Medicube Zero Pore Peptide Moisturizing Cream Review: 11 Peptides or Just 1?
Medicube Zero Pore Peptide Moisturizing Cream is brand new at Olive Young this month. It’s tagged [NEW] on the product page and listed in Olive Young’s October new-launch week, and it had only eight reviews when I checked. The pitch is a light moisturizer for oily but dehydrated skin, packed with peptides. So I read the Korean label to see how many peptides it really has, and how much of each.
The cream at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Product | Zero Pore Peptide Moisturizing Cream, 60 ml |
| Pitched for | Oily skin that still feels dry (수부지, “oily outside, dry inside”) |
| Made by / sold by | Nordinary (manufacturer), APR (responsible seller) |
| Price in Korea | 24,800 won list, 19,900 won on launch sale (about $15.00) |
| Functional cosmetic | No (the label says not applicable) |
| Shelf life | 36 months from manufacture, 12 months after opening |
Medicube is APR’s best-known brand overseas, and its Zero Pore line already includes toner pads and a serum. This cream adds a moisturizer to that line.
Eleven peptides, one real amount
This is what makes the label interesting. It lists eleven different peptides, and Korean rules let brands print the amount of a headline ingredient. Medicube printed all of them.
| Peptide (INCI) | Printed amount | In percent |
|---|---|---|
| Dipeptide-15 | 1,000,000 ppb | 0.1% |
| Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester | 20 ppb | 0.000002% |
| Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 | 2.75 ppb | tiny |
| Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 | 2.5 ppb | tiny |
| Acetyl Octapeptide-3 | 1.25 ppb | tiny |
| Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10 | 0.5 ppb | tiny |
| Copper Tripeptide-1 | 0.125 ppb | tiny |
| Oligopeptide-1, -2, -3 and Hexapeptide-11 | 0.005 ppb each | tiny |
In other words, one peptide does almost all the work. Dipeptide-15 sits at 0.1%, while the other ten add up to roughly 27 ppb together. That’s about 37,000 times less than the dipeptide on its own. So the “multi-peptide” story is really a one-peptide formula with traces of the rest.
That isn’t a criticism of the cream. Plenty of good moisturizers work without peptides at all. It’s just useful to know which number to look at.
How to read ppb on a Korean label
One percent equals 10,000 ppm, and one ppm equals 1,000 ppb. So 1,000,000 ppb is 1,000 ppm, or 0.1%. I used the same math for the PDRN in Daiso’s VT essence, where 300 ppb turned out to be a trace amount.
What else is in it
- Light emollients near the top. Hydrogenated poly(C6-14 olefin), isododecane and coco-caprylate/caprate are thin, fast-spreading oils. That fits the “for oily skin” pitch.
- Squalane is ninth, adding some softness without heaviness.
- Tannic acid (22nd) is a plant-derived astringent, which is likely where the pore angle comes in.
- Panthenol, niacinamide and bakuchiol sit around 23rd to 25th, so they’re small amounts. Don’t expect a niacinamide serum effect.
- Several forms of hyaluronic acid appear through the list for hydration.
I matched every Korean ingredient name to its INCI name with the MFDS ingredient database. The full list comes from Olive Young’s product information disclosure.
What isn’t in it
There is no fragrance and no essential oil on the list. That’s a plus for sensitive skin, and it’s not true of every cream in this price range. Because it isn’t a registered functional cosmetic, it also can’t make regulated brightening or wrinkle claims in Korea. The “zero pore” name is branding, not an approved claim.
How it compares with Medicube’s other creams
Medicube’s best-known moisturizers lean on collagen or PDRN. This one is lighter on paper, with volatile and thin oils doing the softening. If your skin is dry rather than oily, a richer barrier cream like Aestura Atobarrier 365 is probably the better match.
Medicube Zero Pore Peptide Moisturizing Cream price
| Where | Size | List price | Sale price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Young Korea | 60 ml | 24,800 won (about $18.70) | 19,900 won (about $15.00) |
| Olive Young Global | 60 ml | US$29.00 | US$23.26 |
Prices were checked on October 26, 2026, using the ECB reference rate from October 23. So the Korean launch price is about a third lower than the global sale price. Launch discounts often end after the first weeks, though, so check again before you buy.
Tips for buying it in Korea
- Look for the 60 ml jar in the Medicube section at larger Olive Young stores. New launches reach big stores first.
- Korean law requires the full ingredient list on the package, so you can check the peptide amounts in the store.
- Medicube also sells a renewed Zero Pore One Day Peptide Serum. Before you buy both, compare the peptide amounts printed on each label.
Who it’s likely to suit
Based on the formula, it reads as a light, fragrance-free moisturizer for oily or combination skin that still feels tight. Very dry skin will probably want something richer. It’s too new for meaningful reviews, so treat this as a label reading, not a verdict. If you have sensitive skin, patch test first, and check with a dermatologist if you’re unsure.
The short version
Medicube’s new Zero Pore Peptide Moisturizing Cream lists eleven peptides, but only Dipeptide-15 is there in a real amount (0.1%); the other ten total about 27 ppb. It’s a light, fragrance-free cream for oily but dehydrated skin, at 19,900 won on its Korean launch sale.
Some links on Haamoni may be affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post is not medical advice.
Sources
- Olive Young Korea product page and product information disclosure (checked 2026-10-26)
- Olive Young October new-launch week listing (checked 2026-10-26)
- Olive Young Global product page (checked 2026-10-26)
- MFDS cosmetic ingredient database (data.go.kr)
- Frankfurter (ECB reference rate), USD/KRW on 2026-10-23
