Witch Hazel Pads, From Thayers to Dickinson's

Witch hazel is older than skincare as a category. Allure notes that the astringent was used medicinally in Native American cultures long before it showed up in skincare products in the 1800s, and that in its purest form it is used to contract skin tissue so pores look smaller and oil is drawn off. Thayers dates to 1847, and its own site says its witch hazel story starts on a family farm in Connecticut. Allure puts Dickinson's not long after, in 1866.

The old problem was dryness, which is why it earned a reputation as harsh. Allure also notes the witch hazel tag has racked up over 69 million views on TikTok. Both brands have reworked their originals, and Allure counts them among the classic names that reinvented their formulas to solve it. That is why I think witch hazel pads make sense now. A pad measures out the dose, goes on in one swipe, and Allure points out that pads are also a convenient option for the chest or back.

The first grid is eight Thayers and Dickinson's picks, from toners and exfoliating pads to cleansing cloths and an astringent you can pour onto cotton. The second grid is eight toner and exfoliating pads I compared them with, from BHA and AHA to vitamin C and prickly pear.

My tip: keep the pad moving and do not scrub. One slow sweep from the center of the face outward is plenty.

Thayers is the brand I start people on. Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner is the alcohol-free classic that reduces the look of pores and smooths texture, and it comes in a big bottle. If you want pads, Thayers has three. Exfoliating 2% AHA Pads are dual-sided with witch hazel and 2% AHA to resurface and brighten. Blemish Clearing Pads add organic witch hazel with aloe, salicylic acid and tea tree oil for breakouts. Pore Refining Pads pair witch hazel with salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid for clarity.

Dickinson's takes a more old-school route. Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting 100% Natural Toner is for oil, dirt and makeup and suits all skin types. Dickinson's Enhanced Witch Hazel with Rosewater is an alcohol-free 98% formula with aloe, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, which is the gentler pick for dry skin. T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Cleansing Cloths come in a resealable pack of 25, and they are the closest the line gets to pads. T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Moisturizing Astringent Liquid is the DIY choice: pour it on cotton rounds, and it works for face and body.

What I would skip: the AHA pads and the blemish pads on the same night. Alternate them, and let your skin tell you when it is enough.

If you want stronger exfoliation than witch hazel, start with the acid pads. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Exfoliating AHA/BHA Peel Pads are a two-step peel pad with glycolic and mandelic acids plus salicylic acid, built for texture and dark spots. Peter Thomas Roth Even Clearer Max Complexion Correction Pads use 2% salicylic acid and a 10% glycolic acid complex for acne. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner Pads are fragrance free and alcohol free, a good size to try before committing to a full bottle.

For something gentler, First Aid Beauty Brighten + Glow Facial Radiance Pads use glycolic and lactic acids and are made for sensitive-friendly daily use. Elemis Dynamic Gentle Resurfacing Pads rely on lactic acid and a tri-enzyme technology, and they are the pick for normal to oily skin.

Then the K-beauty style toner pads. innisfree Daily Vitamin C Korean Brightening Toner Pads pair vitamin C with niacinamide for dark spots, and Hanyul Korean Yuja Brightening Toner Pads add five percent niacinamide for brightening, including under the eyes. Glow Recipe PDRN Repair + Soothe Korean Prickly Pear Toner Pads aim at barrier repair and redness, and they are the one to choose when your skin feels raw.

What I would skip: the peel pads before a beach day or when your barrier is already irritated. Use sunscreen the next morning, always.

I think witch hazel pads still have a place, as long as the formula is alcohol-free and you treat them as a gentle first step, not a peel. Thayers is where I would begin for toner and pads, and Dickinson's is the one for a pour-it-yourself bottle. When your goal is brightening or breakouts, go to the second grid. Patch test any new pad on your jaw for a day before you use it on your whole face. Whatever you use, follow with moisturizer, because a toner never does the whole job on its own.