🇦🇺Australia

Medicube vs MAC

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Medicube and MAC are distinct beauty brands that offer specialized products for daily routines. Founded in South Korea in 2016 and owned by APR Corp., the former is known for moisturizers, serums, toners, and masks featuring niacinamide, collagen, and hyaluronic acid to suit dry and oily acne-prone skin. Founded in Canada in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994, the latter is beloved for moisturizers and makeup removers crafted for balanced skin. While both rely on carefully balanced formulas, they differ as one targets hydration, clarity, and specific aging concerns, and the other provides a calm foundation for daily maintenance.

Medicube is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by APR Corp..

medicubereviews.co.ukglossy.co

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Medicube and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medicube vs MAC products

People Say

MedicubeMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels bouncier and hydrated — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “gave me instant glass skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Makeup Base and Primer Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Soothing and Gentle Formulas Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “refreshing sensation — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “calming the skin — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “gives my skin a smooth, glass-like finish — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
    • “skin feels smoother — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Pore Appearance Reduction Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “noticed a real difference in pore visibility — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
  • High Price Point Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “price is steep — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “price is a bit steep — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
    • “Wish it was more affordable — Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “slightly fishy smell — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “smells like old lady perfume — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Breakouts and Skin Irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “caused redness and sensitivity — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
  • Sticky Residue and Finish Often MentionedNot noted
    • “hair sticks to my face — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”

Questions and answers

Medicube or MAC: which is better?

Medicube helps improve skin texture and hydration better, while MAC is known for makeup bases and primers. Medicube products on this page frequently list no fragrance, whereas MAC products on this page all include fragrance.

What is the difference between Medicube and MAC?

Medicube offers a wide range of skincare products that focus on hydration, anti-aging, and skin texture improvement, while MAC provides lightweight moisturizers and makeup bases that function well as primers. Medicube products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, whereas MAC products on this page all contain fragrance. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Medicube or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Medicube offers a wider range of moisturizers with specialized Lovi fit levels across skin types, whereas MAC provides lightweight options like the Hyper Real Serumizer. Reviewers note that Medicube helps deliver deep hydration while sometimes leaving a sticky residue, and MAC moisturizers may feature strong fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Medicube or MAC?

Medicube is more affordable than MAC, though reviewers note high price point issues for both brands. Medicube features small quantity and pricing issues among its drawbacks.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medicube or MAC?

MAC has more reports of breakouts and skin irritation, whereas Medicube has fewer issues with breakouts and skin irritation.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, Medicube or MAC?

Medicube has more products containing fragrance than MAC because 2 of its 25 products list fragrance, whereas all 3 products on the MAC page contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Medicube and MAC?

Medicube was founded in 2016 in South Korea, whereas MAC was founded earlier in 1984 in Canada.

Which brand offers specific routines for dry skin, and what is an example of that routine?

Medicube offers specific routines for dry skin, whereas MAC does not list any. An example routine from Medicube for dry skin starts in the morning with Zero Foam Cleanser, Triple Collagen Toner, AGE-R Booster Gel, and an SPF.

Research behind their key ingredients

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    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.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play