One question I constantly get asked as a beauty writer is: ‘What is your favourite skincare brand?’ The one that helps the health and appearance of my skin – and won’t break the bank either. Medik8 is always my answer.
My first foray into the world of Medik8 started with the Crystal Retinal serum – a potent retinaldehyde serum that, in only a matter of weeks, made my skin look like it had been reborn. Impressed to say the least, I went on to try the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream and fell in love all over again. From then on, I became a complete Medik8 stan.
Without a doubt, Medik8 is one of the industry’s best skincare brands for the simple fact that it genuinely works. “Medik8 is driven by innovation, investing significantly in research and development to ensure every formula is evidence-based and rigorously tested on real skin. At its core, it’s about creating skincare that genuinely delivers visible, reliable results,” says Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe, Medical and Cosmetic Doctor.
The best Medik8 products to try, based on your skin type
Yes, you can consult the brand’s regime builder but y’know what’s even cooler? I’ve created my own regimen with the best Medik8 products I’ve tried and tested, and grouped my recommendations for you based on skin type. FYI, there are now over 100 products in the brand’s line-up so I’ve whittled down the lot, taking into consideration my personal faves and reviews from beauty editors and buyers. You’re welcome in advance.
Medik8 products for dry skin
Medik8 Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil
IMO, an elite cleansing experience features a full face of makeup that I can’t wait to rinse off, hair tied up and out of my face, a fluffy flannel at the ready and this luxurious cleansing oil. It features moringa extract (its fresh aroma is enough to get me out of bed in the morning) alongside omega 6 and safflower oil, which are packed with essential fatty acids to nourish and soften. Chronically dry skin won’t know what hit it!
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum
If dehydration is your biggest skincare woe, your best bet is to get your hands on hyaluronic acid. The Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense packs a major punch when it comes to hydration. It contains a blend of glycerin, amino acids and hyaluronic acid, which not only hydrate on the surface but also reaches the deeper layers of the dermis too. It’s not the most exciting product around, but it’s a must when your skin feels drier than the Sahara.
Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream
It’s rare that I genuinely get excited about a moisturiser, but once again Medik8 defies all odds. The Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream feels like a real treat to apply; the satisfyingly rich texture melts into my skin while pumping it with all kinds of barrier-boosting ingredients. There’s a probiotic peptide that strengthens the skin’s natural functions, i.e., keeping hydrated and protecting against pollutants, and conditioning ceramides make the skin supple and soft.
Read my full review here
Medik8 H.E.O Mask
H.E.O stands for humectants, emollients and occlusives which are the three core ingredients used to plump and hydrate the skin. If you couldn’t have guessed already, this two-step overnight treatment mask is brimming with all three. Simply apply both formulas to cleansed skin before you go to sleep (allowing some time in between for the cream to dry) and come the morning you'll wake with juicy-looking skin.
Dr Ewoma is a fan too saying: “This is the ultimate overnight recovery mask. It’s deeply hydrating and barrier-restoring, and it leaves my skin plump, soft and replenished by morning.”
Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP
Any product that promises to do a little plumping, I’m on board – and so is Dr Ewoma. “This is a powerhouse peptide serum that targets fine lines and firmness. I love how instantly smoothing and hydrating it feels,” she says.
The silky serum is packed with 13 – yes, 13! – peptides to smooth. Meanwhile, the brand’s proprietary MiniProtein complexes are designed to reduce expression lines and boost the skin’s collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid levels. For £79 it certainly sits on the pricey end, however, I’ve already noticed a great difference in the overall appearance of my complexion with the serum helping to rewind the clock on my smile lines that are slowly creeping in. No wonder people are calling it an “anti-wrinkle injection in a bottle”.
Medik8 products for brightening
Medik8 C-Tetra Radiance Serum
If your complexion has lost its mojo – I’m talking dull, greyish and lacklustre-looking skin – a vitamin C serum is a sure-fire way to bring back the glow. The C-Tetra Radiance Serum contains a stabilised form of vitamin C (a.k.a, it has a longer shelf life) to brighten and fade pigmentation, and you’ve got vitamin E to protect your skin against the pollution-filled commute to work. One thing to note: the formula has a jojoba oil base, so the texture feels more like a rich serum as opposed to a watery tonic.
Medik8 C-Tetra Eye Serum
While they’re often thrown into the same ballpark, dark circles and under-eye bags are different things. But, if you’re struggling with both, try this brightening cream; vitamin-C helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles while the refreshing and lightweight serum reduces puffiness around the eye. Coming from someone who never bothered with eye creams, I can assure you this truly is the GOAT if you want more awakened and youthful-looking under-eyes.
Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C Cream
You won’t make it two minutes rooting around my skincare cupboard before finding a tub or two of this cream. It’s one of my fave formulas from Medik8 and it has got hundreds of glowing reviews to its name, too. The Daily Radiance Vitamin C cream combines tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate – a gentler form of vitamin C – with hyaluronic acid and SPF30 to brighten, hydrate and protect in one swoop. It legit ticks all boxes in my morning skincare routine.
Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides
Oxyresveratrol is an ingredient used in skincare that helps to block overproduction of melanin, and in turn helping to promote a smoother and more unified complexion. Medik8's Oxy-R Peptides serum is formulated with 1% oxyresveratrol – a very effective potency – alongside peptides to not only fade discolouration but to also boost the skin’s hydration levels.
Medik8 products for oily and blemish-prone skin
Medik8 Press and Clear
Oily folk, listen here! As someone with combination skin, I know how frustrating it can be to keep your oil levels in check. Medik8’s Press and Clear makes things much easier. The tonic contains salicylic acid, which is a powerhouse for preventing blemishes, regulating oil production and minimising the appearance of pores.
Better yet, it doesn’t completely strip the skin – which many pore-refining products fall guilty of – so your skin still feels hydrated and conditioned. If you thought toners were a step you could go without, this will make you think again.
Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanser
When you’re dealing with oily and congested skin, your top prio should be to find a hard-working cleanser that takes the day off without drying out the skin. I’ve tested many but Medik8’s Surface Radiance is truly one of the greats.
The cleansing experience is something to mention too as the satisfying lather softens the skin and sweeps away makeup, which is made even more exciting when you consider the benefits of the AHA/BHA complex (ahem, smoothing, brightening and fighting breakouts).
Medik8 Natural Clay Mask
Oily skin? Let me introduce you to your new ingredient BFF: kaolin clay. It’s excellent for refining the appearance of large pores and soaking up excess sebum, while encouraging a smoother complexion. And, as many clay-based formulas tend to do, Medik8’s offering doesn’t solidify and cause a drying sensation. Use it once or twice a week and you’ll quickly start to understand the hype.
Medik8 Blemish Control Pads
I’m a huge fan of blemish pads; they just make skincare so easy. I’ve worked my way through many a tub but I always come back to the Medik8 Blemish Control Pads. These swipe-and-done treatment pads are soaked in salicylic acid to break down congestion within pores and to prevent future spots from appearing. And because I have habitually dry skin, I love that the pads also contain glycerin to keep hydration a priority as my skin banishes angry blemishes.
Medik8 Clarifying Foam Refreshing AHA/BHA cleanser
As much as I enjoy a rich, creamy cleanser to melt off my makeup, I love to double up with this light foam to clarify my pores and prevent breakouts. It’s packed with AHAs and BHA (salicylic acid) to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog pores, as this will help to block spots in their path and shrink existing ones. I usually focus this around the areas I often get pimples, like my chin and nose, as it clarifies but without ever feeling stripped or dry.
Best Medik8 products for an even complexion
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Before I introduced Medik8’s Crystal Retinal into my routine, my complexion was flat, lacking radiance and I had one too many acne scars on my chin for my liking. This clever formula completely turned things around as now my skin is noticeably brighter and the pesky textured bumps on my chin have shrunk (hello, smoother foundation application!).
Retinal works similarly to retinol, only it’s faster acting and tends to cause less irritation, making it a great choice if you’re new to the world of retinoids. The Crystal Retinal is also available in a series of strengths, so you can start at beginner strength and work your way up.
Medik8 Press and Glow
Introducing my favourite Medik8 product of all time: Press and Glow. The watery tonic may appear unassuming but trust me when I say it packs a punch – without any concerns of irritation! It spotlights polyhydroxy acid, which helps to hydrate the skin and gently refine texture and pigmentation. Unlike other potent acids, it’s gentle enough to use every day. Simply pump the toner onto a cotton round and sweep over the skin before you moisturise. Expect a glowy, glassy and clear complexion.
Medik8 Clarity Peptides
Clarity Peptides is one of Dr Ewoma’s favourite Medik8 products calling it her “go-to” whenever her skin feels stressed. “Clarity Peptides instantly calms, balances and boosts radiance and it’s all thanks to niacinamide and zinc,” she says. It also contains Crystalide Peptides which helps to boost skin renewal (ideal if you have a dull complexion). And besides giving a polished, dewy result, the other active ingredients help to reduce blemishes and irritation.
Why is Medik8 so good?
By now, Medik8 needs little introduction. Not only will you find many of its treatments in the competitive Cosmo beauty cupboard, but Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whitely are reported fans too – so I’m told 👀.
Why’s that? The best Medik8 products are loved for the fact that they genuinely deliver results. As you may gather from the name, Medik8 is considered professional skincare that is formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients, so you're likely to see effective and fast results that can be compared to the work done inside a dermatologist's office.
Which Medik8 products should I use?
The brand’s ethos to skincare is simple: CSA, which translates to vitamin C and sunscreen by day and vitamin A (or retinoids) by night – and by following these steps, you’re on track to radiant and protected skin. “Medik8 was among the first to formalise the CSA approach which has since become an industry standard. It works because it focuses on proven fundamentals while addressing key concerns like ageing and uneven skin tone,” says Dr Ewoma. To top up your routine, you can add treatments like cleansers, hyaluronic acid and moisturisers.
To make things even simpler, Medik8 has a regime builder that asks you a series of questions and then suggest products based on your skin type and goals. Just note that if you’re introducing the brand’s active formulas into your routine – i.e., products containing exfoliating acids, a retinoid or vitamin C – be sure to welcome them slowly to prevent dryness and irritation.
Why is the Medik8 Crystal Retinal so popular?
Medik8’s Crystal Retinal is like retinoid royalty in the skincare world because it’s cleverly formulated so that everyone can use it, whether you’re a retinol newbie or a seasoned user. “Crystal Retinal delivers the power of retinaldehyde – a potent form of Vitamin A, in a way that’s gentle enough for beginners,” says Dr Ewoma. Essentially, retinal is close to pure retinoic acid in the conversion process so it’s faster-working and more potent compared to retinol.
However, because it’s stronger than retinol doesn’t mean it causes more side-effects commonly associated with retinoid use. In fact, it’s the opposite. “The Crystal Retinal serum uses a patented stability system and time-release delivery to minimise irritation while maintaining potency, with a ladder of strengths that allows skin to build tolerance gradually,” says Dr Ewoma. So if you’re new to retinal, start with the lowest concentration, Crystal Retinal 3, and gradually work your way up as your skin gets more adjusted to the active.
How we test:
Medik8 is one of my favourite skincare brands, alongside the rest of the Cosmo clan, so even before writing this edit I knew of the best Medik8 products to recommend, whether you have dry, acne-prone or combination skin.
As someone with combination skin, I have tested formulas designed for both dry and oily skin types, and have consulted industry experts, reviews and other Cosmo editors about the best Medik8 products to tackle other concerns, such as brightening and pigmentation. When testing the products, I took everything into consideration, including price point, ingredients list and overall results. There may be over 100 products in the Medik8 line-up, but I have whittled that down to the 16 best (albeit everything from Medik8 is worth your money).
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Beauty Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over three years of experience testing different skincare products across a wide range of brands and has spoken to many industry leaders about what makes brilliant skincare. She has spent months testing different Medik8 products, from new launches to original formulas, so she is an authority in recommending the best products depending on your skin type.
Follow Clare on Instagram
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
