This $21 Viral Collagen Cream Is the K-Beauty Secret to Plump, Glowing Skin

If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably seen medicube’s Collagen Jelly Cream, which went viral thanks to the instant glow it gives skin. Not only does it work immediately (who doesn’t love instant gratification?), but it also works over time. To me, those are the best kinds of skin-care products. A popular in Korea, medicube burst onto the U.S. scene a few years ago when Hailey Bieber touted one of its devices—the Booster-H, which is also a former NewBeauty Award Winner—as helping her achieve her glazed skin. In fact, she’s not the only celeb to love this brand; Meghan Markle, the Kardashian-Jenner fam and Real Housewives ladies sing its praises often, too. So, if you’re looking for that glass skin, glazed donut effect, the Collagen Jelly Cream is one to try. Here’s my honest review.

The Benefits of This Collagen Cream

If you are looking for a moisturizer that also helps with signs of aging like uneven skin tone and lack of firmness, this is a great pick. Some people don’t think of gel moisturizers as being as rich and hydrating as cream versions, but this one is packed with freeze-dried hydrolyzed collagen, which provides deep hydration. This type of collagen has been broken down into smaller segments to better absorb into the skin, but medicube maintains the efficacy of the ingredient by freeze-drying it. The formula is meant to work for all skin types, but if you are someone with very dry skin, you may want to mix this with a lightweight cream for even more moisture.

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Other key ingredients include niacinamide, which we know is an incredible multitasker for addressing everything from uneven tone to large pores, and squalane, which also boosts hydration. Together, the mix of actives helps boost radiance and firmness for a healthy-looking glow. Not only does this formula work, but it’s also a total steal at just $21 for 3.7 ounces (there’s also a smaller size for $15). And, if you have the brand’s Booster device I mentioned above, you can pair the two for even better results. If you’re new to medicube, another one of my favorite products is the PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask, which combines the same hydrolyzed collagen with salmon DNA for even more glow. It’s great for that glass-skin effect before a big event or a night out. The pink color in both products is from natural ingredients—no synthetic dyes.

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How to Use It

One thing I love about K-beauty brands are the innovative textures they use. We typically see lots of bouncy gels and “puddings,” and I’m here for it. They make beauty products sensorial and fun, which can make a boring skin-care routine more enjoyable. The texture of this collagen cream is actually a thicker gel, so you want to apply it after all your serums to lock all that goodness in. I personally like to wear it at night because it’s on the thicker side, but you can wear it morning and night. If you’re not a big makeup person and want your bare skin to shine during the day, this will do it. However, if you’re planning to wear makeup on top, I’d definitely recommend letting it sit for a few minutes before applying complexion products. You want to give it time to settle in nicely, and give each product the chance to become it’s own layer.