Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum for combination skin
Niacinamide
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Sodium DnaAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- This serum offers moderate moisturizing and treatment for your combination skin, with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid providing hydration and some oil regulation. Glycerin and butylene glycol further support humectant action, helping to plump the skin and manage oily shine.
- While it provides general skincare benefits, it lacks targeted ingredients to directly address significant oil control for your main goal.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
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 combination skin?
This serum works reasonably well for your combination skin by offering moderate hydration and helping to manage oily shine without causing irritation. However, a product of this type needs richer hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients, ceramides, and targeted oil-control components to be a top fit for this skin type.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
This serum works for combination skin because niacinamide and hyaluronic acid help hydrate the skin and manage oily shine, while glycerin and butylene glycol provide extra moisture. To be an even better fit for this skin type, a moisturizing treatment needs ingredients like ceramides and targeted oil-control components to balance moisture and keep shine under control.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Hydrolyzed Collagen do for combination skin?
Hydrolyzed collagen helps keep combination skin hydrated and smooth while improving elasticity and reducing the look of fine lines. This type of supplement is generally well tolerated and may support overall skin firmness across different facial areas.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums may also be used in the morning or twice a day. Combination skin needs a product of this type that balances hydration with targeted oil control.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate your skin, followed by your retinol product. This helps plump your skin while minimizing potential dryness.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and smooth while remaining safe for your skin type.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is safe for your combination skin and is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts. A small number of reviewers report breakouts as a low complaint, but the formula lacks harsh ingredients.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This serum is safe to use on the thin skin around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. It helps hydrate these areas, though a product for this skin needs stronger oil control and targeted ingredients to fully address your main goal.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, and butylene glycol increased molecular mobility in stratum corneum lipids and affected keratin filaments, with butylene glycol and propylene glycol providing significant permeation enhancement.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2022Topical 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 combination skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
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.
-
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.