Medik8 Crystal Retinal

Evidence-led ingredient analysis, a transparent clean score out of 100 and cleaner, effective alternatives at three price levels.

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Medik8

Crystal Retinal

Serum · Budget: £49.00

4.7 (1,850 reviews)· across Medik8 UK, LookFantastic, Cult Beauty, Space NK

Pending verification

Ingredients: AI-inferred — not yet verified

Formulation inferred from manufacturer data; an excellent, stable retinal serum with minimal irritation potential.

Hazard categories

88Est.
Pending verification~88 · Safe / Clean (estimated)

Estimated score out of 100

Formulation score is fixed across Selenssa · Community effectiveness awaiting more reports

Based on publicly available ingredients, following our methodology. Not medical advice — always check the physical label, especially for allergies. How we score →

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Shareable page: selenssa.com/product/medik8-crystal-retinal

Highly recommended active retinoid night serum; introduce slowly 1-2 times per week initially.

Be cautious if

Not suitable during pregnancy or for severely compromised skin barriers.

Against your clean standard

Meets clean standards with transparent active dosing and clean preservative profile.

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Where this score comes from

Source
No source record on file yet
Source page
Retrieved
Evidence snapshot
Not captured

Score history

No score changes have been recorded for this product yet.

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Does Medik8 Crystal Retinal contain parabens, sulfates or fragrance?

A straight yes or no for the ingredient groups people most often want to avoid, checked against this product's published formulation.

  • Free from parabens

    Preservatives; the longer-chain ones (propyl, butyl) carry the endocrine questions.

  • Free from sulfates (sls / sles)

    Strong cleansing agents that can strip a compromised barrier.

  • Free from silicones

    Slip and occlusion; cyclic silicones (D4/D5/D6) are the environmentally restricted ones.

  • Free from fragrance / parfum

    Undisclosed fragrance blends are the most common trigger for sensitised skin.

  • Free from essential oils

    Naturally derived, but among the most frequently reported contact allergens.

  • Contains drying alcohol

    Found: phenoxyethanol. Fine in small amounts for texture; high up the list it can dehydrate.

  • Free from formaldehyde releasers

    Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde.

  • Free from chemical uv filters of concern

    Restricted or debated filters with endocrine or reef-persistence questions.

Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal non-comedogenic?

No ingredients in this formulation appear on Selenssa's common pore-clogger list, so it is unlikely to be the cause of congestion for most people. Comedogenicity is still individual — texture, occlusion and how much you use all play a part.

Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal safe for sensitive skin?

Generally a reasonable choice for sensitive skin.

  • No fragrance or parfum in the list
  • Contains a drying alcohol
  • No ingredients flagged for irritation risk

Can you use Medik8 Crystal Retinal while pregnant?

This product contains retinal (retinaldehyde), which is usually on the list of ingredients people are advised to pause during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Selenssa is not medical advice — check with your midwife, GP or dermatologist before using it.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal full ingredients list

11 ingredients analysed, in the order Selenssa assessed them. Concentration generally falls as you move down the list.

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Retinal (Retinaldehyde), Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA.

The actives doing the work: Retinal (Acts faster than retinol with lower irritation potential.); Sodium Hyaluronate (Provides deep surface hydration to cushion retinoid action.); Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Stable lipid-soluble antioxidant supporting skin brightness.).

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