Medik8 Crystal Retinal Night Serum Review

In my quest to find the fountain of youth, there seemed to be one clear solution: topical vitamin A. Think of vitamin A as a family that has a bunch of members, and the siblings include retinoids like retinol, retinal, retinyl ester, and retinoic acid. Whatever the family member you choose, Vitamin A is the gold standard for smoother, clearer skin with a glass-skin aesthetic.

As a professional product tester, however, I needed something gentle. There is always a new product coming across my vanity that needs testing for six to eight weeks. While that may seem like the dream for many, in reality, it can leave my skin prone to inflammation and breakouts. Lately, I have been reading about Medik8 as a gentle, yet effective retinal solution. The brand has its own patented version of retinal that is offered in a variety of strengths. The reviews were stellar, and one of the things that makes Medik8 so popular is how gentle it is. I was excited to try it.

What is Medik8?

Medik8 is a science-backed skincare line that was created by Elliot Isaacs, a UK pharmacology and biochemistry graduate, who launched the line in 2009 based on the theory that to have gorgeous skin you need nothing more than vitamin C, sunscreen, and a nighttime routine that includes vitamin A. While it took a few years for the company to get its footing, the past year has been very, very good to Medik8, which has garnered a lot of buzz for its youth-boosting line, which has been impressing both TikTok-influencers and TikTok-influencers and beauty editors for its gentle, yet effective product that include “crystal retinal.”

What is crystal retinal?

Crystal retinal is an encapsulated retinaldehyde considered to be an “entry-level” retinal that can still be effective when used in lower potencies. The Medik8 site claims that “Crystal retinal is our 'everyone' vitamin A. It is renowned for its universal hydrating texture and low-irritation potential while delivering profound, proven age-defying results.”

Farah Moustafa, MD, Dermatologist and Director of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center, explains: “Retinals are thought to be more effective than retinol but can also sometimes be more irritating, so picking the right formula is important to maintain consistency and get the benefits of the product.”

Medik8’s Crystal Retinal Face Serum comes in formulas 1, 2, 6, 10, and 20. The tiered numbers indicate the increase in retinaldehyde potency in tandem with the number increase. Since my skin is generally used to retinol and vitamin A derivatives, it was recommended that I start with their mid-strength product, so I tried Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 6 for both the face and the eye area.

What we thought about Medik8’s Crystal Retinal Face Serum

I won’t lie: Initially, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about putting a new product on my skin after a recent skin mishap during testing which caused a pretty bad breakout. Thankfully, Medik8 was equal parts gentle and effective, and it felt indulgent to boot.

What we like about Medik8

It’s gentle

I’ve been testing a slew of skincare products lately and my skin hasn’t been happy with me. I had to wait three weeks to let my skin calm down after testing harsher products before using Medik8 Crystal Retinal Face Serum. I was surprised to find that my skin adapted to it without missing a beat.

During testing, I used it every other day for eight weeks. I didn’t use an evening moisturizer during the first day of testing. (No scientific reasoning here: I ran out and used my day cream.) My skin was a bit dry, but it wasn’t flakey or irritated. The dryness was nothing that slathering my face with my La Roche Posay skin cream didn’t immediately fix. I was impressed.

The exfoliation was light but effective, and within 10 days I was waking up with glowier skin.

It’s fast acting

Because the face serum was so gentle, this was, quite frankly, surprising. I was thrilled with the near-instant gratification of this product.

It’s fast-absorbing

I love a fast-absorbing product. While this is called a serum and it definitely falls into the serum step in my skincare routine, it rubs in like a very light cream. My skin drank it up within seconds and I was able to apply my moisturizer a minute after applying.

It smells great

It smells mildly cinnamon-y, which only adds to the indulgence. I loved the scent.

It’s accessible

I love that anyone can find their “crystal match” within moments by answering a few questions on the site. Unlike other online ordering systems you don’t need to pay any money upfront, you just find your match and you’re able to buy the correct formulation. Medik8 also offers free and easy returns for the first 30 days.

What we didn’t like about Medik8

Let me get back to you. I haven’t found any issues with it yet!

Do we recommend Medik8?

Yes. If you’re not going to go the route of meeting with your dermatologist to get a prescription of vitamin A, then we highly recommend opting for Medik8 skincare. The crystal retinal is luxurious and effective, yet surprisingly gentle. I vastly prefer it over any other vitamin A product I’ve tried.