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Medik8's Crystal Retinal range runs from 1 through to 20, with each number referring to the concentration of retinal in the formula. Crystal Retinal 3, for example, contains 0.03% retinal. The range is deliberately laddered so you can build tolerance rather than jumping straight to a strength your skin cannot handle.
What Is Retinal, And How Is It Different To Retinol?
Both are forms of vitamin A. The difference is how many steps your skin has to take to convert them into retinoic acid, which is the form that actually does the work.
Retinol needs two conversion steps. Retinal, also written as retinaldehyde, needs only one. That makes retinal faster-acting at a comparable concentration, which is why a 0.05% retinal product is not directly comparable to a 0.05% retinol product. If you have been using retinol and want to understand the equivalents, our guide on what percentage retinol you should use covers the retinol side of the picture.
Crystal Retinal 1: Very Sensitive Or Reactive Skin
At 0.01% retinal, this is the lowest strength in the range. It suits skin that is genuinely reactive, anyone who has tried a retinoid before and abandoned it because of irritation, and those with conditions such as rosacea who want to introduce vitamin A very cautiously.
Most people do not need to start here. If you have normal, resilient skin, starting at 1 simply means a slower route to visible results.
Crystal Retinal 3: The Standard Starting Point
Powered by 0.03% retinal, this is the strength most people should begin with. It is enough to smooth and brighten over a few weeks without the peeling that puts people off vitamin A, and it is the right choice if this is your first retinoid of any kind.
It is also the sensible strength to return to if you stopped using a retinoid over the summer and are restarting in autumn.
Crystal Retinal 6: The Everyday Working Strength
At 0.06% retinal, Crystal Retinal 6 is where a lot of people settle long term. Move up to it once you can use 3 nightly with no dryness, tightness or flaking, which typically takes somewhere between six and twelve weeks.
This is the strength to aim for if your concerns are fine lines, uneven tone and general texture rather than deep, established wrinkles.
Crystal Retinal 10: Experienced Users
0.1% retinal, and only appropriate once you have been comfortable on 6 for a sustained period. It is aimed at more established lines, stubborn pigmentation and skin that has plateaued at a lower strength.
If you are still getting occasional dryness on 6, stay there. Moving up does not accelerate results if it forces you to skip nights.
Crystal Retinal 20: The Highest Strength
At 0.2% retinal, this is the top of the range and genuinely not a starting point. It is for long-term retinal users targeting deeper wrinkles who already tolerate 10 nightly without issue.
What About The Eye Area?
Medik8 makes a separate laddered range for the eye contour, buffered with ceramides for the thinner skin there. Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 is the entry strength, with 6 and 10 available as you build tolerance.
You do not need to match your face and eye strengths. Many people run a higher strength on the face and stay lower around the eyes indefinitely.
How To Introduce Crystal Retinal
Apply at night, to dry skin, after cleansing. Start twice a week for the first fortnight, move to alternate nights, and only go nightly once you have had no dryness or sensitivity for a couple of weeks.
A pea-sized amount is enough for the whole face. Using more does not speed anything up, but it does reliably increase the chance of irritation.
When Should You Move Up A Strength?
The rule of thumb is simple: only move up when you have been using your current strength every night for at least four weeks with no side effects at all. Many people never need to go beyond 6, and consistency at a lower strength will always beat sporadic use of a higher one.
What Should You Pair It With?
Hyaluronic acid is a good partner, as it offsets the dryness that vitamin A can cause. Our article on using hyaluronic acid and retinol together explains how to layer them.
A vitamin C serum in the morning, such as Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced, complements retinal use at night. Daily SPF is not optional alongside any retinoid, since UV exposure will undo the results you are working towards.
How Long Until You See Results?
Expect brighter, smoother-feeling skin within four weeks. Improvements to fine lines and pigmentation generally take twelve weeks or more of consistent use, so judge a strength over a full tube rather than a fortnight.