Here at NBC Selected, we’ve tested hundreds of skin care brands, so it takes a lot to impress us.
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Several of our editors are fans of Medicube, a Korean beauty brand that rose to viral fame on social media in recent years for its “glass skin” effect (people especially love its toner pads and collagen cream).
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But how does the rest of its collection compare to its most popular products?
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We tested dozens of Medicube products, including moisturizers, serums, toners and skin care tools, for over four months to narrow down the ones actually worth buying (and what could use an improvement).
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Our honest review of Medicube
Best toners we tested
All of our editors have one favorite product in common: these TikTok-beloved toner pads.
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“This is one of those viral beauty products I couldn’t escape on social media and eventually, I decided to see what all of the fuss was about.
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all → escape → fuss
I have hormonal acne on occasion and I think using these twice a day for a couple of days definitely sped up my skin’s recovery,” says NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown.
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The pads are dual-sided: one side is textured to exfoliate, while the other is soft to hydrate and soothe your skin.
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other → texture → skin
Brown says the textured side feels gentle on her skin, so there’s no burning sensation during or after she uses it.
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“One of the biggest benefits is the amount of pads you get in one container.
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If you’re not using these daily, one purchase will last you a long while,” she says.
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NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin has used these pads every other night for about six months, and she says they’ve completely changed the texture of her skin for the better.
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“It’s now so much softer and smoother, and the pads have visibly reduced pore size in my T-zone,” says Malin.
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Personally, I’m a fan of the mild version of these toner pads for my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin.
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These toner pads combine succinic, salicylic and glycolic acids to reduce and prevent breakouts.
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Despite the scary name, these pads are actually very gentle even on acne-prone, sensitive skin, and they soothe and brighten skin rather than irritate it, according to our editors.
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“I’ve noticed less redness around my cheeks and chin since I started using these pads.
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They also don’t leave behind any oily residue despite each pad being soaked in more than enough product,” says former NBC Selected intern Lily Stern, who uses them right after cleansing her face at night.
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“These pads work really well as a toner; they’re moisturizing because of the niacinamide and brightening enough for my sun spots and hyperpigmentation thanks to the vitamin C.
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My skin feels soft and plump, so I know it’s doing wonders for my skin barrier,” says NBC Selected editorial operations associate Jem Alabi.
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There are 70 pads in one container, so they last for months, and they’re dual-sided like the Zero Pore Pads, so you only need one for your whole face.
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However, remember to close the container completely so they don’t dry out or leak, says Alabi.
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We’re big fans of Medicube’s PDRN line because most products are brightening, plumping and gentle, in our experience.
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(Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is a molecule derived from salmon DNA that evens skin tone, strengthens your skin barrier and boosts collagen production.).
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Stern uses these toner pads in between her nighttime skin care routine when her acne-prone skin is acting up.
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“The thin gel pads, which come with separately packaged PDRN serum to pour into the container, are generously sized and act as tiny sheet masks,” she says.
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You remove two pads from the container with the brand’s provided tweezers, apply them to any part of your face you want to treat, and let them sit for a few minutes before swiping the excess serum across your skin.
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“I like to place them on my cheeks, where I notice the refreshing and plumping effects the most.
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I also have very sensitive and reactive skin, and these pads calm down some of my inflamed acne at night, leaving a cooling sensation on my skin for several minutes after the serum dries
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,” says Stern.
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Best moisturizer we tested
Another viral favorite, this moisturizer has a light, jelly-like texture and it’s the perfect gel moisturizer for those with oily skin.
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It has a pink tint at first, but dries down to a transparent finish after you apply it.
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“This is one of the best moisturizers you can use if you have acne-prone skin, especially if it’s also oily,” says NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans.
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“I sweat so much in the summertime, so I lean into gel creams during those months and this one never fails me.
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The jelly goes on smooth, gets a little tacky and then quickly dries down to a matte finish.
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It never leaves skin looking slick or wet, either.”
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It also barely has a smell, so it’s great if you don’t like heavily fragranced creams.
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This is the first Medicube moisturizer NBC Selected associate social media editor Caitlin Cusack used, and she says it feels like she “discovered a whole new genre of moisturizer.”
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“My skin is acne-prone and oily, and this does an amazing job at controlling oil while hydrating at the same time,” says Cusack, who applies a generous amount and uses it with the Mini Booster Pro to get the “glass skin” look.
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“Every time I apply it, my skin always looks brighter and glowy immediately,” she says.
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…and 91 more, not listed.
The Aporia
