The World's #1 Retinal Serum Is 20% Off Right Now

Last Updated on March 5, 2026 by omgbart

Yes, it’s the Medik8 icon.

Without a trace of sarcasm, I can say that Medik8 Crystal Retinal being named the #1 retinal serum worldwide* came as absolutely no surprise. Why? It really is that good. It’s quite rare that I agree with industry hype. Or trust a ranking. But as a long-time user of the formula, I concur. Also, if you’re in the US, I have a way for you to save 20% on your Medik8 order. Keep reading.

What is Retinal?

First, let’s start with what retinal is. More powerful than retinol, retinaldehyde is much more potent (and effective) than its more popular cousin. It also requires only one step to convert into retinoic acid in the skin (retinol takes 2 steps, retinyl palmitate takes 3 steps) and work on boosting collagen production. Retinal is a notch above retinol and a notch below prescription strength retinoid. It’s also one of my favorites and top picks I recommend in this retinol roundup post.

Me using the Medik8 Crystal Retinal serum.

What is the Crystal part about?

What makes Medic8 stand out in the retinol (or in this case, retinal) space is its ability to deliver a stable and highly effective formula. For years, many brands strayed from using retinal due to how expensive it is (and the level of craft aka science) it requires to keep stable.

Medik8 uses a proprietary crystal-shaped delivery system which encapsulates the retinal molecule for proper transit and absorption into and by the skin. This gradual release of retinaldehyde throughout the night minimizes the risk of irritation and allows the skin to embrace the ingredient without overindulging in its anti-aging strength. Too much of a good thing is still too much, right?

To ensure its exquisite performance from day of purchase to the last drop, Crystal Retinal comes in an airless tube with metal lining and pump dispenser. The formula also contains a carrot seed oil complex, a source of beta-carotene that helps support the integrity and potency of the formula.

Many people find retinal to be too strong. Some find retinal not effective. Here are the reasons. Some brands (hate to say it but I had this experience with Geek & Gorgeous) sell affordable versions of retinal formulas but their stability is far from impressive. My bottle of A-Game was effective at first but lost its luster within a few short weeks. It is also crucial to let your skin adjust and get used to retinal in as low a dose as possible at first.

What Medik8 does brilliantly is the gradual system of strength the Crystal Retinal comes in. You can choose from 1, 3, 6, 10, 20, and 24. Personally, I started at 6 and halfway through the bottle I knew I was ready for more. I then moved into the 10 strength territory. Years later, I am content at 10. Out of curiosity, I tried the 24 formula and found it to be extremely strong for my skin. I’m saying redness by morning and my skin is not sensitive by nature.

Comparing two Medik8 Crystal Retinal formulas on my skin.

How I Use Crystal Retinal 10

Since the creamy base is also very nourishing, I rarely experience redness, tightness or dryness while using this Medik8 product. During winter months (living in the Northeast of US), I would layer a richer moisturizer over it at night. In Spain, I find my tube of Crystal Retinal 10 to suffice on its own. Again, this methodology requires tweaking long enough to find your skin’s rhythm that balances the ideal ratio of tolerance and efficacy.

One tip I always follow before applying any retinal: load up the eye area and lips first. The skin in both zones is pore-free, which makes it far more vulnerable to dryness and flaking from retinoids. A generous pre-application of eye cream and lip balm acts as a barrier, keeping those areas protected through the night.

If you’re shopping for Medik8 at dermstore.commy affiliate code OMGBART brings the price down by 20%. And while various strengths of Crystal Retinal come at different price points, the one I’m using (strength 10) retails at $109 yet comes down to $87.20 with my code.

Crystal Retinal 1 is $55, 3 is $65, 6 is $85, 10 is $109, 20 is $121, and 24 is $125. Each tube is 30ml.

*Ranked #1 retinal serum worldwide based on independent market research by Kline & Company, analyzing global retinal serum sales data for 2025. For more information, click here.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no cost to you. It helps keep my mist habit funded and this blog running. Thank you for reading.