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Medik8 r-Retinoate Day & Night Youth Activating Cream
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Medik8 r-Retinoate Day & Night Youth Activating Cream

£149.00
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Advanced day-and-night Vitamin A cream with retinyl retinoate to smooth lines, brighten tone and deeply hydrate for a firmer, more radiant complexion.

Strength:
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Helps with

Fine lines and wrinkles

Tap a tag to see more products for your skin, or take the skin quiz for a full routine.

Medik8 r-Retinoate Day & Night Youth Activating Cream is an innovative anti-ageing moisturiser powered by retinyl retinoate, an advanced form of Vitamin A proven to be 8x more effective than traditional retinol, yet gentle enough for day and night use. This next-generation formula visibly reduces fine lines, boosts radiance and refines skin texture, offering powerful rejuvenation without irritation.

Infused with multi-weight hyaluronic acid for deep, long-lasting hydration, stabilised vitamin C for brightening and collagen support, and vitamin E for antioxidant protection, this luxurious cream delivers a smoother, firmer and more youthful complexion. Skin feels nourished, balanced and revitalised from the very first use.

Perfect for all skin types, including sensitive, the silky, lightweight texture absorbs effortlessly, making it an ideal all-in-one day and night treatment for those seeking visible age-defying results.

Benefits

  • Helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles
  • Brightens uneven tone and enhances radiance
  • Deeply hydrates and smooths skin texture
  • Can be used both day and night with minimal irritation

Key Ingredients

  • Retinyl Retinoate: A next-generation Vitamin A derivative, 8x stronger than retinol, stimulating collagen and supporting cell renewal day and night.
  • Multi-Weight Hyaluronic Acid: Attracts and retains moisture at multiple layers of the skin for intense, long-lasting hydration.
  • Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that brightens, protects and supports collagen production.
  • Vitamin E: Defends against free radicals and enhances the stabilising power of Vitamin C.

Achieve a radiant, youthful-looking complexion with this advanced daily moisturiser designed for complete anti-ageing and hydration support.

After cleansing the skin, massage a small amount into the face and neck every morning and evening. Wait for a few minutes before applying a moisturiser and an SPF (in the morning only).

Can also be applied to the back of the hands to help combat the signs of ageing.

50ml

Aqua (Water), Heptyl Undecylenate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polylactic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Distarch Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Retinyl Retinoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Disodium EDTA, Phenylpropanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Canola Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Trideceth-10

Medik8

Medik8 products are built on the ground breaking methodology of the CSA philosophy. The simple yet impactful skincare regime follows the approach of Vitamin C + Sunscreen by day and Vitamin A by night.

Medik8 Vitamin C products like Medik8 C-Tetra focuses on building shields against daily life while promoting the production of collagen.

Medik8 sunscreen products like Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect focus on high strengths sun protection to protect your skin from sun damage

Medik8 Vitamin A night creams and serums focus on cellular renewal and reduce production of sebum. Whether you’re starting out with Crystal Retinal 1 or advanced Intelligent Retinol 10TR, Medik8 Vitamin A serums are some of the most advanced in skincare

Glycerin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Lactic Acid, Vitamin A / Retinol, AHAs / BHAs / PHAs, Hyaluronic Acid, Antioxidants
Vitamin A explained: retinol, retinal and why you should start low

Further reading from The Derma Edit

Vitamin A explained: retinol, retinal and why you should start low

Read the guide

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Ingredient
Glycerin
What It Is

Glycerin works as a humectant, it attracts moisture from the air into the stratum corneum (top layer of skin), and due to its low molecular weight, will continue to draw moisture to the deeper layers of the dermis.

Glycerin also treats several skin disorders, ranging from dry skin to wound healing. The ingredient has the potential of improving your overall internal health as well.

Due to its versatility and ability to moisturise, it’s used in everything from lotions to soaps to toners.

What It Does

How to use in your skincare routine?

Products with glycerin can be used topically multiple times a day. You can safely and effectively use this ingredient in nearly every single step of your skin care routine. Several skin care brands use glycerin when formulating everything from cleansers and toners, to serums and moisturisers.

Benefits
  • Glycerin tightens and firms - Use this ingredient for a few weeks or even a few days and we think you'll find that it plumps and softens your look significantly, especially if you have more mature skin.
  • It improves your complexion - Glycerin is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores.
  • It brightens - Between glycerin’s rejuvenating properties and its ability to moisturise, glycerin plays a key role in keeping skin looking bright and luminous.
  • The ingredient is also a good choice for sensitive skin. Because it’s a natural component of skin, it calms redness and inflammation. It’s one of the gentler ingredients you can find in skin care products and can even help alleviate sensitivity over time.
Vitamin C
What It Is

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body, including the skin, but we cannot produce it on our own. The powerful antioxidant is found naturally in fruits and vegetables and commonly produced synthetically in skincare products, such as moisturisers, toners, and, most often, serums.

What It Does

How to use in your skincare routine?

Whether your skin is dry, oily, or a combination, vitamin C is beneficial for skin health, helping it look and feel healthier and younger longer.

Before you apply the vitamin C, test a patch of skin with a lower-concentration formula to see how your skin reacts. Some minor tingling is normal, but if you experience anything more intense, stop using the product and talk to your dermatologist.

For best results, apply this vitamin topically 1-2 times a day, morning and night. Be sure to apply a moisturiser with a broad-spectrum SPF after vitamin C application for daytime.

Benefits
  • Vitamin C makes sun damage and surface pigment spots less visible and brightens a dull, blotchy skin.
  • It is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from irritation, inflammation and environmental pollution.
  • It reduces red blotches left after spots by improving the skin’s natural healing process.
  • It increases the effectiveness of sunscreen and gives the skin better protection from UV rays 
Vitamin E
What It Is

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble, essential nutrient with anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E helps support the immune system, cell function, and skin health. It’s an antioxidant, making it effective at combating the effects of free radicals produced by the metabolism of food and toxins in the environment.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may be effective at reducing UV damage in skin. And when applied topically may help nourish and protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals.

What It Does

How to use in your skincare routine?

It can be used underneath moisturiser and sunscreen in the morning [if it’s a vitamin E oil] and is sometimes combined with other antioxidants, such as Vitamin C in Serums.

Best suited for those with dry, very dry, or mature skin.

Avoid using if you have very oily, acne prone skin or those prone to sensitivity.

Benefits

In moisturisers it can:

  • Stop skin from losing moisture.
  • Protect cells from damage.
  • Soften skin.
Lactic Acid
What It Is

Lactic acid is a chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose a carbohydrate found in milk. ‌Like glycolic and mandelic acids, this acid belongs to the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. AHAs are water-soluble organic compounds that, in cosmetic formulations, offer unparalleled benefits for the skin.

What It Does

It’s advised that you gradually introduce this exfoliant into your daily routine.

And while most lactic acid products are suggested for use before bed, you should always carefully read the instructions and labels. If you’ve got sensitive or tricky skin, do a patch test with the product before going all the way.

Since AHAs, including lactic acid, work to peel away and soften the top layer of your epidermis, there’s always a risk that your skin can be more exposed to the elements, including the sun.

Therefore, it’s advised that you pair your lactic acid use with a sunscreen or a SPF-containing product.

Benefits

Lactic acid has many known perks. It increases cell turnover and helps eliminate accumulated dead skin cells on the epidermis — the top layer of the skin.

After using lactic acid, you'll notice a brighter and smoother complexion. This AHA exfoliant helps treat moderate to severe hyper-pigmentation. It can fade out age spots and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and highly visible pores. This acid is one of the mildest forms of AHA, so it's safe to use it on sensitive skin in the right concentrations.

 

Vitamin A / Retinol
What It Is

Vitamin A / Retinol plays a bunch of key roles in the body, and it’s essential when it comes to the health of your skin. It’s involved in the production of fresh, new cells, which keeps your skin both functioning and looking its best.

Vitamin A contains retinoids, compounds that come in many forms such as:

  • Retinol - Once in the middle layer of skin, retinol helps neutralise free radicals. This helps boost the production of elastin and collagen, which creates a “plumping” effect that can reduce the appearance of, fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores
  • Retinyl -This is the least irritating of all four retinoids, it's a great option for almost all skin types and anyone who wants to keep their pores clear and skin youthful. It promotes skin cell turnover, improves skin tone, helps unclog pores and helps thicken the dermis to slow down the formation of wrinkles.
  • Retinal - This is the only retinoid that exhibits direct antibacterial properties. This makes it perfect for those prone to blemishes. With continued use, it diminishes the bacteria responsible for breakouts to leave skin looking clear, radiant and youthful.
What It Does

How to use in your skincare routine?

We recommend them as part of a nightly skin care routine, when most people don’t mind adding an extra step or two. But it’s also fine to use Vitamin A / Retinol in the daytime, as long as you finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater.

Don’t forget—when you apply your Vitamin A / Retinol product, be sure to include your neck and chest so you get those amazing benefits there, too.

Benefits

Retinoids can help exfoliate skin on the surface, removing dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from pores to prevent pimples. They also penetrate the skin’s surface to stimulate collagen and elastin production, which can help reduce the appearance of pores and acne scarring.

Vitamin A / Retinol , works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production.

AHAs / BHAs / PHAs
What It Is

The world of acids can be divided into a few categories, three to be precise: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) and the underdog, Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs). If you're using a skincare acid, it'll fall into one of these three categories.

AHAs

These may ring some bells as you're bound to find an AHA already hiding in your skincare routine. AHAs are chemical exfoliators that can be extremely helpful for oily or blemish-prone skin if used on a regular basis.
The top dogs in this category are Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid. You can find them mixed in with serums, moisturisers, cleansers and toners, depending on how high of a dosage you want to use (the smaller the percentage, the less potent the formula).

BHAs

Whilst they are also chemical exfoliators, AHAs and BHAs treat different skin problems.
AHAs are ideal for those concerned with ageing skin, whereas BHAs are best for those who are one the oilier side of the skincare spectrum and struggle with acne, blackheads and milia (the little white bumps you sometimes see under the skin).
Whilst AHAs are only water soluble, BHAs are oil soluble, which is why they are ideal for those struggling with an oil-slick T-zone. They can get below the oil that’s clogging up your skin and also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. So they help spots disappear quicker and calm any redness.
The most popular BHA is Salicylic Acid. It can be found in a range of different formulas targeted at spot treatments.

PHAs

The underdog of the acid trilogy, PHAs don't get the praise they deserve.

"PHAs (AKA Polyhydroxy Acids) are very similar to traditional alpha hydroxy acids, because both work by breaking down the 'glue' that binds dull, dead cells to the surface of the skin." Daniel Isaacs, Scientific Director at Medik8

They're especially beneficial for those who find other acids too strong. 'Even very sensitive skin types can harness the resurfacing powers of PHAs,' says Daniel. 'In clinical studies, they have been proven to be compatible with dry, itchy skin conditions such as eczema and atopic rosacea.'
The most common PHA acids are Gluconolactone, Galactose and Lactobionic - bit of a mouthful to say but well worth looking out for the next time you’re in the market for a new chemical exfoliant.

Hyaluronic Acid
What It Is

Hyaluronic-acid a substance that retains moisture and is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. This substance is naturally found in many areas of the human body, including the skin, eyes, and synovial fluid of the joints.

As we age, the production of key substances in the skin, including hyaluronic acid (along with collagen and elastin) decreases. As a result, our skin loses volume, hydration, and plumpness.

The substance works as a magnet for moisture, helping your cells retain as much of it as possible so that your skin feels and appears hydrated, plump and healthy.

What It Does

Moisturisers and serums are two of the most common form of hyaluronic acid.

  • Moisturisers. Use a moisturiser infused with hyaluronic acid at the time when you’d usually moisturise. Ideally, this would be 2 times a day and always after cleansing, exfoliating, or applying serums.
  • Serums. A hyaluronic acid serum involves a slightly different routine. After cleansing, use a toner on your skin and press a couple of drops of your serum into your face with the palms of your hands. Don’t forget to apply a moisturiser immediately afterward to seal in all that hydration.

This acid also plays well with most other skin actives, making it easy to pair with peels, retinols, vitamins, and other acids.

Benefits

When used in skincare products, including creams and serums, hyaluronic acid gives your complexion a boost by quickly increasing the skin's moisture level. It’s especially useful for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and age lines.

Antioxidants