The Ordinary
Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
7.7Good
The Ordinary's renamed Buffet: an affordable five-peptide serum that gives subtle firming over months, with a slightly tacky feel.
Serum2$33.80
PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
A viral pink PDRN, niacinamide and peptide serum that some users find hydrating and glowy, while others report breakouts or little change.
7.3
Good
Beauty score
#14 of 14 serums
Community
—/10
- Format
- Serum
- Size
- 1.01 fl oz
- Price per oz
- $25.63 / oz
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: All skin types · Dry skin · Sensitive skin
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A viral pink PDRN, niacinamide and peptide serum that some users find hydrating and glowy, while others report breakouts or little change.
Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum combines salmon-DNA PDRN, niacinamide and five peptides in a lightweight pink serum tinted with vitamin B12; a vegan rose-PDRN version is also sold. Medicube targets uneven tone, elasticity and glow and claims visible improvement in two weeks. Reddit users are divided: some praise its hydration and a slight brightening effect, while others report whiteheads or call it overhyped. It contains added fragrance even though the product page lists fragrances among the ingredients it is formulated without.
Best for
- Trying PDRN in a lightweight daily serum
- Dull or dehydrated skin that wants a glow-focused step
- Shoppers who want a vegan option, via the rose-PDRN variant
What we love
- Combines PDRN, niacinamide and five peptides in one lightweight serum
- Light, fast-absorbing texture suited to morning and night use
- Sold in a salmon-DNA version and a vegan rose-PDRN version
- Dermatologist-tested and described by Medicube as low-irritation
Worth knowing
- Contains added fragrance despite a 'formulated without fragrances' claim on the page
- Peptides appear near the end of the ingredient list
- Reddit reports are mixed, including breakouts and little visible change
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.3Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%7.0
Medicube claims visible improvement in two weeks, but users are mixed: some say it hydrates well or made a slight difference, while one reports whiteheads and others name it in threads about overhyped products.
- Formula & ingredients20%7.2
PDRN, niacinamide and five peptides in a light base, but the peptides sit near the end of the list, it contains added fragrance, and the brand's 'formulated without' list conflicts with its own INCI.
- Texture & experience15%7.8
A light, fast-absorbing pink serum that users describe as hydrating; Medicube says the vitamin B12 tint does not stain the skin.
- Value20%7.6
$26 for 30 ml is mid-priced for a K-beauty serum and costs more per milliliter than simpler hydrating serums.
- Community love15%7.2
A viral bestseller with plenty of creator reviews, but Reddit opinion is divided between fans of its hydration and critics who call Medicube's PDRN line overhyped.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Lightweight, super-moisturizing pink serum that Medicube says absorbs within minutes; the color comes from vitamin B12 and does not stain
Format
Serum
Fragrance
Contains fragrance — Contains added fragrance (listed in the INCI)
Size
1.01 fl oz / 30 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- PdPDRNBarrier & repair — ingredient guide
- PePeptidesBarrier & repair — ingredient guide
- NiNiacinamideBrighteners — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Salmon-DNA PDRN (listed as sodium DNA) or, in the vegan variant, rose PDRN; niacinamide; five peptides (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, copper tripeptide-1, acetyl hexapeptide-8); cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) for the pink color; hydrolyzed collagen and sodium hyaluronate. pH 5.8–7.8; no percentages disclosed.
How to use
Apply a generous amount morning and night to clean, dry skin, spread over the face and neck and pat in; follow with moisturizer, and with sunscreen during the day.
Claims & certifications
- Dermatologist-tested
Full ingredient list (INCI)41 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Water,
- Glycerin,
- Dipropylene Glycol,
- Isopropyl Myristate,
- Glycereth-26,
- Niacinamide,
- 1,
- 2- Hexanediol,
- Sodium DNA,
- Butylene Glycol,
- Polyglycerin-3,
- Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer,
- Polyisobutene,
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer,
- Milt Extract,
- Tromethamine,
- Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer,
- PVM/MA Copolymer,
- Ethylhexylglycerin,
- Caprylyl Glycol,
- Fragrance,
- Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract,
- Adenosine,
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside,
- Sorbitan Oleate,
- Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract,
- Sodium Hyaluronate,
- Disodium EDTA,
- Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract,
- Cyanocobalamin,
- Hydrolyzed Collagen,
- Ubiquinone,
- Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract,
- Corallina Officinalis Extract,
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4,
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1,
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7,
- Copper Tripeptide-1,
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8,
- Salmon Egg Extract,
- Atelocollagen
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
3 verbatim quotes · 1 positive · 1 mixed · 1 critical
r/SkincareAddictionPositive
One I do like is the Medicube PDRN pink peptide serum, it’s great for hydration
r/SkincareAddictionMixed
I have similar under eyes to you and can’t tell if I’m gaslighting myself but I think the pink PDRN medicube serum has made a slight difference.
r/KoreanBeautyCritical
that medicube pink peptide serum it gave me tiny hard whiteheads on my forehead and face..
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$26.00
for 1.01 fl oz / 30 ml
Per ounce
$25.63
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
About 53% more per ounce than the typical serums we review. Our value score: 7.6/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
No discussions yet.
Tried Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
What is PDRN?
Medicube describes PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) as DNA fragments, mainly extracted from salmon, that it says support the skin's barrier; the ingredient list shows it as sodium DNA. The vegan variant uses rose PDRN instead.
Will the pink color stain my skin?
Medicube says the pink color comes naturally from vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), contains no artificial colorants and does not stain the skin.
Can I use it with vitamin C or retinol?
Medicube says the serum can be worked into most routines, including alongside vitamin C or retinol, and that its low-irritation formula is suitable for daily morning and evening use.
Is it fragrance-free?
No. Although the product page includes fragrances in a 'formulated without' list, the full ingredient lists for both the salmon and rose variants include Fragrance.
Sources we checked (4)
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