Medicube vs Dr. Melaxin: the short answer
Pick Dr. Melaxin if you want the lower price and a balm stick with no fragrance or flower oils on the label. Pick Medicube if you want more named actives in the stick, including PDRN, retinol and peptides.
Medicube and Dr. Melaxin are both South Korean brands, and the products people compare most are their balm sticks: Medicube's PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm and Dr. Melaxin's Calcium Multi Balm. Most of that comparison happens in TikTok videos and Reddit threads.
Popularity is not evidence. Dr. Melaxin's balm page shows "No.1" TikTok Shop and Amazon badges with no date or category, and Medicube calls its peptide serum a best-selling facial serum based on Amazon rankings from September 2025. Sales rank tells you what people buy, not how a formula performs, so this comparison sticks to labels, prices and what each brand reports.
Choose this if
- Choose Dr. Melaxin if fragrance or flower oils bother your skin. The Calcium Multi Balm lists no fragrance and none of the four flower and fruit oils in Medicube's balm, and it costs $19 against $22.
- Choose Medicube if you want the longest list of actives in a stick. The PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm lists sodium DNA (its PDRN), retinol, caffeine, NAD and 14 peptide ingredients, with 5% Volufiline printed on the label.
- Choose Dr. Melaxin if price per ounce matters most. The Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule works out to $9.24 per ounce and the Calcium Volume Cream to $14.77, the two lowest figures in this comparison.
Who makes Medicube and Dr. Melaxin?
Medicube and Dr. Melaxin come from two different South Korean companies: APR Corp. owns Medicube, and Brand501 owns Dr. Melaxin.
Medicube is the flagship brand of APR, the Seoul company Kim Byung-hoon founded in 2014. APR launched Medicube in 2016 and went public on South Korea's Kospi in 2024. It reported 2025 revenue of KRW 1.53 trillion (USD 1.05 billion), with 80% from overseas.
Dr. Melaxin belongs to Brand501, a privately held company Yoo Kyung-hwa founded in Seoul in January 2017. Sources differ on the year Dr. Melaxin launched. The brand calls itself a slow aging line for pigmentation, pores and sagging skin, built around calcium and spicule technology. It grew in the US mainly through TikTok Shop, and Brand501 reported 2025 revenue of KRW 233.7 billion. According to YesStyle, the "Dr." in the name reflects a science-led approach, not a physician.
Full histories are on our Medicube brand page and Dr. Melaxin brand page. Medicube also appears in our Biodance vs Medicube and Mediheal vs Medicube comparisons.
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Multi Balm vs Dr. Melaxin Calcium Multi Balm
Medicube's PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm and Dr. Melaxin's Calcium Multi Balm are both twist-up balm sticks, and they differ on price, on how many actives they list, and on flower oils. Dr. Melaxin's stick also goes by Calcium Volume Multi Balm (its label) and Cemenrete Calcium Multi Balm (YesStyle and Skinsort).
| Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm | Dr. Melaxin Calcium Multi Balm | |
|---|---|---|
| Price on September 17, 2026 | $22 (listed regular price $26) | $19 (SALE badge, no regular price shown) |
| Size | 10 g (0.35 oz) | 9 g (0.31 oz) |
| Price per ounce | $62.86 | $61.29 |
| Key actives as the brand names them | Volufiline (5% on the label), PDRN, NAD, caffeine | "Skin calcium Rebornic patented ingredients", calcium element, "β-glucosidase enzyme extracting process" |
| Also on the ingredient list | Sodium DNA, adenosine, retinol, collagen, sodium hyaluronate, 14 peptide ingredients | Adenosine, tremella fuciformis extract, collagen extract, hydrolyzed elastin, calcium carbonate |
| Fragrance | No fragrance entry; four flower and fruit oils | None listed |
| Denatured alcohol | Not listed | Not listed |
| Where the brand says to use it | Face and body, over or under makeup | Eye area, smile lines, forehead |
What each label shows
Medicube's balm lists sodium DNA 17th, the ingredient Medicube labels as PDRN on its serum. It also contains NAD, caffeine, retinol and 14 peptide ingredients. The page says it is free from artificial colorants and fragrance, and the list has no fragrance entry, but it includes pelargonium graveolens flower oil, cananga odorata flower oil, bergamot fruit oil and rosa damascena flower oil.
Dr. Melaxin's balm lists fewer actives: adenosine, tremella fuciformis extract, collagen extract and hydrolyzed elastin, in a base of waxes and plant oils such as jojoba, olive and avocado. Calcium appears once, as calcium carbonate (CI 77220), the last ingredient. The brand credits an ingredient it calls Rebornic, but no entry by that name appears on the ingredient list.
What the brands report for their balms
A clinical or instrumental result means testers measured or graded the skin. A consumer self-assessment means users rated their own skin or experience. Across all six products here, only one claim states a sample size: a 20-person consumer survey in which Medicube reports 100% positive feedback on how its Zero Exosome Shot felt. Every other figure below is brand-reported without published study details.
Medicube calls its balm results clinical and credits the Global Institute of Dermatological Sciences, with testing from January 12 to February 20, 2026. It lists improvement figures of 25.7% for under-eye hollowness, 10.7% for crow's feet and 3.3% for forehead lines after 2 weeks, and 12.1% for lip lines after one use.
Dr. Melaxin reports a clinical study on 5 types of eye wrinkles, with figures such as 137.01% for wrinkle depth. It credits those results to "one Calcium Duo," a two-product set, not the balm alone, and gives no sample size or duration.
How do Medicube's serums compare with Dr. Melaxin's Peel Shot ampoule?
Medicube's PDRN Pink Peptide Serum and Zero Exosome Shot 2000 and Dr. Melaxin's Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule are three different formats: a dropper serum, a spicule booster serum, and an exfoliating dropper ampoule. Skinsort pairs the Exosome Shot with the Peel Shot, but they are built differently.
| Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum | Medicube Zero Exosome Shot 2000 | Dr. Melaxin Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Dropper serum | Spicule booster serum, pump bottle | Exfoliating dropper ampoule |
| Key actives as the brand names them | Salmon DNA PDRN, peptide, niacinamide | Exosome-coated spicule, lacto exosome, AHA, BHA, PHA | PENTA-RICE (rice water extract + PENTAVITIN), AHA + BHA, niacinamide |
| Size | 30 ml | 30 ml | 80 ml |
| Fragrance | Listed | Not listed | Listed |
PDRN Pink Peptide Serum is a pink serum that Medicube describes as lightweight and moisturizing, with the color coming from vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). The packshot reads "PDRN(Sodium DNA) 1%" and "5 Types Peptide Complex," and niacinamide is sixth on the ingredient list. A Rose PDRN version, labeled vegan, sells at the same price as the default Salmon DNA PDRN version.
Zero Exosome Shot 2000 is a liquid serum carrying needle-shaped hydrolyzed sponge particles, which you press and rub into skin and do not rinse off. The formula also lists lactobacillus extracellular vesicles, betaine salicylate, citric acid and gluconolactone. The 2000 is the Mild option; Strong (7500) and Intense (25000) versions sell on the same listing. Medicube says tingling, redness, itching and a heat sensation may occur, recommends a patch test, and says not to use it near the eyes and lips.
Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule is built around exfoliation. Dr. Melaxin says it combines gentle exfoliation with absorption and removes dead skin cells, and the label calls it "Gommage Peeling." Rice bran water is the first ingredient, and PENTAVITIN appears under its ingredient name, saccharide isomerate. The brand names AHA + BHA as key actives; the list includes citric acid and gluconolactone but no salicylic acid or other BHA by name. Our guide on how often to exfoliate covers spacing.
What is PDRN?
PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, is the DNA-derived ingredient behind Medicube's PDRN Pink line, and none of the three Dr. Melaxin products here lists it. A 2025 review in Pharmaceutics describes PDRN and polynucleotides (PN) as DNA-derived biopolymers that differ in fragment length, with PDRN made of shorter fragments. On Medicube's labels, PDRN appears as sodium DNA: 1% in the serum, per its packshot, and 17th on the balm's ingredient list.
The clinical evidence is small. A 2026 systematic review of randomized trials found seven trials with 183 participants in total, across skin rejuvenation, scar prevention and wound healing. The trials reported better outcomes, most consistently in wound healing, and the authors called the evidence limited by small samples and mixed treatment protocols. That research covers PN and PDRN treatments in general. It does not show what a 1% serum or a balm stick does for your skin.
Is Medicube or Dr. Melaxin better for under-eye hollows?
Dr. Melaxin's Calcium Volume Cream is aimed most directly at under-eye hollows, while Medicube lists under-eye hollowness as one of six results for its balm, and both figures are brand-reported.
Calcium Volume Cream is a rich cream applied to the under-eye area as the last skincare step, morning and evening. Its price, size and ingredient list come from Ulta, at $26 for 1.76 oz, because Dr. Melaxin's own page mixes an older name, a 30 ml size and a different ingredient list with photos of the current jar. The Ulta list includes niacinamide, calcium gluconate and hydrolyzed elastin, and the jar reads "REBORNIC 10,000ppm." Ulta names vitamin D as a key ingredient, but no vitamin D ingredient appears on its list.
Dr. Melaxin reports under-eye hollows "volume lifted up to 126%" after 4 weeks in a human application test, and "up to 127%" elsewhere on the same page. "Up to" points to the top result, and the page notes individual variation among subjects. Medicube's balm figure is 25.7% after 2 weeks. The tests differ, so the numbers do not line up, and neither product does what a procedure does.
Which is cheaper, Medicube or Dr. Melaxin?
Dr. Melaxin is cheaper on the balm stick by $3, and its ampoule and cream have the lowest prices per ounce in this comparison.
| Product | Price | Size | Per ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm | $22 | 0.35 oz | $62.86 |
| Dr. Melaxin Calcium Multi Balm | $19 | 0.31 oz | $61.29 |
| Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum | $24 | 30 ml | $23.66 |
| Medicube Zero Exosome Shot 2000 | $22 | 30 ml | $21.69 |
| Dr. Melaxin Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule | $25 | 80 ml | $9.24 |
| Dr. Melaxin Calcium Volume Cream (Ulta) | $26 | 1.76 oz | $14.77 |
Balm and cream figures use the net weight on the label; serum and ampoule figures use fluid ounces. Prices were the listed prices on medicube.us and drmelaxin.us on September 17, 2026, except the Calcium Volume Cream, which comes from Ulta. Medicube's were sale prices below a listed regular price. Dr. Melaxin's carried SALE badges with no regular price shown, so they may be sale prices. Dr. Melaxin also sells the balm in a 5-pack for $75, or $15.00 per stick.
Which is better for sensitive skin?
Dr. Melaxin is the better pick for a balm stick, and neither Medicube nor Dr. Melaxin has a clear edge on serums.
| Product | Fragrance listed | Denatured alcohol | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm | No | No | Four flower and fruit oils; contains retinol |
| Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum | Yes, 20th | No | |
| Medicube Zero Exosome Shot 2000 | No | No | Brand says tingling, redness, itching and heat may occur |
| Dr. Melaxin Calcium Multi Balm | No | No | |
| Dr. Melaxin Calcium Volume Cream | No | No | Contains cetearyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol |
| Dr. Melaxin Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule | Yes, 22nd | No | Isopropyl alcohol 13th; exfoliating |
None of the six ingredient lists names a fragrance allergen. Medicube's serum page puts fragrances on its "formulated without" list, but fragrance appears in the ingredient lists for both the Salmon and Rose versions, and we go by the ingredient list. If your skin reacts easily, patch-test both shots first.
What we would buy
- A balm stick for sensitive skin: Dr. Melaxin Calcium Multi Balm.
- A balm stick with the most listed actives: Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm, if flower oils do not bother you.
- Under-eye hollows on a budget: Dr. Melaxin Calcium Volume Cream.
- A moisturizing serum with niacinamide and peptides: Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, if fragrance does not bother you.
- A leave-on spicule serum with no fragrance listed: Medicube Zero Exosome Shot 2000, after a patch test.
- An exfoliating ampoule at the lowest cost per ounce: Dr. Melaxin Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule, if fragrance does not bother you.
Sources
- Manufacturer product pages, prices and ingredient lists for all six products, medicube.us and drmelaxin.us, captured September 17, 2026
- Ulta Beauty listing for Dr. Melaxin Calcium Volume Cream, captured September 17, 2026
- APR Corp. company site; APR 2025 results release, PR Newswire; CNBC, August 31, 2026; Wikipedia, Kim Byung-hoon (entrepreneur)
- Maeil Business; theBell; THE VC profile of Brand501; YesStyle Dr. Melaxin brand page; Tramicheck
- Kim ST. Comparison of Polynucleotide and Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Dermatology: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives. Pharmaceutics, 2025 (PMID 40871045)
- Alhussain AM et al. Polynucleotides and Polydeoxyribonucleotides for Skin Rejuvenation, Postoperative Scar Prevention, and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. Cureus, 2026 (PMID 42572627)
Editor's update
Published September 17, 2026. Prices, sizes, ingredient lists and brand test results were read from medicube.us and drmelaxin.us on that date. The Dr. Melaxin Calcium Volume Cream price, size and ingredient list come from Ulta instead, because the brand's own page mixes an older 30 ml listing with photos of the current 1.76 oz jar. Dr. Melaxin prices showed SALE badges with no regular price, so they may be sale prices. Brand history comes from APR, PR Newswire, CNBC, Wikipedia, Maeil Business, theBell, THE VC and YesStyle, and those sources differ on the year Dr. Melaxin launched.
