Dr.Althea
Dr. Althea Aqua Marine Watery Cream$15.29Deep Vita C Capsule Cream
Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream is a Korean-market capsule cream built around Niacinamide, formulated in Korea and sold here in its original Korean-market formula rather than a US-shelf reformulation.
No reviews yet55g
$43.62 per 100 g
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- normal skincombination skindry skin
- Helps with
- uneven tone and dullnessgeneral day-to-day maintenance as part of a full routinea routine that wants a Korean-market step in this category
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Dr. Althea Aqua Marine Watery CreamDr.Althea
$15.29
$19.99
$16.46
- 30-day returns
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How it works
Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream is a capsule cream built for the last step of a routine, over serum. Its ingredient list leads with Niacinamide, Adenosine, and Arbutin, so the formula's stated purpose lines up with what actually sits near the top of that list rather than with a single marketing ingredient buried further down. Niacinamide does the most work here as a tone and texture, and the remaining actives round out the texture and finish rather than compete for attention. Placed as the last step of a routine, over serum, it is meant to be used AM/PM rather than swapped freely between steps. Because this is the Korean-market version of the Deep Vita C Capsule Cream line rather than a US-reformulated variant, the texture and finish match what Medicube sells through Korean retail.
Key benefits
- Built around Niacinamide, positioned for tone and texture.
- Built around Adenosine, positioned for firming look.
- Built around Arbutin, positioned for brightening.
- Formulated as a capsule cream for the last step of a routine, over serum.
- The Korean-market Medicube formula for Deep Vita C Capsule Cream, matching what Medicube sells in Korea rather than a US-reformulated line.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream
What does the Deep Vita C Capsule Cream actually contain?
Its ingredient list is led by Niacinamide, with the rest of the formula built to support that active rather than compete with it. We list the ingredients in the order the manufacturer prints them, so the ones near the top of the panel are doing the most work in the formula.
How do I use the Deep Vita C Capsule Cream?
Use this capsule cream as the last step of a routine, over serum. To apply, scoop a small amount, warm briefly between the fingertips as the capsules break down, and press over the face. Keep it to AM/PM unless the packaging states otherwise, and give the rest of the routine a moment to settle before layering the next step. Give it a full bottle or box before judging the result, since most Korean routines are built for steady use rather than a single application.
Is the Deep Vita C Capsule Cream the same formula sold in Korea, or a US version?
This Deep Vita C Capsule Cream is the Korean-market formula, not a version reformulated for US shelves. It arrives with its original Korean-market barcode and batch code intact so the formula can be checked against the box on arrival.
Can I use the Deep Vita C Capsule Cream with other actives in my routine?
Yes, as long as it is used in its own step, the last step of a routine, over serum, and not layered on top of a product doing the same job. Introduce any new step gradually over the first week or two and keep an eye on how the skin responds before adding a second new active alongside it.
Who is the Deep Vita C Capsule Cream suited for?
It suits most skin types looking for last step of routine, over serum rather than a single acute problem. It comes in a 55g format. Anyone with a known sensitivity to a specific ingredient should check the full ingredient panel on this page before buying.
Not on the ingredient list below: denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (61): Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Glycerin, Water, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arginine, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Simethicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Fragrance, Polyacrylate-13, Glycine Soja Oil, Disodium EDTA, Polyisobutene, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Gluconolactone, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Alpha-Arbutin, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic acid, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Pyridoxine, Ubiquinone, Biotin, Folic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine HCl, Riboflavin, Linoleic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rutin, Hydroxycinnamic Acid
Ingredient list read from incidecoder.com on 30 August 2026.
60 of 61 explained
- Hippophae Rhamnoides Water plant extract
- Hippophae Rhamnoides is sea buckthorn. Its water is used in place of plain water as a base and carries traces of the fruit's vitamins.
- 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.
- 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.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- Methylpropanediol humectant
- Methylpropanediol is a small glycol used to hydrate and to help water-soluble actives penetrate the outer layer of skin more evenly. It leaves almost no tack, which suits watery textures.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dipropylene Glycol humectant
- Dipropylene Glycol is a glycol used as a solvent and a light humectant. Its main job is keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid rather than adding hydration of its own.
- 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.
- Glycereth-26 humectant
- Glycereth-26 is a modified glycerin that hydrates with far less stickiness than glycerin itself. It is a common way to load water into a formula that has to stay light.
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate emollient
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a palm-derived ester used as a light emollient and a solvent for pigment. It gives a smooth, non-greasy slip.
48 more explained
- Cetearyl Alcohol fatty alcohol
- Cetearyl Alcohol is a waxy solid, not the drying kind of alcohol. It is a blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols used to thicken a cream and keep oil and water from separating, and it softens skin as it does so.
- 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.
- Carbomer thickener
- Carbomer is a synthetic polymer that only gels once a base neutralises it, which is why arginine or tromethamine sits nearby on the list. It gives the clear, non-stringy gel texture a xanthan formula cannot reach.
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer thickener
- This is a synthetic thickener that gels quickly and holds an emulsion stable across a wide pH range. It gives a light, non-tacky body.
- 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.
- Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil emollient
- Sunflower Seed Oil is high in linoleic acid, the fatty acid dry and blemish-prone skin is often short of. It is a light, non-fragrant emollient and one of the better tolerated plant oils.
- 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.
- Simethicone silicone
- A silicone that breaks surface foam. In skincare its job is usually to stop a formula foaming during manufacture rather than anything it does on skin.
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate emulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a sugar-derived emulsifier and solubiliser, mild enough to be a standard choice in Korean essences. It dissolves small amounts of oil into water without any tightening feel.
- 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.
- 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.
- Polyacrylate-13 thickener
- Polyacrylate-13 is a pre-neutralised thickener that gels instantly and holds an emulsion together, so a formula can be built without heat.
- Glycine Soja Oil emollient
- Soybean Oil is a linoleic-rich plant oil used as an emollient. It also carries soy phytosterols and vitamin E.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Polyisobutene film former
- Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer that forms a flexible, water-resistant film. It gives gloss and holds a formula in place, which is why it appears in lip products and long-wear textures.
- Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum polysaccharide
- A fungal polysaccharide cut into shorter pieces so it dissolves easily. It holds water and thickens without the stringiness of the whole gum.
- Glyceryl Stearate emulsifier
- Glyceryl Stearate is glycerin joined to stearic acid, and one of the most used emulsifiers in skincare. It holds oil and water together and thickens the result, and it softens skin at the same time.
- Gluconolactone exfoliant
- Gluconolactone is a PHA, the gentlest exfoliant class. Its molecule is too large to penetrate quickly, so it smooths the surface without the sting of an AHA, and it is a humectant at the same time.
- Polysorbate 20 emulsifier
- Polysorbate 20 is a solubiliser: it dissolves small amounts of oil or fragrance into a watery formula so nothing separates or floats.
- Sorbitan Isostearate emulsifier
- Sorbitan Isostearate is a mild emulsifier that holds water into oil, the direction a cleansing balm or an oil-based cream needs.
- 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.
- Bixa Orellana Seed Oil emollient
- Annatto seed oil, deep orange from its carotenoid content. It conditions and tints a formula at once.
- Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate emulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate is a mild sugar-derived emulsifier that holds oil into water and thickens slightly.
- Alpha-Arbutin active
- Alpha-Arbutin is a plant-derived compound, related to the sugar-bound form found in bearberry, used for the look of dark spots and uneven tone. It is stable in water and works at skin-friendly pH.
- 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.
- Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate antioxidant
- Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is a water-soluble, stable vitamin C salt. It works at near-neutral pH, so it appears in formulas aimed at skin that pure ascorbic acid leaves stinging.
- Pentylene Glycol humectant
- Pentylene Glycol hydrates and, like the other longer-chain glycols, makes a formula less hospitable to microbes so the preservative system can be lighter. It also improves how evenly a product spreads.
- Ferulic acid antioxidant
- Ferulic Acid is a plant antioxidant from bran and seeds. Its main formulation job is stabilising vitamins C and E so a serum keeps working for longer, which is why the three appear together so often.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Ascorbyl Glucoside antioxidant
- Ascorbyl Glucoside is vitamin C bound to glucose, which keeps it stable until enzymes in skin release it. It is a mild, slow-release route to a vitamin C formula.
- 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid antioxidant
- 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is a stable vitamin C derivative that skin converts to ascorbic acid. It survives in a formula far better than pure vitamin C and works at a gentler pH, so it suits skin that finds the pure acid uncomfortable.
- 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.
- Ascorbic Acid antioxidant
- Ascorbic Acid is pure vitamin C, the most researched form and also the least stable: it needs a low pH and airtight packaging to stay active. It is an antioxidant used for the look of dullness and uneven tone.
- Pyridoxine vitamin
- Pyridoxine is vitamin B6. In a formula it is a conditioning vitamin, most often in B-complex blends and scalp products.
- Ubiquinone antioxidant
- Ubiquinone is coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant every cell uses in its own energy production. In a formula it is oil soluble, faintly yellow, and used for the look of tired, dull skin.
- Biotin vitamin
- Biotin is vitamin B7. In skincare it is a conditioning vitamin, most often in hair and scalp formulas.
- Folic Acid vitamin
- Folic Acid is vitamin B9. It is used in a formula as a conditioning vitamin, usually as part of a B-complex blend.
- 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.
- Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate antioxidant
- Vitamin C bound to hyaluronic acid, which keeps it stable and brings its water-holding with it. It is a mild, water-soluble route to a vitamin C formula.
- Ascorbyl Palmitate antioxidant
- Vitamin C joined to palmitic acid so it dissolves in oil rather than water. It is used in oil phases, where ascorbic acid cannot go.
- Cyanocobalamin vitamin
- Cyanocobalamin is vitamin B12, and it is a deep pink-red, which is why a formula carrying it often has a colour nobody added on purpose. It is used as a conditioning vitamin.
- Thiamine HCl vitamin
- Thiamine is vitamin B1, supplied as its hydrochloride salt so it dissolves in water. It is a conditioning vitamin and usually appears as part of a B-complex.
- Riboflavin vitamin
- Riboflavin is vitamin B2, and it is a strong yellow, so a formula carrying it often has a colour nobody added on purpose.
- Linoleic Acid fatty acid
- Linoleic Acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid and the main fatty acid in sunflower, safflower and rosehip oil. In a formula it is a lipid that softens and sits in the outer layer.
- Beta-Carotene antioxidant
- Beta-Carotene is an orange plant pigment and a vitamin A precursor. It is used as an antioxidant and it tints a formula, which is often why it is there.
- Rutin antioxidant
- Rutin is quercetin with a sugar attached, which makes it far more water-soluble. It is a plant antioxidant from buckwheat and citrus peel.
- Hydroxycinnamic Acid antioxidant
- Hydroxycinnamic Acid is the parent compound of the plant acid family ferulic and caffeic acid belong to. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8800256119011
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 55g
- Category
- Moisturizer / Vitamin C dual-texture cream
- Actives
- Adenosine, Arbutin, Bisabolol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sea Buckthorn, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitamin C
- 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. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
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 to use
- AM, after toner and any water-based serum, as your brightening step. Vitamin C is best applied in the morning ahead of sunscreen.
- Press a capsule bead into a small amount of the gel in your palm until it bursts, mixing the two together fresh each time.
- Adjust the ratio to your tolerance: more capsule for a stronger dose on skin that has built up tolerance, more gel on days you want it lighter.
- Follow with sunscreen without fail. Vitamin C brightens the look of dark spots; unprotected sun exposure works against it.
Worth knowing
- Patch test on the inner arm before the first full-face application, especially on skin that reacts easily to new products.
- Stop use and rinse off if stinging, burning, or new redness shows up rather than pushing through discomfort.
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Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
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Medicube, Korean-market original
Medicube's Korean-market capsule cream led by Niacinamide, the same formula sold in 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.
Medicube prints a QR code on the inner box. Scan it with your phone camera and it resolves to the brand’s own verification site.
Verify on medicubeverify.com →Source: Medicube packaging and verification site
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.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic 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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