Medicube Modes Explained: Air Shot, Booster, MC & Derma Shot

Last reviewed: August 11, 2026. This guide covers the original four-mode Medicube AGE-R Booster Pro and separately identifies what changed on Booster Pro X2.

Why this guide is unusually specific: searches for “Medicube modes explained” often mix three different questions: what each mode does, how to physically use it, and which technology is underneath it. This page separates those questions so you can choose a mode without treating four different technologies as four versions of the same setting.

The shortest useful explanation

Medicube AGE-R Booster Pro modes explained at a glance

The original Booster Pro is easier to understand when you divide the modes by routine role, not by marketing name. Air Shot is the only core mode used before skincare on completely dry skin. Booster, MC and Derma Shot are used with skincare on the surface.

The second distinction is technology. Booster is electroporation, Air Shot is Medicube's Electric-needle technology, MC is microcurrent, and Derma Shot is mid-frequency EMS. That is why the contact pattern, movement and cosmetic objective change from mode to mode.

If you remember only one decision rule: Air Shot = pores/texture; Booster = skincare absorption/glow; MC = microcurrent/plump-looking definition; Derma Shot = EMS/targeted facial definition.

Medicube mode functions: what each mode is actually for

These are not four intensity versions of one treatment

A common source of confusion is assuming that choosing MC instead of Derma Shot is like choosing a different strength. It is not. The mode changes the underlying electrical technology and the way the device is meant to contact and move across the skin.

That is also why copying one motion across every setting is a poor shortcut. Air Shot uses the edge and a sweeping motion on dry skin. MC relies on full contact and upward movement. Derma Shot uses slower movement with 1–2 second pauses. Booster uses circular or outward movement over skincare.

How the four Medicube technologies differ

Electroporation vs microcurrent vs EMS

Electroporation is the technology Medicube assigns to Booster Mode. The brand describes stabilized electrical pulses that temporarily increase skin permeability, which is why this mode is paired with skincare rather than dry skin.

Microcurrent is the technology behind MC Mode. In practical routine terms, the most important distinction is not a theoretical electrical definition but the operating instruction: full head contact, upward movement and a cosmetic target centered on plumper-looking volume, elasticity and definition.

EMS is the technology behind Derma Shot. Medicube describes a mid-frequency output optimized for facial muscles. Its movement is deliberately slower than MC, with brief pauses on selected areas. That makes MC and Derma related in broad “definition” intent but not interchangeable in technique.

What does “Electric-needle” mean on Air Shot?

“Electric-needle” is Medicube's name for the electrical technology used by Air Shot. The brand describes temporary passageways or micro-holes created through electrical stimulation and a unipolar contact system. Do not automatically translate that wording into the clinical expectations of an in-office microneedling procedure. They are different categories of intervention, and the Booster Pro page positions Air Shot as cosmetic pore and texture care.

Why does Medicube call Booster Pro a 6-in-1 device if it has four modes?

The original Booster Pro has four core selectable care modes but Medicube markets the device as having six advanced functions: Electroporation, Electric-needle, Microcurrent, EMS, Sonic Vibration and LED. In other words, Air Shot, Booster, MC and Derma Shot are the four mode names; sonic vibration and LED are additional device functions rather than two extra modes that replace the four-mode workflow.

This distinction matters when reading reviews or comparing models. “Four modes” and “6-in-1” are not contradictory descriptions of the original device.

Medicube Booster Pro clinical data by mode

The most useful way to read Booster Pro data is mode by mode, because a single headline number can hide which technology and endpoint produced it. Medicube's main Booster Pro page highlights overall figures such as +70.4% plumper-looking skin, −34.56% appearance of pores and +763.3% skin absorption efficiency. A separate official Medicube product page publishes more granular results for the four original modes.

How strong is the evidence behind those percentages?

That changes how the numbers should be used. They are valuable because they tell us which outcomes the manufacturer actually measured and help separate Air Shot, Booster, MC and Derma Shot. They are weaker as a basis for predicting the exact percentage improvement a new user will see.

MC Mode vs Derma Shot Mode: microcurrent vs EMS

This is the most important comparison after Air Shot vs Booster because MC and Derma Shot can sound redundant. They are both skincare-assisted and both are positioned around visible definition, but they use different technologies and movement patterns.

Which should you choose?

Choose MC Mode when the microcurrent function and a plumper-looking, elasticity-focused finish are the closer match to your goal. Choose Derma Shot when you specifically want the slower EMS step for targeted definition. If you want both and your skin tolerates the routine, Medicube allows them in the same sequence: MC first, Derma Shot second.

There is no useful basis for declaring one universally “stronger” or “better.” They are designed for different output patterns and are measured against different endpoints.

What is the correct order for Medicube Booster Pro modes?

1. Air Shot — clean, completely dry skin.

2. Apply skincare — start with a light serum or ampoule.

3. Booster Mode — electroporation/skincare-absorption step.

4. MC Mode — microcurrent with full contact and upward movement.

5. Derma Shot — EMS step with slower movement and brief pauses.

Medicube says all four can be used in one routine. That does not mean every user needs all four every time. The correct order tells you how to combine them; it is not a minimum routine requirement.

Air Shot vs Booster: which comes first?

Air Shot comes first because it requires completely dry skin. Booster comes after skincare. If you apply serum first and then decide to use Air Shot, you have already broken the intended sequence for that mode.

How often to use each Medicube mode — and how long the full routine takes

The official ranges imply a practical time cost that is easy to miss:

• Booster + MC + Derma: roughly 15–30 minutes if you use all three skincare-assisted modes in one session.
• Air Shot + Booster + MC + Derma: roughly 20–35 minutes on a day when Air Shot is included.
• One targeted mode: 5–10 minutes, or 5 minutes for Air Shot.

That time calculation is not a new Medicube protocol; it is simply the sum of the manufacturer's listed per-mode durations. For many users, choosing the right one or two modes is more sustainable than treating the maximum routine as the default.

Practical routines by available time

Which Medicube mode is best for each skin goal?

“Best” here means closest match to Medicube's documented function, not guaranteed best outcome for every person.

Which skincare products work with Medicube Booster Pro modes?

Compatibility starts with the mode, not the ingredient list. Air Shot uses no skincare underneath. For Booster, Medicube suggests a light serum or ampoule and then a richer cream or gel. MC and Derma Shot can be used with product remaining on the skin, with more product added if you need comfortable glide.

Can you use retinol or vitamin products with Booster Pro?

Medicube says the device's visible-light wavelengths do not create the UV-light issue users sometimes worry about with vitamin ingredients. The brand also warns that combining the device with retinol or vitamin products may feel more irritating depending on skin condition. Its practical advice is to first adapt with basic skincare, then introduce those products at the lowest device intensity.

This should be read as a tolerance strategy, not a blanket promise that every high-strength active will be comfortable for every user.

Product-link rule: the examples below are live ProtoClinical product formats, not mandatory Medicube pairings or claims that a specific formula was clinically tested with the device.

Intensity levels, LED, sonic vibration and the AGE-R app

What level should a beginner use?

The original Booster Pro has five intensity levels, and Medicube tells first-time users to begin at level 1. A higher level is not a score for how well you are using the device. Technique, skin condition and repeatability matter before intensity.

What do LED and sonic vibration have to do with the modes?

They are two of the six technologies Medicube counts in the original 6-in-1 device. The four named care modes remain Air Shot, Booster, MC and Derma Shot. LED and sonic vibration work as additional device functions rather than turning the original device into a six-mode interface.

What does the AGE-R app track?

Medicube says Smart Care can record the mode, steps, intensity, vibration and LED color. The app also includes guide videos, a calendar and a skin tracker. That is useful if your main challenge is consistency: you can treat the app as a routine log instead of trying to remember which level and mode you used.

Can you use Medicube Booster Pro around the eyes?

Medicube's public original Booster Pro guidance says the four modes can be used around the eye area and recommends level 1 for thin areas such as around the eyes, nose and mouth. “Around the eyes” does not mean direct treatment of the eyeball or permission to ignore the exact contact pattern for the mode. Use the instructions supplied with the exact device and stay conservative around thin or sensitive areas.

Areas to avoid, irritation and when to simplify

Do not turn a cosmetic device routine into an endurance test. The original guidance used for this article excludes open wounds, recently treated or surgical areas and the front of the throat/Adam's apple. It also repeatedly tells users to adjust frequency and duration to skin condition.

If you are introducing a device and several strong actives at the same time, you lose the ability to identify what caused discomfort. A simpler skincare base and level 1 are more useful for troubleshooting than changing three variables at once.

The public product page is not a complete medical contraindication table. For implanted electronic devices, pregnancy, neurological conditions, recent procedures or other medical circumstances that could affect suitability, use the exact manufacturer safety documentation and appropriate professional guidance rather than assuming a general beauty article clears use.

How Booster Pro modes compare with older Medicube AGE-R devices

The original Booster Pro consolidated functions that previously appeared across separate AGE-R devices. This is useful context if you see older tutorials using different hardware names.

These are manufacturer comparisons. They explain why an older AGE-R tutorial may not map perfectly to the movements or settings of the four-mode Booster Pro.

Original Medicube Booster Pro vs Booster Pro X2

This article is intentionally centered on the original model because that is the device behind the Air Shot / Booster / MC / Derma Shot query cluster. But the X2 now appears in the same search results, so identifying your model is necessary before following instructions.

Fast model check: if the interface offers Dual, Mask or AI, you have an X2-family workflow and should not use this original four-mode guide for those extra settings. The shared mode names do not make every control or output identical across generations.

Claims this article deliberately does not make

• Permanent lifting, permanent contour change or facial remodeling.
• Permanent pore shrinkage.
• Acne or disease treatment.
• Guaranteed collagen production or tissue regeneration from a consumer routine.
• Equivalence between Air Shot and a medical microneedling procedure.
• A guarantee that +785% permeability makes every skincare active +785% more effective.
• A claim that higher intensity automatically produces better results.

Official sources and verification scope

• Medicube official AGE-R Booster Pro product page and FAQ — mode roles, overall clinical highlights, frequency, order, skincare use, technology descriptions, retinol/vitamin guidance and app functions.
• Medicube official PDRN Pink Glow Home Aesthetic Full Set page — granular original Booster Pro clinical results by Air Shot, Booster, MC and Derma Shot.
• Medicube official Booster Pro limited-edition documentation — step-by-step mode movement and comparisons with older AGE-R devices.
• Medicube official Booster Pro X2 page — current X2 mode count, intensity levels, Dual/Mask/AI modes and dual-head architecture.

ProtoClinical separates manufacturer-reported measurements from editorial interpretation. Where public documentation does not provide enough information to support a precise claim, this guide keeps the statement narrower rather than filling the gap with assumptions.

Related Medicube and routine guides