Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Medik8 Crystal Retinal

Medik8 Crystal Retinal

30ml

£50.00

This retinal cream is a fantastic retinoid option for anyone wanting to step up their evening skincare routine without wanting or requiring prescription-strength treatments. This product comes in 6 different strengths to suit all skin types from the most sensitive to the most experienced retinoid users. Retinoids should feature in almost everyone’s skincare routine to help increase how quickly skin cells are turning over, maintaining a strong skin barrier as well as helping target certain skin conditions like acne and hyperpigmentation. 

This Medik8 Crystal Retinal is particularly impressive, in part because of the variety of strengths but also because it is formulated and stabilised to perfection. That means Medik8 have done lots of work behind the scenes (including in the packaging) to ensure that the dose you apply from the first pump will be as effective as the very last pump. 

Who is this for?

Perfect for:

  • Uneven Skin Texture
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Acne

Helps with:

  • Enlarged Pores
  • Hyperpigmentation

Not great for:

  • Poorly Controlled Rosacea

What makes it special?

As with all the products in The Curatory the focus is not just on single ingredients but on formulation which includes how well it penetrates the upper layers of the skin as well as how stable it is - this means that it’s effective till the very last drop. Medik8 Crystal Retinal epitomises this principle perfectly. 

Aside from its great formulation the reason I love this product so much is its versatility - from 1 all the way up to 24 (although I don’t recommend this) there is a product here for everyone from the most sensitive skin all the way up to experienced retinoid users.

— Dr Max Greenfield

Key ingredients

Retinaldehyde (retinal) is a precursor to retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A used in prescription treatments. There is good clinical evidence that retinaldehyde can help improve fine lines, uneven texture and pigmentation by increasing cell turnover and supporting collagen production. It is generally better tolerated than prescription retinoids but can still cause dryness or irritation, particularly when first introduced.

Hyaluronic Acid is a moisturising ingredient that helps boost hydration in the skin when combined with other moisturising agents. It falls into the category of humectant moisturisers that draw water into the upper layers of the skin. Works best when combined with emollient and occlusive moisturisers.

Glycerin has strong evidence for its ability to attract and retain water within the skin, improving hydration and supporting the barrier. Its benefits are well documented in dermatology, and regular use helps reduce dryness, improve skin comfort and maintain a healthy, resilient skin barrier across all skin types.

Vitamin E not only helps to stabilise Vitamin C and make it more potent, it also works as an anti-oxidant by itself by mopping up the free radicals that cause damage to DNA, collagen and elastin.

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cyclodextrin, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Retinal, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Climbazole, Disodium EDTA, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipteryx Odorata (Tonka) Bean Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract, Decylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, BHT, Coumarin.

How to use

Gently remove make up with a micellar water or oil/balm cleanser

Cleanse - this will be your second cleanse if wearing makeup 

Tone - optional step if you want to introduce additional actives into your routine

Targeted active ingredients if this is part of your routine

Medik8 Crystal Retinal

Moisturise (optional)

Application Instructions

Retinoids including Crystal Retinal should be applied as part of your evening skincare routine, where it slots into your routine depends on what other products you are using but as a general rule of thumb you should apply thinner, runnier products first. That means that you should apply Crystal Retinal, which is a fairly rich cream, as one of the last elements of your routine prior to moisturising.

Apply two pumps worth of product to your face and neck and gently massage in - with the higher potency products your face may look slightly orange (this is the carrot seed oil that’s used to stabilise the formulation). Once the product has fully absorbed (usually after 5 minutes) you may want to moisturise if you feel as though you need to.

As with all retinoids, it’s expected to have a little bit of redness and irritation when you start using them. To minimise these effects I recommend that you start using Crystal Retinal three times a week initially (e.g. Monday, Wednesday and Friday) then after 3-4 weeks building up to every other night and if you’re still tolerated it well you can build up to 5-7 nights a week after another 3-4 weeks. Once you have finished a tube of product and you’re not getting any further reaction you can increase the strength of the product.

If you need any advice on this then please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can guide you further.

Your skincare routine. Simplified.

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