Dr. Melaxin
Cactox Pore Relief Multi Balm Stick
Dr. Melaxin Cactox Pore Relief Multi Balm Stick is a balm with Bisabolol, used as the final layer of the evening routine, over your usual moisturizer.
No reviews yet- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Dry skinCompromised barrierDehydrated skinSensitive skin
- Helps with
- Shoppers looking for Bisabolol in a balmRoutines that want Bisabolol and Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide in one stepFilling the balm step with a Korean-market formula
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
We accept
You’re $100.00 away from free US shipping.
- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Tracked delivery to your door
Key benefits
- Bisabolol, the active this balm is built around
- Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Adenosine, Zinc PCA and Caffeine on the same list, actives
- Lactobacillus Ferment and BHT further down the same list
- Bioflavonoids and Ceramide NP further down the same list
- Bisabolol named ninth on the manufacturer list printed on this page
Key actives
9Bisabololactive
Bisabolol is the main active fraction of chamomile oil, usually supplied from candeia wood. It is used for the look of redness in formulas for reactive skin, and it helps other ingredients absorb. On this balm's own ingredient list it is named ninth.
14Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamideactive
A synthetic cooling agent that gives the cool feeling of menthol without the mint smell. It is used where a formula wants the sensation but not the scent. The panel names it fourteenth on this balm's list, beside Bisabolol.
18Adenosineactive
Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated. The panel names it eighteenth on this balm's list, beside Bisabolol.
32Zinc PCAactive
Zinc PCA pairs zinc with the humectant PCA. It is used in oily and blemish-prone formulas for the look of shine and visible pores, and it hydrates at the same time. It is named thirty-second on this balm's list, alongside Bisabolol.
37Caffeineactive
Caffeine constricts small blood vessels near the surface, which is why eye products use it for the look of puffiness and shadow. It is water soluble and works only while it is on the skin. The panel names it thirty-seventh on this balm's list, beside Bisabolol.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
- 9Bisabolol
- 14Methyl Diisopropyl
- 18Adenosine
- 32Zinc PCA
- 37Caffeine
Where each key active sits on the declared ingredient list, by entry number. Position is proportion: the further forward, the larger its share.
Where does this balm go in my routine?
As the final layer of the evening routine, over your usual moisturizer. Anything thinner than a balm goes on before it, and anything richer goes on after. If you are adding it to a routine you already like, give it a week on its own first, so what you see is the Bisabolol and not three changes at once.
Does this balm contain fragrance?
Yes. The ingredient list names Fragrance. It sits on the panel printed on this page, so you can read the position for yourself before you buy. If fragrance components are something you avoid, this balm is not the one.
What else is on the list besides Bisabolol?
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Adenosine and Zinc PCA. The order they are printed in on this balm's panel is the order on the box, so you can see where Bisabolol sits relative to them. Further down the same panel: Caffeine, Lactobacillus Ferment and BHT.
Not on the ingredient list below: denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (55): Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Xylitol, Disteareth-100 IPDI, Bisabolol, Fragrance, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Malachite Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Panthenol, Arginine, Erythritol, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Zinc PCA, BHT, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Bioflavonoids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Ingredient list read from jolse.com on 30 August 2026.
49 of 55 explained
- Water solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Propanediol humectant
- Propanediol is a plant-derived glycol used in place of propylene glycol. It hydrates, carries actives into solution, and gives a lighter, less sticky slip than glycerin at the same strength.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- Sodium Chloride thickener
- Sodium Chloride is salt. In a cleanser it thickens the liquid; in a mask or essence it balances the mineral content of the water phase. It has no active role.
- Xylitol humectant
- Xylitol is a sugar alcohol humectant. It holds water in the outer layer of skin and is often paired with anhydroxylitol and xylitylglucoside as a hydration trio.
- Bisabolol active
- Bisabolol is the main active fraction of chamomile oil, usually supplied from candeia wood. It is used for the look of redness in formulas for reactive skin, and it helps other ingredients absorb.
- Fragrance fragrance
- Fragrance, or Parfum, is a single declaration standing for a whole scent blend, which can be dozens of materials. Regulators allow it as a trade secret, so a list showing only this word does not say what the scent is made of. It is the most common trigger named by people with reactive skin.
- Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane silicone
- A water-soluble silicone used for a light, silky slip without an oily film. It also helps other ingredients spread evenly.
- Cetearyl Olivate emulsifier
- Cetearyl Olivate is the water-loving half of the olive-derived emulsifier pair. With sorbitan olivate it builds emulsions whose lipid profile is close to skin's own.
- Sorbitan Olivate emulsifier
- Sorbitan Olivate is an olive-derived emulsifier, the oil-loving half of the pair sold as Olivem. It holds oil into water and leaves a light, non-waxy feel.
- Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide active
- A synthetic cooling agent that gives the cool feeling of menthol without the mint smell. It is used where a formula wants the sensation but not the scent.
37 more explained
- Coptis Japonica Root Extract plant extract
- Coptis Japonica is a traditional East Asian medicinal root, bright yellow from its berberine content. In skincare its extract is used for the look of congested, oily skin.
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate chelator
- A readily biodegradable chelator used in place of EDTA. It ties up trace metal ions in the water so they cannot spoil the formula.
- Ethylhexylglycerin preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin softens skin and boosts a preservative system, which is why it is nearly always sitting beside phenoxyethanol or 1,2-hexanediol. It also cuts down the odour bacteria produce, so it turns up in deodorising products.
- Adenosine active
- Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
- Malachite Extract mineral
- Malachite is a green copper carbonate mineral. Its extract is used in a formula as a source of trace copper.
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract plant extract
- Aloe Leaf Extract is mostly water with polysaccharides, amino acids and mild plant acids. It hydrates and leaves a light, cooling film, which is why it is the default after-sun ingredient.
- Cymbopogon Citratus Extract plant extract
- Lemongrass extract. It carries the plant's aromatic compounds and is used as a conditioning extract with a fresh scent.
- Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract plant extract
- Eucalyptus leaf extract, the water-based extract rather than the essential oil. It carries tannins and flavonoids with only a trace of the aroma.
- Mentha Arvensis Extract plant extract
- Field mint leaf extract, the plant most menthol is distilled from. The extract is far gentler than the oil and carries a light cooling character.
- Panthenol humectant
- Panthenol is pro-vitamin B5: skin converts it to pantothenic acid. It is a humectant that holds water and leaves skin feeling soft and less tight, and it is one of the ingredients formulators reach for when a formula also contains something harsh.
- Arginine amino acid
- Arginine is an amino acid that does two jobs here: it holds water in the outer layer of skin, and it neutralises acidic gelling agents, which is why it often stands in for a synthetic pH adjuster.
- Erythritol humectant
- Erythritol is a sugar alcohol humectant with a faint cooling feel as it dissolves. It hydrates and helps a formula spread without tack.
- Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Lemon fruit extract, carrying citric acid, sugars and flavonoids. It is the water-based fruit extract rather than the peel oil, so it brings the fruit acids without the aromatic terpenes.
- Punica Granatum Extract plant extract
- Pomegranate fruit extract, carrying ellagic acid and punicalagins. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Pumpkin fruit extract, carrying carotenoids, sugars and enzymes. It is used as a conditioning extract.
- Lactobacillus Ferment ferment
- Lactobacillus Ferment is the liquid left after lactobacillus bacteria have fermented a plant or milk substrate. It carries the small molecules the fermentation produced, including lactic acid and amino acids, and is used for the look of dull, uneven skin.
- Glycerin humectant
- Glycerin is the most used humectant in skincare. It draws water into the outer layer of skin and holds it there, and it is one of the very few ingredients whose hydrating effect is settled science rather than marketing. Higher amounts feel tacky, which is why it is usually blended.
- Zinc PCA active
- Zinc PCA pairs zinc with the humectant PCA. It is used in oily and blemish-prone formulas for the look of shine and visible pores, and it hydrates at the same time.
- BHT antioxidant
- BHT is a synthetic antioxidant used in traces to stop the oils in a formula going rancid. It protects the product, not the skin.
- Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Kiwi fruit extract, high in vitamin C and fruit acids. It is used as a conditioning antioxidant extract.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emollient
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the light fraction of coconut oil, with the heavy parts removed. It is the workhorse emollient of modern formulas: it softens skin, dissolves oil-soluble actives and absorbs without the greasy weight of a whole plant oil.
- Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract plant extract
- Kale leaf extract, carrying carotenoids, vitamin C and glucosinolates. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- Caffeine active
- Caffeine constricts small blood vessels near the surface, which is why eye products use it for the look of puffiness and shadow. It is water soluble and works only while it is on the skin.
- Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract plant extract
- Prickly pear cactus stem extract, from the pad rather than the fruit. The pad is full of mucilage, so the extract hydrates and leaves a cushioned feel.
- Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Apple fruit extract, carrying malic acid, sugars and polyphenols. It is used as a conditioning extract with a mild acid character.
- Ceramide NP barrier lipid
- Ceramide NP is the most used cosmetic ceramide, the same class of lipid that makes up roughly half the mortar between cells in the outer layer of skin. Added to a cream it slots into that structure, which is why ceramide formulas feel less leaky rather than merely greasy.
- Bioflavonoids antioxidant
- Bioflavonoids is a collective declaration for the flavonoid fraction of a plant extract, usually citrus. It names a class of plant antioxidants rather than one compound.
- Hydrogenated Lecithin emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin is lecithin with its unsaturated bonds filled in, which makes it far more stable. It emulsifies and is the standard shell for the liposomes that carry actives into the outer layer of skin.
- Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate humectant
- Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid joined to a silicon-based group. It hydrates and leaves a smoother, silkier finish than hyaluronic acid alone.
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid humectant
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid cut into much shorter fragments. The smaller the fragment, the further into the outer layer it can settle, which is why serums stack several sizes together instead of using one.
- Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract plant extract
- Celery extract, carrying flavonoids, minerals and plant acids. It is used as a light conditioning extract.
- Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract plant extract
- Broccoli extract, carrying sulforaphane and vitamin C. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- Hyaluronic Acid humectant
- Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar chain the body already makes, and one gram of it can hold several litres of water. In a formula it is a humectant that pulls water to the surface of skin and holds it in a film, which is what makes skin look plumper while it is there.
- Sodium Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid, and it is what most products labelled hyaluronic actually contain. The salt dissolves more readily and the molecule is smaller, so it sits in the outer layer of skin rather than only on top of it.
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate humectant
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate carries a positive charge, and skin carries a slight negative one, so it is attracted to the surface and stays through rinsing. It is the hyaluronic used where a formula gets washed off.
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is hyaluronic acid linked into a mesh. It holds water in a soft gel on the surface rather than sinking in, and it releases that water slowly through the day.
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid modified to be part oil-loving, so it clings to skin instead of rinsing away. Formulators call it the one that stays put.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Category
- Lip Care
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
How it works
The Cactox Pore Relief Multi Balm Stick is a balm, used as the final layer of the evening routine, over your usual moisturizer. The active it is built around is Bisabolol, named ninth on its own ingredient list. The same list carries Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Adenosine and Zinc PCA, so the active is not the only thing on it worth naming. How much of the Bisabolol stays on the skin, and for how long, is decided by the balm format rather than by the list alone. Dr. Melaxin sells this Bisabolol balm in Korea, and this is that version.
How to use
- Use it by warming a small amount between fingertips and pressing it onto the targeted area, working it into the skin in the position this multi-balm occupies in a full routine, and following up with the next step once it has settled.
Worth knowing
- Patch test this balm on a small area and wait a day before using it more widely, especially with Bisabolol on the list.
- This list names Fragrance, so skip it if fragrance components are something you avoid.
Complete the routine
- This itemDr. Melaxin Cactox Pore Relief Multi Balm Stick$47.50
- Seal the routine in as the last stepDr.Melaxin Cactox Pore Relief Dual Capsule Cream 65g$75.00
- From the same Korean-market lineDr.Melaxin Cactox 3-Step Nose Pore Pack 3P$32.50
Total for 3 items$155.00
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Dr.Melaxin Cactox Pore Relief Multi Balm Stick
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Dr. Melaxin, Korean-market original
The Original Korean Formula balm from Dr. Melaxin, formulated with Bisabolol and Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, shipped from California or direct from Korea.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
It has also been proven that caffeine stimulates lipolysis, which Lupo et al postulated may contribute to improvements in lower eyelid sagging and puffiness.
Stacey J. PilkingtonDO, Azeal Dermatology Institute, The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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