Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Sodium DnaAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Offers moderate benefits for your combination skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil production and hyaluronic acid provides hydration, though these are not specifically targeted for acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- Salmon egg extract and hydrolyzed collagen offer general skincare benefits like hydration and plumping, which are supportive but do not directly address your primary concerns.
- The formula is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for delivering intense hydration and a radiant "glass skin" glow, with users frequently reporting immediate improvements in skin plumpness and elasticity. The viscous texture is often noted for its barrier-repairing qualities. A polarizing feature is the distinct scent, described as floral and fishy, which some users find unpleasant.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels bouncier and hydrated”
- “keeps it plump for hours”
- “wake up with soft, plump skin”
- “deeply moisturized underneath”
Radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “healthy, dewy glow”
- “creates a natural inner glow”
- “skin looks radiant”
- “glass skin effect”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother”
- “refined skin texture”
- “fine lines look softer”
- “makeup applies better”
Soothing and gentle Sometimes Noted
- “no tingling or burning”
- “calmed redness”
- “zero irritation on sensitive skin”
- “feels gentle and soothing”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “slightly fishy smell”
- “strong floral fragrance”
- “scent is underwhelming”
- “can't get past the smell”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “small pimple appeared”
- “broke me out”
- “caused acne”
- “bumps on cheek”
Small quantity Rarely Noted
- “runs out pretty quickly”
- “wish they offered a larger version”
- “small bottle for the price”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “slight sticky feeling”
- “heavy finish”
- “tacky residue”
- “feels a bit sticky”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, ulta.com, medicube.us, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum work for acne-prone skin?
This serum works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing helpful hydration and oil control through niacinamide and hyaluronic acid without causing irritation, though it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts. To fit this skin better, a moisturizing treatment needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid for breakouts and hydration, along with a rich blend of hydrating and skin-repairing elements that maintain balance without adding excess oil.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps regulate oil production, while hyaluronic acid provides hydration to make this serum a fit for your acne-prone skin. However, an acne-prone skin type needs products with ingredients that directly target breakouts and blemishes, such as effective ingredients for acne and hydration while posing no risk of irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Hydrolyzed Collagen do for acne-prone skin?
Hydrolyzed Collagen is unlikely to treat acne directly, but it may help improve overall skin hydration and elasticity as part of your routine. This type of product needs added ingredients like niacinamide or soothing plant extracts to effectively calm breakouts and care for acne-prone skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums can also be used in the morning or twice a day. The formula is safe for acne-prone skin with no harsh ingredients, but acne-prone skin needs products that directly target blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your skin hydration and nourishment before your retinol. This formula is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, but acne-prone skin needs products containing ingredients like ceramides and targeted blemish-fighting agents to properly manage breakouts.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, where you can safely apply it every day. It is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients, though acne-prone skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing botanical extracts to clear breakouts.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on acne-prone skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients, though a few reviewers have experienced minor breakouts. It offers moderate hydration and oil control, but an acne-prone routine generally needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This serum is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it has no harsh ingredients, though the thin skin around your eyes and the varied skin on your body need products packed with soothing extracts and targeted barrier-strengthening ingredients to truly thrive.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment with salmon egg extract at concentrations of 1% and 5% significantly improved wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, brightness, and hydration in 66 healthy female volunteers in a dose- and time-dependent manner compared to baseline.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Caviar extract inhibits UV-induced skin photoaging by reducing NF-κB, MMP-3, and MMP-9 expression, increasing IκB, TIMP-1, SOD, HYP, COL17A1, KRT10, and KRT14 levels, and exhibiting antioxidant activity in HaCaT cells and a skin aging mice model.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2025Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of TAC/Collagen postbiotics gel improved skin moisture score and inflammation index, and reduced porphyrins and brown spots in 20 volunteers with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical collagen tripeptide application improved skin wrinkles, elasticity, and density while reducing advanced glycated end products in 22 Asian women over 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Marine collagen extracted from Greenland halibut skin showed a non-cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cells and provided a slight skin hydration effect when incorporated into cosmetic hydrogel formulations at dosages of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% in 23 healthy volunteers.
Marine Drugs, 2023Topical application of Low-Peony PDRN enhanced barrier recovery and improved periorbital skin elasticity in human subjects.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Polydeoxyribonucleotide promotes skin regeneration by increasing ERK phosphorylation, collagen accumulation, and cell proliferation and migration in fibroblasts while inhibiting ERK phosphorylation and inflammatory cytokine expression in keratinocytes.
Molecular Medicine Reports, 2023A topical mixture of polydeoxyribonucleotide, vitamin C, and niacinamide delivered via a microneedling therapy system decreased skin pigmentation and increased skin elasticity by attenuating melanogenesis and the destruction of collagen and elastin fibers in a UV-B-radiated animal model.
Molecules, 2022
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A Tris/Arg-formulated cleanser significantly decreased noninflammatory and inflammatory acne and pore size with keratotic plugs compared to an AEC/AC cleanser in male Thai subjects with mild to moderate acne over 4 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Disodium Edta, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Dna, Milt Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm Ma Copolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-26, Adenosine, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Myristate, Ubiquinone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Atelocollagen, Salmon Egg 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.
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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