Dr. Melaxin targets enlarged pores, recurrent blackheads, and dull complexions with a range of rice-based exfoliants. We tested the Peel Shot line for several weeks to give you an honest opinion, far from the usual marketing hype.
Dr. Melaxin is a Korean brand focused on slow-aging: visible pores, pigmentation spots, and skin laxity. Its flagship range, Peel Shot, uses exfoliating ampoules with black or white rice to gently unclog pores, without abrasive grains. We tested both ampoules and the associated toner for over a month, and the results on skin texture are real, provided you avoid the most common mistakes with this type of formula.
Are you wondering if Dr. Melaxin deserves a place in your routine, or if you risk paying for an unfulfilled promise? We detail our feedback product by product, who it's for, and where to buy it without being ripped off.
Looking directly for the Dr. Melaxin range? Three products available at Holy Skin, selected for their effectiveness on pores and dull complexion. (view the Dr. Melaxin range)
Who exactly is Dr. Melaxin? 🧴
Dr. Melaxin is part of the new generation of Korean brands that rely on targeted formulas rather than ten-step routines. The brand focuses its development on three specific issues: enlarged pores, pigmentation spots, and age-related loss of firmness.
This approach is found in its most famous range, Peel Shot, a line of gentle exfoliants that replaces grainy scrubs with a complex of acids and rice extracts. Unlike a classic scrub, the texture contains no abrasive particles: it's the active ingredients themselves, not mechanical friction, that deeply dissolve impurities.
Fermented rice, long used in Korean beauty rituals for its unifying effect, serves as a common base for the three products. Each product adds a different complex of active ingredients depending on the targeted objective: purifying for black rice, gentle exfoliating for white rice, moisturizing for the toner.
It is this Peel Shot range that is the subject of this review. Holy Skin selects three products and has not tested the rest of the brand's catalog, which we will return to in our reservations below.
Dr. Melaxin is not the only Korean brand to play on this scientific and minimalist positioning. If you want to compare with other options before deciding, our guide to the best Korean skincare brands gives you a broader overview of the market.
The Peel Shot range: what we actually tested 🔬
We used both exfoliating ampoules and the toner for over a month, alternating frequencies, to form a concrete opinion beyond the technical specifications.
The Peel Shot Exfoliating Black Rice Ampoule combines rice bran water, activated charcoal, and salicylic acid. This is the version most targeted at oily skin and recurrent blackheads. It deeply unclogs pores without leaving a tight sensation. The texture is fluid, slightly grey due to the charcoal, and absorbs in a few seconds without feeling sticky.
The effect on skin texture is visible after two to three weeks of regular use, with visibly less pronounced pores on the T-zone. This is the timeframe we observed ourselves, with application twice a week.
The Peel Shot Exfoliating White Rice Ampoule uses a more versatile AHA, BHA, and PHA complex, combined with niacinamide. It is suitable for weekly use on all skin types and has been subject to a skin irritation test, a real plus for this type of concentrated formula. The texture is lighter than the black rice version, with no visible particles, making it easier to integrate into an evening routine.
The Peel Shot Glow White Rice Toner completes the routine with niacinamide, adenosine, and three forms of hyaluronic acid to hydrate without stickiness after exfoliation. On dull or dehydrated skin, the plumping effect is noticeable from the first applications, and the complexion appears more even after two to three weeks of daily use as a classic toner.
Expert tip: many online reviews mention daily use of Peel Shot ampoules. This is a common mistake that weakens the skin barrier in the medium term. One to two applications per week are sufficient to see results without irritating the skin.
How to integrate it without disrupting your current routine 🧪
Peel Shot ampoules are used as a targeted treatment, after cleansing and before serum, never at the same time as another exfoliant or retinol on the same evening. If your routine already includes a retinoid or concentrated vitamin C, shift the Peel Shot application to a different evening to avoid combining irritating active ingredients on the same area of the face.
The most common mistake we observe, beyond overuse, is skipping the hydration step immediately after exfoliation. The Glow White Rice toner or a soothing cream can help close the skin barrier and prevent the sensation of tight skin in the hours that follow.
Another practical point: avoid applying chemical sunscreen immediately after a Peel Shot session, giving the skin time to stabilize. Opt for mineral protection on exfoliation days, especially in summer.
Who it's for, and who it's not for ✅
The Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule is the best choice if you have combination to oily skin, recurrent blackheads on the T-zone, or visible pores despite daily cleansing. The White Rice version is more for normal to dry skin looking for a unifying effect without aggression, with a gentler weekly rhythm.
If your skin is reactive or already weakened by retinol or a strong exfoliant, start with just one ampoule every ten days before increasing frequency, and monitor the reaction during the first few weeks. Slight redness immediately after application is normal; irritation that persists for more than two hours is not.
If your main concern is inflammatory acne rather than enlarged pores, an acne-targeted routine will be more relevant than this exfoliating range, which primarily works on texture and radiance rather than active breakouts.
For very dry skin or an already damaged barrier, we do not recommend starting with Peel Shot before stabilizing skin comfort with a softer repairing routine for a few weeks.
Our reservations about the brand ⚠️
Holy Skin only selects three Dr. Melaxin products, the Peel Shot line. The brand also offers eye care, anti-aging serums, and balms in a broader range, which we have not tested and about which we cannot give an honest opinion. Beware of sites that promote the entire catalog without distinction; that is not our approach: we only talk about what we have actually tried.
Another point of vigilance: feedback in France remains limited. The brand is still new to the French market, and available online user reviews are mostly North American or Korean, with formulations sometimes slightly different depending on the markets. The results described in this review come from our own multi-week testing, not from a history of several years like more established brands.
Finally, stock availability with French distributors remains limited for now. It's best to check availability before building an entire routine around this range, especially if you plan to stick with it for several months.
In pharmacies, Sephora, or online: where to buy it without getting ripped off 🛍️
Dr. Melaxin is not a pharmacy brand and is not currently distributed in Sephora stores in France. You can primarily find it through specialized K-Beauty websites, or on international marketplaces like Amazon and iHerb.
If you order from anywhere other than a specialized site, always check the seller's origin before purchasing. Counterfeits and unauthorized resales exist for this type of emerging brand, as for many K-Beauty novelties not yet well established in France.
Three signs should alert you before ordering: blurry packaging or packaging different from official visuals, an abnormally low price compared to the 24.90 to 29.90 euros charged for Peel Shot products, and a complete lack of information about the seller or their address.
To navigate reliable channels more broadly when buying your Korean skincare, our guide to choosing your Korean products well details the criteria to check before placing an order.
To summarize: the Peel Shot range delivers on its promises for enlarged pores and dull complexion, provided you maintain a rhythm of once to twice a week and avoid combining it with other irritating active ingredients. Our reservations primarily concern the lack of long-term feedback in France and a complete range that we have not tested as a whole. If your skin reacts well to gentle acids, it is a reliable choice to gradually integrate into your routine.
Still unsure which product suits your skin type? Our free skin diagnostic guides you in a few questions. And to discover the entire tested selection, head to the Dr. Melaxin collection.
