Anua vs medicube PDRN Serum: Which One Should You Buy?
Product images: Anua US official site · medicube US official site (Salmon DNA PDRN variant).
If you want a fragrance-free hydrating serum that Korean shoppers rate higher, get Anua; if you want more PDRN and peptides in a richer serum and don't mind fragrance, get medicube. On Hwahae, Anua scores 4.61 from 12,654 reviews to medicube's 3.94, while medicube's label declares Sodium DNA 1% against Anua's 100 ppm.
Neither is a medical product: both are cosmetic serums that hydrate and help skin look smoother, and neither replaces your moisturizer.
How we picked · Research-based — not personally tested · Korean data as of 26 Sep 2026 (Olive Young KR · Hwahae · Glowpick) · How we research →
Choose Anua if
- You avoid fragrance. Anua has no added fragrance, though the brand says you may notice a PDRN smell.
- You mainly want hydration. Anua's hyaluronic ingredients add up to 3.0% by our count [1], in eight forms.
- You want gentleness on record: in Olive Young KR's buyer survey, 76% of Anua answers said 'gentle, no irritation' against 68% for medicube.
- You want what Korea is buying: 4th in Olive Young KR skincare on 26 Sep 2026, with medicube at 18th [2].
Choose medicube if
- You want more PDRN. medicube's label declares PDRN (Sodium DNA) 1%, against Anua's 100 ppm.
- You want five peptides and niacinamide in the same step as PDRN.
- Your skin is normal to dry and you like a richer serum at night.
- You care about price per ml and fragrance doesn't bother you (Anua $1.00/ml · medicube $0.80/ml (US official prices, 26 Sep 2026)).
At a glance
| Anua | medicube | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 30 ml | 30 ml |
| PDRN disclosed | Sodium DNA 100 ppm (printed in KR INCI) | Sodium DNA 1% = 10,000 ppm (printed on the label) |
| Hyaluronic ingredients | ≈3.0% total (sum of Anua's disclosed ppm) | Sodium Hyaluronate (1 type) |
| Fragrance | No added fragrance | Contains fragrance (INCI) |
| Colour | Emerald tint from ingredients | Pink from vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) |
| Ingredients | 34 | 40 |
| Olive Young KR skincare rank | #4 | #18 |
| Hwahae rating | 4.61 / 12,654 reviews | 3.94 / 2,248 reviews |
| Price per ml | $1.00 (US official) | $0.80 (US official) |
| Buy | Check price at Anua official (US) · $30.00 as of 26 Sep 2026 | Check price at medicube official (US) · $24.00 as of 26 Sep 2026 |
medicube figures refer to the Salmon DNA PDRN formula (KR/JP/Olive Young US), not the US 'Rose PDRN (Vegan)' variant.
The Korean view
What Korean shoppers and review apps show (snapshot 26 Sep 2026)
| Anua | medicube | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Young Korea — skincare rank | #4 | #18 | Olive Young KR 2026-09-26 |
| Olive Young Korea rating (reviews) | 4.8 (24,915) | 4.8 (15,989) | Olive Young KR 2026-09-26 |
| Olive Young survey: “gentle, no irritation” Olive Young buyer survey; number of respondents not shown | 76% | 68% | Olive Young KR 2026-09-26 |
| Olive Young survey: “good for dry skin” Olive Young buyer survey; number of respondents not shown | 52% | 37% | Olive Young KR 2026-09-26 |
| Hwahae rating (reviews) | 4.61 (12,654) | 3.94 (2,248) | Hwahae 2026-09-26 |
| Glowpick rating (reviews) | 4.32 (654) | 4.31 (701) | Glowpick 2026-09-26 |
| Price in Korea (Olive Young) 30 ml sets; Anua = double set | ₩27,000 | ₩18,910 | Olive Young KR 2026-09-26 |
In Korea, sales rank, app scores and buyer surveys say more than marketing claims, and on 26 Sep 2026 most leaned toward Anua.
- Olive Young KR 'Today's ranking', 26 Sep 2026: Anua 4th in skincare and 7th overall; medicube 18th in skincare and 34th overall [2].
- On Hwahae, Korea's ingredient-and-review app, Anua scores 4.61 from 12,654 reviews and medicube 3.94 from 2,248 [4]. We couldn't verify why medicube scores lower.
- On Olive Young KR the gap nearly disappears: Anua 4.8 from 24,915 pooled reviews, medicube 4.8 from 15,989 [2].
- In Olive Young's buyer survey, 76% of Anua answers said 'gentle, no irritation' against 68% for medicube, and 52% said 'good for dry skin' against 37%. The number of respondents isn't shown.
- Olive Young KR prices on the day: ₩27,000 (Olive Young KR, 30 ml double set, as of 26 Sep 2026) for Anua's double set, ₩18,910 (Olive Young KR, 30 ml set, as of 26 Sep 2026) for medicube's set.
- medicube's serum was reported as selected in the Slow-aging category of the 2025 Olive Young Awards.
Who each one suits
Anua
- Dehydrated or combination skin that wants a light, watery layer
- Anyone who avoids added fragrance
- People who layer several thin serums
- Very dry skin hoping one serum will do all the moisturizing ('feels dry after use' is a Glowpick tag)
- Anyone shopping for a high-PDRN formula: Anua declares 100 ppm, medicube 1%
- Easily stung skin before a patch test ('stings' is another tag)
medicube
- Normal-to-dry skin that likes a richer serum at night
- Routines that want peptides and niacinamide in one product
- Makeup wearers who want a serum that sits well under base
- Fragrance-sensitive skin, because Fragrance is on the ingredient list
- Vegans: this formula contains Sodium DNA, Milt Extract and Salmon Egg Extract
- Oily skin in humid weather; medicube points those users to its Ultra Light version
Key ingredients
A skin-conditioning ingredient Anua says comes from salmon DNA, declared at 100 ppm (0.01%) inside the Korean ingredient list.
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid alone is listed at 29,049 ppm. Together these forms draw water into the skin's surface so it looks and feels more hydrated.
A conditioning ingredient on Anua's list and not on medicube's; no amount is published.
Listed 8th, with Milt Extract and Salmon Egg Extract further down. medicube's bottle label declares PDRN (Sodium DNA) 1%, which is 10,000 ppm, as the brand's own figure.
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Copper Tripeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: conditioning ingredients that help skin feel smoother.
Sixth on the list; helps even the look of skin tone. Anua has it too, lower down.
| Only in Anua | Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid · Glutathione · Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate |
|---|---|
| Only in medicube | Fragrance · Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 · Salmon Egg Extract |
Texture & feel
Anua — Anua describes it as watery and light; the '100' refers to what the brand calls invisible smart capsules holding the ingredients. The emerald tint comes from the ingredients, and a PDRN smell is possible, the brand says. Glowpick's complaint tags include 'too runny' and 'sits on the skin' [3]. Anua reports temporary deep skin hydration improved by 24.64% after one use; group size isn't disclosed.
Image: anua.com (cropped)
medicube — medicube calls it lightweight and moisturizing, and its FAQ says this original version is richer than the Ultra Light one. The pink comes from cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). Glowpick tags across 701 reviews run from 'absorbs well' and 'bouncy texture' to 'sticky' and 'greasy scent' [3].
Image: medicube.us (cropped)
What Korean reviewers say
Anua
- Absorbs well
- Light texture
- Hydrating
- Helps that tight, dry-underneath feeling
- Too runny
- Feels dry after use
- Not moisturizing enough
- Sits on the skin
- Stings
medicube
- Absorbs well
- Bouncy texture
- Pills less under makeup
- On Coupang, 88% of 279 reviews tagged it as non-irritating
- Sticky
- Sits on the skin
- Greasy scent
- Dry skin still needs a cream on top
Our summaries, translated from Korean: Glowpick keyword tags from 654 Anua and 701 medicube reviews, plus Coupang's review panel for medicube. Glowpick shows no per-tag counts; tags claiming effects are left out.
Korean shoppers in their own words
Short excerpts from real Korean reviews, translated.
Anua
“It runs down like water. Personally, I found it really hard to apply.”
“It's just... a watery texture, and just... it feels like a toner, not a serum. There's nothing that special about it...”
“Really good, I'm using a lot of it. But the value for money isn't great.”
“There's really only a little PDRN in it, so I just use it as a makeup-prep ampoule. My skin feels bouncy and makeup goes on well, so I've repurchased it several times.”
“The texture runs like water and is light, so it absorbs easily and I'm using it happily. If you think of it as just a hydrating serum, you'll be satisfied.”
medicube
“It seems gentle, but it's too oily, so it's not good for oily skin. I really don't like the scent either.”
“I don't get why this is so famous. Above all, the amount is really, really small. Please make the size bigger.”
“I wasn't that interested in PDRN so I'd never used it, but it was fine on sensitive skin with no irritation. The scent, though...”
“This ampoule has some thickness, a concentrated, springy texture, so if you only like lightweight skincare, it won't suit you.”
“When I put it on at night, my skin stays moist all the way to the next morning, without feeling cracked or dry underneath.”
Excerpts from Korean shoppers' reviews on Olive Young · Glowpick (2026-09), translated by Seoulvanie. Not our own use.
Side by side
| Criterion | Anua | medicube | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declared PDRN (Sodium DNA) | 100 ppm (0.01%), printed in the Korean ingredient list | 1% (10,000 ppm), printed on the bottle label; Salmon DNA formula [5] | medicube |
| Hyaluronic ingredients | Eight forms, 3.0% combined [1] | Sodium Hyaluronate only | Anua |
| Extra ingredients the other lacks | Glutathione, seven more hyaluronic forms | Five peptides, ubiquinone, cyanocobalamin, atelocollagen | medicube |
| Fragrance | No added fragrance (faint PDRN smell possible) | Contains Fragrance | Anua |
| Texture | Watery and light | Richer than its Ultra Light sibling | Depends |
| Shelf life after opening | 6 months | 12 months | medicube |
| Price per ml (US official) | Anua $1.00/ml · medicube $0.80/ml (US official prices, 26 Sep 2026) | Anua $1.00/ml · medicube $0.80/ml (US official prices, 26 Sep 2026) | medicube |
| Hwahae score (Korea) | 4.61 from 12,654 reviews | 3.94 from 2,248 reviews | Anua |
| Olive Young KR 'gentle' answers, 26 Sep 2026 | 76% | 68% | Anua |
| Olive Young KR skincare rank, 26 Sep 2026 | 4th | 18th | Anua |
Buying it where you are
United States
Both are sold in the US by Olive Young US and by the brands' own sites (anua.com and medicube.us), with Jolse and YesStyle shipping cross-border, as of 26 Sep 2026. On medicube.us pick the Salmon DNA PDRN option, because the Rose PDRN (Vegan) version shares the name and is the one Ulta lists.
| Store | Price | Sold by | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anua | Jolse | $25.60 sale | Ships from Korea |
| Olive Young US | $29 | Retailer | |
| anua.com | $30.00 | Brand official | |
| medicube | Olive Young US | $18.92 sale | Retailer |
| medicube.us | $24.00 | Brand official | |
| YesStyle | — | Ships from Korea |
as of 26 Sep 2026
Our pick
For most people, get Anua: it's the fragrance-free, higher-rated hydrating pick in Korea's data.
Three things decide it. Anua has no added fragrance, while medicube lists Fragrance. Korean shoppers rate Anua higher: 4.61 on Hwahae from 12,654 reviews against 3.94 from 2,248, and on 26 Sep 2026 it ranked 4th in Olive Young KR skincare to medicube's 18th, with 76% of surveyed Olive Young buyers calling it gentle against 68%. And it is built for hydration, with 3.0% hyaluronic ingredients by our count [1]. Plan a moisturizer on top.
Pick medicube instead if: Pick medicube if you want the higher declared PDRN (1% on its label) plus peptides and niacinamide in one step, your skin is dry to normal, and fragrance doesn't bother you.
Anua
Check price at Anua official (US) · $30.00medicube
Check price at medicube official (US) · $24.00Prices were checked on the date shown and can change. Affiliate links will replace these store links after program approval.
How to use
- 1After cleansing and toner, apply one dropper (Anua Japan) or a few drops (Anua US) and pat it in.
- 2Follow with moisturizer, plus sunscreen in the daytime. On dry patches at night, the brand suggests two or three layers.
- 1On clean, dry skin, apply 2–3 drops to face and neck and pat gently; add a layer or two if skin still feels tight.
- 2Finish with moisturizer, plus sunscreen in the morning.
- Patch test first; both brands say to stop if redness, swelling or itching appears.
- You can layer the two (thinner Anua first), but they do a similar job.
- Once opened, use Anua within 6 months and medicube within 12 months.
Full ingredient lists
Anua's 34 ingredients are the same set in Korea, the US and Japan, but the order varies (Sodium DNA is 18th in Korea, 21st in the US), likely because ingredients at 1% or less may be listed in any order. medicube's Salmon DNA formula lists 40; its pH of 5.8–7.8 appears only on medicube.us.
Anua — PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Oleate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutathione, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Sodium DNA, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol
https://anua.com/products/pdrn-hyaluronic-acid-capsule-100-serum
medicube — PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
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
https://medicube.us/products/rose-pdrn-pink-peptide-serum
Buying authentic
Both serums are made in South Korea. To avoid fakes or the wrong version, check the maker, barcode and formula.
- Anua: made by CNF Co., Ltd. for The Founders Inc.; barcode 8809640736667.
- medicube: made by ICure Co., Ltd. for APR Corp.; Japanese JAN 8800256108053.
- In the US, check the medicube ingredient list: medicube.us sells a Salmon DNA and a Rose PDRN (Vegan) formula under one name, and Ulta shows the Rose ingredients.
- Anua's ingredient order differs by market; that alone isn't a red flag.
Questions, answered
Is Anua PDRN serum worth it?
Anua is worth it if you want a fragrance-free serum focused on hydration. It's $30.00 (Anua official (US), as of 26 Sep 2026) on Anua's US site and scores 4.61 from 12,654 reviews on Hwahae. Skip it if you want something rich: 'too runny' is a top Glowpick complaint.
Which is better for sensitive skin, Anua or medicube?
Anua is the safer first try for sensitive skin, since it has no added fragrance and medicube lists Fragrance. In Olive Young's buyer survey, 76% of Anua answers said 'gentle' against 68% for medicube. Still, 'stings' is one of Anua's Glowpick tags, so patch test whichever you buy.
Does medicube PDRN serum have fragrance?
The medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum does contain fragrance. Fragrance is on the Salmon DNA formula's ingredient list in Korea, on medicube.us and on Olive Young US, and 'greasy scent' is one of its Glowpick complaint tags. If you avoid fragrance, choose Anua.
How much PDRN is in Anua vs medicube?
medicube declares far more PDRN: PDRN (Sodium DNA) 1%, or 10,000 ppm, on its bottle label. Anua lists 100 ppm (0.01%) inside its Korean ingredient list. Both are brand declarations that we have not verified by independent testing, so read them as label figures.
Can I use a PDRN serum with retinol or vitamin C?
medicube's own FAQ says its serum can be used with vitamin C or retinol if you introduce actives gradually. Anua doesn't publish guidance on combining its serum with either. In both cases, add one new product at a time and see how your skin feels.
Will Anua or medicube clog pores?
Anua labels its serum 'Non-comedogenic' on its US page; that is the brand's own badge, and no US standard defines it. medicube makes no such claim here. Neither brand mentions fungal acne, so if you break out easily, patch test first.
Is the medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum salmon-based or vegan?
The medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum comes in both versions under one name. The Salmon DNA formula compared here, sold in Korea, Japan and on Olive Young US, contains salmon-derived ingredients. medicube.us also sells a Rose PDRN (Vegan) formula, the one Ulta lists.
Are the US versions the same as the Korean ones?
Anua's US version matches Korea's in content: the same 34 ingredients, in a different order. For medicube, only the Salmon DNA formula matches Korea; the Rose PDRN (Vegan) formula is US-specific. Olive Young US lists the salmon version, the one compared on this page.
Notes
- [1] 3.0% (30,000 ppm) is our sum of the ppm figures Anua prints for its eight hyaluronic ingredients. Anua does not state a total.
- [2] Olive Young KR snapshot at about 17:00 KST on 26 Sep 2026; ranks change hourly and review counts are pooled per listing.
- [3] We did not test either product. Texture notes come from brand descriptions and Glowpick review tags.
- [4] Read from Hwahae's search results page on 26 Sep 2026.
- [5] medicube's Salmon DNA PDRN formula, as sold in Korea, Japan and on Olive Young US; the Rose PDRN (Vegan) formula is not covered.
Sources
- Anua (KR official) — https://m.anua.kr/product/pdrn-%ED%9E%88%EC%95%8C%EB%A3%A8%EB%A1%A0%EC%82%B0-%EC%BA%A1%EC%8A%90-100-%EC%84%B8%EB%9F%BC-30ml/359/ (accessed 2026-09-26)
- anua.com — https://anua.com/products/pdrn-hyaluronic-acid-capsule-100-serum (accessed 2026-09-26)
- anuashop.jp — https://anuashop.jp/products/side0011 (accessed 2026-09-26)
- medicube (KR official) — https://themedicube.co.kr/product/pdrn-%ED%95%91%ED%81%AC-%ED%8E%A9%ED%83%80%EC%9D%B4%EB%93%9C-%EC%95%B0%ED%94%8C/1717/ (accessed 2026-09-26)
- medicube.us — https://medicube.us/products/rose-pdrn-pink-peptide-serum (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Olive Young KR ranking — https://www.oliveyoung.co.kr/store/main/getBestList.do?dispCatNo=900000100100001 (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Hwahae — https://www.hwahae.co.kr/search?q=아누아 피디알엔 히알루론산 캡슐 100 세럼 (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Hwahae — https://www.hwahae.co.kr/search?q=메디큐브 PDRN 핑크 펩타이드 앰플 (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Glowpick (review tags) — https://www.glowpick.com/products/175392 (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Jolse — https://jolse.com/product/anua-pdrn-hyaluronic-acid-capsule-100-serum-30ml/84285/ (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Olive Young US — https://us.oliveyoung.com/products/UA10476976 (accessed 2026-09-26)
- Matsukiyo Cocokara online — https://www.matsukiyococokara-online.com/store/catalog/product/view/id/8800256108053 (accessed 2026-09-26)
Updated 2026-09-26