Dr.Melaxin targets enlarged pores, recurring 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, pigment spots, and skin sagging. Its flagship range, Peel Shot, relies on exfoliating ampoules with black or white rice to unclog pores gently, without abrasive scrubs. We tested both ampoules and the accompanying 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 a promise that doesn't deliver? We break down our feedback product by product, who it's for, and where to buy it without getting ripped off.
Looking for the Dr.Melaxin range directly? Three references 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 focusing on targeted formulas rather than ten-step routines. The brand concentrates its development on three specific issues: enlarged pores, pigment spots, and age-related loss of firmness.
This approach is reflected in its best-known range, Peel Shot, a line of gentle exfoliants that replaces the scrub with a complex of acids and rice extracts. Unlike a classic scrub, the texture contains no abrasive particles: it is the active ingredients themselves, not mechanical friction, that dissolve impurities deep down.
Fermented rice, used for a long time in Korean beauty rituals for its unifying effect, serves as a common base for the three references. Each product adds a different complex of active ingredients depending on the goal: purifying for black rice, gentle exfoliating for white rice, and hydrating for the toner.
It is this Peel Shot range that is the subject of this review. Holy Skin has selected three references and has not tested the rest of the brand's catalog; we address our reservations about this below.
Dr.Melaxin is not the only Korean brand playing with 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 really tested 🔬
We used the two 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. It is the version most targeted at oily skin and blackheads. It clears pores deeply without leaving a feeling of tightness. The texture is fluid, slightly grey due to the charcoal, and penetrates in seconds without being 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 timeline we observed ourselves, with application twice a week.
The Peel Shot Exfoliating White Rice Ampoule relies on a more versatile AHA, BHA, and PHA complex combined with niacinamide. It is suitable for weekly use on all skin types and has undergone 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 incorporate into your evening skincare.
The Peel Shot Glow White Rice Toner completes the routine with niacinamide, adenosine, and three forms of hyaluronic acid to hydrate without a sticky finish after exfoliation. On dull or dehydrated skin, the plumping effect is noticeable from the first few applications, and the complexion looks more uniform after two to three weeks of daily use as a classic toner.
Specialist advice: many online reviews mention daily use of the Peel Shot ampoules. This is a common mistake that weakens the skin barrier in the medium term. One to two applications per week are enough to see results without irritating the skin.
How to integrate it without breaking your current routine 🧪
Peel Shot ampoules are used as a targeted treatment, after cleansing and before serum, and 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, space out the Peel Shot application to a different evening to avoid accumulating irritating actives on the same area of the face.
The most common mistake we see, beyond overuse, is skipping the hydration step right after exfoliation. The Glow White Rice toner or a soothing cream helps to close the skin barrier and avoid the feeling of tight skin in the hours that follow.
Another practical point: avoid applying chemical sunscreen right after a Peel Shot session while the skin stabilizes. Opt for mineral protection on exfoliation days, especially in summer.
Who it's for, and who it's not ✅
The Peel Shot Black Rice Ampoule is the best choice if you have combination to oily skin, recurring blackheads on the T-zone, or visible pores despite daily cleansing. The White Rice version is better suited for normal to dry skin looking for a unifying effect without harshness, on a gentler weekly schedule.
If your skin is reactive or already weakened by retinol or a strong exfoliant, start with a single ampoule every ten days before increasing the frequency, and monitor the reaction during the first few weeks. Slight redness right 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, a targeted acne routine will be more relevant than this exfoliating range, which acts mainly 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 until you have stabilized skin comfort with a gentler restorative routine for a few weeks.
Our reservations about the brand ⚠️
Holy Skin selects only three Dr.Melaxin references, the Peel Shot line. The brand also offers eye care, anti-aging serums, and balms in a wider range, which we have not tested and on which we cannot give you an honest opinion. Beware of sites that praise the entire catalog without distinction; that is not our approach: we only talk about what we have actually tried.
Another point of vigilance: the long-term track record in France remains limited. The brand is still new to the French market, and user reviews available online are mostly North American or Korean, with formulations sometimes slightly different depending on the market. The results described in this review come from our own testing over several weeks, not a multi-year history like more established brands.
Finally, stock available from French distributors remains limited for the moment. It is better to check availability before building an entire routine around this range, especially if you plan to stick with it for several months.
In pharmacies, at Sephora, or online: where to buy it without getting ripped off 🛍️
Dr.Melaxin is not a pharmacy brand and is not distributed in Sephora stores in France to date. You can find it mainly through sites specializing in K-Beauty, or on international marketplaces like Amazon and iHerb.
If you order from somewhere other than a specialized site, always check the seller's origin before buying. Counterfeits and unauthorized resales exist for this type of emerging brand, as with many K-Beauty novelties still not widely established in France.
Three signals should alert you before ordering: blurry packaging or visuals that differ from official images, an abnormally low price compared to the 24.90 to 29.90 euros charged for Peel Shot references, and the total absence of information about the seller or their address.
To find your way around reliable channels when buying your Korean skincare, our guide to choosing your Korean products details the criteria to check before placing an order.
To summarize: the Peel Shot range keeps its promises on enlarged pores and dull complexion, provided you respect a rhythm of once to twice a week and avoid combining it with other irritating actives. Our reservations mainly concern the lack of long-term experience in France and a full range that we have not tested in its entirety. If your skin reacts well to gentle acids, it is a safe bet to integrate gradually into your routine.
Still not sure which product matches your skin type? Our free skin diagnostic guides you with a few questions. And to discover the entire selection tested, head over to the Dr.Melaxin collection.
