Medik8 - Crystal Retinal 6

The Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 is an evening serum with encapsulated retinaldehyde, the form of vitamin A Medik8 also calls retinal. It's the step up from Crystal Retinal 3, for skin that's already used to that strength. The serum visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles and firms the look of your skin tone. Crystal Retinal 6 comes in a 30 ml bottle.

Who is Crystal Retinal 6 for?

Crystal Retinal 6 works for most skin types, from normal and dry to combination, oily or sensitive, especially once you're used to Crystal Retinal 3. Olivida recommends this serum for a dull complexion, fine lines, enlarged pores, blackheads, pigmentation or wrinkles. Have you never worked with vitamin A before? Choose the lower strength instead.

How do you use Crystal Retinal 6?

Cleanse your face first with a cleanser. In the evening, massage a small amount of Crystal Retinal 6 into your face, neck and décolletage, then let it absorb before your moisturiser. The Advanced Night Restore from Medik8 is one option to follow it with.

Increase the frequency step by step, since your skin needs time to adjust to this strength of vitamin A. Apply it two evenings in the first two weeks, move to alternate nights for the two weeks after that, and then use it nightly. Protect your skin with a sun protection factor every morning during this period, and keep doing so for a week once you've finished the course. Medik8 doesn't recommend products with retinal during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Which strength suits you?

At Olivida, Crystal Retinal 6 is the second strength in Medik8's Crystal Retinal range, after Crystal Retinal 3. The range rises in concentration of encapsulated retinaldehyde, so a higher number calls for more experience with vitamin A. Have you used Crystal Retinal 3 for months without issues? Then this is the logical next step; more experienced users move on to Crystal Retinal 10. Medik8 also makes a separate retinaldehyde range for the eye area; browse Olivida's eye creams for that option.

• Crystal Retinal 3: Starting point for a first introduction to vitamin A.
• Crystal Retinal 6: This page: the step after Crystal Retinal 3, for skin that's already used to it.
• Crystal Retinal 10: For skin with extensive experience of vitamin A.
• Crystal Retinal 20: The highest strength in the range, for full tolerance only.

Active ingredients

Retinal (Retinaldehyde). The form of vitamin A in this serum. Retinal needs only one conversion step in the skin to become retinoic acid, against two steps for retinol. That means retinal shows a visible effect on fine lines and uneven skin texture at a lower concentration.

Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid). Pulls water into the skin and keeps it in the upper layers. Skin feels calmer while it gets used to a new strength of vitamin A.

Glycerin. Attracts water to the skin and, alongside hyaluronic acid, helps the skin barrier feel settled during the build-up period.

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E). A stable form of vitamin E that works as an antioxidant, shielding skin cells from free-radical damage.

Full ingredient list (INCI)

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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between retinal and retinol in Crystal Retinal 6?

This serum's active ingredient is retinal, the short name Medik8 uses for retinaldehyde; Crystal Retinal 6 doesn't contain retinol. Retinal and retinol both belong to the vitamin A family, though retinal converts to retinoic acid in one step rather than two. If you're searching for a "retinol 6" from Medik8, this serum is what you mean, since Olivida doesn't stock a separate product under that name.

What percentage of retinaldehyde does Crystal Retinal 6 contain?

Olivida doesn't publish an exact percentage for Crystal Retinal 6 on this page. The concentration does sit higher than the 0.03% encapsulated retinaldehyde in Crystal Retinal 3.

I used Crystal Retinal 3 before, why is my skin flaking now with Crystal Retinal 6?

Crystal Retinal 6 contains a higher concentration of retinaldehyde than Crystal Retinal 3. Moving up to that higher strength can cause mild flaking or dryness again, even if your skin was already used to the lower one. Drop back down to twice-weekly evenings and wait until your skin settles before increasing the frequency again. See a skin therapist if the flaking doesn't ease up.

Can you use Crystal Retinal 6 during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Crystal Retinal 6 contains retinal, a vitamin A derivative. Medik8 advises against using it while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and suggests checking with your midwife or GP if you're unsure.

Browse Olivida's full Medik8 Crystal Retinal lineup to compare every strength side by side.