Mediheal Madecassoside Derma Serum Review: Is the Madecassoside Claim Real?

The Mediheal Madecassoside Derma Serum kept turning up in Korean skincare videos this month, and none of those videos were ads. Three Korean beauty YouTubers put it in their autumn routines, all for slightly different reasons. So I lined up what each of them said, then checked their reasons against the official Korean label.

Here’s how I found it. I looked at Korean YouTube videos from the last 30 days that weren’t marked as sponsored, 189 videos from 164 channels, and counted which products came up across different channels. This serum appeared in three separate routines, each from a different creator.

Who recommended it, and why

Creator	Skin type they describe	Why they use it
Ocean (오션), 303K subscribers	Atopic, very dry	Absorbs well even on dry days, light finish, uses it all year
Yejin-a C (예진아C), 15K subscribers	Sensitive, dry, prone to redness and bumps	Light, fast-absorbing, not sticky, morning and night
Yoonsae (윤새), 51K subscribers	Combination skin that gets dry and tight	For days when skin feels dry and sensitive, not heavy

All three videos say they contain no paid promotion. Two of the channels share shopping links that can earn them a small commission, which they disclose in their descriptions.

Ocean: a thin serum for very dry skin

Ocean describes her skin as atopic and very dry, and her video is about the routine she settled on this year. She likes that the serum is thin and watery, because thick serums don’t sink in when her skin is dry. She also points to the two ingredients she’s after: madecassoside for calming irritated skin, and niacinamide for the dark marks she tends to get after breakouts.

Yejin-a C: a daily calming step for bumpy, sensitive skin

Yejin-a C made a video about bumpy texture on sensitive, dry skin. Her reasons are mostly about texture. She calls it light and fast-absorbing, with no sticky feel, so she uses it morning and night. She also mentions the brand’s claim that the madecassoside it uses is 98% pure, which is worth a closer look below.

Yoonsae: for days when skin turns dry and reactive

Yoonsae groups it with the serums she reaches for when her skin feels dry and sensitive. In her words, it feels like a watery ampoule that sinks in without heaviness. She places it as a calmer, everyday option next to richer serums she saves for colder weather.

What they agree on

Texture first. All three describe a thin, light serum that absorbs quickly, even on dry skin.
Calming, not treating. Each one uses it as a daily calming and hydrating step, rather than a strong active.
Dry and sensitive skin. Every creator here has dry or reactive skin, so there’s no oily-skin opinion in this group.

Mediheal Madecassoside Derma Serum card: what Korean creators said vs what the label shows

What the Korean label actually shows

The full ingredient list is on Olive Young Korea’s product information disclosure, the legally required label data. I matched each Korean ingredient name to its English INCI name using the MFDS ingredient database.

Madecassoside: 1,080 ppm, not 98%

This is the most useful thing the label clears up. The serum lists madecassoside at 1,080 ppm, which works out to about 0.11% of the formula. So the “98%” refers to how pure the raw ingredient is, not how much of it is in the bottle. That’s a normal amount for a calming active, but it helps to read the two numbers correctly.

Madecassoside is one of the main compounds in centella asiatica. A 2013 review describes centella compounds as studied for soothing and supporting skin repair, mostly in small studies. The label also lists centella extract, centella leaf extract, asiaticoside and asiatic acid in smaller amounts.

Niacinamide does a lot of the work

Niacinamide is the fifth ingredient, right after the water and humectants. That high position fits Ocean’s reason for using it on post-breakout marks. The label also says the serum passed Korea’s functional-cosmetic review, although it doesn’t name the category. Panthenol, betaine and sodium hyaluronate add hydration, which matches the light, moist feel all three creators describe.

Ceramide NP is on the list too, but it is the very last ingredient, so it’s present in a tiny amount.

The part the videos didn’t mention

The formula contains several essential oils: cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana), patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and rosemary leaf oil, plus damask rose water. None of the three creators brought this up, and none of them reported a problem. However, if your skin reacts to essential oils or fragrance, this is the main thing to check. Patch test first, and ask a dermatologist if you’re unsure.

Mediheal Madecassoside Derma Serum price: Korea vs Olive Young Global

Where	Size	Price
Olive Young Korea	50 ml	26,000 won (about $19.60)
Olive Young Korea, October set	50 ml + 50 ml	24,900 won on sale (about $18.80), list 43,000 won
Olive Young Global	50 ml	US$31.00
Olive Young Global	50 ml x 2	US$28.95 on sale, list US$50.00

Prices were checked on October 25, 2026, using the ECB reference rate from October 23. On that day, Olive Young Korea showed a 4.9 rating from 5,167 reviews. In other words, a single bottle costs roughly a third less in Korea, and the October two-pack is the best deal if you’re in Seoul.

Who it’s likely to suit

The creators’ view and the label point the same way. It’s a light, watery serum built around niacinamide and centella compounds, which suits dry, normal and combination skin that wants a calm daily step. All three creators have dry or sensitive skin, so oily skin is untested in this group. The essential oils are the main reason to pause if your skin is easily irritated.

Curious how a centella cream compares? My look at Centellian24 Madeca Cream covers a richer, pharmacy-brand option. For another niacinamide-led formula on a budget, see the Daiso VT PDRN essence.

The short version

Three Korean YouTubers with dry or sensitive skin picked the Mediheal Madecassoside Derma Serum without sponsorship, mainly for its light, fast-absorbing texture. The label shows niacinamide high on the list, madecassoside at 1,080 ppm, and several essential oils worth noting if your skin is reactive.

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.

Mediheal Madecassoside Derma Serum Review: Is the Madecassoside Claim Real?