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Medicube Deep Vita A… vs SK-II GenOptics Aura… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum vs SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores 8.9/9.8 vs SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence at 6.9/9.8. Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

Medicube

Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

serum

8.9

Compare

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

SK-II

GenOptics Aura Essence

serumluxury

6.9

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Score comparison

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Medicube wins 3

Tied 2

SK-II wins 0

9.0

Medicube

SK-II

Ingredient face-off

13% overlap

53Medicube

7Shared

15SK-II

Only in Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

46 unique

Dipropylene Glycol Propanediol 2-Hexanediol Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Squalane Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate Dimethyl Isosorbide Pentylene Glycol Hydrogenated Lecithin Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer+36 more

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Water Butylene Glycol Glycerin Niacinamide Panthenol Adenosine Disodium Edta

Only in SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence

8 unique

Polysilicone-11 Phenoxyethanol Peg/Ppg-14/7 Dimethyl Ether Sodium Metabisulfite Sodium Benzoate Ascorbyl Glucoside Inositol Methylparaben

Why Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum comes out ahead

Where Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence's 4.4. With Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, and Glycerin in its top ingredients, Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores 6.7 here versus 4.9 for SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum brings Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate as actives, while sK-II GenOptics Aura Essence relies on Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Adenosine. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Dipropylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence comes in at luxury pricing with a 6.9 score, which is reasonable for what you get.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+2.0 lead

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

8.9Medicube

6.9SK-II

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum or SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence?

Based on ingredient analysis, Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum and SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum and SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum→Full analysis: SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence→

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