Medicube Zero Pore Serum 2.0 for dry skin
Dimethicone
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 formulation offers moderate pore-minimizing and skin-smoothing effects due to ingredients like fomes officinalis extract and cinnamomum zeylanicum bark extract, which are beneficial for general skin texture but do not specifically address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- While butylene glycol provides some hydration, the lack of sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients means it does not fully combat dryness.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin frequently report that this serum effectively regulates sebum and improves overall skin texture, creating a smoother base for makeup. While many users noticed a visible tightening of pores and a "glass skin" effect, results regarding actual pore size reduction are mixed, with some finding it highly effective and others seeing no significant change.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin texture feels smoother”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “makeup sits better”
- “improved skin clarity”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight finish”
- “not greasy”
- “sinks right in”
Oil & sebum control Often Mentioned
- “controls excess oil”
- “nose wasn't as oily”
- “regulates sebum production”
- “balanced skin moisture”
Sticky texture Often Mentioned
- “incredibly sticky”
- “tacky finish after application”
- “hair sticks to my face”
- “feels uncomfortable and sticky”
Pore tightening Sometimes Noted
- “pores looked noticeably tighter”
- “saw a reduction in pore size”
- “felt my pores tightening”
- “pores look cleaner and smaller”
Ineffective for some Sometimes Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “pores look the same”
- “no effect on blackheads”
- “didn't live up to claims”
Unpleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is a bit off”
- “strong perfume smell”
- “smells like men's cologne”
- “fragrance is overpowering”
Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
- “bottle is too small”
- “expensive for the amount”
- “finished it too quickly”
- “pricy for daily use”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, hwahae.co.kr, stylekorean.com, oliveyoung.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medicube Zero Pore Serum work for dry skin?
Medicube Zero Pore Serum 2.0 works as an average fit for dry skin, smoothing texture while lacking enough softening and sealing ingredients to fully stop dryness. It is completely safe with no risk of irritation, but dry skin needs a richer blend of moisture-locking agents and nourishing ingredients to stay comfortable.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012Journal of Dermatological Science, 2019
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Medicube Zero Pore Serum 2.0 has an average fit for dry skin because while butylene glycol provides some hydration, the formula lacks rich softening and sealing ingredients needed to fully lock in moisture and combat dryness. Dry skin needs formulas rich in soothing moisturizers like sodium hyaluronate and centella asiatica, alongside nourishing softening agents and heavy sealants to maintain optimal moisture levels.
What does Water do for dry skin?
Drinking more water helps increase skin hydration and may reduce clinical signs of dryness and roughness, particularly for individuals with lower prior water consumption.
What does Dimethicone do for dry skin?
Dimethicone helps protect dry skin and keeps it smooth by forming a gentle, breathable layer on top. It is unlikely to lock in moisture on its own as well as heavy protectants like petrolatum, so dry skin often needs formulas that combine dimethicone with hydrating ingredients like glycerin.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2005Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine for dry skin, after cleansing and before moisturizing. Because this product does not specifically address dry skin concerns, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients and oils to fully combat dryness.
Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it sink in before smoothing on this treatment. This serum is unlikely to irritate your dry skin, but dry skin needs a product packed with rich moisturizers and skin-softening ingredients to truly lock in hydration.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works for your dry skin in the evening routine, though other products fit it better. It is unlikely to irritate dry skin, but dry skin needs richer hydrating ingredients and heavy softening or sealing ingredients to stay comfortable.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. It has a very safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Aqueous extracts of apple mint leaves inhibited heat shock-induced production of reactive oxygen species, matrix metalloproteinases, interleukin-8, and mitogen-activated protein kinases in human dermal fibroblasts.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018White button mushroom extract treatment increased VEGF densities, EGF, PCNA, and collagen fibers, while decreasing apoptotic cells and limiting TGF-beta and CD4 reactions in ICR mice and chorioallantoic culture, indicating beneficial effects on skin regeneration and injury.
Microscopy Research and Technique, 2012
Why other serums fit dry skin better
Cosmetic 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 formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate-13, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isoceteth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Isoceteth-25, Carbomer, Polyisobutene, Disodium Edta, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Bht, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower 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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