Skin changes with age. This is something my mother often tells me. According to her, when you enter your 60s, the skin becomes thinner, more reactive and less tolerant of traditional exfoliants. Cell turnover slows down, redness appears more easily and texture loses uniformity.
However, removing dead skin cells remains essential to maintain radiance, improve tone and promote the absorption of anti-aging treatments. The reality is that the problem is not exfoliating. The problem is how to do it. A good option is to use gentle toners such as the one my facialist recommended to my mother for mature skin.
Why the facialist recommended it to my mother (at 60)
My mother has always taken great care of her skin. She is consistent with cleansing, does not skip moisturizer, uses sunscreen in summer (and even in winter) and is disciplined with her serums. But there is one step that has always made her nervous: exfoliation.
Not because she doesn’t believe in it. But because every time she tried an exfoliant—especially the more potent chemical exfoliants or physical ones with granules—she noticed her skin becoming more red, thinner, more uncomfortable. And with time that sensation intensified, as skin types also change.
At 60, the skin changes. Natural lipids decrease, the skin barrier becomes more fragile and tolerance decreases. Exfoliating remains necessary to prevent the skin from looking dull and with irregular texture, but doing it aggressively can be counterproductive.
That’s why her facialist told her about ONE THING Cica Peeling Toner Pad discs. Not as an intense exfoliant, but as a strategic and respectful exfoliation. She explained something key: “You don’t need more intensity. You need more balance.” The PHA acid acts progressively, removing dead skin cells without altering the barrier. And Centella asiatica compensates for any possible sensitivity, soothing and strengthening the skin at the same time.
ONE THING Cica Peeling Toner Pad Discs.
For someone who already takes good care of their skin, but fears irritation, this format was the perfect middle ground: exfoliate without fear. But what makes these Korean discs special? These discs are soaked in an exfoliating toner that combines two key actives for sensitive, reactive, or redness-prone skin.
They feature two components that you will surely recognize: centella asiatica, with powerful soothing and regenerative action; and PHA acid, a next-generation chemical exfoliant much gentler than traditional AHAs. They are specifically designed to improve texture without compromising the skin barrier. Just what mature skin needs.
The advantage of these discs is not only their composition, but the format. Each disc contains the right amount of product, which avoids soaking cotton pads and reduces unnecessary friction (crucial when the skin is thin). In addition, it allows several uses. One of them as a gentle exfoliating toner after cleansing or even as a mini mask applied to the cheeks or chin.
The Clean Vegan Toner Pad AHA/BHA Discs by Barulab.
If my mother’s case involved sensitive skin that needed to exfoliate without irritation, there is another very common profile from the 40s and 50s: skin that shines in the T-zone, visible pores, or a rougher texture. In that case, another interesting option within the Korean universe is The Clean Vegan Toner Pad AHA/BHA by Barulab.
They are vegan discs soaked in a light essence that helps to smooth the skin’s surface and keep pores cleaner without a sensation of dryness. This dual action allows for texture improvement and shine control progressively. With constant use, the skin looks more uniform, fresher and the pores visually refined.
