If there was only one skincare ingredient I could use for the rest of our days it would be retinal. Not retinol. Retinal – with an ‘a’ and not an ‘o’ – which is short for retinaldehyde, a powerful yet gentle form of vitamin A.
Now, we know you’ve probably heard the Cosmo beauty team yap about retinoids, vitamin A and all the different forms of it before, but if you’re new to this world, let us give you a brief run down. In short, vitamin A is a does-it-all ingredient considered something of a miracle worker – dermatologists and skin experts consider it the gold standard of the skincare world, and they’re not wrong.
What is vitamin A in skincare?
In short, vitamin A has the ability to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it can help treat and prevent breakouts and it also works to improve overall skin texture and even out tone.
Vitamin A comes in a few different forms, with some variations able to work more quickly and provide visible results sooner than others – and that’s exactly where retinal comes in. Specifically Medik8’s bestselling, multi-award winning Crystal Retinal: a hardworking nighttime serum that comes in a variety of different strengths designed to suit each and every skin type.
Now, here’s where things get even more impressive. Not only does Crystal Retinal act 11 times faster than traditional retinol, but the clever, patented technology means that the formula doesn’t degrade over time, so its potency and effectiveness remain the same while you work your way through the tube.
And – get this – you only have to use one tube of Crystal Retinal to reveal younger-looking skin, plus it’s clinically proven to visibly smooth wrinkles, brighten dark spots and decongest and firm skin, all without any of the irritation often associated with using vitamin A.
We know. It almost sounds too good to be true, but it’s really not.
How to use Medik8 Crystal Retinal serum
OK, now the important bit, because it’s vital to note that retinal is a powerful ingredient and, while it can have the potential to cause irritation, the experts at Medik8 have developed six progressive strengths of Crystal Retinal. Ranging from 1 through to 24, there's also a unique ladder system that helps ensure you’re not only using the right strength to start with, but which also allows you to build up your chosen strength as and when your skin is ready.
So our advice to you is this: if your skin is on the very sensitive side, start with Crystal Retinal 1, and if you’re completely new to it but your skin isn’t particularly sensitive, use Crystal Retinal 3. Then, from there, you can slowly work your way up to strength 6 (suitable for regular users), strength 10 (for advanced users), strength 20 (for very experienced users) and finally strength 24 which is best saved for real expert users.
What other ingredients are in Medik8 Crystal Retinal serum?
As well as being formulated with the hero ingredient (retinal – did we mention it works 11 times faster than standard retinol?), Crystal Retinal is also bolstered with a blend of kind-to-skin ingredients that help ensure you can use it without suffering any unwanted side effects.
First up, there’s some hyaluronic acid in there, which helps draw moisture to the upper layers of skin to help hydrate the complexion. Then there’s vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects against the effects of free radicals (which are things found in the atmosphere, like pollution, that can cause skin to age) and glycerin which is a natural humectant that works to trap moisture within the skin, ensuring it’s both hydrated and comfortable.
Medik8 really has thought of it all, and that’s exactly why Crystal Retinal has reached icon status in the skincare world.
Start your retinal journey today with Medik8.
Lucy Partington (also known as LP or Lucy P) is a freelance beauty journalist. She started her career as Cosmo’s beauty assistant 12 years ago and has since written for titles including Stylist, ELLE, Red and British Vogue. She’s a big fan of sunscreen (and skincare in general), loves a strong brow and is constantly on the hunt for the glowiest, most long lasting foundation of them all.
