My fave skincare brand worth spending your paycheck on – trust
Besides being asked if my job is like the Devil Wears Prada (it’s not, if you’re wondering), the follow up question tends to be ‘What are your favourite skincare brands?’; the ones that help 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. This particular serum is retinoid royalty in the beauty world and after seeing such transformative results in the texture and brightness of my complexion, I completely understood why.
Impressed to say the least, I went on to try the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream and fell in love all over again. Even trying a gentle formula without active ingredients, I was still blown away by its power to instantly smooth and hydrate my skin. From then on, I hopped aboard the Medik8 train with a first-class ticket.
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
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
Hydr8 B5 Intense Hyaluronic Acid Serum
If dehydration is your biggest skincare woe, your best bet is to get your hands on a 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
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.® 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. Yum.
Medik8 products for brightening
Medik8 C-Tetra Radiance Serum
C-Tetra
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
C-Tetra Eye
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
Daily Radiance Vitamin C SPF 30
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
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
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
Surface Radiance Cleanse
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
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
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.
Best Medik8 products for an even complexion
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
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
Press & 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 Sleep Glycolic Peel
Sleep Glycolic
If you’re on the chemical peel hype – a.k.a, the secret to glowy AF skin – and you’re yet to try Medik8’s Sleep Glycolic Peel, add it to your cart pronto! Apply the leave-on treatment to your skin before you go to bed and come the morning you’ll wake up with a noticeably brighter and more unified complexion. TBH, I was a little antsy introducing a peel into my routine, but this number doesn’t cause redness or irritation that is usually associated with at-home peels. Just be sure to load up with a rich moisturiser after.
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. By mastering these three steps in your routine, you're on track for radiant and smooth skin that's protected against the sun and urban pollution. 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.
Follow Clare on Instagram
You Might Also Like
