For the past year or two, my skincare routine has been pretty minimal. I stick to the same drugstore cleanser morning and night, apply the Mighty Patch if I have a breakout—and that’s pretty much it. But lately, I’ve been catching my eye on more and more fancy skincare routines while scrolling through TikTok, and I finally swiped my membership card and tried a bunch of products from my favorite K-beauty brand, Medicube.
Initially, I was drawn to the brand’s Poreless Toner—a wet toner designed to refine pores and balance pH. I’ve always been obsessed with minimizing pores (though, let’s be honest, I don’t have them badly), and the promise was enticing.
I went to Medicube’s website, intending to buy the pore-reducing pads until I saw they were having a big sale. A five-piece skincare set (called the Glass Glow 7-Day Skincare Set), originally priced at $155, was marked down to $77. Considering the prices of skincare products lately, the price of five products is a steal.
The set includes the Zero Foaming Cleanser (a gentle daily cleanser), the Zero Pore Refining Pads (a pore-refining toning pad), the Zero Exosome Serum 7500 (a repairing serum), the Collagen Niacinamide Gel Cream (a hydrating and brightening cream), and the Collagen Overnight Repair Mask (a hydrating nighttime treatment). In addition to these goodies, the set also includes another popular product that I’ve seen everywhere on TikTok: the Medicube Collagen Mask.
I tried this set for a few weeks, and now I’m not holding back on sharing my skin. Read on for my review of each product in the set, including the brand’s super popular collagen mask, pads, and foaming cleanser.
After a few weeks of consistent use, my honest review is: I really like these products. First and foremost, they didn’t cause me to break out—a rare surprise for me when a new product is launched.
Every now and then, when I’m tempted by those tedious skincare routines on TikTok, I’m often reminded that for me, more products equals more breakouts. But with these Medicube products, I had absolutely no adjustment period and no sudden breakouts. My skin stayed calm and hydrated.
That being said, I did adjust my skincare routine to better fit my lifestyle. Using all five products every night felt a bit over the top, especially for my 22-year-old skin. Now, I use the Zero Foaming Cleanser and Zero Pore Pads daily, the Exosome Shot when it feels a bit much, and the Collagen Mask and Treatment once a week.
I also impulse bought their red body wash, which is packed with salicylic acid, niacinamide, and lactic acid to help fight body acne — something I’ve recently started to struggle with. Although at $29, it’s more expensive than my usual body wash, I gave it a try anyway.
The real standout? The Zero Foaming Cleanser was super soft and refreshing, and it kept my face clear of breakouts. The Zero Pore Cleansing Pads also really did what they promised, not stripping my skin, and they’re also super easy to use, requiring only a few swipes across my face.
The red body wash — while not as scented as the regular body wash I usually use — has really helped slow down my body breakouts, and I’ve grown to love the clean, simple feel of it. It glides on gently and leaves my skin feeling hydrated even before I put on lotion.
I was initially optimistic after purchasing this Medicube beauty set. It’s a Korean skincare brand, and in my experience, K-beauty is generally cleaner, simpler, and gentler — exactly what my skin needs. Granted, I didn’t get to try the brand’s other very popular tool, the MUA-approved Age-R Booster wand, but these more affordable products are a great place to start.
If you’re looking for a gentle, effective skincare brand that won’t weigh down your skin, Medicube is definitely worth the investment. Not all of the products need to be used rigorously in my opinion, but the must-haves — the cleanser, pore cleansing pads, and body wash — have become new must-haves for me.
Other products felt like a luxurious spa treatment, especially the exosome shot and collagen mask. I learned the hard way that skincare isn’t a panacea. But after years of being promised smooth, flawless skin, I finally succumbed to the TikTok hype, and I’m so glad I did.