Quick answer: Choose the side and motion your skin tolerates.

  • Use the smooth sheet when the embossed side feels scratchy or your skin is easily bothered.
  • If you use the textured sheet, glide it lightly once rather than scrubbing back and forth.
  • For a mini-mask approach, rest the pad on one area without swiping.
  • Stop using the pad if your skin stings, burns, or stays red.

FAQ

Which pad is this, and what are its two sides?

Abib’s Heartleaf Spot Pad Calming Touch product page lists 80 pads in 150 ml / 5.07 fl. oz. and describes a double-sheet, 100% cotton pad. Abib calls the two sheets “soft” and “embo”; embo refers to an embossed, raised texture. Abib describes the pad as instantly cooling and soothing and lists heartleaf extract, glycerin, and sodium hyaluronate among its ingredients.

The practical difference comes from how you move the pad. Holding a pad still avoids the wiping motion, while dragging its raised embo sheet across skin adds friction. That makes the soft sheet a useful option for still contact and the embo sheet a choice for a light glide when you want texture.

Before applying it, find the sheet Abib calls “soft” and turn that face toward your skin for a gentle wipe or still placement; use the embo sheet when you want a lightly textured pass.

What does the textured side do, and when should I use it?

Treat the raised sheet as a tool that can add light physical exfoliation when you move it across your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology’s guide to exfoliating at home defines mechanical exfoliation as using a tool such as a pad to physically remove dead skin cells. The pad’s raised texture and your wiping motion bring that kind of friction together, although the maker’s name for the sheet does not establish how much exfoliation a particular person will experience.

If your skin generally tolerates physical exfoliation, use the textured side for a light pass when you want the pad to sweep over a broader area. Keep pressure low and avoid repeated scrubbing over the same patch. A short, gentle glide is a better match for a toner pad than pressing hard or rubbing until the skin feels polished.

Start with the soft sheet if your skin feels dry, flaky, or tender, or if rubbing often feels uncomfortable. The AAD’s at-home exfoliation guidance says people with dry or sensitive skin may prefer a washcloth and mild chemical exfoliator because mechanical exfoliation may feel too harsh. For those skin days, keep the raised embo surface out of the routine or use it only for one light pass when it feels comfortable. The AAD also cautions that stronger mechanical exfoliation can contribute to dark spots for some people, especially those with darker skin tones or a history of marks after skin injury. If you often develop lingering dark marks, gentle contact deserves priority over a scrub-like feel.

If the textured side feels rough, should I switch to the smooth side?

Yes. Turn the pad over and use the soft sheet, or leave the pad out of your routine when your skin feels uncomfortable.

This is a comfort choice, not a test you need to pass. You can use one side on one part of your face and a different approach elsewhere, or choose the smooth side every time. If even the soft sheet feels unpleasant, stop using the pad on that area rather than increasing pressure or trying to make the textured side work.

A raised surface can encourage heavier rubbing, but pressure is your choice: treat the toner pad as a light glide across an area rather than a tool for scrubbing at bumps. The AAD’s exfoliation guide advises short, light strokes with a brush or sponge, a useful motion cue for the embo sheet too. Keep the pass brief and easy, then use the soft sheet next time if you prefer less texture.

Should I swipe the pad or leave it on one spot like a mini mask?

Swipe when you want to move the pad across an area; rest it when you want still contact without the wiping motion. A swipe spreads the pad’s liquid over more skin, while the embo sheet adds friction as it moves. For still placement, use the sheet Abib calls soft and lay it on one small area.

On Abib’s product page, reviewer Seong J. says they placed one pad on each cheek, the chin, and the forehead after outdoor activity, then applied serum after removing the pads. They also say they had used the pads for two years as a toner and mask pack.

For a mini-mask approach, place the pad on clean skin in one small area, such as a cheek, and avoid sliding it around as you position it. Lay the sheet down gently rather than pressing hard. When you are ready to continue your routine, lift it without dragging it across the skin. You can use one pad on a single area or place pads on several areas if that suits your routine. Keep this as a pause in your routine, then continue with your usual next step. If you try more than one area, choose those spots before placing the pads so you can lift each one cleanly when you continue. A pad that shifts can be lifted and repositioned, which keeps its movement separate from a wipe across the skin.

How often should I use the textured side?

Use the embo sheet less often when its texture feels strong, and let your skin’s response guide when you repeat it. The AAD’s exfoliation guide says exfoliation frequency depends on skin type and method, and that more aggressive exfoliation should be less frequent. Keep the textured passes light and leave space between them so you can notice how your skin responds.

If you are new to the embo sheet, begin with one gentle pass on one routine occasion, then notice how your skin feels later and the next day. If your skin remains comfortable, decide whether to use it again in a later routine. If your skin stings, burns, or stays red afterward, stop using the pad and return to steps your skin already tolerates.

Consider the rest of your routine before adding friction. The AAD notes that prescription retinoids, topical retinol, and benzoyl peroxide may make skin more sensitive or cause peeling; exfoliating while using them may worsen dryness. When a clinician has prescribed a skin treatment, follow their directions before adding repeated textured exfoliation.

Cleveland Clinic’s exfoliation guide recommends discussing exfoliation options with a dermatologist or skin-care specialist to match the method to your skin and goals. On a day when your skin feels flaky after cleansing, choose the soft sheet or skip the pad. On another routine occasion, when your skin feels comfortable, try one embo glide over a small area and notice how it feels before repeating. This keeps texture use light and gives you a practical way to decide if it suits your routine.

What should I do if my skin stings, burns, or stays red?

Stop using the pad if your skin stings, burns, or remains visibly red after use. Set it aside and return to simple steps your skin already tolerates. The AAD’s home exfoliation advice says to skip exfoliation over open cuts, wounds, or sunburned skin. The AAD recommends applying moisturizer immediately after exfoliating to help keep skin hydrated.

If you have not used the pad on your face before, you can first check how your skin responds to the formula on a small area of arm skin. The AAD’s Repeat Open Application Test handout recommends a hairless area out of the sun, such as the inner arm, for this kind of product test. For a leave-on product, apply a generous amount to a 2-by-2-inch area and reapply there twice daily for one week. Stop the test if itching, a rash, or other symptoms appear. When you begin facial use, try the soft sheet on a small area first, then decide whether the embo texture suits you.

The handout is for products meant to be used on skin, such as skincare, and excludes hair-dye allergy testing and products such as household cleaners. For this pad, the arm test is about the formula; the first small-area facial use lets you judge how the two sheet textures feel in practice.

For a persistent rash or a reaction that continues after you stop the product, the AAD’s contact dermatitis guidance recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist. A dermatologist can help you decide which products and application methods fit your skin.

Use this quick owner checklist:

  • For a smooth wipe: Choose the sheet Abib calls soft and make one light pass.
  • For a textured pass: Use the embo sheet with light pressure and one glide.
  • For a mini mask: Rest the pad on one small area without swiping, then lift it when you are ready to continue.
  • For ongoing skin concerns or a prescribed treatment: Ask a board-certified dermatologist how the pad fits your routine.