Crystal Retinal 1 - Firming, Advanced Skin Retinaldehyde Face Serum - Night Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E - Gluten Free - 1 oz

I’m 52 with post-menopausal mature skin, and while I’ve used prescription Retin-A in the past, it always ended up being too irritating for me. I eventually switched to Arazlo (which is amazing), but my insurance stopped covering it — and paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket just isn’t realistic. So I decided to try Medik8 Crystal Retinal, and I went straight for the strongest version (20), since it’s considered just one step below prescription-strength retinoic acid. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. First, the tolerance: Even at level 20, I’m experiencing no irritation — no peeling, no redness, no dryness. The formula feels creamy and elegant, not harsh or stripping, which makes it worlds easier to incorporate consistently. Second, the results: After consistent nightly use, my skin looks noticeably smoother and more refined. Fine lines look softer, the overall texture looks more even, and everything just feels firmer and more resilient. It truly performs like a high-strength retinoid without the usual misery. The only downside: The color is VERY yellow — almost startling at first. The higher the concentration, the deeper the color, so level 20 is intense. But since it’s a nighttime product, it really doesn’t matter, and it hasn’t transferred to my pillow. If you’ve struggled with irritation from Retin-A or can’t justify the cost of prescription options like Arazlo, this is an excellent alternative. Strong, effective, and surprisingly gentle on sensitive, mature, post-menopausal skin. I’m genuinely impressed.

I have used other creams and they were either harsh or did nothing. This one, so far, is fantastic. It is light, soft, smooth, absorbs quickly, and there's no scent. I've been cleansing my face, applying the cream and following the directions. You can feel and see the difference within weeks. Your skin feels and looks tighter, firmer, evens complexion and leaves your skin soft, it helps to minimize fine lines in a few weeks. Highly recommended.

tret 0.05% was too harsh on my skin (even altreno, which people said was gentler). turned to this instead. it made my skin soooo nice - clear, even, smooth. i'm using this mostly preventatively (early 30s, light wrinkles) so can't say much about anti-wrinkle effect, but it helps with the random blemishes i still get. i can go make-up free thanks to this

I have been on tritnoin .1% for years & needed to try something stronger. I bought Medica Retinal 6 thinking it would deliver, but will be returning as it is disappointing. It is moisturizing but doesn’t tighten for more than a few minutes. Too pricey for that.

Very honest review of a 48 yo with combo skin. Today is exactly 8 weeks since I started using this product, Crystal Retinal 6. I used other retinoid for several months prior, if you have not, you may want to start at a lower concentration. When I started using it I used it every night, again, because I already had a good tolerance to retinoids. I liked it right away, but didn’t review until today. This was the first Medik8 product I bought after research. This is a very good brand and company imo. Here are my impressions of Crystal Ratinol 6: zero irritation (my skin is not super sensitive or dry). Within a week my skin felt firmer. At 8 weeks today the difference in firmness and elasticity is phenomenal. This product is okay to use around the eyes which is rare for retinoids. I have genetic eye begs and puffiness and this product has been more effective than any other I have tried. The eye area is most definitely firmer and more lifted. Major win there. This applies very easily, absorbs very quickly and though it is scented that doesn’t bother me. I have seen many reviews saying that it is sticky or greasy, not in my experience. A little bit goes a long way here (2-3 pumps) as the instructions say. Using too much will make it sticky or even greasy because of the texture of it. Also saw a lot of reviews complaining about the pump, again not in my experience, it actually works perfectly, you get to squeeze out every single drop. I am almost at the end of a second tube and no issues. Also saw a lot of reviews about the tube being small, idk. At 2-3 pumps a night the first tube lasted me 36 days. I think that’s pretty standard for this type of product that you apply to the face AND neck. Some reviewers saw no difference and I am not doubting that but as someone who does a lot of research including speaking to dermatologists, retanal works, Medik8 especially seems to have scientific evidence for its product BUT it takes time and consistency is key. For some people it will take less time and for some more. I saw a difference in firmness very quickly but the softening is wrinkles is taking more time. I truly believe this product is effective but it takes time. I highly recommend Crystal Retinal and am planning to continue using it and go up to strength 10 in a few months. I am also using several other Medik8 products and they are all great. I will however say that it’s better to purchase directly from Medik8 (sorry Amazon) because the brand offers generous points membership, deluxe samples, free gifts and very decent discounts very often.

This product has a strong scent that lingers. I found it misleading that it was stated that it has "No artificial fragrance". However, it does have a significant "natural" fragrance. I'm very sensitive to fragrances and always use unscented products on my skin. Therefore, I will have to throw it away.

Crystal Retinal is a great product but, the container is bad and the color is horrible. The packaging/tube and color drag my review from 5 stars to 3 stars. The product is wonderful, definitely 5 stars. It does seem to ease lines on my face. The container/tube is very wasteful, please see the photo. The photo was taken after I could not squeeze another drop out of the tube. I cut it open; you can there is a LARGE amount of product stuck in the tube. Over a week’s worth of product is left in the tube, to be thrown away. It’s too expensive to throw away, so I keep it in a Ziploc bag and continue to apply it every night. I know Retinal degrades when exposed to air, so I know the product is becoming less effective every time I open the Ziploc. But I can’t bring myself to throw away that much product. The containers for the R-Retinoate products are MUCH better. None of the product is wasted. If they would use that packaging for Crystal Retinal, their customers would be grateful. The color is terrible. Every higher number product (Crystal Retinal 6, Crystal Retinal 10, Crystal Retinal 20, etc.) increases the product color in darkness and saturation. I now use Crystal Retinal 24, which is the darkest color. I look like I’m wearing a Halloween mask, it’s very unattractive. Some of us live with a romantic partner and don’t want to go to bed every night looking like we are wearing an orange mask. I see Red 4 is an ingredient so, I assume the color is added, not intrinsic to the product. If they remove the added color, or provide an alternate product with no color added, their customers would be grateful. If they used same container they use for R-Retinoate and remove the dark color, Crystal Retinal would be the perfect product.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 is hands down one of the best skincare products I’ve ever used. As someone with sensitive skin, I was hesitant to try a retinal product, but this serum exceeded my expectations. It’s gentle enough for beginners while still delivering powerful results. After just a few weeks of use, my skin looks noticeably brighter and more radiant. Fine lines are less visible, and my complexion feels firmer and smoother. It’s almost like I’ve discovered a real-life filter for my face! The texture of the serum is luxurious, and it absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue. Plus, the soothing ingredients prevent any irritation—a huge win for my reactive skin. I also love how Medik8 incorporates retinaldehyde, a more advanced form of vitamin A, making it more effective than traditional retinols but still easy to use. My skin feels rejuvenated and refreshed every morning, and it pairs beautifully with my moisturizer. If you’re looking for a high-performance serum to elevate your skincare routine, Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 is worth every penny. It’s perfect for anyone starting out with retinal or wanting serious results without compromising skin comfort. Highly recommend!