Medicube Zero Pore Serum 2.0 for sensitive skin
Dimethicone
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.
- BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019
- Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Suitable for normal skin, this serum contains Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract and Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract to help regulate sebum and provide mild astringent properties, offering general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing due to Butylene Glycol and Camellia Japonica Flower Extract.
- The Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract and Fomes Officinalis Extract provide moderate pore-cleansing and skin-smoothing effects, though these are not specifically targeted for your redness and irritation.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract and Camellia Japonica Flower Extract.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin frequently report that this serum effectively regulates sebum and improves overall skin texture, creating a smoother base for makeup. While many users noticed a visible tightening of pores and a "glass skin" effect, results regarding actual pore size reduction are mixed, with some finding it highly effective and others seeing no significant change.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin texture feels smoother”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “makeup sits better”
- “improved skin clarity”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight finish”
- “not greasy”
- “sinks right in”
Oil & sebum control Often Mentioned
- “controls excess oil”
- “nose wasn't as oily”
- “regulates sebum production”
- “balanced skin moisture”
Sticky texture Often Mentioned
- “incredibly sticky”
- “tacky finish after application”
- “hair sticks to my face”
- “feels uncomfortable and sticky”
Pore tightening Sometimes Noted
- “pores looked noticeably tighter”
- “saw a reduction in pore size”
- “felt my pores tightening”
- “pores look cleaner and smaller”
Ineffective for some Sometimes Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “pores look the same”
- “no effect on blackheads”
- “didn't live up to claims”
Unpleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is a bit off”
- “strong perfume smell”
- “smells like men's cologne”
- “fragrance is overpowering”
Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
- “bottle is too small”
- “expensive for the amount”
- “finished it too quickly”
- “pricy for daily use”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, hwahae.co.kr, stylekorean.com, oliveyoung.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medicube Zero Pore Serum 2.0 work for sensitive skin?
This serum works moderately well for sensitive skin, but a treatment of this type needs extra soothing and calming ingredients that directly target redness and irritation to be a top fit.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
This serum fits sensitive skin because it includes soothing and calming ingredients like Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract and Camellia Japonica Flower Extract. It is safe for this skin type and is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Water do for sensitive skin?
Using cool water for facial cleansing preserves skin barrier integrity and lowers skin surface pH in healthy adults. This helps keep skin calm and hydrated without causing the irritation associated with warmer water.
What does Dimethicone do for sensitive skin?
Dimethicone helps protect sensitive skin against irritants and can keep it feeling calm and comfortable. It is generally well tolerated and unlikely to cause adverse reactions on delicate or reactive skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine for safety and simplicity, placed after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Sensitive skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and soothing extracts that calm irritation while avoiding harsh pore-cleansing components.
Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this serum with niacinamide by applying this treatment first and then following with your niacinamide product. This product has a safe profile for your sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause irritation when combined thoughtfully.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine. A serum of this type needs gentle soothing ingredients and calming hydrators like butylene glycol and camellia japonica flower extract to keep sensitive skin comfortable.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components, though a product for this skin needs gentle hydrating and calming ingredients without strong botanical extracts or heavy textures to prevent irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Camellia japonica flower extract protects against urban air pollutant-induced skin damage by scavenging radicals, inhibiting ROS generation, reducing MMP-1 and lipid peroxidation, and increasing collagen synthesis in in vitro and ex vivo models.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019Aqueous extracts of apple mint leaves inhibited heat shock-induced production of reactive oxygen species, matrix metalloproteinases, interleukin-8, and mitogen-activated protein kinases in human dermal fibroblasts.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018Cinnamon extract and its component cinnamaldehyde up-regulate type I collagen mRNA and protein expression in human dermal fibroblasts via activation of IGF-I signaling without cytotoxicity.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012Camellia japonica placenta extract treatment upregulated hair growth marker genes in human follicle dermal papilla cells in vitro and improved scalp moisture, sebum, keratin, and erythema in 42 adult female participants in vivo.
FEBS Open Bio, 2021Camellia japonica oil activated the human COL1A2 promoter, induced type I procollagen synthesis, inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity, and reduced trans-epidermal water loss without inducing adverse reactions in human skin.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007White button mushroom extract treatment increased VEGF densities, EGF, PCNA, and collagen fibers, while decreasing apoptotic cells and limiting TGF-beta and CD4 reactions in ICR mice and chorioallantoic culture, indicating beneficial effects on skin regeneration and injury.
Microscopy Research and Technique, 2012
Why other serums fit sensitive skin better
Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate-13, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isoceteth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Isoceteth-25, Carbomer, Polyisobutene, Disodium Edta, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Bht, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.