Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 On your shelf ✓
€0.57 an application · about 150 usesOur review, in one look
Retinal is the reason to consider this serum, with THD Ascorbate behind it.
The case for it
- Retinal, moderate evidence for lines and firmness
- THD Ascorbate, moderate evidence for tone and pigment
- No alcohol, silicones or parabens
Mind this
- Avoid in pregnancy: Retinal
- Evenings only, sunscreen the next morning
- Add it on its own for a week or two, so you know what your skin is answering to
Maya's readMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 is a serum built around Glycerin, Retinal and Squalane. It leans strongest on hydration, barrier repair, brightening / tone. Best suited to dry, dehydrated and normal skin. One caveat: it's best skipped during pregnancy.
Cost per use: what a day of it costs
€0.57 an applicationabout 150 uses from 30 ml
a usual amount, not a measured dose: 3-5 drops, about 0.2 ml; from €86 as read in September 2026 and a 30 ml pack.
how this is counted
About €0.57 an application, about 150 uses from 30 ml.
- a convention: no trial has measured a serum dose
- Measured or assumed: the rule, and the dose table
Skip it if you're pregnant or breastfeeding: it contains retinal, best paused until after.
Fragrance, texture and film: what the label says of its feel
- no parfum word, but names 1 of the 26 fragrance allergens
- a serum in a tube
- no film-former or occlusive named on the label
- no silicone on the label
Facts off the label and the pack only. How it feels on a face is not something this page will say without having used it.
The formula, in order
every ingredient at its place on the label
Coloured by the job each one does here.
15 of the 47 sit above the 1% line. The other 32, hatched, are each under 1%. Widths show the ORDER on the label and nothing else: the label never discloses amounts, so we never draw them.
- Actives & signals
- Hydrators
- Texture & base
- Preservation
- Not in our library yet
- fed it in culture
- fed M. furfur only
- inferred from the chain length
- did not feed it
- never tested
- Retinal sits at position 29 of 47
Fungal acne: what on this label feeds the yeast (Malassezia)
the yeast: Malassezia furfur, globosa, restricta
4 ingredients on this label fed Malassezia in culture (cetearyl alcohol, lecithin, stearic acid, polysorbate 60), 3 are inferred to; the follicle species grew on three of them; polysorbate 60: M. furfur only, not the folliculitis species.
Each result is a pure ingredient on a lab dish, never this product on skin.
where this comes from
- cetearyl olivateInferred from the chain length: Except for elaidinic and nervonic acids, all saturated and unsaturated fatty acids tested support growth.PMID 1249447
- cetearyl alcohol
Unexpectedly, the growth of some Malassezia spp., especially M. furfur, was observed in the presence of a primary fatty alcohol, cetylstearyl alcohol.
DOI 10.3390/cosmetics6030045 - sorbitan olivateInferred from the chain length: The strongest growth was observed in the presence of natural oils and waxes, primary alcohols, as well in the presence of fatty acid esters with fatty chain lengths above 12 carbon atoms.DOI 10.3390/cosmetics6030045
- cloudberry seed oilInferred from the chain length: Natural oils, which mostly consist of fatty acid triglycerides and fatty acid esters with fatty chain lengths above 12C-atoms, presented good growth mediums.DOI 10.3390/cosmetics6030045
- lecithin
The addition of DPPC or surfactant to the media enhanced the growth of most Malassezia yeasts and some Cryptococcus species.
PMID 39644437 - stearic acid
The growth of all Malassezia spp. in the presence of free acids, free acid esters, and fatty alcohols with a fatty chain length above 12 carbon atoms was observed.
DOI 10.3390/cosmetics6030045 - polysorbate 60M. furfur only
M. furfur indeed can assimilate palmitic acid or oleic acid as well as all Tween variants (Table 6 and Supplementary Figures S4, S5), including Tween 40, which represents the C16:0 fatty acid donor in this respect.
PMID 28959251
What does it do? What its ingredients deliver
How it feels A rich, cushiony cream that sinks in slowly. Comforting on dry skin, possibly too much for oily skin in summer. (estimated from the formula)
Key ingredients: what in it does the work
Classic humectant with strong evidence for improving skin hydration and supporting barrier when combined with emollients.
Glycerin: This one works on contact: there is nothing to wait for.
how it was measured
Measured on stratum corneum hydration, corneometer capacitance after a single application; on contact, by mechanism.
Potent cosmetic retinoid that sits one step away from retinoic acid, often delivering faster results than retinol with a similar or slightly lower irritation profile.
Stable, lightweight emollient that mimics skin’s natural lipids and supports barrier without heavy greasiness for most skin types.
Water-binding molecule that increases hydration; works best under occlusive/emollient layers to reduce evaporation.
Oil soluble vitamin C derivative that brightens skin and supports collagen with good tolerability but has fewer long term studies than pure ascorbic acid.
Light emollient ester that improves slip and reduces transepidermal water loss. Its C8-C10 chains are below what Malassezia can use: no strain grew on it (Dobler 2019).
What only this label says
Hyaluronic acid is 19th of 47, under the 1% line: a trace, not a treatment.
why
The 1% line is inferred from Phenoxyethanol at position 16; below it the order is the brand's choice and 32 ingredients share that tail.
≈ €2.87/ml, above the median serum in our catalogue (€0.57/ml).
why
~€86 for 30 ml, checked September 2026; the median of the 47 serums in the catalogue with a known size.
Retinal is the 29th of 47 ingredients: below the 1% line.
why
Position 29 of 47 on the label as printed; compared with the 18 other labels in the catalogue that carry a retinoid.
One listed fragrance allergen: coumarin.
why
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III: the 26 fragrance allergens that must be named on the label when present; these are on this label by name.
Shares 3 of its 6 known actives with Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10: the closest formula we have.
why
Actives our base knows on both labels: Glycerin, Retinal and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.
Retinal is light-sensitive: the packaging matters more than the percentage.
why
photolability = yes in our base: Thus, irradiation (>300 nm) of retinal and retinol in methanol produces free radicals, as does irradiation of RP in dimethylformamide (13). (PMID:16705812(full)).
Fragrance allergens: the ones this label names
This label names 1 of the 26 EU fragrance allergens: coumarin. What the 26 are →
Does it expire? Light, air and the pack
a tube and one light-sensitive active: the packaging is doing work here.
where this comes from
The pack form is read off the packshot; the light-sensitive actives are the base's photostability rows, sourced on each glossary page; the period after opening (not printed) is read off the maker's page, never a reseller's. Catalogue checked September 2026.
How to use it, and when
Night only. Start 2–3 nights a week and build up as your skin adjusts, and always wear sunscreen the next morning, because retinoids make skin more sun-sensitive.
What not to layer it with
- Exfoliating acids (AHA / BHA)
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Strong vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Where in your skin it works
1 of its 5 placed actives acts below the dead surface layer, 4 on or in it: the same cross-section as our 500 dalton page, with this formula's actives on the layer each one works on. Depth is the anatomy's, never an ingredient's.
Skin surface
The stratum corneum
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceridederived from what it is
- Glycerinderived from what it is
- Hyaluronic acidderived from what it is
- Squalanederived from what it is
The living epidermis
- Retinalestablished, sourced
5 of this product's actives have a layer we can defend. 1 did not, so it is not on the diagram: no source and no honest derivation means no dot.
Sources for the sourced ones: Szymanski et al. 2020: retinoic acid and its derivatives in skin.
How it compares with the average serum
It scores higher than the median serum on anti-aging.
On hydration, barrier repair, brightening and oil control it is level with the median, so that is not what sets it apart.
A median, not an average: one unusual formula should not move the middle. The numbers are the same 0 to 10 reads the comparison pages use.
Full ingredients list, decoded
32 of these 47 ingredients are in our library, linked and named for what each one does, with anything that can irritate or clog flagged; the 15 we cannot place are left plain, nothing is hidden. Every ingredient on the label, in the order it appears (highest amount first).
All 47 ingredients, decoded
- Aqua (Water)Solvent (base)
- Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEmollient
- GlycerinHumectant
- IsododecaneEmollient
- Cetearyl OlivateEmulsifier
- Cetearyl AlcoholEmollient
- PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer
- Sorbitan OlivateEmulsifier
- Tocopheryl AcetateAntioxidant
- Titanium DioxideMineral (opacifier)
- Eclipta Prostrata ExtractBotanical extract
- CyclodextrinCarrier
- SqualaneEmollient
- roughly the 1% lineThe rules only require descending order above 1%. From Phenoxyethanol down, these 32 can be listed in any order the brand likes, so position stops telling you anything.
- PhenoxyethanolPreservativemild irritant
- Melia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractSoothingmild irritant
- Hydroxypropyl MethylcelluloseThickener
- Sodium HyaluronateHumectant
- Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateVitamin c derivative
- Alumina
- Isostearic Acid
- LecithinEmulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleateEmulsifier
- Polyhydroxystearic Acid
- Stearic AcidEmollient
- Pentylene GlycolHumectant
- RetinalRetinoidpregnancy: avoidmild irritant
- Moringa Oleifera Seed OilPlant oil / butter (emollient)
- Sodium Polyaspartate
- Climbazole
- Disodium EDTAChelator
- Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower ExtractPreservative
- Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed OilPlant oil / butter (emollient)
- EthylhexylglycerinPreservative booster
- 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidVitamin c derivativemild irritant
- Dipteryx Odorata (Tonka) Bean ExtractBotanical extract
- HydroxyacetophenoneAntioxidant
- Polysorbate 60Emulsifier
- Sorbitan IsostearateEmulsifier
- Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit ExtractBotanical extract
- Decylene Glycol
- 1,2-HexanediolPreservative booster
- BHTAntioxidantmild irritant
- CoumarinFragrance componentcan irritate
Worth knowing: Retinal sits below that line. It is in there, and the label does not tell you how much. That is not the same as saying it is too little to matter.
Copy the raw INCI list
Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cyclodextrin, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Retinal, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Climbazole, Disodium EDTA, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipteryx Odorata (Tonka) Bean Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract, Decylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, BHT, Coumarin
Worried about clogged pores specifically? The pore-clogging checker reads this same list against the published comedogenic ratings.
Add it to your shelf and the app puts it in the right step and checks it against what you already use.
Read enough? Find it on amazon.com →
We don't make or sell skincare of our own. So there's nothing here we're trying to push, just an honest read of whether this formula suits your skin.
Against your shelf
Read from your own shelf, in your browser. We never see it.
Dupes? The closest formulas we have
The 3 products of the same kind sharing the most of its 6 actives. A count, not a likeness: the rest of each label, its base and its preservation, is what the count leaves out.
shares 3 of its 6 actives
Compare it with…
28 duels are built for this serum, Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster and Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 among them: type a name, or pick one below.
Common questions
Is the hyaluronic acid in Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 enough to do anything?
Hyaluronic acid is 19th of 47, under the 1% line: a trace, not a treatment. Below the 1% line the rules stop requiring descending order, so an ingredient there can be any trace amount the brand likes.
Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 expensive per ml?
≈ €2.87/ml, above the median serum in our catalogue (€0.57/ml). A price per millilitre says nothing about what the formula does; it only tells you how the bottle compares with the others of its kind we have priced.
How high up the list is the retinal in Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6?
Retinal is the 29th of 47 ingredients: below the 1% line. Position is the only amount the law makes a brand declare, so 29th of 47 is the one number on this label a reader can check.
Does Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contain fragrance allergens?
One listed fragrance allergen: coumarin. These are the substances the EU requires a label to name because a known share of people react to them; naming one is a legal duty, not a warning about you.
Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 good for dry skin?
By our read of the formula, it suits dry, dehydrated, normal skin. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 is a serum built around Glycerin, Retinal and Squalane. It leans strongest on hydration, barrier repair, brightening / tone. Best suited to dry, dehydrated and normal skin. One caveat: it's best skipped during pregnancy.
How do you use Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6?
Night only. Start 2–3 nights a week and build up as your skin adjusts, and always wear sunscreen the next morning, because retinoids make skin more sun-sensitive.
What are the key ingredients in Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6?
The actives that do the work are Glycerin, Retinal, Squalane, Hyaluronic acid, THD Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. The rest of the list is texture, preservatives and emulsifiers that hold the formula together.
Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 safe during pregnancy?
Avoid in pregnancy: Retinal. When in doubt, check with your doctor before using it.
What the 3D scene shows
The scene shows Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 beside a cross-section of skin, with 3 of its ingredients drawn at the layer each one acts on and at one shared molecular scale: Glycerin and Squalane in the stratum corneum, the dead outer layer where most skincare works; Retinal in the living epidermis, among the cells that are still dividing. Depths come from the same sourced layer data as the rest of this site, and any ingredient whose layer is not established is left out rather than guessed.
Medik8 prints: 0.06% retinal. Read on the brand's own product page, 2026-08-10.
