You guys probably know by now how much I love, or should I say, addicted to Vitamin products I am, when a bottle of the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10* landed on my desk, I couldn’t wait to try.
I have started from the ‘ground’ up, as you should with retinol, to get the skin used to it, and used all lower strengths of the Medik8 retinols, and let me say, they’re all incredible, regardless of the ‘level’ you’re at.
The Medik8 Crystal Retinal is made with retinaldehyde, a super-charged derivative of vitamin A, that works with the skin to enhance collagen production and speed up cellular turnover. All vitamin A needs to be converted to retinoid acid before it can take effect by the skin, and essentially, the fewer conversions the product need to make to reach that level, the more effective and the quicker it start working. It needs to go through these stages;
Retinol → Retinaldehyde → Retinoic Acid
That also means that Retinoic Acid has been clinically proven to work faster than retinol, at forming, plumping and resurfacing the skin, while minimising fine lines and wrinkles for a younger looking and more even toned skin. And in the case of the Medik8 Crystal Retinal, it only requires one conversion from retinaldehyde to retinoic acid, with results comparable to clinical-grade vitamin A working up to 11x faster than classic forms of retinol.
The Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 is a 0.1% Ultra-Strength crystal-encapsulated stabilised retinaldehyde, which allows the skin to get used to vitamin A slowly, while minimising any irritation.
The serum is best used at night only as it can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, and it promises to help resurface the skin while rebuilding collagen for a more youthful, radiant complexion, with fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced, skin texture smoother and the overall tone more luminous and clear.
The serum also contains Hyaluronic Acid for intense hydration, Vitamin E to help targets free radicals to reduce the rate of premature ageing, and boost the moisture, along with Glycerin to leave the skin hydrated.
The actual serum is super lightweight, which I really like on my combination skin, as it doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or sticky. It sinks immediately and leaves my skin feeling silky soft.
I’ve been using quite strong retinoid creams (including dermatologist scripted ones) for a very long time, to help reduce the appearance predominantly increasing pigmentation from pregnancies, along with scarring from past acne and reoccurring acne hormonal breakouts, for which it has been amazing. But I have seen some ‘plateauing’ of results, and hence exited about this stronger version. And I have to say that I am impressed with this Crystal Retinal 10. Each morning my skin is feeling softer and smoother. I have also been experiencing less breakouts, which goes to show the retinaldehyde which also has powerful antibacterial properties, is the perfect anti-ageing product for my ageing blemish-prone skin, as it really doesn’t help both balance oil production and clear the bacteria that causes breakouts.
I also feel that my skin appears more even toned pigmentation clearly reducing in appearance, and my skin overall brighter and more glowing. As for my lines and wrinkles, they are still there, but I do feel they have making a significant effect in keeping them reduced in appearance.
Another incredible product from Medik8 - and again, while all the retinols are amazing, this is by far the best one I’ve tried, as since I ‘upped’ to this stronger and more efficient strength, I do feel my skin is looking even better, and as a bonus, it is helping to keep my skin clearer from those nasty breakouts too.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 - RRP: $153.60 / 30ml
Available from Medik8, RY , Adore Beauty and Advanced Cosmeceuticals or call on 1800 242 011 for further stockists
Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.
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