Beauty writer Lucy Addicott overhauled her entire skincare routine with products thousands of people swear by for a glowing complexion
Korean skincare is typically associated with hardworking yet simple formulas that result in a smooth, ‘glass-like’ complexion. The cold, winter months can be harsh on our skin so with the arrival of the spring season, giving mine a new lease of life was high on the agenda.
There’s been a lot of talk about Korean skincare brand Medicube this year, perhaps boosted from a celebrity fan base including Kylie Jenner and Molly-Mae Hague. With the hopes of a radiant glow from a few simple skincare switches ringing in my ears, I got my hands on some of Medicube’s bestselling products to see what the hype is all about.
In order to test the formulas, I completely overhauled my current skincare routine, in favour of Medicube toners, creams, serums and face masks. Medicube is stocked at a number of different beauty retailers so it’s easy to find, including Sephora, Amazon, LookFantastic and Boots.
The item I was most excited to try was the Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream. At full price it is £26, which is reasonable for anti-ageing skincare in my opinion. Said to improve skin elasticity, firmness and radiance, it has a unique ‘jelly’ texture for intense plumping and hydration.
To apply, I used the included spatula to scoop up the jelly and coat my skin in a medium layer as the last step of my skincare routine. It does have a sticky texture, which those that are not used to may find uncomfortable at first, but for me it still feels lightweight and hydrating. I would liken it to a similar texture to the Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream.
It definitely helped my skin go from dull and dry to plump and glowing, from instant use. I’ve also noticed a slight difference in my forehead lines, but this part did take a few weeks of use before I saw results.
The more I use the Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream, the smoother my skin seems to get, especially when paired with the Medicube Zero Pore Pads. These clever toner pads are designed in a way I never knew I was looking for until I tried.
Priced at £23.99, there are 70 pads in the pack and since I use one a day, a whole pot lasts me over two months. One side of the pad is slightly embossed for deep cleansing and the other side is silky for soothing hydration.
My face feels unbelievably clean after using these toner pads, with lactic acid, salicylic acid and gentle exfoliation to reduce sebum/oil and decrease pore size. Previously I have used a liquid toner that is poured onto a cotton pad which can be messy and wasteful, but with the Medicube toner pads the process is quick, easy and effective. For those that do prefer a liquid toner, I’m a fan of the L’Oreal Paris Fine Flowers Cleansing Toner.
The Medicube toner pads do leave my face a little wet, but I actually quite like that and means I just wait 30 seconds before putting my moisturiser on. When it comes to serum and moisturiser, I tried the Medicube Triple Collagen Serum (£22.99) and the Medicube PDRN Hyaluronic Moisturising Cream (£18.99).
A little goes a long way with the serum and it absorbs so well, making my skin soft and dewy. I also love the smell of the product, a gentle spa-like fragrance that to me, is very unique and fresh. I don’t like a heavy moisturiser during the day so I immediately knew the PDRN Cream would be up my street thanks to the lightweight yet rich formula.
In my opinion, it is akin to a gel-moisturiser rather than a cream. It utilises hyaluronic acid for intensive moisture, niacinamide to brighten and peptides to support collagen. I also love the scent and how non-fussy it is.
The final Medicube product I was intrigued by was the Collagen Night Wrapping Mask (£25.99). Essentially working to smooth and firm the skin overnight, I applied it evenly over my face before bed, eagerly waiting to see the results come morning.
This mask took around 15 minutes to dry, so I wouldn’t recommend using it in the evening for anyone in a rush, but once it was dry, it didn’t come off on my pillow or irritate my skin while I was sleeping. Then came the fun part – time to peel it off.
The wrapping layer easily peeled off my face in a few swift moves, but the brand do state it can be removed using lukewarm water, too. Underneath the mask, my skin was genuinely glowing and it had given my complexion the ‘glass’ finish I was hoping for.
While I could tell the Medicube products were certainly improving the appearance and feel of my skin, the real proof came when I saw my friend after just a week of trialing them and she complimented my complexion. I was wearing no makeup and she inquired which skincare items I was using as my skin looked a lot more radiant.
Intrigued when I stated it was all down to Medicube, she was even more impressed by the price point of the brand – as am I. The majority of Medicube products sit at the £20 mark and this whole new skincare routine with five items comes in at under £118.
Considering these items will last me weeks on end, I think this very affordable for how impressed I was with the results. Shoppers can often find Medicube items on sale as well, for example, Amazon have reduced the Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream to £16.80 at the time of writing.
It’s now been a couple of weeks since I swapped my skincare routine for all Medicube products and I can genuinely say it’s my new favourite skincare brand. Not only is it reasonably priced, my skin has never felt or looked smoother and I’ll certainly be re-purchasing.
