I’m back with another skincare review, and this time I’ve been trialling Medik8. I was originally introduced to the brand through Cult Beauty’s Cult Conscious range, where I fell in love with their Daily Radiance Moisturiser. Since then, I’ve kept Medik8 on my radar, especially as they aim to be ‘the world’s most sustainable professional-led skincare brand’. As a sustainable beauty writer and skincare lover, I had to give more of the range a go!
Over the last three months, I’ve been following a skincare routine comprised of almost all Medik8 products to see how they hold up. Finally, it’s time to share with you my thoughts on the range, and the brand as a whole…
Who Is Medik8?
Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 by Elliot Isaacs. Isaacs is a scientist with a degree in physiology and pharmacology, and was inspired by beauty brands with strong ethics like The Body Shop. He is quoted as saying: “I saw the gap for a brand that had the consumer appeal of existing luxury products but that prioritised ethics and sustainability without sacrificing efficacy.”
Medik8 started by launching a retinoid with a unique waterless formula, then a vitamin C serum, and finally a SPF 30 sunscreen. To this day, Medik8 prescribes this same skincare regime, which they call their ‘CSA Philosophy‘, combining vitamin C, Sunscreen, and vitamin A.
Similar to Facetheory, Medik8 formulates and manufactures almost all of their cosmetics in the UK. They do so in their own facilities (rather than working with third-party factories). This means they have greater control over formulations and sustainability. However, unlike Facetheory – who uses their short supply chain to pass on savings to their consumers – Medik8 is similarly priced to mid-range skincare brands like Susanne Kaufmann and Sunday Riley.
Is Medik8 Skincare Sustainable?
Medik8 has held a number of core sustainability principles since its inception, including using sustainable, traceable and effective ingredients, and manufacturing in the UK. 16 years on, it appears Medik8 has continued its mission to be the world’s most sustainable professional skincare brand. Recent steps include achieving B-Corp Certification in 2023 and removing all fossil fuels from their operations.
When researching this post, I was delighted to find Medik8’s Impact Reports, past and present, that back up their sustainability claims. It seems that while Medik8 market themselves on the efficacy of their products, they also have an incredibly strong focus on sustainability. I would love to see this communicated more boldly – it definitely is a unique selling point that reassure beauty consumers like myself!
My Bespoke Medik8 Skincare Regime, Reviewed
Last year I consulted for a sustainable skincare brand. Around the table, a fellow consultant highlighted how important a ‘skincare quiz’ is, and I couldn’t agree more. I really appreciate being able to match my skin type and skin concerns when discovering a new skincare brand, and that’s exactly what I did with Medik8. They offer a Regime Builder, which covers:
- Skin type
- Skin sensitivity
- Skincare goals
- Health concerns
- Budget
When I input my details – dry skin, sensitive, and a wish to have hydrated, smooth skin – I was prescribed the following skincare products for daytime and nighttime use. Here’s how I got on with this selection of products (gifted for this review).
Medik8 Daytime Skincare Regime
1. Calmwise Soothing Cleanser. To start my new regime, I was recommended the Calmwise Cleanser. This is a foaming cleanser with a gentle scent and light green tint, which I found to be effective in gently cleaning my skin without provoking any sensitivity. I was a bit surprised at the foam pump, as it requires a lot of plastic, most of which can’t be recycled. I wonder if the cleanser can be dispensed in a different way?
2. r-Retinoate Day & Night Cream. The next step in my regime came in the form of the ‘A’ part of ‘CSA’: vitamin A. Up until this point, I had only used retinoids in my nighttime skincare routine. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the r-Retinoate Cream helped to continue my efforts to resurface my skin without being too harsh for daytime use. This product quickly became a standout part of my Medki8 skincare routine. If you use retinoids, this is well worth adding into your morning routine as a top-up!
3. Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF 50+. Finally, the ‘S’ of ‘CSA’: sunscreen. I’ve been using retinoids for just under four years now, and sunscreen is a natural extension of that. I wear sunscreen daily. And it has to be SPF 30 or above! The Advanced Day Ultimate Protect is a great SPF – it’s light, spreads over my face easily, and absorbs quickly. I also don’t notice any white cast when I apply it, however I am aware that I have light skin. I particularly like that the pump provides a small amount of product, so I can use two or three pumps as needed.
Medik8 Nighttime Skincare Regime
1. Calmwise Soothing Cleanser. Just like my morning skincare routine, my nighttime one starts with the Calmwise Cleanser. At night, the cleanser has a tougher job of removing my makeup, and I found that it fell down here if I didn’t also use micellar water and a face cloth. That said, the product description doesn’t promise that it will remove makeup. Here is where a cream cleanser would edge out this foam one, so I’d like to try the Cream Cleanse next.
2. Crystal Retinal 6. Now onto one of Medik8’s hero products, the Crystal Retinal. This is their main retinoid product, and it comes in a range of strengths, numbered from 1 to 24. I went for ‘6 – Regular’ as this seemed to be on-par with the retinol I was using previously, however I did find it to be a little weaker than I would like, even with nightly use. I’m chalking this up to my wariness to try anything stronger, and I will say the benefits here were smoother skin without any sensitivity or redness. I’d like to try strength ’10’ next.
3. Advanced Night Restore. Finally, onto the dreamy night cream that is Medik8’s Advanced Night Restore. Just like the first Medik8 day cream I had tried, the Advanced Night Restore provides intense moisturisation thanks to its multi-ceramide formula that leaves my skin feeling dewy and soft in the morning. I really like this moisturiser. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and my skin drinks it up!
My Overall Rating of Medik8 Skincare: 8/10
Overall, I have to say I am a big fan of Medik8. Their products are effective and the regime builder matched my skin type and skin concerns to products that really did help improve hydration and skin texture. I also really appreciate the holistic approach that Medik8 takes towards sustainability.
There’s two reasons why I docked two points from Medik8 in this review. The first is the regime builder. While I think each product I reviewed performs really well, I don’t think I was given a full-fledged skincare routine. My dry skin still craved hydration, so I added a hyaluronic acid serum into the mix, and later, a skin mist.
The second reason is the product packaging. For a brand with aspirations to become a world-leader in sustainable beauty, there was just too much plastic. Sustainable beauty brands like Dr Barbara Sturm and Susanne Kaufmann use a lot more glass, and even budget brand Facetheory gets it right with glass and metal tubes. I’d love to see a packaging overhaul in the near future.
Medik8 is available to purchase from Cult Beauty, Medik8.com, and Space NK.
