Danielle Fowler
A Gen Z TikTok trend that influencers swear by can be delivered to your door within 24 hours - and best believe we're putting our orders in.
Famed for its pore pads and collagen face masks, Korean beauty brand Medicube has quickly risen to cult status over the last year.
It's hardly surprising either, as it seems the skincare giant has found its way into every influencer's bathroom cabinet.
£19.90
£14.30
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The brainchild of Kim Byung-Hoon, the K-beauty brand first launched in 2017, and #medicube has swiftly amassed over 8.4 billion views on TikTok.
Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, and Molly Mae are poster girls of the brand, and have undoubtedly inspired their fanbase to invest.
But it's the brand's use of PDRN (short for polydeoxyribonucleotide), which has garnered the most attention online.
Extracted from salmon sperm, it's a popular ingredient in the K-beauty world to allegedly improve skin elasticity, reduce fine lines, and promote collagen production.
Easily influenced, I snapped up the DNA PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, and it's now a beloved part of my skincare routine.
I was slightly nervous about my first foray into salmon sperm, but the PDRN serum glided onto my skin effortlessly and absorbed well, creating the perfect base for make-up.
Although I have blemish-prone skin, the glow lasted all day (without causing me to break out).
"PDRN serums work at a cellular level to support the skin’s natural repair processes," founder of Update Aesthetics, Nina Prisk, explains. "By promoting cell regeneration and hydration, they can help with skin rejuvenation, reduce the appearance of marks, and give the complexion a healthy glow.
"They can also help strengthen the skin’s barrier and improve elasticity over time, so with consistent use, the skin can look smoother and appear more refreshed overall."
So, what are the best Medicube products on the market, and are they really worth the hype? Find out more below.
Yes, Medicube is available in the UK on Amazon, M&S, and Sephora.
You can sign up to a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial here for next-day delivery.
The question on everyone's lips: does Medicube have sperm in it?
Yes, select Medicube products such as the Pink Peptide Serum contain PDRN (short for polydeoxyribonucleotide), which is extracted from salmon sperm.
The buzzy ingredient is found in many K-beauty products, as it can allegedly boost skin regeneration, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and enhance elasticity.
You can find our favourite products below.
A firm favourite in the office, Medicube's Pink Collagen Masks are enriched with salmon DNA to boost hydration. After three to four hours, it will transform from opaque to transparent, which indicates its time to take the mask off. The mask feels a lot more luxurious to other sheet masks on the market and can be moulded to suit your face shape.
£16.90
£11.41
A firm favourite on my bathroom shelf, the Salmon DNA PDRN Serum is one of the brand's most talked about products. Derived from fish sperm, it's designed to strengthen the skin's barrier and boost resistance against pollutants - essential as I live in London. I have blemish-prone skin so am always hesitant to introduce new products to my skincare routine, but this serum lives up to the hype. My skin has been glowier since without causing me to break out.
£16.90
£14.30
Summer is coming, so it's time to upgrade your sunscreen game. Medicube's take on SPF is designed for all skin types, as it promises no white residue after application. Just make sure to reapply every two to three hours for maximum protection.
£18.59
Hands down one of the most popular products, Medicube's Zero Pore Pads are designed to exfoliate the skin and reduce the appearance of pores. They've racked up thousands of views on Amazon, too. "This product is absolutely amazing," one five-star review reads. "I was totally blown away when I saw how much dirt it actually removed from my pores, even though I had just showered and cleaned my face."
£16.90
£15.30
If you're after a sleep mask, look no further. Enriched with collagen extract, Medicube's Wrapping Mask forms a protective layer whilst you sleep for up to eight hours. During that time, your skin will soak up hero ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Most importantly, it apparently won't stain your pillow.
£16.90
£15.30
With six functions, the Age-R Booster Pro uses microcurrents to encourage absorption of skincare products by a whopping 785 percent. With fans including Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner, it's one of the brand's most raved about products and it's currently on offer.
£220
£136