The Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is a dual-textured exfoliating pad formulated with lactic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA) to clear congestion, control oil and visibly minimise the appearance of pores. Each tub contains 70 pads.

The two sides do different jobs. The embossed side provides physical exfoliation to lift dead skin and surface debris. The smooth side polishes and delivers the remaining essence. Together with the acid blend, that gives you chemical and physical exfoliation in a single step.

It is formulated for oily, combination and acne-prone skin dealing with blackheads, visible pores, congestion and excess sebum. It is dermatologist tested. Part of the Medicube range at Seoul of Tokyo, and one of our most popular exfoliators.

Important: Read This Before You Start

This is an effective, potent exfoliant, and it is worth being clear about what is in it so you can use it well.

The formula contains denatured alcohol high in the ingredient list, along with a substantial blend of citrus and botanical essential oils: orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender. Limonene is also listed. These deliver the astringent, degreasing effect that makes the pads feel so satisfying on oily skin, and for oily and congested skin they work well.

Three things follow from that. First, if your skin is sensitive, reactive or compromised, this is not the exfoliant for you. Look at our fragrance free range instead. Second, citrus oils can increase photosensitivity, so use these in the evening and wear sunscreen daily without exception. Third, do not use them every day when you start.

Used correctly on the right skin type, these are excellent. Used daily on dry or sensitive skin, they will damage your barrier. We would rather tell you that upfront than have you find out in week three.

AHA or BHA: What Is the Difference, and Why Both?

These pads use both, because they solve different problems.

Lactic acid is an AHA, an alpha hydroxy acid. It is water-soluble, so it works on the skin surface, dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells so they shed cleanly. That is what addresses dullness, rough texture and uneven tone. Lactic acid is the gentler of the common AHAs and is also mildly hydrating, which is why it was chosen over glycolic acid here.

Salicylic acid is a BHA, a beta hydroxy acid. It is oil-soluble, which means it penetrates into the pore itself and dissolves the mix of sebum and dead skin that forms blackheads and congestion. It is also anti-inflammatory, which is why it is the standard active for acne-prone skin. Browse the full BHA range to see what else uses it.

Betaine salicylate, a gentler salicylic acid derivative, is also included. Surface renewal plus pore clearing is why the pads work on both texture and blackheads rather than just one.

How to Use: Your Seoul Guide

These pads replace your exfoliation step. Use them in the evening. Follow the order below.

Step 1: Patch test first

Before your first full-face use, swipe a pad along your jawline and wait 24 hours. This formula contains alcohol and essential oils, so a patch test is genuinely worth the day it costs.

Step 2: Cleanse

Begin with a freshly cleansed face. Double cleanse in the evening, with an oil cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. Applying an exfoliating pad over sunscreen or makeup residue just moves the residue around.

Step 3: Pat the skin dry

Apply to dry skin. Damp skin increases acid penetration, which sounds useful but in practice increases the chance of irritation.

Step 4: Embossed side, centre outward

Gently swipe the embossed side across your face, working from the centre outward. Let the texture do the work. Pressing hard does not exfoliate more, it just causes micro-tears. Avoid the eye area and any active breakouts that are broken.

Step 5: Focus on congested areas

Spend a little extra time on the nose, chin and anywhere blackheads cluster. Two or three light passes beats one hard one.

Step 6: Flip to the smooth side

Turn the pad over and swipe the smooth side across the face to polish and deliver the remaining essence.

Step 7: Pat in the remaining essence

Lightly pat whatever essence is left on the skin into it with clean hands rather than wiping it away. That is active product.

Step 8: Follow with hydration and barrier support

Go straight into a hydrating toner or essence, then your moisturiser. Exfoliation without follow-up hydration is where barrier damage starts.

Step 9: Sunscreen the next morning

Non-negotiable. Exfoliated skin is more vulnerable to UV, and the citrus oils in this formula add photosensitivity on top of that. Wear sunscreen every morning while using these pads.

Frequency: Start with twice a week in the evening. If your skin tolerates that comfortably after two weeks, build up to every second day. Most oily and combination skin settles at three to four times a week. Daily use is not recommended and is not necessary. At 70 pads, twice-weekly use gives you roughly eight months per tub.

Do not use on the same evening as retinol or another chemical exfoliant. Alternate them across the week.

Why We Like It

The dual texture is a genuine format advantage. Physical and chemical exfoliation usually means two products and two steps. The embossed side lifts surface debris while the acids work into the pore, and the smooth side finishes and delivers the remaining essence. It compresses a two-product routine into thirty seconds, which matters because the exfoliation step is the one people skip most.

AHA and BHA together, not one or the other. Lactic acid handles surface texture and dullness. Salicylic acid gets into the pore lining and clears the sebum and dead skin that form blackheads. Most exfoliating pads pick one lane. Congested skin usually has both problems, so covering both is the right call.

Lactic acid over glycolic is a considered choice. Glycolic acid is the more aggressive AHA and would have made a more dramatic first impression. Lactic acid has a larger molecule, works more gradually and holds water in the skin as it exfoliates. On a product designed for frequent use, that is the better long-term decision even though it is the less impressive one on paper.

The soothing support is present and doing something. Panthenol, allantoin, centella asiatica, sodium hyaluronate, trehalose and betaine all sit in this formula to hydrate and calm alongside the acids. Scutellaria baicalensis and portulaca extracts add further anti-inflammatory support. With this much alcohol and essential oil in the formula, that counterbalance is necessary rather than optional.

70 pads is real value. At two to four uses a week, one tub lasts four to eight months. Compared to a bottled acid toner plus separate cotton pads, the cost per use is low and there is no decanting or mess.

It is honest about who it is for. This is a product for oily and combination skin with visible pores and congestion. It does not pretend to be for everyone. If that is your skin type, the astringent finish and the immediate tightened feel are exactly what you are looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 do?

It exfoliates the skin using lactic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA), clearing blackheads and congestion, controlling oil and visibly minimising the appearance of pores. The dual-textured pad combines physical and chemical exfoliation in one step.

How often should I use these pads?

Start with twice a week in the evening. If your skin tolerates it after two weeks, build up to every second day. Most oily and combination skin settles at three to four times a week. Daily use is not recommended.

Are they suitable for sensitive skin?

No. The formula contains denatured alcohol and a blend of citrus and botanical essential oils including orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender, plus limonene. If your skin is sensitive, reactive or has a compromised barrier, choose a gentler exfoliant. Browse our fragrance free range instead.

Do they contain alcohol?

Yes. Alcohol denat. appears high in the ingredient list. It contributes to the astringent, degreasing finish that works well on oily skin, but it is drying and is the main reason these pads do not suit dry or sensitive skin types.

Do they contain essential oils or fragrance?

Yes. Citrus peel oils (orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot), rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender oils are all present, along with limonene. Patch test before first use if you have any history of reacting to fragrance or essential oils.

Can I use them in the morning?

We recommend evening use. Citrus oils can increase photosensitivity, and exfoliated skin is more vulnerable to UV. If you do use them in the morning, daily sunscreen becomes absolutely essential.

Can I use them with retinol?

Not on the same evening. Both increase cell turnover, and stacking them is the fastest route to a damaged barrier. Alternate across the week: pads one evening, retinol the next.

Can I use them with vitamin C or other acids?

Do not layer them with another chemical exfoliant in the same routine. Vitamin C in the morning and pads in the evening works well, and the exfoliation actually helps your vitamin C absorb better.

Will they get rid of my blackheads?

They will help significantly. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble and works inside the pore where blackheads form, and consistent use over four to six weeks visibly reduces them. Blackheads recur as a normal function of sebum production, so this is ongoing maintenance rather than a permanent fix.

Can they actually shrink my pores?

Pore size is largely genetic and cannot be permanently changed. What these pads do is clear the debris that stretches pores and makes them look larger, and control the oil that fills them. The visible improvement is real, but it comes from clearing and controlling rather than physically shrinking.

My skin stings or feels tight. What should I do?

Stop for a week and focus on hydration and barrier repair. When you resume, reduce to once a week and use fewer passes. Mild tightness right after use is normal with an alcohol-containing formula, but stinging, burning or persistent redness means it is too much for your skin.

How long does one tub last?

Each tub contains 70 pads. At twice weekly that is roughly eight months, and at four times weekly roughly four months.

Where do they fit in my routine?

After cleansing, before your toner, essence and moisturiser. They replace your exfoliation step, so do not use another exfoliant on the same evening.

Key Ingredients

Lactic Acid (AHA): A water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid. Dissolves the bonds between dead surface skin cells to improve texture, dullness and tone, while holding water in the skin as it works.

Salicylic Acid and Betaine Salicylate (BHA): Oil-soluble beta hydroxy acids that penetrate into the pore to dissolve the sebum and dead skin that form blackheads. Anti-inflammatory, which is why they suit acne-prone skin. Browse the BHA range.

Panthenol and Allantoin: Provitamin B5 and a soothing agent. Hydrate, calm and support barrier recovery after exfoliation. See more panthenol products.

Centella Asiatica Extract: Calms inflammation and supports barrier repair, offsetting the astringent effect of the alcohol and acids. Browse the centella range.

Sodium Hyaluronate: The salt form of hyaluronic acid. Draws water into the skin to counter the drying effect of the formula.

Willow Bark and Scutellaria Baicalensis Extracts: Willow bark is a natural salicylate source, and scutellaria is a well-established anti-inflammatory botanical. Both support the pore-clearing and calming functions.