Red Succinic Acid Trace Serum
Medicube Red Succinic Acid Trace Serum is a serum that names Succinic Acid on its own ingredient panel, sourced as the Korean-market formula.
No reviews yet30ml
$66.63 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- normal skincombination skindry skinoily skin
- Helps with
- breakout-prone skingeneral 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
- Succinic Acid named on this product's own ingredient panel
- Niacinamide on the same panel, the formula's active
- Salicylic Acid on the same panel, the formula's exfoliant
- 30 ml to a unit
- Korean-market formula, with its Korean barcode and batch code intact on the box
Key actives
3Niacinamide
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.
13Succinic Acid
Succinic Acid is a small organic acid used for the look of blemish-prone skin and as a pH adjuster. It is far milder than an AHA at the levels used here.
21Salicylic 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.
23Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Melia Azadirachta is neem. Its leaf and flower extracts are long-standing Ayurvedic ingredients, and Korean formulas use them in products aimed at the look of congested, blemish-prone skin.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
- 3Niacinamide
- 13Succinic Acid
- 21Salicylic Acid
Where each key active sits on the declared ingredient list, by entry number. Position is proportion: the further forward, the larger its share.
Medicube Red Succinic Acid Trace Serum
What does the Red Succinic Acid Trace 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 Succinic Acid Trace 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 Succinic Acid Trace Serum the same formula sold in Korea, or a US version?
This Red Succinic Acid Trace 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 Succinic Acid Trace 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 Succinic Acid Trace 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 (51): Water, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Succinic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Betaine, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Polyisobutene, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Squalane, Allantoin, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Monascus Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Dextrin, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
50 of 51 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dicaprylyl Ether emollient
- Dicaprylyl Ether is a very light emollient used to make a formula spread quickly and feel dry rather than oily.
- 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.
- Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate emulsifier
- A short polyglycerin ester used as a mild emulsifier and cleansing agent. It is common in balms designed to melt on skin and then rinse away.
- Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate emulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate is a mild sugar-derived emulsifier that holds oil into water and thickens slightly.
- Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate emulsifier
- Six glycerin units joined to lauric acid. Polyglyceryl esters are the mild, PEG-free way to hold oil and water together.
38 more explained
- Succinic Acid active
- Succinic Acid is a small organic acid used for the look of blemish-prone skin and as a pH adjuster. It is far milder than an AHA at the levels used here.
- 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.
- 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.
- Diethoxyethyl Succinate solvent
- Diethoxyethyl Succinate is a solvent that helps water-resistant actives spread and sink in evenly. It also leaves a light, silky feel.
- Betaine humectant
- Betaine is a sugar-beet-derived humectant that cells use to hold water. In a formula it hydrates and takes the edge off cleansers and acids, which is why it often appears alongside them.
- 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.
- Hydroxyacetophenone preservative booster
- Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that also strengthens a preservative system, so a formula needs less traditional preservative. Korean formulas pair it with 1,2-hexanediol constantly.
- Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer thickener
- This is a pre-neutralised polymer thickener that gels on contact with water and stabilises an emulsion without heat.
- Salicylic Acid exfoliant
- 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.
- 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.
- Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract plant extract
- Melia Azadirachta is neem. Its leaf and flower extracts are long-standing Ayurvedic ingredients, and Korean formulas use them in products aimed at the look of congested, blemish-prone skin.
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer thickener
- This is a carbomer relative with fatty side chains, so it thickens and stabilises an emulsion at the same time. It gives a light gel-cream body rather than a heavy one.
- Squalane emollient
- Squalane is the stable, saturated version of squalene, a lipid human skin already makes. It is a light emollient that absorbs quickly, does not oxidise, and is one of the few oils widely considered safe for blemish-prone skin. Most cosmetic squalane is now from sugarcane or olive rather than shark.
- Allantoin active
- Allantoin is a comfrey-derived compound used to condition skin and soften the outer layer so it feels smoother. It is one of the standard additions to a formula built for easily irritated skin.
- Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract plant extract
- Turmeric Root Extract carries curcuminoids, well studied plant antioxidants. It is used for the look of dullness and uneven tone, and it tints a formula faintly yellow.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hydroxyethylcellulose thickener
- Hydroxyethylcellulose is a cellulose thickener that builds a clear, smooth gel and holds the rest of the formula in suspension.
- Xanthan Gum thickener
- Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide made by fermenting sugar. It thickens a watery formula into a gel and holds the whole thing in suspension so nothing separates. Too much of it and a serum turns stringy, which is why it appears in fractions of a percent.
- 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.
- Sorbitan Oleate emulsifier
- Sorbitan Oleate is an emulsifier for water-in-oil formulas. It keeps a rich cream or a cleansing oil from separating.
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside surfactant
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is a sugar-derived cleansing surfactant. It foams modestly and is mild enough for low-pH cleansers built for reactive skin.
- Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer film former
- This is a polymer that forms a moisture-holding film on the surface, usually supplied with glycerin and propylene glycol as a hydrating complex.
- Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract plant extract
- Ocimum Sanctum is holy basil, or tulsi. Its leaf extract carries plant antioxidants and is used in formulas built for the look of stressed, reactive skin.
- Monascus Extract ferment
- An extract of monascus, the mould that makes red yeast rice. It is naturally deep red and is used as a conditioning ferment extract.
- Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil emollient
- Macadamia Seed Oil is unusually high in palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid that human sebum also contains, which is why it absorbs faster than most nut oils. It is a cushioning emollient for dry skin.
- 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.
- Corallina Officinalis Extract plant extract
- Corallina Officinalis is coral seaweed, which holds calcium and magnesium in its structure. Its extract is used as a mineral-rich conditioning ingredient.
- Geranium Maculatum Oil fragrance component
- Wild geranium oil, an essential oil with a soft rose-like scent. It is used to perfume a formula.
- 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.
- 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.
- Phytosphingosine barrier lipid
- Phytosphingosine is the backbone every ceramide is built on, and skin uses it in its own lipid layer. In a formula it works with ceramides and cholesterol and also keeps the product stable against microbes.
- Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract plant extract
- Noni fruit extract, also declared as Indian mulberry. It carries fruit acids, vitamin C and polysaccharides and is used as a conditioning antioxidant extract.
- Beta-Glucan polysaccharide
- Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide from oats or yeast. It holds a large amount of water, forms a soothing film, and is one of the ingredients formulators reach for in products aimed at reactive skin.
- Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract plant extract
- Bitter melon fruit extract, the yeoju used in Korean tea. It carries flavonoids and saponins and is used as a conditioning extract.
- 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.
- Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract plant extract
- Hibiscus Esculentus is okra, whose fruit is thick with mucilage. Its extract hydrates and gives a cushioned, slippery feel.
- Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract plant extract
- Purple gromwell root, long used in Korean and Chinese herbal practice. The root is deep red-purple, so it colours a formula, and it is used for the look of reactive skin.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 30ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Squalane
- 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
Succinic Acid is named on the ingredient panel on this serum. Succinic Acid is a small organic acid used for the look of blemish-prone skin and as a pH adjuster. It is far milder than an AHA at the levels used here. On this panel it sits alongside Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid and Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract. 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 the Red Succinic Acid Trace 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
- Introduce it two to three nights a week at first and watch how the skin responds before moving to nightly use.
- Pair it with a daily sunscreen step, since brightening and exfoliating actives can make skin more reactive to sun exposure.
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Medicube Red Succinic Acid Trace 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.
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 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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