Medicube Zero Pore Pad: a Guru Score of 57% from 9 experts

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Allie Glines

829k subs

~Yay

"These are incredible for makeup prep. I swear by these. I love them so much. They're one of my favorite Korean skincare products on Amazon."

All 2 takes from Allie Glines

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"I also love the Medicube Zero Pore Pads. These are kind of viral on TikTok, which is what made me try them, and they really are worth the hype. I love a good Korean toner pad container, the whole experience is just the best."

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"These are incredible for makeup prep. I swear by these. I love them so much. They're one of my favorite Korean skincare products on Amazon."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Nay

"But the bigger issue is this brand had batches recently in the late summer that according to official government research and publications contained an ingredient called Sudan red. Hong Kong Customs tested this product that was going to be sold to customers and it found one point five milligrams of Sudan red inside of it and Sudan red apparently is an extremely carcinogenic carcinogen. Not good for your skin, not good for topical, not good for anything."

All 2 takes from No BS Beauty

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"I have a feeling this product could probably do much more damage and irritation to skin, especially acne-prone skin, than it would be beneficial. The ingredients are very drying, and in addition to all of those essential oils which can be very irritating, they include denatured alcohol and then on top of an exfoliant. Lactic acid should be paired with another soothing ingredient or used in a routine with another soothing ingredient."

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"But the bigger issue is this brand had batches recently in the late summer that according to official government research and publications contained an ingredient called Sudan red. Hong Kong Customs tested this product that was going to be sold to customers and it found one point five milligrams of Sudan red inside of it and Sudan red apparently is an extremely carcinogenic carcinogen. Not good for your skin, not good for topical, not good for anything."

Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert

55k subs

~Yay

"I got this as well. This is by Medicube Zero Pore Pad. Amazing."

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

~Nay

"I love Medicube's devices, but their skincare has been very hit or miss for me, and this one was a miss. These toner pads contain essential oils, so big heads up if you're a sensitive skin type. A lot of Korean products are fragrance free, but this is not one of them."

Dr. Sam Ellis

902k subs

~Yay

"I really like Medicube. It has some brightening ingredients in it, so it's just a really nice add-on for me personally."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Nay

"Doesn't moisturize the skin. This is a really terrible product. And I feel like because of the alcohol, you get a sensation of tightening happening as water evaporates from the skin. And that's what makes you think it's tightening your pores. So, it's a bit of a con to be honest. It's not tightening the pores. There's no salicylic acid in this, which is what helps with pore tightening. There's no collagen boosters in here, which is what would help with pore tightening."

Mad About Skin

734k subs

~Nay

"These are gentle, but I don't feel that we really need all these pads in our life. I think it's a little bit much. I think the marketing on here is a bit suspect because this isn't going to give you zero pores. It might help at the margins. I just don't think it's worth the price point. [...] If you're looking for an exfoliating pad and you set your expectations right, this is okay, but it's nothing groundbreaking if you ask me."

CYoung

96k subs

~Nay

"Don't use it every day, use it once or twice a week. Honestly this doesn't do anything for me, I would rather use a serum that actually helps my pores. People expect too much from a toner pad but it doesn't actually minimize your pores, it just helps a little bit. If you have oily or combo skin you can try it out, but it's not my style."

All 4 takes from CYoung

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"The Medicube PDRN toner pad feels a bit sticky, and it doesn't really feel like a toner pad, it feels more like a serum pad, so I make sure to tap it in. It works better than the other pad in summer, but if I had to pick just one of the two toner pads, I'd go with the other one over this."

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"Don't use it every day, use it once or twice a week. Honestly this doesn't do anything for me, I would rather use a serum that actually helps my pores. People expect too much from a toner pad but it doesn't actually minimize your pores, it just helps a little bit. If you have oily or combo skin you can try it out, but it's not my style."

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"As soon as it touches your skin you feel it cooling, one side is embossed and the other is soft. When I wiped it on my nose I could feel my pores getting clean, but when I wiped again [...] it turned red, it's effective but it's too aggressive, it feels like my skin is being shaved off. Don't use it too often, only use it when your t-zone area is rough, and if you have sensitive skin just put it on your nose and wipe it off gently."

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"Especially if you're oily combo and living in tropical weather, you'll hate this. [...] It's so sticky. I don't really hate sticky products, because some of the sticky tacky feeling works well when you do makeup, it works like a glue, like a primer. But it's like a first step of skincare, and I'm not ready to be sticky. [...] The pad itself is so thin, so whenever I take it out it always comes with at least two, and it dries out as time goes by, so that's a minus."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

~Yay

"My favorite product is [...] the Zero Pore Pads, one of their best sellers, specifically the version for sensitive skin. [...] It cleans out your pores, helps with exfoliation, helps with texture, but it plays well with sensitive skin, so it's much more generally recommended and easy to incorporate into a skincare routine. [...] I use it after shaving, about twice a week."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Medicube Zero Pore Pad?

Medicube Zero Pore Pad is a Korean toner pad meant to clean out pores and gently exfoliate, with a version made for sensitive skin.

Is Medicube Zero Pore Pad worth it?

The gurus are split. 4 of the 9 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 5 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 57%.

What is Medicube Zero Pore Pad's Guru Score?

Medicube Zero Pore Pad holds a Guru Score of 57%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.