Medicube ZERO PORE PAD MILD for oily acne-prone skin
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Betaine Salicylate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 for your oily skin due to betaine salicylate and willow bark extract, which help smooth texture and regulate oil production.
- Hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts concerns.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start using your exfoliating toner once a week and slowly increase frequency if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your exfoliating toner after cleansing and before your moisturizer or other treatments.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid any harsh rubbing .
- Apply the exfoliating toner on clean and completely dry skin to ensure the best results .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use daily SPF while using exfoliating active products.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers with sensitive skin frequently praise this toner pad for its gentle exfoliation and hydration, leading to smoother texture and controlled sebum for a radiant finish. While generally well-received, some users note it is less effective for deep blackhead removal compared to other versions.
Highlights
Gentle on Sensitive Mostly Mentioned
- “no irritation and no dryness”
- “doesn't sting and is mild”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Hydrating Finish Often Mentioned
- “leaves my skin feeling moisturized”
- “don't need to apply much emulsion”
- “intense hydration”
Smoother Skin Texture Often Mentioned
- “makeup goes on so much smoother”
- “removes roughness on forehead”
- “glass-like finish”
Hygienic Packaging Sometimes Noted
- “included tweezers are a nice touch”
- “lid seals it shut”
- “sanitary design”
Mild/Slow Efficacy Sometimes Noted
- “falls a bit short on deep pore treatment”
- “slower results than the original”
- “didn't show much effect on blackheads”
Low Quantity/Value Rarely Noted
- “runs out so quickly”
- “wish they came in packs of 100”
- “expensive for daily use”
Poor Pad Adherence Rarely Noted
- “pads keep falling off”
- “too thick to stick as a mask”
- “don't adhere well to the skin”
Sticky Residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a little sticky feeling”
- “stickiness on my face”
- “takes time to absorb”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, medicube.us, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does medicube Zero Pore Pad Mild work for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner works reasonably well for your oily acne-prone skin, offering moderate exfoliation with betaine salicylate and willow bark extract to smooth texture and manage oil, alongside soothing ingredients to help calm breakouts. However, this skin type often fits best with products that offer more potent clarifying and brightening ingredients to effectively target blemishes and excess shine while fully supporting skin radiance.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Betaine salicylate and willow bark extract help smooth texture and regulate oil production on oily skin, while hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits for acne and breakouts. This exfoliant works for this skin, though oily acne-prone skin needs a product that effectively addresses blemishes with a potent combination of exfoliating and brightening ingredients, while posing no risk of irritation or unsuitability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Butylene Glycol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Butylene glycol helps skincare sink into the skin more easily while keeping it feeling light. It aids in delivering other ingredients effectively without clogging pores.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliating toner fits into an oily acne-prone skincare routine by starting at once a week, increasing carefully if your skin tolerates it well. To better fit this skin type, products of this type need stronger oil control and targeted blemish-fighting ingredients.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliating toner with retinol by using them on alternate nights or spacing them out to help avoid skin irritation. Since both ingredients actively renew the skin, using them separately keeps your oily acne-prone skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliating toner once a week to see how your skin tolerates it, and carefully increase the frequency if you get good results. This product type works well for oily acne-prone skin when it features gentle exfoliating acids to smooth texture and control oil, paired with soothing and hydrating ingredients.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because its formula avoids harsh ingredients that trigger irritation, though its mild exfoliation may bring out a few initial surface spots as it smooths your skin. Oily acne-prone skin often works best with products that combine gentle chemical exfoliants like betaine salicylate with soothing extracts like centella asiatica to keep pores clear and calm.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Co-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, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta
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
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