Medicube Zero Pore One Day Serum for sensitive skin
Aha
Bha
Pha
NiacinamideAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other products fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate exfoliation and hydration suitable for your normal skin, with gluconolactone and salicylic acid gently addressing redness and irritation by providing mild chemical exfoliation. Niacinamide further supports your skin barrier, enhancing overall comfort.
- The inclusion of lactic acid and glycolic acid contributes to smoothing skin texture and refining pores, complementing the primary benefits for your skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with redness and irritation. Start slowly and only increase frequency if your skin feels happy and comfortable.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner , but always before your moisturizer . This ensures the product absorbs properly into the skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing . Let it absorb for a minute before moving on.
- Since your skin is sensitive , apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for the best tolerance. This helps prevent any extra stinging or discomfort.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin frequently praise this serum for refining rough texture and minimizing enlarged pores, often describing a blurring effect that serves as a good makeup base. While the 'one day' claim is often viewed as marketing hyperbole, consistent use reportedly yields smoother skin and reduced sebum production, though the product's sticky finish is a polarizing feature.
Highlights
Smoothes texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin felt smoother”
- “peel-off egg skin”
- “makeup sits better”
- “texture is refined”
Sticky finish Mostly Mentioned
- “pretty sticky”
- “leaves a sticky finish”
- “stickiness is intense”
- “hair sticks to face”
Tightens pores Often Mentioned
- “pores looked smaller”
- “reduced appearance of open pores”
- “pores visibly minimized”
- “pore tightening effect is visible”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “reduction of sebum”
- “less oily T-zone”
- “makeup lasted longer”
- “oil balance is under control”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “refills moisture”
- “leaves a dewy finish”
- “hydrating without stripping”
- “skin feels plump”
Causes irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings”
- “caused breakouts”
- “tingling on sensitive skin”
- “too strong for me”
Price vs quantity Rarely Noted
- “bottle can't be opened”
- “expensive for size”
- “small amount”
- “finished too quickly”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smell is like a bond”
- “scent is strong”
- “chemical smell”
- “smells like glue”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, influenster.com, yesstyle.com, medicube.us, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Zero Pore One Day Serum work for sensitive skin?
This serum works reasonably well for sensitive skin, offering moderate exfoliation and hydration with gentle acids and niacinamide that help calm redness. However, an exfoliant treatment for this skin needs exceptionally well-suited ingredients providing optimal benefits for redness without irritation, along with strong antioxidants, soothing agents, and reliable skin-repairing components.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Gluconolactone, salicylic acid, and niacinamide help make this serum a fit for sensitive skin by gently addressing redness and supporting the skin barrier for enhanced comfort. Because other products fit this skin type even better, an exfoliant of this type needs effective ingredients that calm redness while posing no irritation risk and remaining highly compatible with normal skin.
What does Alpha Hydroxy Acid do for sensitive skin?
Alpha hydroxy acids help smooth and brighten sensitive skin when you choose gentler forms like polyhydroxy acids or carefully formulated derivatives that are less likely to cause irritation. They improve hydration and soften lines while keeping the skin calm.
What does Bha do for sensitive skin?
BHA helps keep sensitive or oily skin calm and clear by gently clearing out pores and lowering extra oil without causing a lot of irritation. Clinical studies show that regular use can improve breakouts and keep the skin barrier feeling comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2016
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing. Sensitive skin works best with products of this type that provide gentle acids and soothing ingredients to keep skin calm while smoothing texture.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
It is best not to use this exfoliant treatment in the same routine as retinol, as combining them may cause redness and irritation on sensitive skin. Instead, you can alternate nights or use the retinol on a different day to keep your skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this serum once a week in the evening, and if your sensitive skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. An average fit for your skin needs gentle acids like gluconolactone and soothing ingredients like allantoin and centella asiatica to keep skin calm while smoothing texture.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This exfoliant treatment works for your sensitive skin, though other products fit it better because they use gentler acids and soothing ingredients that keep redness and irritation away.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Gluconolactone 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, 1992Topical application of 1-1.5% glycolic acid suppresses UVB-induced inflammation by modulating NF-κB signaling pathways in human keratinocytes and mouse dorsal skin.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, 2005
Ingredients
Water, Gluconolactone, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Polyglycerin-3, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Lecithin, Allantoin, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dextrin, Indigofera Tinctoria Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract, Gardenia Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Trisodium Phosphate, Of Myosotis Sylvatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Lactobacillus Lysate Ferment, Dandelion Leaf 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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