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What to buy
Medik8 is such a well respected and renowned skincare brand and for very good reason. It is certainly very popular among those I speak to on my social media platforms and also skincare professionals, and so I wanted to run you through my top product picks and share my Medik8 review.
Who are Medik8?
Leaders in Anti-Ageing
Medik8 are leaders in anti-ageing and are renowned by both professionals and customers for being experts in Vitamin A, which includes Retinol and Retinal (Retinaldehyde).
A couple of year s ago, I started a Beauty Facebook group, and one of the membership questions asks ‘What is your favourite skincare product right now?’. So many people answered Medik8 Crystal Retinal. It just kept coming up again and again!
Medik8 is a UK based company with its own labs and in-house research team. It was founded by scientist Elliot Isaacs, and everything began in a little lab at his dad’s pharmacy. Soon joined by brother Daniel, the cosmeceutical brand grew from there, based on its CSA philosophy – ‘vitamin C plus sunscreen by day, and vitamin A by night’.
What is Medik8 CSA?
So Medik8 say that the basics of any good skincare routine should be vitamin C, Sunscreen and vitamin A (retinol). I absolutely adore this simple approach to skincare, and in a world of seriously over-complicated routines and product overload, it’s a brilliant way to make sure your skin is getting what it needs.
Why do I love Medik8?
I love Medik8’s science-led approach to skincare and how easy it is to navigate the range of products.
I have always been obsessed with how effective the products are very quickly after you start using them. My first obsession was Medik8’s Press & Glow which is a daily exfoliating tonic with gentle PHAs, recommended to me by a friend a few years back. More on that later.
All the products are super effective and results-driven, but designed to work with the skin and not against it. I have never experienced any irritation or sensitivity with any of the products I’ve used. I have tried to include all of these in this Medik8 review.
Offers
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Medik8 Skincare Latest Launch for 2025
My Top Pick: Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP Review
When Medik8 told me they were launching a new peptide serum that is clinically proven to visibly diminish expression lines in just 10 minutes, I was shocked. They’re not the kind of brand to make wild claims, so I had to put it to the test. At 50, I know the importance of boosting collagen, so I felt like this product was for me.
First Impressions – Does It Really Work in 10 Minutes?
The first time I tried this serum, I was fixated on that 10-minute promise. So, I took a photo of my bare skin before applying it, set a timer, and then snapped another shot 10 minutes later. Honestly? I was shocked at how much my fine lines appeared softened. It actually works.
What’s Inside Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP?
This serum features a world-first biotechnology. The formula has a 30% peptide comlex with 13 different peptides, plus Dual MiniProtein Technology which is a completely new approach to tackling wrinkles at their root:
- Expression Line MiniProtein – helps relax and smooth dynamic expression lines for visibly reduced wrinkle depth.
- Growth Factor MiniProtein – supports collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid levels over time for smoother, firmer-looking skin.
How to Use Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP
This is an easy-to-use, water-based serum, perfect for layering into your skincare routine.
- Use morning and evening after cleansing
- Massage across the face, neck, and décolletage
- Allow it to absorb before applying moisturiser and SPF
Honestly? I didn’t think Medik8 could improve on their original Liquid Peptides, but somehow, they’ve done it. This is one of the most exciting peptide serums I’ve tried in a long time. If you’re serious about targeting fine lines and wrinkles, this is one to check out.
Medik8 Review – My Other Favourites
There are quite a few brilliant MediK8 products that I have a very soft spot for that I also wanted to share.
Medik8 Liquid Peptides Review
Liquid Peptides from Medik8 is a true hero product for anyone dealing with the early signs of ageing-related issues.
Peptides in skincare are key when it comes to helping boost collagen production and Medik8 Liquid Peptides has a 30% Peptide formula with a very clever delivery system.
Copper Peptides are incredible for skin strength and health, and this product contains ‘drone-targeted Copper Peptide’ which has sophisticated technology designed to direct the peptide to the skin’s fibroblast cells. Those fibroblast cells are the ones responsible for collagen production. This ensures that the ingredients are optimised.
The formula also uses Matrixyl 3000 which is one of the most powerful collagen boosting peptides. Plus Carnosine to prevent wrinkle formation, Expression Line Peptide, Hyaluronic Acid and Prebiotics.
It’s a very hard working formula, and if you are concerned with lack of firmness, lines and wrinkles, this will be a brilliant addition to your skincare regime. You can use it after Press & Glow and before or after Crystal Retinal at night, so fits in easily with the brand’s CSA approach (see above).
I love the Medik8 Liquid Peptides, first off because it is so instantly hydrating and plumping, so you see an instant smoothness to the skin.
The clever delivery system means that all those powerful peptides go right where they need to and allow them to really work on boosting collagen and elastin to smooth away wrinkles. This isn’t always the case with peptides as they are large molecules which don’t easily penetrate the layers of the skin.
Liquid Peptides is such a great one to add into your existing routine to super-boost the skin. It’s the one to pick to address the early signs of ageing. If you’re wrinkles are deeper, go for the Advanced MP version featured above.
Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C SPF 30 Review
I love this one because it’s such a great Do-It-All product. It is super moisturising, has a lovely dose of brightening Vitamin C, plus that all important SPF30 to give you great antioxidant and UV protection.
The Vitamin C in here is the highly stable Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate which is a super-antioxidant and also brilliant at brightening the skin. Vitamin E also boosts the antioxidant protection.
I love the rich texture which is super moisturising and is also loaded with Hyaluronic Acid to keep the skin hydrated throughout the day. Plus it gives a gorgeous glow.
If you’re looking for a sunscreen product with higher protection, I highly recommend the Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50*.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Review
Crystal Retinal is Medik8’s most famous product, so it absolutely has to be in my Medik8 review.
It is an ultra potent form of Vitamin A that’s designed as a whole system to both introduce your skin to retinoids and then increase levels to ensure that performance never plateaus and always progresses.
I love using Crystal Retinal 3 which is a starter strength, however, I find this very effective as I test a lot of different skincare products and need something that delivers the gentlest action whilst still being effective.
Number 1 is an even more gentle formula designed for those with very sensitive skin, and then there’s 6, 10 and 20, for those advanced Vitamin A users looking to up the ante on their results. 20 is a clinic-only formula and needs a professional consultation before it can be used.
The retinaldehyde in the formula is proven to work approximately 11 times faster than retinol, however, this powerful ingredient is buffered with Glycerin (one of my all-time favourite humectants), Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E to ensure skin is never unnecessarily irritated or compromised.
It is one of those products that once you start using, you most likely won’t want to stop! It works great with my other favourite Liquid Peptides and is amazing for mature skin types.
You might be interested to know that Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 features in the Space NK Advent Calendar.
Medik8 Press & Glow Review
Again, because I test a lot of skincare products, I try to make sure that any acid toners I am using regularly are super gentle and kind to the skin. Over exfoliation is one of the worst things you can do when it come to the skin barrier. Too much exfoliation leads to a damaged barrier and all your other skincare products quickly become ineffective once that happens.
Press & Glow is formulated with PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) which are the gentlest type of acid. It removes dead skin cells to gently refine the texture and it also has Aloe to hydrate and Acai Extract to prevent inflammation.
The best part is that it is gentle enough to be used with my Crystal Retinal, so there’s no need to avoid Vitamin A.
Medik8 Clarity Peptides Review
Clarity Peptides is a newer discovery for me and Medik8 hail it as the one you need if you want to achieve glass skin.
It’s packed with a 10% concentration of Niacinamide which is great for calming and soothing the skin, and tackles redness and blemishes. It’s also great for hyperpigmentation, so definitely one to use if you want to improve the evenness of your skin.
What I find really exciting about this, and it really does work, is that the formula contains a high tech ingredient called a Crystalide peptide which actually makes skin more reflective to give that glass skin effect. This is boosted with a lovely dose of Hyaluronic Acid.
Also, if you suffer with any blemishes, there’s Zinc PCA in the formula that will keep bacteria in check.
Is Medik8 Worth it?
Considering that Medik8 is all about science-backed formulations and comes so highly recommended by skin experts everywhere, it is actually extremely well priced.
The brand is very transparent when it comes to ingredients and their concentration levels which makes it easy to see that you are paying for high quality ingredients, and sophisticated formulations, rather than fancy packaging or marketing.
Their suggested routines are always kept really simple – CSA – and there’s no product pushing and complicated regimes. You could really keep it as simple as Vitamin C and SPF for day, and your Vitamin A at night.
The other products they offer are all designed to fit nicely around this simple routine, or in fact could slot into any routine, so there’s no pressure to switch up all your skincare products.
Medik8 is most certainly a brand with a conscience and one that you can put your trust in to find the ideal solutions for your skin concerns. I have always noticed how responsive and willing to help they are online which is incredibly reassuring when you are parting with your hard-earned cash.
What do peptides do for your skin?
Peptides are amino acids that acts as messengers to your skin’s vital functions. They tell the skin to produce more collagen and elastin and basically encourage it to act younger.
What is retinal?
Retinal is also known as retinaldehyde and it is proven to be 11 times more effective at dealing with fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin texture than classic Retinol. Another benefit is that Retinal also has blemish-fighting ability thanks to its antibacterial qualities.
What is the difference between retinol and retinal?
Retinaldehyde vs retinol is a topic that comes up a lot. They are both derivatives of Vitamin A, and for Vitamin A to be effective on the skin, it needs to reach a point where it becomes retinoic acid.
The Vitamin A journey goes like this: retinyl esters, then retinol, then retinaldehyde, and then retinoic acid. So retinal has only one conversion step, whereas retinol has two, meaning that more of retinal’s benefits are delivered into the skin.
Which Medik8 crystal retinal should I start with?
If you are new to Vitamin A, Crystal Retinal 3 is the best place to start, unless you have extremely sensitive skin. If this is the case, start with Crystal Retinal 1.
If you are a more experienced Vitamin A user wishing to see more results, then Crystal Retinal 6 would be the one. This is also the one to go to if you are looking to step up from 3.
Crystal Retinal 10 is for those moving up from No 6, looking to step up the results, and is for advanced Vitamin A users.
I also think, if you are happy with the results you are achieving, there is no pressure to keep going up and you can most certainly stay where you are. As I said, I am very happy with what Crystal Retinal 3 does for my skin.
Every retinal product from Medik8 is designed to be gentle as it is crystal encapsulated and time-released, so skin is never over-loaded.
Is Medik8 vegan and sustainable?
Every Medik8 product is vegan friendly. In terms of packaging, there are no plastic inserts and all outer packaging is made from 100% recycled paper
Where to buy Medik8
You can shop the full range of products at Medik8.com*.
