NAD+ EGF Firming Serum
Medicube NAD+ EGF Firming Serum carries ten separate peptide forms on its own ingredient panel, including Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1.
No reviews yet30ml
$93.30 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- normal skincombination skindry skin
- Helps with
- loss of bounce and firmnessgeneral day-to-day maintenance as part of a full routinea routine that wants a Korean-market step in this category
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Key benefits
- Ten forms of peptide on one panel, not a single token inclusion
- Niacinamide on the same panel, the formula's active
- Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract on the same panel, the formula's plant extract
- 30 ml to a unit
- Korean-market formula, with its Korean barcode and batch code intact on the box
Key actives
4Niacinamide
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.
13Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract
Cocoa Extract carries polyphenols and a little caffeine. It is used as an antioxidant plant extract and gives a faint warm tint.
15Adenosine
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.
20Sh-Oligopeptide-1
sh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide made by yeast fermentation rather than synthesis, which is what the sh prefix records. It is used for the look of firmness and skin recovery after irritation.
33Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester is a two-amino-acid peptide with a fatty cetyl tail attached, which lets it sit in the oil phase of a formula rather than only the water phase.
53Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 is a fatted three-amino-acid peptide used for the look of firmness and fine lines. The palmitoyl tail is what lets it cross an oily surface.
55Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of even tone. It is one of the few peptides aimed at pigment rather than at lines.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
- 4Niacinamide
- 13Theobroma Cacao
- 20Sh-Oligopeptide-1
- 33Acetyl Dipeptide-1
- 53Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Where each key active sits on the declared ingredient list, by entry number. Position is proportion: the further forward, the larger its share.
Medicube NAD+ EGF Firming Serum
What does the NAD+ EGF Firming Serum 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 NAD+ EGF Firming Serum?
Use this serum as the treatment step right after toner. To apply, smooth or press onto cleansed, toned skin and follow with moisturizer. 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 NAD+ EGF Firming Serum the same formula sold in Korea, or a US version?
This NAD+ EGF Firming Serum 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 NAD+ EGF Firming Serum with other actives in my routine?
Yes, as long as it is used in its own step, the treatment step right after toner, 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 NAD+ EGF Firming Serum suited for?
It suits most skin types looking for treatment step right after toner rather than a single acute problem. It comes in a 30ml 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: fragrance or parfum, denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (65): WATER (AQUA), BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, NIACINAMIDE, XYLITOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, GLYCERETH-26, ECTOIN, CARBOMER, C12-14 ALKETH-12, TROMETHAMINE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) SEED EXTRACT, DEXTRIN, ADENOSINE, METHYL DIPROPIONAMIDE, DISODIUM EDTA, CYANOCOBALAMIN, HYDROGENATED PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE, SH-OLIGOPEPTIDE-1, 2.5PPM, GLYCERIN, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL, NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE (1PPM), XYLITYLGLUCOSIDE, ANHYDROXYLITOL, SORBITAN LAURATE, LECITHIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-10 LAURATE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, ACETYL GLUTAMINE, ACETYL DIPEPTIDE-1 CETYL ESTER, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, BACILLUS/SOYBEAN FERMENT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MACROCARPON (CRANBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM FRUIT EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MACROCARPON FRUIT EXTRACT, SAMBUCUS NIGRA FRUIT EXTRACT, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, RUBUS FRUTICOSUS (BLACKBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, PEAR FRUIT EXTRACT, PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT EXTRACT, PRUNUS PERSICA (PEACH) FRUIT EXTRACT, CARICA PAPAYA (PAPAYA) FRUIT EXTRACT, PINUS PALUSTRIS LEAF EXTRACT, OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) FLOWER EXTRACT, COLLAGEN EXTRACT, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-5, HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA FLOWER EXTRACT, ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-1, ACETYL OCTAPEPTIDE-3, SODIUM HYALURONATE, FOLIC ACID, FICUS CARICA (FIG) FRUIT EXTRACT, GLUTATHIONE, COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1, OLIGOPEPTIDE-3, OLIGOPEPTIDE-2, OLIGOPEPTIDE-1, HEXAPEPTIDE-11
59 of 65 explained
- WATER (AQUA) 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- ECTOIN humectant
- Ectoin is a small molecule that microbes in salt flats and hot springs make to survive extreme conditions. In skincare it holds water tightly around itself, which is why it appears in formulas aimed at reactive, easily dehydrated skin.
- 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.
- C12-14 ALKETH-12 emulsifier
- C12-14 Alketh-12 is a solubiliser used to keep oils and fragrance dissolved in a water-based formula.
- TROMETHAMINE pH adjuster
- Tromethamine neutralises acidic thickeners such as carbomer so they gel, and holds a formula near skin-friendly pH. It is used at a fraction of a percent.
- 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.
47 more explained
- THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) SEED EXTRACT plant extract
- Cocoa Extract carries polyphenols and a little caffeine. It is used as an antioxidant plant extract and gives a faint warm tint.
- DEXTRIN thickener
- Dextrin is a starch fragment used to thicken and to give a formula a light, powdery finish. It is also a common carrier for powdered extracts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- HYDROGENATED PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine is the stabilised form of the main lecithin phospholipid. It builds the liposome shells that hold an active together in a formula.
- SH-OLIGOPEPTIDE-1 peptide
- sh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide made by yeast fermentation rather than synthesis, which is what the sh prefix records. It is used for the look of firmness and skin recovery after irritation.
- 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.
- ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL emollient
- Rosehip oil, pressed from the fruit of the dog rose. It is high in linoleic acid and carotenoids and is used for the look of marked, uneven skin.
- NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE (1PPM) active
- Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, usually written NAD, is a coenzyme every living cell carries, built from vitamin B3. In a formula it is used as a conditioning active at very low levels.
- XYLITYLGLUCOSIDE humectant
- Xylitylglucoside is a sugar-derived humectant, the third member of the xylitol blend. Together the three hold water in the outer layer for longer than any of them does alone.
- ANHYDROXYLITOL humectant
- Anhydroxylitol is a xylitol derivative used as a humectant. It is almost always part of the xylitol, anhydroxylitol and xylitylglucoside blend sold as a moisture-retention complex.
- SORBITAN LAURATE emulsifier
- Sorbitan Laurate is a light emulsifier and solubiliser, used to keep small amounts of oil or fragrance dissolved in a watery formula.
- LECITHIN emulsifier
- Lecithin is a soy or sunflower-derived phospholipid, the same class of molecule cell membranes are built from. It emulsifies oil into water and is the basis of the liposomes formulators use to carry actives.
- CAPRYLYL GLYCOL preservative booster
- Caprylyl Glycol is a glycol that conditions skin and, more importantly, strengthens a preservative system so less of the traditional preservative is needed. It appears in most modern formulas built without parabens.
- 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.
- HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE thickener
- Hydroxyethylcellulose is a cellulose thickener that builds a clear, smooth gel and holds the rest of the formula in suspension.
- ACETYL GLUTAMINE amino acid
- Glutamine with an acetyl group added, which makes it more stable in water. It is used as a conditioning amino acid.
- ACETYL DIPEPTIDE-1 CETYL ESTER peptide
- Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester is a two-amino-acid peptide with a fatty cetyl tail attached, which lets it sit in the oil phase of a formula rather than only the water phase.
- 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.
- BACILLUS/SOYBEAN FERMENT EXTRACT ferment
- This is soybean fermented by Bacillus, the process behind Korean cheonggukjang. Fermentation cuts the soy proteins into smaller pieces and produces polyglutamic acid, a strong humectant.
- VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Bilberry fruit extract, the European relative of the blueberry and one of the richest anthocyanin sources. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- VACCINIUM MACROCARPON (CRANBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Cranberry fruit extract, acidic and high in proanthocyanidins. It is used as an antioxidant berry extract.
- VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Lowbush blueberry fruit extract, high in anthocyanins. Berry extracts are used as plant antioxidants and can tint a formula.
- VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Lingonberry fruit extract, a Nordic berry. It carries anthocyanins, arbutin and fruit acids, and it is used as an antioxidant botanical.
- SAMBUCUS NIGRA FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Elderberry fruit extract, rich in anthocyanins. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Raspberry fruit extract, carrying fruit acids, sugars and anthocyanins. It is used as an antioxidant-rich conditioning extract.
- RUBUS FRUTICOSUS (BLACKBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Blackberry fruit extract. Like the other dark berries it is rich in anthocyanins and is used as a plant antioxidant.
- PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Pomegranate fruit extract, carrying ellagic acid and punicalagins. It is used as a plant antioxidant.
- PRUNUS PERSICA (PEACH) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Peach Fruit Extract carries fruit sugars, vitamins and mild fruit acids. It is used as a hydrating extract.
- CARICA PAPAYA (PAPAYA) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Papaya fruit extract. The fruit is where the enzyme papain comes from, and the extract is used both as a conditioning extract and in gentle enzyme formulas.
- PINUS PALUSTRIS LEAF EXTRACT plant extract
- Pinus Palustris is longleaf pine. Its needle extract carries plant antioxidants and appears in Korean formulas alongside other conifer extracts.
- OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) FLOWER EXTRACT plant extract
- Evening Primrose Flower Extract is used as a conditioning plant extract. The seed oil of the same plant is the better known part, and it is a different ingredient.
- COLLAGEN EXTRACT protein
- Collagen Extract is a collagen-bearing extract, usually from fish skin or scales. In a formula it works as a humectant and a smoothing film rather than as a source of new collagen.
- PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-5 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 is a fatted three-amino-acid peptide used for the look of firmness and fine lines. The palmitoyl tail is what lets it cross an oily surface.
- HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA FLOWER EXTRACT plant extract
- Roselle hibiscus extract, deep red from anthocyanins and naturally acidic. It carries plant acids and is used as an antioxidant extract.
- ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-1 peptide
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of even tone. It is one of the few peptides aimed at pigment rather than at lines.
- ACETYL OCTAPEPTIDE-3 peptide
- Acetyl Octapeptide-3 is an eight-amino-acid peptide used for the look of expression lines. It is usually paired with acetyl hexapeptide-8 rather than used alone.
- 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.
- 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.
- FICUS CARICA (FIG) FRUIT EXTRACT plant extract
- Fig Fruit Extract carries fruit sugars, mild acids and a protein-digesting enzyme. It is used as a hydrating extract with a light smoothing effect.
- GLUTATHIONE antioxidant
- Glutathione is a small peptide the body uses as one of its main antioxidants. In skincare it is used as an antioxidant and for the look of dullness; it is unstable in water, so formulas that carry it are usually built around protecting it.
- COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1 peptide
- Copper Tripeptide-1 is three amino acids bound to a copper ion, and the classic firming peptide in cosmetic chemistry. It is blue in solution, which is often why a serum carrying it is tinted, and it is used for the look of firmness and fine lines.
- OLIGOPEPTIDE-3 peptide
- Oligopeptide-3 is another short synthetic peptide sequence. Numbered oligopeptides that sit next to each other on a label are separate sequences, not doses of one ingredient.
- OLIGOPEPTIDE-2 peptide
- Oligopeptide-2 is a short synthetic peptide, water soluble like most of the unmodified oligopeptides. It is supplied as one component of a blend.
- OLIGOPEPTIDE-1 peptide
- Oligopeptide-1 is a short synthetic peptide. Oligo means the chain is short without the name fixing its length, which is why oligopeptides appear in blends where several sequences work together.
- HEXAPEPTIDE-11 peptide
- Hexapeptide-11 is a yeast-derived six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of resilience and firmness.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 30ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Collagen, Ectoin, Glutathione, Niacinamide, Peptides, Sodium Hyaluronate
- 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 panel on this serum names ten forms of peptide rather than one: Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-3, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11. sh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide made by yeast fermentation rather than synthesis, which is what the sh prefix records. It is used for the look of firmness and skin recovery after irritation. On this panel it sits alongside Niacinamide, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract and Adenosine. 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.
How to use
- Use it in the serum slot, after toner and before your moisturizer, morning or night.
- Three or four drops for the face and neck, pressed in with the palms rather than rubbed in.
- Follow with a moisturizer to hold it in, and sunscreen last if you are using it in the morning.
- Once or twice a day. Do not pair it with a retinoid in the same routine if your skin is new to either.
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 NAD+ EGF Firming Serum
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
Medicube, Korean-market original
Medicube's Korean-market serum 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 the key actives in this formula, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Peptides can be anti-inflammatory, and chronic inflammation damages the tissue in your skin.
Wilma Bergfeld, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic In skin, different peptides can encourage different things, from collagen formation to a reduction in inflammation to helping with wound healing depending on their structure.
Whitney Hovenic, MDDouble board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, Women's Health
1 more professional perspective
Niacinamide helps reduce the appearance of pores in a few ways. By strengthening the skin barrier and improving elasticity, pores appear less noticeable and more even.
Ashlyn YankeAesthetician, Cleveland Clinic
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