I dragged these rough-ass textured pads across my face every single night for 30 days. My pores went from looking like a close-up of a lunar surface to… just skin. Normal skin.
The real kicker? I didn’t change anything else. Same cleanser, same moisturizer, same garbage sleep schedule. The only variable was this Medicube pad swiping away dead cells and regret.
It’s a jar of 70 embossed pads soaked in a slightly viscous, watery serum. Costs about $32 depending on where you look. The claim that got me: “zero pores” — which is a lie, but the “visibly tightened texture” part had my attention.
Embossed Side
Rough textured side physically buffs away the grit — feels like a gentle microdermabrasion that doesn’t shred your barrier.
Smooth Side
The flat side is for toning and hydrating after the exfoliation. It’s a two-step facial in one swipe.
The Jar Seal
The little plastic cap inside keeps the pads from drying out — but you have to press it down hard or it pops off and the top pads turn to cardboard.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
It’s not just physical exfoliation. The serum is loaded with chemical exfoliants that work while you sleep. Don’t use this and then hit your face with a vitamin C serum the next morning unless you enjoy chemical burns.
- PHA: Gentle exfoliation that doesn’t sting like a breakup
- BHA: Dives into the pore to dissolve the gunk you can’t see
- Niacinamide: The pore-shrinking illusionist — tightens the look, not the actual hole
- Hyaluronic Acid: Keeps your face from feeling like sandpaper after all that buffing
Photo: Clearcut Derby / Unsplash
The texture is weirdly satisfying — the pad drags across your skin with a slight tackiness, then leaves a wet, cooling layer that absorbs in about 90 seconds. First week, my face felt raw if I pressed too hard. Back off — this isn’t a scrubbing contest.
By day 17, I noticed my makeup sat differently. Foundation didn’t cling to dry patches on my nose. But around day 22, I got a tiny breakout — probably from over-exfoliating on days 13 and 14. Learn from me.
Photo: simon / Unsplash
The blackheads on my nose are visibly fewer. My pores look smaller — not gone, but they’ve stopped screaming for attention. The ones on my cheeks? Still there, just… quieter. Texture is 70% improved, but I still need a blurring primer for close-up photos.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
Buy them. But don’t expect a miracle — expect a slow, steady improvement that’s actually sustainable. This is the only exfoliating product I’ve finished without getting bored.