Medicube vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Medicube and Dr. Barbara Sturm are distinct skincare brands founded in 2016 and 2014, respectively. The Korean line from APR Corp. features moisturizers, serums, toners, and masks with niacinamide, collagen, and hyaluronic acid to suit oily and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the German line from Puig offers gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums with scientifically advanced formulas that suit sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best. Ultimately, both brands differ because the former focuses on balancing excess sebum with targeted solutions like the AGE-R Booster Gel, while the latter centers on deep hydration and barrier support.
Medicube is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by APR Corp..
medicubereviews.co.ukglossy.co
Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.
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This page compares some of the most popular Medicube and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Medicube vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin feels bouncier and hydrated — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
- “glass skin — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
- “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Soothing and Gentle Formulas Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “refreshing sensation — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
Glow and Radiance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “gave me instant glass skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
- “woke up with glowing skin — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
- “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Skin Texture and Smoothness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “gives my skin a smooth, glass-like finish — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
- “skin feels smoother — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
- “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
Plumping and Firming Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “woke up with baby soft skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
Lightweight and Luxurious Absorption Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “Rich but absorbs well — Medicube TRIPLE COLLAGEN CREAM”
High Price and Value Issues Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “tube is tiny for the price — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
- “price is steep — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
- “price is a bit steep — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
- “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Sticky or Heavy Residue Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “tacky finish — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “hair sticks to my face — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
Packaging and Application Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “messy — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
- “lifted around the nose/eyes — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
- “pills under makeup — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “powder can be messy — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
Minimal or Slow Results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “takes forever to dry down — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
- “didn't notice any pore improvements — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
- “didn't feel much help — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
- “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Questions and answers
Medicube or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?
Medicube fits oily and acne-prone skin best, while Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves higher ratings for soothing formulas and plumping. The products on this page from Medicube frequently mention deep hydration and radiant glow alongside pricing issues, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm focuses on lightweight absorption.
What is the difference between Medicube and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Medicube is a South Korean brand founded in 2016 that fits oily and acne-prone skin best, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German brand founded in 2014 with fewer listed products. Reviewers note that Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for soothing formulas, plumping, and lightweight absorption, while Medicube is noted for high price and value issues.
Medicube or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?
Medicube offers a wider range of moisturizers with specialized Lovi fit levels, such as a Superior fit for mature and dry sensitive skin with the Collagen Jelly Cream, while Dr. Barbara Sturm features options like the Hyaluronic Serum that rates High for oily skin. Reviewers note that Medicube products help provide deep hydration and a radiant glow, though they may leave a sticky residue.
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 2022Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Which is more affordable, Medicube or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Medicube is more affordable than Dr. Barbara Sturm, although the products on this page for Medicube sometimes bring high price and value issues in reviews.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Medicube or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Comparing breakout concerns, review themes on the page show that irritation and breakouts are sometimes noted for Medicube, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm is not highlighted for causing breakouts.
Between Medicube and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand has products that are better for soothing and gentle formulas?
Dr. Barbara Sturm does better than Medicube for soothing and gentle formulas. Medicube reviewers sometimes note irritation and breakouts, while the products on this page for Dr. Barbara Sturm are entirely free of fragrance.
Which of the two brands offers better results for plumping and firming according to review themes?
Dr. Barbara Sturm offers better results for plumping and firming according to review themes. Medicube has a higher price and value issues.
How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Medicube and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Medicube was founded in South Korea in 2016, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in Germany in 2014.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
Protective effects of Camellia japonica flower extract against urban air pollutants
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
The synergistic effect of retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate on skin aging
Borage Oil Treated with Immobilized Lipase Inhibits Melanogenesis
Supramolecular collagen nanoparticles for anti-wrinkle, skin whitening, and moisturizing effects
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Composition characterization and clinical efficacy study of a salmon egg extract
Anti-Aging Efficacy of Low-Molecular-Weight Polydeoxyribonucleotide Derived from Paeonia lactiflora
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Behind this comparison
Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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