Shoppers Warned Not to Pay £24 for Viral TikTok K-Beauty Stick

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• Medicube’s K-beauty balm hits £370k in TikTok sales in seven days
• Experts warn shoppers are paying a £24 "viral tax" on TikTok when the exact same product is £11.90 on Amazon.
• Buyers can skip the hype and get the same key ingredients for as little as £8 at Boots.

A Korean beauty product has gone viral on TikTok but experts are warning there may be cheaper and better alternatives from other UK retailers. TikTok videos of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Balm have received over 1.5 million views in the last 7 days from 432 videos and 146 live streams. It is estimated to have sold over 14,000 units generating over £370,000 in sales. It costs £24 on TikTok Shop without delivery.

Medicube PDRN on TikTok Shop

However, consumer experts are warning that cheaper sources are available. Tom Church, Co-Founder of discount code platform LatestDeals.co.uk said,  "The key ingredients of Medicare's PDRN Collagen Balm are PDRN and Volufiline. PDRN is derived from salmon DNA and is clinically used for cellular repair and skin elasticity. Volufiline is a plant-based ingredient to provide a 'filler-like' plumping effect." "You can buy the exact same product, Medicare PDRN Collagen Balm, from Amazon for £11.90 - less than half price. Plus, you'll be buying it from the official brand not a third-party store."

The exact same product on Amazon for less than half price

"That the product comes in the form of a balm doesn't make any difference once applied. And so there are cheaper alternatives with the same key ingredients just in different forms. Avoid the viral tax and just get a cheaper version of the same thing." ALTERNATIVES - ANUA PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturising Cream 60ML, Look Fantastic, £21.60 LookFantastic often has discount codes that can be applied to save extra. - MEDI-PEEL Bor-Tox Peptide Toner, contains Volufiline, £12.99 at Amazon - Centellian Madeca Cream Active Renew PDRN 50ml, Calm Haven Beauty, £14.97 - Hydrating PDRN Serum 30ml, Boots, £8 Beauty shoppers are also warned against buying cheap knock-offs.  "If you are looking for an identical cheaper alternative, be careful. There are many knockoffs on Amazon, AliExpress, eBay, that look exactly the same and sell from just £6, but if they're not a known brand with loads of good reviews I would stay way clear." The rise of Korean beauty products stems from a wider shift of UK consumers now prioritising ingredient-led routines that deliver results.