Crystal Retinal™: The Science of Skincare

When it comes to anti-ageing, there is no ingredient on earth than can trump vitamin A in efficacy. That being said, not all vitamin A is created equal.

Retinoic acid

Retinoic acid is the strongest form of vitamin A on the market. It works rapidly to significantly combat signs of ageing, but it also comes with extensive side effects – excessive dryness, peeling, redness and irritation to name a few. For this reason, it is only available by prescription from a doctor or dermatologist.

Retinol is the most popular form of over-the-counter vitamin A. It also provides significant anti-ageing results, but it needs to be converted into retinoic acid by the skin before it can take effect; a process that requires a two-step conversion:

This two-step conversion slows down the effect of retinoic on the skin, which means less irritation, but it also means you have to wait a lot longer to see results. What if there was a vitamin A that didn’t need as much conversion so you saw quicker results but with minimal irritation?

Always eager to improve and innovate, Medik8 researchers have harnessed the power of a new form of vitamin A that bridges just that gap between retinoic acid and retinol.

INTRODUCING CRYSTAL RETINAL

This powerful anti-ageing serum-cream has been formed with retinaldehyde, an advanced vitamin A molecule which is the step before retinoic acid in the vitamin A conversion process. Because this advanced molecule only requires one conversion to retinoic acid, it can smooth texture and target fine lines and wrinkles comparable to clinical-grade vitamin A up to 11 times faster than classic forms of retinol.1 Even better, it remains as kind to the skin as traditional retinol thanks to Medik8’s crystal-shaped encapsulation system.

NEXT-GENERATION POWER

Medik8’s crystal encapsulation acts as a time-release mechanism as well as a stability enhancer. Retinaldehyde is encased within a crystal-shaped molecular vehicle that is broken down by the skin’s natural enzymes upon contact. This unique action controls the release of the active to ensure the formula remains stable. Absorption is optimised and the highly-potent formula is distributed evenly and consistently throughout the night.

OPTIMUM HYDRATION

Featuring multi-weight hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, Crystal Retinal™ hydrates skin at every level while strengthening the skin’s barrier to keep moisture locked in tight.

CLARIFYING ACTION

Unlike many other forms of vitamin A, retinaldehyde even boasts direct, powerful antibacterial properties, making it the perfect anti-ageing product for blemish-prone skin. When used over time, it diminishes the bacteria responsible for breakouts to promote a healthy, balanced complexion.