because they’re so saturated in the serum, they stick to freshly-washed skin really well without sliding or slipping. They even have a little crescent cutout that hugs the under-eye area perfectly.

The toner pads sitting in the serum
glowrecipetonerpads The toner pads sitting in the serum. (Bianca Guzzo)

While you just swipe other toner pads across your face, these are meant to sit on the skin for five to 15 minutes, like a sheet mask. This allows me to take my time with my skincare routine, and not just slap products on in a frenzy. While they’re on, I can do the other steps in my morning routine, and after five(ish) minutes are up, I like to gently peel them off and pat the excess product into my skin before moving on to the last few steps of my skincare routine.

Bianca using the tweezers to get a toner pad out of the container
glowrecipetonerpadsapplication Bianca using the tweezers to get a toner pad out of the container. (Bianca Guzzo)

As I said, each container is packed with serum, so every single pad you pull out is completely soaked, which can get messy if you’re not careful. If the container is tilted or the lid isn’t screwed on tight enough, the serum can and will drip down the sides. Luckily, it’s easy to clean, but you do have to be mindful when putting them away.

I’ve been using them every morning for the past couple of weeks, and though there hasn’t been much of a visible difference in my dark spots and circles yet, my skin texture has improved, which is really noticeable when I apply makeup. However, the biggest difference I’ve noticed is in the application process. I love that it forces me to slow down and allow the ingredients to do their thing, making my mornings more relaxing.

My verdict: Are the Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads worth the hype?

Four photos showing the progression of Bianca's skin while using the toner pads
glowrecipetonerpadsrev Bianca with the toner pads on her cheeks for the first time (first photo), her skin directly after the first use (second photo), her skin after a week of use (third photo), and her skin after two weeks of use (last photo). (Bianca Guzzo)

The Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads are $42, which means they’re more expensive than your average drugstore option. That being said, the tub is packed, so it takes a while to get through it. Taking everything into consideration, including the quality of the product, quantity of toner pads, the generous amount of serum in the container, the texture of my skin changing in just a few weeks, and the user experience that really forces me to slow down while applying my skincare, they’re totally worth the hype.

Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads Pros

  • Hydrating, lightweight, and gentle
  • Rely on plant-based ingredients
  • Large quantity of toner pads = lots of bang for your buck
  • Come with a set of tweezers which make application easy

Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads Cons

  • Luxury pricing
  • The amount of serum in each container, though generous, is messy

What reviewers are saying about the Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads

The Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads are getting shining reviews from buyers, and they currently have a near-perfect rating of 4.9 stars. Many say that they’re game-changing for dark circles and more effective than the creams and serums they’ve used in the past. They agree that the formula is gentle and effective and say the texture is on point; they love that the pads don’t leave behind a sticky or slick film.

Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.