How to Use the Medicube Retinal Volume Booster

The Medicube Vita A Retinal Volume Booster is a night-only serum. Use it after cleansing and toning, two to three nights a week to start, and follow it with moisturiser. Apply a thin layer, keep it away from the eye area, and wear SPF every morning. Once your skin is comfortable, you can use it more often.

It's one of the newest retinal products in our range, and the question we get most is how to use it. This guide covers what's in it, how to fit it into your routine, and how to avoid the redness and flaking that can come with starting any vitamin A product.

What is the Medicube Retinal Volume Booster?

The Medicube Vita A Retinal Volume Booster is a 15ml booster serum for evening routines. According to Medicube, it targets the look of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and loss of firmness. Its three key ingredients are:

• Retinal 0.15%: an advanced form of vitamin A for smoother, firmer-looking skin.
• Volufiline 5%: included to improve the look of plumpness and hollow areas.
• A four-retinoid complex with ultra-fine micro spicules: designed to help refine the look of pores and smooth texture.

Medicube says the formula is clinically tested and suitable for sensitive skin when introduced gradually. That last part matters, and it's what the rest of this guide is about.

Retinal vs retinol: a quick refresher

Retinal (retinaldehyde) and retinol are both forms of vitamin A. Retinal is generally considered one step closer to the form skin actually uses, so it's often described as faster-acting than retinol. For a deeper explanation, read our retinal vs retinol guide.

How to use the Medicube Retinal Volume Booster, step by step

Here's a simple evening routine built around the booster:

1. Cleanse. If you wore sunscreen or makeup, double cleanse so your skin is completely clean.
2. Tone. Use a gentle, hydrating toner. Save exfoliating toners for nights you're not using retinal.
3. Apply the booster. Spread a thin layer over your face, avoiding the eye area. More product doesn't mean faster results, and it usually means more irritation.
4. Moisturise. Follow with a comforting moisturiser to support your skin barrier.
5. Next morning: SPF. Skip retinal in the morning and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen as your last step.

How often should you use it?

Medicube's own directions are to start two to three nights a week and increase as your skin tolerates it. A sensible schedule for a first-time retinal user looks like this:

• Weeks 1–2: two nights a week, for example Monday and Thursday.
• Weeks 3–4: three nights a week if your skin feels comfortable.
• After that: every second night, then nightly if you want to, as long as your skin stays calm.

If you notice stinging, tightness or flaking, drop back a step for a week or two. Retinoids reward consistency more than intensity.

The "buffering" trick for beginners

Medicube suggests buffering with moisturiser for your first few uses if you're new to retinal. That means applying a light layer of moisturiser before the booster, or mixing a small amount of the two, which can make it feel gentler. In Medicube's words, less product more often beats a heavy first night.

What not to mix it with

Medicube advises not layering it with strong acids on the same night. That includes AHA and BHA exfoliating toners, peels and peeling pads. You don't have to give them up. Just use them on different nights. A typical week might look like this:

• Retinal nights: booster plus moisturiser
• Exfoliation night (once or twice a week): your acid toner or pad plus moisturiser
• Rest nights: hydration and barrier care only

If you also use a vitamin C serum, keep it in your morning routine and the retinal at night. We explain how to combine the two in Can You Use Vitamin C Serum and Retinol Together?

Why sunscreen is non-negotiable in Australia

Australia has some of the strongest UV levels in the world, and with summer only weeks away, UV is climbing fast. Anyone using a vitamin A product should treat daily SPF as part of the routine, not an optional extra.

An everyday option is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++. It's a lightweight, moisturising sunscreen that absorbs like a gel, leaves no white cast, and is free from fragrance and essential oils. Apply about two finger-lengths to your face and neck as your last morning step, and reapply every two to three hours when you're outdoors. Browse more options in our Korean sunscreen collection.

Pair it with a barrier-friendly moisturiser

A good moisturiser makes a retinal routine much easier to stick with. ILLIYOON Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream is a gentle, non-greasy cream made with Phyto Ceramide and the Ceramide Skin Complex™. It helps reinforce the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss, which makes it a natural partner for the booster.

If your skin feels dehydrated, add a hydrating serum before your moisturiser on non-retinal nights. Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Serum combines a 5D-Complex Hyaluronic Acid with D-Panthenol, allantoin and madecassoside to replenish moisture and soothe.

Medicube Retinal Volume Booster vs Celimax Retinal Shot

Both are retinal boosters, so shoppers often ask which to choose. The Celimax The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster focuses on firming, smoothing wrinkles and elasticity, with panthenol to calm and hydrate. The Medicube booster adds 5% Volufiline for a plumper look and a micro-spicule retinoid complex aimed at pores and texture. They're used the same way: at night, starting two to three times a week, followed by moisturiser and SPF the next day. Use one or the other, not both at once. Read more in our Celimax Retinal Shot review, or compare the full range in our retinal skincare collection.

What to expect

Vitamin A products work gradually. Most people need several weeks of consistent use before they see changes in texture and smoothness. Some dryness or mild flaking in the first few weeks is common with retinoids. Ease off the frequency, moisturise well, and keep going at a pace your skin is happy with. If you have persistent irritation or a skin condition, or you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your GP or dermatologist before using any retinoid.

FAQ

Can I use the Medicube Retinal Volume Booster every night?

Eventually, if your skin tolerates it. Medicube recommends starting two to three nights a week and increasing gradually.

Can I use it in the morning?

No. It's a PM-only product. In the morning, skip retinal and apply SPF.

Can I use it with AHA or BHA toners?

Not on the same night. Medicube advises against layering it with strong acids, so alternate them on different evenings.

Is it suitable for sensitive skin?

Medicube says it's suitable for sensitive skin when introduced gradually. Start slowly, buffer with moisturiser if needed, and patch test first.