Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser for skin with dark spots
Glycerin
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Coconut Acid
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin due to glycerin and Portulaca Oleracea Extract, which provide humectant and anti-inflammatory actions respectively.
- Offers excellent cleansing with myristic acid and lauric acid to effectively clear pores, and moderate benefits for pigmentation with Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin frequently praise this cleanser for its rich, mochi-like lather and its ability to deeply cleanse pores, leaving skin feeling squeaky clean and minimizing pore appearance. However, a significant number of users with dry or sensitive skin report that the cleanser can be too stripping and may cause tightness or irritation.
Highlights
Deep pore cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “Pores drastically reduced”
- “Blackheads gone, finito”
- “Squeaky-clean feeling”
- “Removes wastes in pores.”
Rich, dense lather Mostly Mentioned
- “Mochi-like foam”
- “Feels like clouds on skin”
- “Rich and bouncy lather”
- “Foams very well.”
Ideal for oily skin Often Mentioned
- “Perfect for oily skin”
- “Sebum reducing”
- “Completely gets rid of oil”
- “Good for combination skin.”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels very tight”
- “Too drying and harsh”
- “Felt stripped clean”
- “Not for dry skin.”
Economical usage Sometimes Noted
- “Tiny amount goes a long way”
- “One bottle will last forever”
- “Needs just a small quantity.”
Breakouts or irritation Rarely Noted
- “Made me break out”
- “Caused blemishes”
- “Itchy forehead”
- “Hives and redness.”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “Wish it was more affordable”
- “Pricey for a cleanser”
- “Good but expensive.”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Can smell perfume hours later”
- “Strong scent”
- “Smell is mild but present.”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, picky.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, medicube.us, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser a great fit for skin with dark spots?
Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser is a great fit for skin with dark spots because it clears pores well and offers moderate benefits for pigmentation using Dimethylmethoxy chromanol. It is also very safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your normal skin thanks to soothing ingredients like Portulaca Oleracea extract.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Dimethylmethoxy chromanol gives this cleanser moderate benefits for dark spots by helping improve skin pigmentation. Glycerin and Portulaca Oleracea Extract also make it a great fit by keeping skin calm and hydrated while cleansing.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017BMC Oral Health, 2023
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
What does Purslane Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Purslane Extract helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone by slowing down the processes that create excess pigment in the skin. It also protects your skin from sun stress and damage that can lead to new spots.
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi Jiehe Zazhi = Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2015Phytomedicine, 2023
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening steps of your routine to help clear pores and calm skin. Using a gentle cleanser like this as part of a regular daily routine helps improve overall skin feel and supports your skin barrier.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser alongside retinol, applying it first to wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. It clears pores well while keeping your skin calm, making it a safe choice for your routine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently clears pores while offering a very safe, irritation-free experience for your skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots because it has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients and low complaints of irritation. However, reviewers do report that it can sometimes feel drying and stripping.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes to prevent irritation. The body has much thicker skin that tolerates foaming cleansers well compared to the delicate eye area.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2023Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022Supplementation of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with Spirulina and dimethylmethoxy chromanol significantly improved skin pigmentation, reduced collagen degradation, and enhanced net elasticity in 44 healthy subjects after 84 days compared to sunscreen alone.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017Camellia 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, 2007A 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, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Topical application of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea accelerates wound healing by decreasing wound surface area and increasing tensile strength in Mus musculus JVI-1, with the greatest contraction achieved at a single dose of 50mg compared to other dosages.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003A polysaccharide fraction (VPOP3) from Portulaca oleracea L. reduced reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis, and downregulated melanogenic signaling pathway proteins in cells and zebrafish.
Phytomedicine, 2023Camellia oleifera Abel shell 1,3-butanediol extract decreased facial melanin levels by 59% from baseline at 6 weeks compared to a placebo group showing no effect in 30 female subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Camellia 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 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, 2019Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Sorbitol, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cocoate, Coconut Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Propanediol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Acrylic Acid Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis 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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.