Medik8 Crystal Retinal

The Crystal Retinal ladder: 1, 3, 6, 10 and 20

The number on each tube is the strength of retinaldehyde, in tenths of a percent: Crystal Retinal 1 is 0.01%, Crystal Retinal 20 is 0.2%. The formula is the same at every rung, crystal-encapsulated retinal in a cream-serum with hyaluronic acid, squalane and vitamin E, so moving up changes only the dose, not the texture or the routine. That is the point of a ladder. You start where your skin is, and climb when it is ready.

• Crystal Retinal 1: first retinoid, very reactive or easily flushed skin, or anyone who has given up on retinol before.
• Crystal Retinal 3: the standard starting strength for healthy skin that has not used a retinoid, and the one we recommend most often.
• Crystal Retinal 6: established users graduating from 3, and experienced retinol users switching to retinal.
• Crystal Retinal 10: long-term users with resilient skin and visible photo-ageing.
• Crystal Retinal 20: the top of the ladder, for skin that has run 10 comfortably for months.
• Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 and Ceramide Eye 6: the same ladder logic for the eye area, cushioned with ceramides.

Which Crystal Retinal strength to start with

Start lower than you think. Retinal is roughly eleven times faster-acting than retinol at the same percentage, so Crystal Retinal 3 does more than most 0.5% retinols, and Crystal Retinal 1 is a real product, not a token one. The rule we use in clinic: never used a retinoid, start at 3, or at 1 if your skin is reactive. Used retinol nightly without trouble, start at 6. Only move to 10 or 20 once the rung below has been comfortable every night for two to three months. Our guide, The Crystal Retinal ladder: which strength to start with, goes through the decision in detail, and if you would rather ask, send us a message with what you use now and we will place you on the ladder.

Crystal Retinal vs retinol

Both are vitamin A, and both end up as retinoic acid in the skin, which is the form that does the work. Retinol has to convert twice to get there; retinaldehyde converts once. That single step is why retinal shows results in weeks rather than months, and why, milligram for milligram, it is the more potent of the two. The trade-off has always been stability, since retinal breaks down quickly in light and air. Medik8's crystal encapsulation solved that, which is why Crystal Retinal can sit in a tube for months and still deliver. If you prefer a classic retinol, Medik8's Intelligent Retinol range is on our Medik8 retinol and retinal page.

How to use Crystal Retinal

Evenings only, on clean, dry skin: a pea-sized amount over face and neck, avoiding the eyes and lips, before moisturiser. Begin two to three nights a week and build to nightly over a fortnight. When stepping up a strength, drop back to alternate nights for the first two weeks. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is not optional while using any retinoid. Keep leave-on exfoliating acids to the nights you are not using Crystal Retinal, and run a vitamin C such as C-Tetra Advanced in the morning rather than the evening.

Crystal Retinal questions

Can I use Crystal Retinal while pregnant or breastfeeding?

No. Like all retinoids, Crystal Retinal is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Medik8's bakuchiol and peptide products are the usual swap for that period, and our team can suggest a routine.

How long until I see results?

Texture and glow usually change within four to six weeks; fine lines and pigmentation take twelve weeks and more. The results compound with consistent nightly use, which is why comfort matters more than strength.

Is Crystal Retinal fragrance-free?

It carries a light natural scent from vanilla and tonka extracts, which declare coumarin. Skin with a known fragrance allergy should patch test, or consider the Intelligent Retinol range.

Crystal Retinal is out of stock in my strength. What now?

Demand for Crystal Retinal regularly outruns supply in Australia. Our guide to what to use when Crystal Retinal is sold out maps each strength to the closest alternatives we stock, and the notify-me button on each product emails you the moment it is back.

Is Epios Skin an authorised Medik8 stockist?

Yes. Every Medik8 product we sell comes through the authorised Australian supply chain, so it is genuine, in date and stored correctly, which matters for a light-sensitive molecule like retinal. Epios Skin is run by a doctor-led skin clinic in Sydney, and the Crystal Retinal ladder is the retinoid our clinical team recommends most.