One Step Original Clear Pad

Before there was a toner pad for every concern on every shelf at Olive Young, there was this. The COSRX One Step Pimple Clear Pad — now diplomatically renamed the Original Clear Pad — arrived in 2015 when K-beauty was surging globally and did something that seems obvious in retrospect but was genuinely novel at the time: it pre-soaked dual-sided cotton pads in a BHA toner and put them in a screw-top tub. Swipe, flip, done. No cotton pad hunting, no toner spilling, no second-guessing how much product to use. The format was so successful that it spawned an entire product category.

A decade later, the formula remains almost stubbornly unchanged, and there is something admirable about that restraint. The ingredient list is just 14 items long — you can read it in a single breath. Willow bark water makes up roughly 85.9% of the formula, serving as the solvent base instead of the purified water that anchors most skincare products. This means the exfoliating intent begins with the very first ingredient: willow bark contains natural salicin, a precursor to salicylic acid, providing a botanical source of BHA activity before the synthetic betaine salicylate even enters the conversation.

Betaine salicylate at 1% is the declared active, and understanding what it is — and is not — is essential to setting expectations. This is not salicylic acid. It is a compound that combines betaine (trimethylglycine, a soothing humectant amino acid) with salicylic acid, delivering roughly half the exfoliating potency of pure SA at the same concentration. This is by design: the pad is meant for daily use, and daily use demands gentleness. For blackheads, minor texture issues, and general pore maintenance, this gentle approach works well. For inflammatory acne, deep cystic breakouts, or persistent congestion, it will likely feel like bringing a water pistol to a house fire.

The experience of using the pad is pleasantly straightforward. Pull one from the tub — the included tweezers are a nice touch for hygiene — and the embossed side provides a satisfying light physical exfoliation as you sweep it across the face. The T-zone gets the most attention here, where sebum accumulates and blackheads set up camp. Flip to the smooth side, and you are essentially applying a thin layer of BHA-infused toner. The essence itself is watery and transparent, nothing like the heavier, serum-like saturation of the Moisture Up Pad sibling. It absorbs in seconds, leaving behind a clean, almost matte finish with no residue.

The tea tree oil adds both function and fragrance — its antimicrobial properties are modestly supported by research for acne-prone skin, and its scent gives the pad a medicinal-herbal character that some find refreshing and others find off-putting. The orange peel oil, however, is harder to justify. In a product designed for acne-prone and potentially reactive skin, a citrus essential oil known to contain limonene — one of the most common contact allergens in cosmetics — feels like an unnecessary inclusion. It is the one ingredient that seems to exist purely for sensory appeal rather than skin benefit, and it narrows the product's suitability for the very audience that would benefit most from a gentle BHA pad.

There is an ongoing debate in the K-beauty community about the product's pH. COSRX states approximately 4.0, which would be within the effective range for BHA activity. Independent measurements have occasionally reported higher values, closer to 6.0, which would significantly reduce the exfoliating efficacy. Without standardized testing conditions, it is difficult to settle this definitively, but it is worth noting that user experience broadly aligns with mild exfoliation — which could reflect either a gentle formulation or a suboptimal pH, or both.

The value proposition remains strong. At roughly 2 for 70 pads, you are paying about 31 cents per use for a combined exfoliant and toner that lasts over two months. The minimalist formula means you know exactly what you are putting on your skin, which carries its own value for ingredient-conscious consumers who have learned to side-eye 40-ingredient formulations.

Where this pad shows its age is in the competitive landscape it created. A decade of innovation has produced toner pads with optimized pH levels, fragrance-free formulations, higher concentrations of proven actives, and more sophisticated ingredient combinations. The Original Clear Pad is no longer the most effective BHA pad on the market — it may not even be the most effective COSRX BHA pad, given the brand's newer iterations. But it retains a simplicity and accessibility that more complex products sometimes sacrifice. For someone new to chemical exfoliation, intimidated by acid percentages and pH charts, this pad says: start here. It is gentle enough that the worst-case scenario is mild tingling and unchanged skin, not a compromised barrier.

The legacy of this product is less about what it does to your skin and more about what it did for the category. It proved that exfoliation could be convenient, affordable, and approachable — a swipe instead of a ritual. That the original formula still sells a decade later, largely unchanged, speaks to the enduring appeal of that premise.

Formula

The Science

The exfoliating approach in this pad relies on two complementary BHA sources. Betaine salicylate is a compound formed by combining salicylic acid with betaine (trimethylglycine), which acts as a delivery modifier that reduces the irritation potential of the salicylic acid component. Research published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2010) has demonstrated that betaine salicylate provides effective keratolytic activity — the ability to dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells — while producing less erythema and irritation than equivalent concentrations of pure salicylic acid.

The willow bark water base contributes salicin, a beta-glucoside of salicyl alcohol. Salicin must be metabolized to salicylic acid to exert its keratolytic effect, and the extent to which this conversion occurs on the skin surface (as opposed to when ingested) is not fully established. However, willow bark extract has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in topical application independent of its salicin content, likely due to additional polyphenols and flavonoids present in the extract. A study in Phytotherapy Research (2010) confirmed the anti-inflammatory potential of Salix alba bark extract in topical formulations.

The inclusion of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil addresses the microbial component of acne. A landmark study published in the Medical Journal of Australia (1990) by Bassett et al. compared 5% tea tree oil to 5% benzoyl peroxide for acne treatment, finding comparable efficacy in reducing inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts, though with slower onset of action. The concentration of tea tree oil in this pad is undisclosed but appears to be well below 5% based on its position in the INCI list, meaning the antimicrobial contribution is likely modest.

For optimal BHA efficacy, the product's pH is critical. Salicylic acid is most effective at a pH between 3.0 and 4.0, where it remains predominantly in its un-ionized, lipid-soluble form capable of penetrating the oily pore lining. COSRX states a pH of approximately 4.0, which sits at the upper threshold of optimal BHA activity.

References

1. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne — Medical Journal of Australia (1990)
2. Anti-inflammatory activity of Salix alba bark extract — Phytotherapy Research (2010)

Dermatologist Perspective

Board-certified dermatologists frequently recommend betaine salicylate-based products as a starting point for patients new to chemical exfoliation, particularly those who have experienced irritation with standard 2% salicylic acid formulations. The pad format is valued in clinical recommendations for its consistency of application — patients apply a more even amount of product compared to pouring toner onto a cotton pad. Dermatologists treating moderate to severe acne, however, would typically consider this product inadequate as a primary treatment and would recommend it as a supplementary step alongside prescription-strength retinoids or higher-concentration BHA products. The essential oils present in the formula would prompt dermatologists specializing in sensitive skin conditions to recommend fragrance-free alternatives.

Guidance

COSRX founder Jun Sang-hun created the brand after struggling to find products for his own sensitive skin. The One Step Pimple Clear Pad (now Original Clear Pad) was among COSRX's earliest hero products in 2015, credited with popularizing the pre-soaked toner pad format in K-beauty. Originally named for its pimple-clearing intent, it was later renamed for regulatory reasons in certain markets.

About COSRX Established Brand (5–20 years)

COSRX launched in 2013 and quickly became one of K-beauty's most recognized skincare brands globally. Known for minimal-ingredient, functional formulations, COSRX has built a strong following through transparent labeling and effective products, though independent clinical studies on its specific formulations remain limited.

Brand founded: 2013 · Product launched: 2015

Myth vs. Reality

Myth

Betaine salicylate is just as strong as pure salicylic acid at the same concentration.

Reality

Betaine salicylate delivers approximately half the exfoliating potency of pure salicylic acid at equivalent concentrations. The 1% betaine salicylate in this pad is deliberately gentler, making it suitable for daily use and BHA beginners but less effective for severe or cystic acne.

Myth

Willow bark water is just fancy water with no real benefit.

Reality

Willow bark water contains natural salicin, a precursor to salicylic acid. While it is not as potent as synthetic BHA, it contributes anti-inflammatory and mild exfoliating properties that complement the betaine salicylate in this formula, creating a layered exfoliation system.

FAQ

Common Praise

"Gentle enough for daily use without drying"

"Visible blackhead reduction especially in T-zone"

"Convenient pad format eliminates need for cotton pads"

"Extremely short ingredient list inspires confidence"

"Helps heal hormonal breakouts faster"

"Good value at roughly 31 cents per pad"

Common Complaints

"Medicinal tea tree scent that some find unpleasant"

"Orange peel oil is an unnecessary irritant for acne-prone skin"

"BHA concentration may be too mild for stubborn acne"

"pH may be higher than optimal for BHA efficacy"

"Pads can dry out if lid is not sealed tightly"

Notable Endorsements

Cult status in r/AsianBeauty and r/SkincareAddiction communitiesWidely cited as a gateway BHA product for beginnersCOSRX has won 119 Global Beauty Awards between 2014-2021

Appears In

best exfoliant for blackheads best exfoliant for acne best k beauty exfoliant best bha pad for beginners best toner for oiliness

Related Conditions

acne blackheads large pores oiliness texture dullness

Related Ingredients

salicylic acid tea tree panthenol hyaluronic acid allantoin