Figuring out retinol is a journey that can take years, as was the case for me. There are so many options on the market that it’s hard to tell which your skin will tolerate, if any. However, skincare brand Medik8 has created a smart — and I would even argue foolproof — system and corresponding products that have truly made the infamously difficult ingredient accessible for all. Meet: Medik8 Crystal Retinal. It has nearly 1,500 five-star reviews and is part of the brand’s early (and very rare) 30 percent off sitewide Black Friday sale. 

There are technically five different variations, or intensities, of Crystal Retinal that get progressively stronger and more intense — 1, 3, 6, 10, and 20. The brand advises starting with Crystal Retinal 1 if you have sensitive skin, though it also says most people start at level 3. As your skin becomes more accustomed to the ingredient you can choose to level up the potency you use.

To understand why this product is unlike the rest, we need a quick science lesson. Crystal Retinal uses retinaldehyde (retinal) and not retinol. Both retinal and retinol are types of vitamin A, but retinal is the most potent save for prescription-strength options. (The brand even dubs it the “next generation” of vitamin A.) Basically, retinal is 10 times stronger and can work up to 11 times faster than retinol. 

That being said, Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 1 has .01 percent retinal, while version 3 has .03 percent, so neither should leave you looking like Samantha Jones post-chemical peel. What you can and should expect is fewer and less severe wrinkles, smoother skin, a more even skin tone, and smaller-looking pores on an expedited timeline. 

The brand is not singular in its claim of results — hundreds of hoppers are fervent fans, too. A shopper in their late 30s who has worked their way up the potency options said, “I have seen a big improvement in my skin. [My] fine lines and wrinkles have improved and [my] pores [are] reduced.” A middle-aged shopper saw “more even firm skin, softened lines, fewer pigmentation areas, and a brighter smoother overall appearance,” without an ounce of irritation.

Crystal Retinal is the crowning jewel of Medik8’s lineup but its other products deserve some love during this sitewide sale, too. 

Shop More Medik8 Products:

Liquid Peptides

Peptides are a multi-tasking powerhouse, especially if you’re looking for anti-aging and hydration benefits. Medik8’s Liquid Peptides Serum has 10 different types of peptides at different molecular weights so that they can penetrate all layers and areas of the skin. The brand purports that the result is shallower wrinkles and plumper, firmer, more hydrated skin in as little as a week. 

Judging by the 453 out of 499 five-star reviews (that’s 91 percent), this is a great product. A shopper in their 60s said it makes their skin “well hydrated and plumped up” in addition to “minimizing the look of fine lines.” Another reviewer said it “drenches [their] skin in lightweight hydration” and makes it “super juicy without being the last big greasy.” 

C-Tetra Lipid Vitamin C Radiance Serum

Similar to its approach to retinol/retinal, Medik8’s C-Tetra Radiance Serum is a great starter vitamin C product. It uses a stabilized form of vitamin C that is gentle enough for all skin types and fortified by vitamin E and jojoba oil. This serum reportedly gives you glowing, bright, moisturized, and plump skin. A middle-aged shopper said C-Tetra “gives [them] a wonderful glow and has massively improved the texture of [their] skin.” 

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