Introduction
Skin1004 might not yet be a household name outside of K-beauty circles, but those who prowl ingredient lists and Reddit threads already know the brand treats centella like spun gold. Their latest offering, the Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule, arrives with a title that feels like it could trip over its own excitement, yet the promise is clear: fewer visible pores and a calmer, stronger skin barrier.
The company highlights a medley of skin-soothing centella, mineral-rich pink Himalayan salt and an elasticity-supporting peptide complex, all working together to keep pores clean and snap them back into a refined state. It sounds almost too good for a single serum to manage, so I spent two full weeks patting it on morning and night to find out if the hype, and the price tag, hold up in real life.
What is Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule?
This is a water-light pore treatment serum formulated to target two common concerns: enlarged pores and a compromised skin barrier. Products in the pore treatment category focus on keeping pores clear of debris while helping the surrounding tissue stay resilient, making them useful for anyone who battles persistent blackheads, congestion or texture irregularities.
The formula leans on three main pillars. First, a high percentage of Centella Asiatica Extract supplies soothing compounds that support barrier repair, an essential step if you want pores to appear smaller instead of stretched by chronic inflammation. Second, finely milled pink Himalayan salt introduces trace minerals that work like a micro-exfoliant, helping to flush out the buildup that often widens pores. Finally, a nine-peptide blend aims to encourage elasticity so pore walls can retract more readily once they are clear.
In practical terms this means the ampoule is designed to slot in after cleansing and toning, providing a lightweight layer that tackles both the root cause of pore enlargement (accumulated gunk) and the structural weakness (loss of firmness) that makes pores look more obvious. Use it consistently and you are essentially giving your skin a two-pronged approach: keeping the inside of the pore clean and giving the surrounding tissue a better snap-back ability.
Did it work?
In the name of science (or at least skincare nerdery) I benched my usual pore minimizer for three days before starting the ampoule, congratulating myself on how “controlled study” that felt. Two weeks seemed like a reasonable window to judge results so I slotted three drops into my routine every morning after a low pH cleanser and again at night before moisturizer. The texture absorbed in the time it took me to find my phone charger, never pilled under sunscreen and played nicely with the niacinamide serum I refused to give up.
By day four I noticed less mid-afternoon shininess around my nose which I took as a sign that the salt minerals were clearing some congestion. Blackheads did not vacate the premises overnight but they looked less raised, as if the surface gunk had been loosened. What surprised me more was the subtle calming effect around a healing zit on my chin; the usual angry halo was dialed down and the spot flattened a bit faster than usual.
Week two delivered the real test: did my pores look smaller in good lighting or was I just convincing myself they should? Under the cruelty of a magnifying mirror the difference was modest yet present. The craters on either side of my nose appeared slightly pinched, similar to what I get after a gentle clay mask but without the dryness. Skin texture along my cheeks felt smoother to the touch and foundation sat more evenly, likely thanks to that peptide elasticity claim. What it did not do was erase the more stubborn sebaceous filaments on my nose—those remained, albeit less prominent.
So yes, the ampoule delivered measurable refinement and a welcome soothing bonus though it stopped short of the flawless canvas promised in marketing copy. After 14 days I can say it works better than many pore focused serums I have tried, especially at calming redness, yet the improvement was not dramatic enough for me to retire my current favorites. I will happily use up the remainder for its gentle clarifying kick, just not rush to repurchase once the last drop is gone.
Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule’s main ingredients explained
Centella asiatica extract drives the formula at a reportedly high concentration, supplying madecassoside and asiaticoside that help rein in inflammation while nudging the skin barrier to rebuild itself. If your complexion often feels tight or looks blotchy these compounds are the calming crew that keep irritation from stretching pore walls further.
Pink Himalayan salt shows up on the label as mineral salts and brings a cocktail of calcium, magnesium and potassium. These trace minerals behave a bit like the rinse phase of a clay mask, sweeping away dead cells and sebum micro plugs before they compact into blackheads. Because the salt is dissolved it gives a clarifying effect without the scratchiness of physical scrubs.
The Peptide 9 Complex sounds gimmicky yet the individual peptides have solid data on signaling skin to produce more collagen and elastin. Tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in particular are linked to firmer tissue around pores so they do not gape. Copper tripeptide-1 also adds a subtle antioxidant benefit which may explain the faster calm down of active blemishes I noticed.
A trio of hyaluronic acid weights (plain, hydrolyzed and sodium hyaluronate) keeps dehydration lines from exaggerating texture. Panthenol, aloe and biosaccharide gum-1 layer on extra humectant and soothing support making the whole blend surprisingly gentle for something marketed at congestion.
As for what is not inside, there are no animal derived components so vegans and vegetarians can use it without worry. The ingredient list is free of heavyweight oils or butters; none of the components rank high on standard comedogenicity scales which means they are unlikely to clog pores (comedogenic refers to any substance that can wedge into follicles and spark new bumps).
No retinoids, salicylic acid or essential oils appear, suggesting the serum should be pregnancy friendly in theory, yet anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should still clear new topicals with a healthcare professional first.
Worth noting is the absence of added fragrance which reduces the risk of sensitization plus a low pH water base that helps the actives stay stable. Combine that with the featherlight texture and the ampoule slots easily into both morning and evening routines without drama.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of daily use.
What works well:
- Featherlight serum sinks in fast and never pills so it layers smoothly with both sunscreen and makeup.
- Noticeable calming of redness plus a subtle pinch to pore edges without the dryness some pore treatments cause.
- Fragrance-free formula and gentle hydration make it friendly for combination or easily irritated skin.
What to consider:
- Pore refinement is visible but modest so those chasing dramatic results may still need stronger actives like BHA.
- Trace minerals can create a faint tingle that very reactive skin might dislike.
- Cost sits in the mid-range which could feel steep given the straightforward ingredient list.
My final thoughts
Two weeks is long enough for me to decide if a pore treatment earns a place in the rotation and Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule squeaks in with a solid 8/10. It smooths texture, dials back redness and gives pores a gentle nudge toward refinement without stripping the skin. If you are new to this category or sensitive to strong acids you will likely appreciate its calm approach. If you already rely on heavy hitters like salicylic acid or prescription retinoids you may find the improvements too subtle to justify another step, though the added barrier support still makes it a nice companion on recovery days.
I would recommend it to friends who struggle with mild congestion, reactive cheeks or the post-mask roughness that became all too common over the last few years. I would steer my oil-slicked pals or anyone chasing dramatic pore shrinkage toward formulas with a dedicated chemical exfoliant instead. As always I compared it to plenty of similar products I have emptied in the past: Deascal’s Poreless Perfection Serum remains the allrounder that delivers speedy clarity on every skin type at a wallet friendly price; Paula’s Choice Pore-Reducing Toner is my go-to when I want niacinamide in a featherlight liquid; StriVectin’s Super Shrink Pore Minimizing Serum tackles firmness as aggressively as it tackles oil; and Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-tight Toner offers a fruity acid kick that shows results by the end of a long weekend. Each of those fills a slightly different niche so choose based on how much exfoliation your skin can tolerate and how quickly you expect visible change.
Before you rush to add anything new to cart, remember the usual caveats. Patch test first (sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent) and give any pore product at least a fortnight of consistent use before judging. Results fade once you stop so plan on steady application if you want that newly refined look to stick around.