By now, most of us are familiar with Medik8’s high-performance skincare products. Its clever retinal serums are recommended by professionals, popular among A-listers, and a mainstay in the skincare routines of beauty editors everywhere – especially here at Vogue HQ. So too are products like the Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50 and the C-Tetra vitamin C, which have amassed a loyal (and large) fanbase on the strength of their results.
But the Medik8 products I credit with helping to clear my acne-prone skin aren’t the most popular of the bunch. If you’re shopping the Medik8 Black Friday 2024 sale in pursuit of the most-hyped items, they’re ones you may even scroll past. And while there’s good reason to stock up on the heroes of Medik8’s CSA philosophy – which prescribes vitamin C, sunscreen and vitamin A as the recipe for healthier skin – these two underrated products are not to be dismissed.
Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse
The first is Medik8’s Surface Radiance Cleanse. A gel face wash that has a sensorial, non-stripping lather, it calls on mandelic, lactic and salicylic acids to decongest the skin. The mild foam it produces is infused with glycerin to keep your face from drying out, and though it’s hydrating, it rinses away without leaving a greasy skin feel. It’s been a game changer for my acne-prone skin. Thanks to the skin-clarifiers in its formula, it lifts excess oils and impurities out like no other face wash I have tried.
When I’ve had active breakouts or blackheads, one round of this cleanser has loosened clogged pores and restored a comfortable softness to my skin. As my skin has cleared up, I’ve noticed that it exfoliates dullness and rough patches too, revealing a brighter, smoother complexion with regular use. I’ve used it daily for the past two years – which is no small thing, and the most committed I have been to a skincare product as a beauty writer that tests them for a living. I have endless options at my disposal, but the efficacy of this formulation has kept me shopping top-ups the minute it runs out.
Medik8 Press & Glow Tonic
Then there is the Medik8 Press & Glow Tonic. This is one I call on to address texture and discolouration, especially at the jawline and chest where my curly hair often results in ingrowns. Because it uses PHAs, which are larger than the alpha hydroxy acids used in most toners, it is very good at targeting old cells on the surface of the skin.
It gently removes the top layer of dull and dead skin – without stinging or irritation – and I’ve found it has accelerated the fading of my discoloured patches. Though I’m not religious abut using it everyday (I prefer to soak a cotton round and use it as a treatment when needed) it is mild enough for daily use. And with those big PHA molecules specifically getting to work on the top layer of the skin, Medik8 have formulated it to be safe for layering with stronger actives – like, say, the Crystal Retinal – already in your routine.
While I’ve tried the retinal, I have been most consistent with the two products above. They are the underdogs of Medik8’s roster: their cumulative effect has taken my skin from bumpy and blemished to calm with massively improved clarity, and I can’t recommend them enough for anyone struggling with troubled, or textured, skin. Best of all, you can try both for 25 per cent off this Black Friday and through Cyber Weekend. I, for one, will be stocking up.
