Medicube
Red Serum
Medicube Red Serum is a serum that names Zinc PCA on its own ingredient panel, sourced as the Korean-market formula.
No reviews yet- Ships from our California warehouse
- Duties prepaid
- Suited to
- normal skincombination skindry skin
- Helps with
- general upkeep alongside the rest of a routinea Korean-market alternative to a comparable US productsteady, repeated use rather than a single application
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- Duties prepaid
- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Dispatched within 2 business days
How it works
Zinc PCA is named on the ingredient panel on this serum. 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. On this panel it sits alongside Niacinamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Salicylic Acid. 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.
Key benefits
- Zinc PCA named on this product's own ingredient panel
- Niacinamide on the same panel, the formula's active
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate on the same panel, the formula's active
- 30 ml to a unit
- Korean-market formula, with its Korean barcode and batch code intact on the box
Key actives
Zinc PCA
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.
Niacinamide
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.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is a water-soluble salt derived from licorice root. It is the licorice fraction Korean formulas use for the look of redness, and it is far more stable in water than the whole extract.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic Acid is a BHA, and the only common exfoliant that is oil soluble, so it can work inside a pore rather than only on the surface. It loosens the dead cells that block pores and is used for the look of congested, oily skin.
Medicube Red Serum
What does the Red 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 Red 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 Red Serum the same formula sold in Korea, or a US version?
This Red 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 Red 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 Red 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.
- Ships from
- California
Duties are prepaid. Nothing is owed at delivery. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
Orders ship from our California warehouse, dispatched within 2 business days, and arrive in 3 to 5 days. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more.
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 - 2Customs
Duty paid by us before it enters the US - 3California
Ships domestically, no international leg
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.
Import duties are paid by us before the parcel reaches you, so nothing is owed at the door, 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.
Payment and security
We accept
How to use
- Use the Red Serum after toner and before moisturizer, in the evening.
- Three or four drops covers the whole face. Press it in with flat palms instead of rubbing it around.
- Toner first so the surface is damp, then this, then about a minute before your moisturizer goes over the top. Salicylic acid is the entry that puts this step in the evening rather than the morning.
- Start at two or three evenings a week and build up from there, because salicylic acid is on this list. Do not use it in the same routine as another resurfacing acid or a retinoid.
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.
Reviews
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Write Reviews (opens in a new tab)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.
It contains liquiritin, an active compound that helps to disperse and remove existing melanin in the skin.
Jennifer Chwalek, MDDermatologist, Byrdie BHAs like salicylic acid get really deep into the pores, whereas the water-soluble ones don't go as deep.
Samantha Stein, PA-CDermatology physician assistant, Cleveland Clinic
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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