medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 vs Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 scores 8.4/9.8 and Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid scores 8.5/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Zero Pore Pad 2.0

Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
Murad WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
medicube WINSIngredient Transparency
medicube WINSFormulation Safety
medicube WINSIngredient face-off
17% overlapOnly in medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
23 unique
Shared ingredients
8 in common
Only in Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
40 unique
Why these two are neck and neck
These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 scores 6.3 here versus 5.1 for Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid brings Retinol, Ceramide Np, and Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract as actives, while medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 relies on Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Gluconolactone. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Propanediol
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
At mid-range pricing with a score of 8.4, medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is a decent pick. Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid sits at the luxury level with a 8.5 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.
Our verdict
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 or Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid?
Based on ingredient analysis, Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 and Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid 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 Zero Pore Pad 2.0 and Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.