This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, editor-favorite skincare brand Medik8 is offering 30% off sitewide from November 20 through December 2.
As a beauty and shopping writer, I’ve spent countless hours interviewing dermatologists and estheticians, picking their brains for skincare advice and the beauty products they’d happily spend their hard-earned money on. Whenever I ask for recommendations on how to build an effective, no-nonsense routine, one brand comes up time and again: Medik8.
There’s a good reason why this British skincare brand has captured the attention of so many in-the-know experts. The brand is most beloved for its Crystal Retinal range, which offers retinal (a vitamin A derivative targeting uneven skin texture and pigmentation) at various concentrations. This tailored approach allows you to find the retinoid strength that works best for your skin without irritation. Other Medik8 products, such as the vitamin C serums and ceramide moisturizers, are also highly rated for their efficacy.
Since Medik8 is currently offering 30% off sitewide until December 2, we couldn’t help but share the bestselling products we’ll be carting up during this major Black Friday beauty sale.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3, $65 $45.50
As someone who has sensitive skin, a product that doesn’t cause an instant uncomfortable reaction is a keeper for Susan Devaney, Refinery29’s lifestyle director. Enter: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3. “I use it twice a week at night, and I honestly notice my skin feeling softer and brighter when I wake the following day,” she says. Devaney adds, “I’m aware that retinal [a form of vitamin A that’s more gentle but faster-acting than retinol] helps to keep skin in better shape by targeting hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. I’m in my 30s, so this feels like a good investment to make for my future self. I apply SPF to my skin daily, too, which is a must when using any retinal product.”
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Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, $49 $34.30
Refinery29’s beauty director Jacqueline Kilikita used this moisturizer down to the very last drop, and while this might not seem like an impressive feat, for a beauty editor whose job it is to try everything all at once, it says something about how excellent it is. “I love the cushiony texture that sits somewhere between a gel and a cream; it quenches my parched patches in seconds, all without leaving behind a greasy or tacky residue,” says Kilikita. The star ingredients are peptides (essentially skin-strengthening proteins), hydrating hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, which act like glue in between skin cells to keep them healthy and happy. “For me, ceramides are a must when I choose a moisturizer, especially in the winter when my skin becomes sensitive to cold weather and central heating,” adds Kilikita. Even better? It doesn’t break her out like other face creams. She’s already on her third tub.
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Medik8 C-Tetra Serum, $49 $34.30
Lots of vitamin C serums leave skin feeling itchy and red, but Medik8’s C-Tetra is built differently. It contains 7% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stabilized form of vitamin C that doesn’t irritate, and is enriched with nourishing jojoba oil. Reviewers praise this serum for making a difference to their skin’s overall radiance and improving dark spots. The texture is akin to a dry facial oil and feels a lot more moisturizing than most serums.
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Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse, $27 $18.90
This gel cleanser was recommended to Refinery29’s beauty director by a dermatologist when she was going through a period of hormonal acne, and she is convinced it helped to clear up her skin. The reason it’s so great for spots is that it boasts exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like lactic acid and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid. The former chips away at dead skin cells and minimizes the appearance of hyperpigmentation, while the latter goes a little deeper, breaking up the mixture of dead cells, oil, and dirt that clogs pores. While it sounds powerful, it’s actually very gentle and never dries out the skin thanks to a heavy helping of moisturizing glycerin.
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Medik8 Liquid Peptides Serum, $66 $46.20
Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe once described Liquid Peptides as ‘Botox in a bottle,’ and we couldn’t agree with her more. The star ingredient is a hefty 30% concentration of 10 peptides. If you’re unfamiliar with peptides, they’re essentially proteins that boost collagen and elastin — the two things responsible for keeping skin supple. Despite these powerhouse ingredients, it’s surprisingly lightweight and absorbs quickly. Apply it in the evening and wake up to bouncy skin.
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Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil, $38 $26.60
This oil cleanser emulsifies on contact with water, turning into a silky milk that dissolves everything from multiple coats of mascara to heavy foundation and sunscreen — all without drying out your skin. That’s thanks to the mega mix of omega-6, vitamin E, and plant extracts that nourish the delicate skin barrier rather than strip it. There’s a reason beauty editors always fall back on it.
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Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Liquid Rehydration Serum, $54 $37.80
This isn’t your average hyaluronic acid serum. It uses multi-weight hyaluronic acid, which penetrates at different levels to ensure every layer of your skin is properly hydrated. Beyond HA, it features a solid dose of vitamin B5 (also known as panthenol) — an ingredient dermatologists praise for helping lock moisture in. Dry, dehydrated skin? Don’t know her. Better still, it never leaves skin feeling greasy or sticky.
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Medik8 H.E.O. Mask, $68 $47.60
This two-step mask is a saviour for dry winter skin — just don’t let the duo of products put you off. It’s meant to be a ritual. It contains a trifecta of moisturizing ingredients: humectants, which draw moisture into the skin; occlusives, which keep it there; and emollients, which soothe and soften dry, flaky skin. Even after one use of layering the two, you’ll notice that your skin looks fresher and noticeably less parched.
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