Etude House Soon Jung Cica Relief Toner Pad for skin with dark spots
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few toners fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent soothing and calming for irritated normal skin, as madecassoside and panthenol work to reduce redness and inflammation.
- Provides moderate benefits for pigmentation concerns due to the presence of madecassoside and Centella Asiatica Stem Extract Flower Leaf, which are moderately effective for this issue.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Madecassoside and Centella Asiatica.
How to apply
- You can use this soothing toner AM and PM every day. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your normal skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this soothing toner right after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the soothing toner into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply the soothing toner on clean, slightly damp skin to help with better absorption. This works well for normal skin wanting to target pigmentation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always do a patch test before your first use of this soothing toner.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users with sensitive and irritated skin find these pads to be very gentle and effective at calming redness and providing lightweight hydration. The soft cotton pads are also appreciated for toner masking. Some users with very dry skin note that the essence amount can be insufficient and the pads may dry out quickly.
Highlights
Gentle for sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Incredibly mild formula”
- “Doesn't sting at all”
- “Safe for my reactive skin”
Soothing & calming Often Mentioned
- “Instantly soothed my skin”
- “Perfect for calming redness”
- “Great for post-shave irritation”
Multi-use (masking) Sometimes Noted
- “Sticks well for masking”
- “Great for spot treatment”
- “Use it as a toner pack”
Soft pad material Sometimes Noted
- “Pads are very soft”
- “Pure cotton feels nice”
- “Gentle wipe without friction”
Insufficient essence Sometimes Noted
- “Essence felt a little small”
- “Pads felt a bit dry”
- “Wish there was more liquid”
Thin material Sometimes Noted
- “A bit too thin”
- “Dries out quickly on face”
- “Hard to separate”
Hygienic packaging Rarely Noted
- “Love the included tweezers”
- “Hygienic to use”
- “Easy to grab one pad”
Adhesion issues Rarely Noted
- “Adhesion is somewhat lacking”
- “Falls off easily”
- “Slides down my face”
Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
- “Price is a bit disappointing”
- “Wish it were more affordable”
- “Small amount for the cost”
Sources: lovi.care, skinsort.com, hwahae.co.kr, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Etude House Soon Jung Cica Relief Toner Pad a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This toner pad is a great fit because ingredients like madecassoside and Centella Asiatica help improve dark spots while calming redness. It is also very gentle on the skin, with a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Madecassoside and Centella Asiatica stem extract, flower, and leaf are the ingredients that make this toner a moderate fit for dark spots by helping to even out skin tone. These soothing plant extracts work gently to calm irritation while supporting clearer, more balanced skin over time.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Centella Asiatica do for skin with dark spots?
Centella asiatica helps reduce dark spots by targeting the processes that cause excess pigment in the skin. Studies show that key compounds in this ingredient help calm the skin and manage melanin production.
Molecular Medicine Reports, 2014International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2025
What does Madecassoside do for skin with dark spots?
Madecassoside helps reduce dark spots by blocking the inflammation triggered by ultraviolet light that leads to extra melanin production. This ingredient is unlikely to irritate dry or sensitive skin while working to brighten your complexion.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This toner goes in your morning routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer, and you can also use it in your evening routine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin because it features soothing ingredients like madecassoside and centella asiatica that help calm redness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner alongside retinol by applying the toner first to damp skin and following with your retinol treatment once it absorbs. This helps keep your skin calm and hydrated while minimizing irritation, as the gentle soothing ingredients support your skin barrier.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
How often should I use this toner?
This toner is a great fit for your skin with dark spots, and you can safely use it every day as part of your morning routine. Its soothing ingredients help calm redness while providing moderate support for uneven skin tone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots because it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like centella asiatica and panthenol that do not trigger irritation. It does not contain active ingredients that speed up cell turnover, so it will not cause purging.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Treatment with an asiaticoside-containing cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks significantly improved periorbital wrinkles in 65% of 27 female volunteers compared to a vehicle control cream.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.
Skinmed, 2021Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Polyglycerin-3, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Tocopherol, Acrylates Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide Np
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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