Medicube, Decoded: PDRN, Collagen & Zero Pore Bestsellers

Medicube confused me for a while because it's basically two brands in one. There's the pink PDRN stuff, which is all about plump, bouncy hydration, and then there's Zero Pore, which is about pores, texture, and shine. Same logo, very different jobs.

So here's me going through the Medicube best products I've actually used, one by one. If your skin looks dull or tired, the PDRN line is probably your starting point. If you're fighting shine and visible pores, skip to Zero Pore. You can see the whole range in the Medicube collection.

Quick note on PDRN, because I had to google it

PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) comes from salmon DNA. It was originally used in wound healing, and in K-beauty it's loved for helping skin look plumper, smoother, and less red. Zero Pore, on the other hand, is a blend of oil-controlling and pore-tightening ingredients meant to make pores look smaller and keep midday shine down. Knowing which one you need saves you a lot of money.

The serum everyone asks about

PDRN Pink Peptide Serum (30ml) by Medicube at Baerry — PDRN Pink Peptide Serum (30ml)

If I could only keep one thing from Medicube, it would be the Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum. It's light, it sinks in fast, and it pairs PDRN with peptides to make skin look plumper and smoother over a few weeks of using it consistently.

I reach for it when my face looks flat and tired, which during my busiest month at work was every single day. It's a good first pick if fine lines are starting to show up too.

A cleanser that doesn't undo everything

PDRN Hydrating Gel Cleanser (200ml) by Medicube at Baerry — PDRN Hydrating Gel Cleanser (200ml)

The Medicube PDRN Hydrating Gel Cleanser is a gentle gel that doesn't strip. My old cleanser left my face squeaky, and then I'd spend the rest of the routine trying to fix that. This one just cleans and leaves my barrier alone.

Under-eyes, the screen-tired edition

PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream (30ml) by Medicube at Baerry — PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream (30ml)

Eight hours at a monitor shows up under my eyes. The Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream is a light, non-sticky cream with salmon DNA PDRN and retinol, aimed at dark circles, fine lines and that dull, tired look. I pat a little in with my ring finger as the last step at night.

The jelly I put on before makeup

Collagen Jelly Cream (50ml) by Medicube at Baerry — Collagen Jelly Cream (50ml)

The Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream looks like clear jelly in the jar, which is half the fun. It's meant for firmness and that bouncy, glassy glow, and it's a low-irritation formula that's fine even if your skin is sensitive. A small amount in the morning, let it sink in, then makeup.

Saved for the night before something

PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask Set (28g x 4ea) by Medicube at Baerry — PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask Set (28g x 4ea)

The Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask Set is the plumping PDRN idea in individual gel sheet masks. There are four in the box, and I ration them. One before a birthday dinner, one before photos, that kind of thing. It's also nice as a once-a-month reset.

For the marks that hang around after a breakout

TXA Niacinamide 15 Serum (30ml) by Medicube at Baerry — TXA Niacinamide 15 Serum (30ml)

Old breakouts leave brown marks on my chin that outlast the spot. The Medicube TXA Niacinamide 15 Serum is for exactly that: 5% tranexamic acid and 10% niacinamide for dark spots and uneven tone, with layered hyaluronic acid so it doesn't feel drying. I dot it on the marks and spread outward.

A vitamin C cream you mix yourself

Deep Vita C Capsule Cream (55g) by Medicube at Baerry — Deep Vita C Capsule Cream (55g)

The Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream has orange vitamin capsules (sea buckthorn, niacinamide, vitamin C) floating in a clear gel. You mix the ratio yourself: more gel for light, more capsule for extra moisture. I go gel-heavy in summer and capsule-heavy once the radiator comes on.

Okay, now the pore side

Zero Pore Pad 2.0 (155g/70pcs) by Medicube at Baerry — Zero Pore Pad 2.0 (155g/70pcs)

If pores are your thing rather than dullness, this is where Medicube gets interesting, and honestly this is the product most people know the brand for. The Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is a toner pad with salicylic acid (BHA) and AHA that helps clear extra oil and makes pores look smaller.

Each pad has two sides. I swipe the bumpy embossed side from the center of my face outwards, flip it, and go over everything once more with the soft side. I don't use it every single night, more like when my nose starts looking congested.

The tingly one (go slow)

One Day Exosome Shot Pore Serum 7500 (30ml) by Medicube at Baerry — One Day Exosome Shot Pore Serum 7500 (30ml)

The Medicube One Day Exosome Shot Pore Serum 7500 is a spicule serum (tiny needle-like particles you press into skin) with exosomes and an AHA, BHA and PHA blend for smoother-looking pores and texture.

New to spicules? Start small. Medicube suggests the Zero Pore Pad first, this only where texture bugs you, then the Collagen Jelly Cream. I stick to my nose.

The cream my oily-skin sister kept

Zero Pore Cream 2.0 (50ml) by Medicube at Baerry — Zero Pore Cream 2.0 (50ml)

The Medicube Zero Pore Cream 2.0 is a light, mattifying moisturizer that makes pores look tighter while still hydrating.

My sister has a very oily T-zone and she'd basically given up on creams because everything made her shinier. This is the one she kept.

If you're new to Medicube, start with one serum and give it three or four weeks before adding more. Dull and dehydrated points to PDRN, dark marks point to the TXA serum, and shiny, textured skin points to Zero Pore.

FAQ

What is Medicube's best-selling product overall?

The PDRN Pink Peptide Serum is widely considered Medicube's flagship bestseller thanks to its plumping, repair-focused PDRN formula that suits most skin types looking to address dullness and fine lines.

Can I use PDRN and Zero Pore products together?

Yes — many people use Zero Pore products in the morning for shine control and PDRN products at night for repair, or alternate them seasonally based on how oily or dry their skin feels.

Is the Collagen Night Wrapping Mask a daily product?

No, it's designed as a weekly or as-needed treatment for overnight recovery rather than a daily step, since it's richer and more concentrated than a standard moisturizer.

Which Medicube product is best for oily, pore-prone skin?

The Zero Pore Cream 2.0 and Zero Pore Serum 2.0 are formulated specifically to visibly minimize pores and control shine, making them the top picks for oily or combination skin.

Do I need both the PDRN toner and serum?

Not necessarily — the PDRN Pink Cica Soothing Toner is best for redness-prone or sensitive skin needing extra calming, while the PDRN Pink Peptide Serum is the core repair step most people should prioritize first.

Written by Hyerin Park

Hyerin has always loved shopping—fashion, beauty, and pretty much anything worth adding to cart. Since starting Baerry, that habit has turned into testing dozens of new beauty products that land on the team’s desks in Seoul, plus plenty she buys herself. An ISTJ with a very high bar for what makes the cut, she treats her own face as the testing ground before recommending anything.