Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1
Powerful anti-ageing retinoid serum
A serious night-time anti-ageing product based on vitamin A. It gives the sort of results you see from prescription level treatment – stronger skin with more collagen and elastin, a brighter complexion with more even pigmentation, a softening of lines and wrinkles and a clearing of spots and congestion.
Like ‘retinol’ ‘retinal’ is derived from vitamin A but it is 11 times stronger and less irritating to the skin, especially when, as here, it is encapsulated so it doesn’t all bomb straight into the skin immediately. There’s hyaluronic acid, glycerin and vitamin E here too, to keep your skin hydrated while this regeneration is going on.
Medik8’s Crystal Retinal range is a ‘step-up’ system; once your skin is acclimatised to level 1 – which will take a tube or two – you can move up to level 3.
CATEGORY: Retinol and Retinoids
GREAT FOR...
Acne
Acne Scarring
Barcode Lip Lines
Crepey Skin
Crow's Feet Wrinkles
Dry Rough Skin
Frown Lines
Large Pores
Neck Wrinkles
Pigmentation
Sagging Skin
Sensitive Skin
Sun Damage
Wrinkles
Description
This is a serious night-time anti-ageing product based on vitamin A, which gives the sort of results you see from prescription level treatment – stronger skin with more collagen and elastin, a brighter complexion with more even pigmentation, a softening of lines and wrinkles and a clearing of spots and congestion.
‘Retinal’ sounds a bit like ‘retinol’ but it is short for retinaldehyde, which is also derived from vitamin A but it is a good deal stronger than retinol; 11 times more powerful to be precise, yet it is also less irritating to the skin than plain retinol, especially when, as in this lovely product, the retinal is encapsulated (so it doesn’t all bomb straight into the skin immediately on application).
There’s hyaluronic acid, glycerin and vitamin E in here too, to keep your skin hydrated while all this regeneration is going on.
Medik8’s Crystal Retinal range is a ‘step-up’ system; once your skin is acclimatised to level 1 (0.01% encapsulated retinaldehyde) – which will take a tube or two, you can move up to level 3 (0.03% encapsulated retinaldehyde). I’ll be stocking this in due course but not yet, not least to encourage you to start at the beginning with this. It’s fabulous, but it’s strong stuff.
Apply at night time to clean, dry skin, and allow the product to be absorbed. You may want to follow it with moisturiser, especially if it is making your skin a bit dry, though I find that with this clever formula, dryness isn’t usually a problem.
- When starting with a new type of retinoid, like this, use it twice a week for two weeks
- If your skin is fine with that and not showing signs of redness, peeling or irritation, then use it three times a week for another fortnight.
- After this, it’s up to you whether you want to use it more often. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it every night, as long as your skin is happy with it.
- If your skin starts to look red and irritated, back off, use the product less often, and concentrate on keeping your skin hydrated and happy before you try it again.
Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Retinal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dipteryx Odorata (Tonka) Bean Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Stearic Acid, BHT, Coumarin, CI 14700 (Red 4).
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For the last year, I have only bought products that Alice recommends. This is a fantastic retinal! Super effective and gentle at the same time. Alice’s store is easy to use and quick to deliver. Thanks Alice for your expertise!
I had been looking around for a while for a retinol product that wasn”t a serum and also strong as I have been using other retinol products and I built up a tolerance (or so I thought). To begin with I broke out a little with spots around my jawline and cheek, not that many but for me it meant the product is working and also my skin takes a little time to adjust to new products. Please persevere if the same happens as it will clear up after a week and you will see the most amazing results. I love the consistency of the cream, it isn”t greasy and sinks in well meaning I can apply a moisturiser on top. After this I use the Alpha H liquid gold product that this site recommends which is also pricey but the two together leave your skin feeling fantastic. After two weeks I noticed a huge difference, my skin was glowing and I don”t need to wear makeup during the day, pores have shrunk and I don”t get the odd spot on my chin like I usually would have. It”s quite expensive but I do think it”s worth the money and I will repurchase when it”s finished. Also to add I think it enhances your skin more when you use the potent c vitamin c product – I only use this two weeks out of the month I”ve noticed the combination of vit c in the morning and retinol in the evening leaves best results.