Medik8

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20.

Retinoids

About this product

A stabilized retinal serum containing 2% retinaldehyde, formulated to deliver potent anti-aging benefits with reduced irritation compared to stronger prescription retinoids.

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Retinaldehyde, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclodextrin, Glycerin, Isododecane, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopherol

Guru Score

85%

Yay

4 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

The 2% retinaldehyde concentration earns consistent praise as one of the strongest over-the-counter retinoid options available, and gurus note it causes noticeably less irritation than prescription tretinoin while still tackling fine lines, texture, and collagen support. The formulation's stability technology is what sets it apart, Medik8 engineers their retinoids to stay potent in the bottle so you actually get what the label promises on your skin. One caveat worth knowing: it stains pillowcases bright orange, so a dark silk pillowcase helps, and the vanilla scent from coumarin may irritate sensitive skin. The range of strengths (level 3 through 20) lets people start gentle and work up as tolerance builds.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take August 2025

What they liked

Creamy texture with built-in moisturisation

What they flagged

Bright orange colour stains pillowcases
Very expensive
Vanilla scent may irritate sensitive skin

Best for

Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsDrops & dropper

Key actives

RetinoidVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Sam Ellis

898k subs

✓Yay

"I use this one by Medik8. This is their Crystal Retinal 20. So quite potent but just way less irritating. I love this formula. It's really nice and creamy. So you get kind of like a moisturization and anti-aging situation all in one. But I do a pump of this on my neck and a pump of this on my décolletté pretty much every single night. The other thing that I love about this is it comes in multiple strengths. So like I said, this is the 20, she's pretty strong."

All 3 takes from Dr. Sam Ellis

My Holy Grail Retinoids List | Dermatologist Picks!

"The Crystal Retinal product exists at multiple strengths or concentrations of retinaldehyde. My Holy Grail is the Retinal 20, which is the strongest form of retinaldehyde that I have ever seen available over the counter. For someone who maybe can't tolerate tretinoin or doesn't have access to tretinoin but is looking for something that is potent and is going to get the job done when it comes to helping with fine lines and wrinkles, textural problems, etc., this is my go-to."

I Tried 16 Ways to Boost Collagen —Here’s What Actually Worked To Firm My Skin | Dr. Sam Ellis

Dermatologist's Favorite Skincare Products of 2023! Vitamin C Serum, Sunscreens, & More

"My retinoid of the year is by Medik8, it's their Crystal Retinal 20. [...] I feel like they do a really good job with their formulations and they're pretty famous in the retinoid space for formulating really stable retinoids and that's really important because these are vitamin A derived molecules that help stimulate collagen and prevent collagen breakdown, but if not formulated well that retinoid can break down in the formula and not exert any positive effects."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"The Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 has 2% retinaldehyde. It also contains cloudberry seed oil and vitamin E. It does contain vanilla, which is fine, but it also contains coumarin, which is technically a fragrance ingredient and gives products a vanilla scent, [...] so it definitely has a vanilla scent in there. So keep that in mind if your skin is sensitive. [...] These are not cheap, they get to be pretty pricey."

Nadine Baggott

164k subs

✓Yay

"It's a perfectly formulated product in slightly imperfect packaging so you do need to squeeze it down to get the last of it out. Crystal Retinal 20 is the equivalent of a two percent retinaldehyde so we're talking basically 10 times the strength of that, 20 times the strength of that. You need to work up slowly, don't start on the 10 or the 20 like me because I've been using retinals and retinols for years work your way up go three six eight and then up basically."

Alexandra Anele

1.44M subs

✓Yay

"They're expensive but most of the products that I've used from them I've really loved. [...] This is the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20, which is much higher. They have [...] a series of retinals and you can start with the lowest percentage and kind of work your way up, which is really great. It's a stable retinol retinal night serum. [...] It's not quite as strong as my [tretinoin], and so I've seen quite the reduction in irritation, which has been fantastic."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20?

A stabilized retinal serum containing 2% retinaldehyde, formulated to deliver potent anti-aging benefits with reduced irritation compared to stronger prescription retinoids.

Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 worth it?

Yes. All 4 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 85%.

What is Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20's Guru Score?

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 holds a Guru Score of 85%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.