Medicube Zero Pore One Day Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Aha
Bha
Pha
NiacinamideAverage
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products 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, with gluconolactone, lactic acid, and glycolic acid targeting texture and pore congestion. Niacinamide provides additional pore-refining benefits, supporting your goals for acne and oiliness.
- The inclusion of Centella Asiatica extract and Madecassoside offers soothing properties, which is beneficial for managing breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
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 Medicube Zero Pore One Day Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
Medicube Zero Pore One Day Serum works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, offering gentle exfoliation and soothing properties to help manage breakouts and pore congestion. However, because other products fit this skin type better, an ideal choice for oily acne-prone skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and soothing plant extracts to control excess oil, clear blemishes comfortably, and provide a healthy glow without causing irritation.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Molecules, 2023
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum contains gluconolactone, lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid to target texture and pore congestion, while niacinamide, Centella asiatica extract, and madecassoside help manage breakouts and soothe your skin. An exfoliant treatment for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and propolis or Vitamin C that control excess oil and soothe breakouts without irritation.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Molecules, 2023
What does Alpha Hydroxy Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Alpha hydroxy acid helps clear blemishes and soothe oily, acne-prone skin by gently removing dead skin cells and calming inflammation. Using this ingredient may also help improve skin texture and reduce breakouts when added to your regular routine.
What does Bha do for oily acne-prone skin?
BHA helps clear breakouts and keeps oily acne-prone skin balanced by gently clearing out pores and reducing skin oiliness. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may also improve overall skin hydration and texture.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This product goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting at once a week and working up slowly. Oily acne-prone skin needs a balanced routine with gentle exfoliating acids and soothing ingredients like centella asiatica to keep pores clear without causing irritation.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this exfoliant first and following with your retinol on separate nights or alternating days to keep your skin calm. Oily acne-prone skin needs gentle acids like salicylic acid and soothing ingredients like centella asiatica to clear pores without causing irritation.
How often should I use it?
Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well, you may carefully use it more often. This type of product needs a gentle acid blend like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or gluconolactone, along with soothing ingredients like centella asiatica, to help clear pore congestion and manage breakouts without causing irritation on oily acne-prone skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum may cause mild irritation for your oily skin, though it helps clear pore congestion and manage breakouts with a blend of exfoliating acids and soothing ingredients. To better fit oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs strong oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight, non-sticky hydrators that refine pores without leaving a heavy finish.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Molecules, 2023
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Gluconolactone 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, 1992Combining 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, 2023Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Co-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, 2016Cryotherapy 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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