Exfoliation can be a powerful addition to any skincare routine, especially for mature skin. In previous HuffPost reporting, estheticians said the process doesn’t just “reveal brighter and more rejuvenated skin” — it may actually help reduce the appearance of pores, lines and wrinkles. If you’re looking to ease your way into exfoliation, Medicube’s beloved “Zero Pore” pads are a great place to start — particularly when they’re 30% off in Ulta’s Early Black Friday sale. What’s better? The tried-and-true classic pads are currently sold out at Amazon, though the mild version is available at full price, making this deal even sweeter.
Intended for soft but serious exfoliation, users say these pre-soaked pads should be named “Pores, Be Gone!”
With 70 in a pack, these dual-sided pads are designed to help exfoliate, balance and brighten skin, reducing oil production, minimizing breakouts and refining the look of pores. They are formulated with powerful alpha and beta hydroxy acids like white willow bark, which are used for removing dead skin cells, vitamin C for brightening and calming botanical extracts like lavender to soothe skin.
The pads are thoroughly saturated with liquid, so there is enough product to treat your entire face, neck and chest, with one pad. While reviewers debate if there’s no scent or a light “clean” scent, everyone seems to agree, the pads leave you with “baby-smooth skin, visibly more refined pores and that glassy, balanced finish that makes serums and makeup sit better instantly.”
Users who have long struggled with the appearance of pores call these pads a “godsend.” “My face has never looked better and it takes minimal effort since these are so easy to use,” AJ wrote. “...I’ve always had an issue with my pores being huge, but these are a game changer. My skin is super soft now, and it looks like my forehead wrinkles are not as visible.” “Goodbye orange-peel face… hello soft and supple skin,” another said. (Note: As no product can literally change the shape of your pores, we are talking about the appearance of pores on your skin.)
Plus, they’re a “Menopausal Skin Savior!” and deemed “amazing” for “mature dry skin” — particularly in winter.
As we noted above, gentle exfoliation can be extra important for mature skin. It’s little surprise then, that the pads are so beloved by older reviewers, particularly those going through menopause or other bodily changes.
“Menopause has not been kind to my skin,” shopper Rebecca wrote, saying she tried the pads after a friend recommended them. “I’m telling you my face looks amazing! Haven’t had one more breakout.” “I’m going through menopause and [the pads] cleared my skin and made it the healthiest it’s ever been,” another said.
Shopper Dawn particularly likes the pads for when the weather gets colder. “I have dry, maturing skin, and this has kept my skin smooth all winter,” she said. “I live in Michigan where it’s cold and dry and my skin gets really rough, but this has been my savior. It has helped clean my pores and they look smaller too.”
Reviewers love these pre-soaked toning pads for boosting their skin. Read more 5-star reviews and grab some for yourself while they’re 30% off at Ulta.
“ These toner pads are incredible. I have mature, textured, sensitive, oily skin, and this product has made a huge difference. I will continue using it because it is one of the few products that has proven to be effective. I highly recommend it!
One side of the pad is textured, great for exfoliation and the other side is smoother. It does have a scent, but it’s very nice. It isn’t irritating to my sensitive skin.” — Evelinkam
“I have bought this 3 times! I love it so much. I have dry, maturing skin, and this has kept my skin smooth all winter. I live in Michigan where it’s cold and dry and my skin gets really rough, but this has been my savior. It has helped clean my pores and they look smaller too. I use one side at night and put the clean side facing down back in the container and use the other side in the morning to really get my money’s worth. They are moist enough to use twice. I have sensitive skin and I haven’t had any issues—I always use moisturizer after though.” — Dawn Dissette
“I’m 52 with post-menopausal, mature dry skin, and these toner pads are amazing! They’re generously soaked with solution, and the dual-textured design makes them perfect for both gentle exfoliation and smoothing out the skin. I’ve been using them daily, and my pores look cleaner and more refined while my skin feels fresh and hydrated.
I love that they combine AHA, BHA, and soothing ingredients like panthenol and sodium hyaluronate—so I get exfoliation without irritation. They also leave a nice cooling sensation, which makes my skin feel extra refreshed.
They pair perfectly with the Medicube Zero Pore Mud Mask, and together they’ve really improved the overall clarity and smoothness of my skin. Highly recommend these if you want an easy and effective addition to your skincare routine!” — TheFaceLadyG
Looking for more Medicube that’s currently on sale at Ulta? Senior writer (and resident skin care lover) Lourdes Uribe breaks down her faves:
A satin-y collagen cream that gave me aesthetician-approved results (30% off list price)
I previously wrote about my love-love relationship with Medicube's PDRN collagen capsule cream, a unique moisturizer featuring suspended spheres in a jelly-like cream — an encapsulation formula the brand claims is the most effective delivery method of its main plumping ingredient, PDRN.
The result is a highly customizable and effective cream that is light as a feather yet somehow also incredibly hydrating. The satiny, dewy finish makes it feel like it’s much more expensive than it actually is. I recently got a facial and my aesthetician confirmed that the state of my skin was much improved. It's a must for dry or finicky middle-aged skin like mine. Get it for 30% off.
A Volufiline multi-balm stick for an instant "filler-like" effect (30% off list price)
Both HuffPost shopping writer Tessa Flores and I managed to snag a tube of this last Prime Day before it completely sold out and are completely besotted with it. It has all the benefits of Volufiline, a trademarked ingredient that Flores explained, “creates a subtle, instant plumping effect by supporting lipid content in the skin, producing what dermatologists have previously explained is a natural and temporary 'filler-like' appearance. Because of this, I've been targeting the application under my eyes up to my upper cheeks and along my nasolabial folds as well as my lips, and I can certainly attest to the instant surface plumping effect and instant hydration.”
In addition to 5% Volufiline, this multi-stick contains PDRN, retinol and peptides, which is the holy trinity for promoting collagen production and improving skin elasticity, while the inclusion of caffeine brightens dark circles. We both really like that this isn't a heavy balm, but instead feels really silky, lightweight and melts into the skin. I had to buy a second stick for my wife, who kept swiping it from my skin care drawer. Hot tip: this is currently sold out at Amazon, so snag it on sale at Ulta.
Medicube PDRN milky salmon toner (30% off list price)
"After reporting on the wonderful potential of PDRN a couple of years ago, I ran to get my mitts on anything containing the stuff, and I've been using the Medicube PDRN milky pink toner ever since,” Florest said. With a milky pink formula, it’s thicker than your average toner and doubly hydrating, packed with salmon-derived PDRN to boost collagen production and ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier. This formula also contains peptides for more plumping action and niacinamide, which I trust to give me a more radiant complexion and fade dark spots.
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)