Crystal Retinal 3
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cyclodextrin, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Retinal, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Climbazole, Disodium EDTA, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipteryx Odorata (Tonka) Bean Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract, Decylene Glycol, 1, 2-Hexanediol, BHT, Coumarin
Crystal Retinal 3 has been my nightly retinoid for the past few weeks, and using it consistently has been remarkably uncomplicated.
The cream is on the thicker side, but it doesn't feel too heavy. It has a buttery texture and spreads easily. It layers well with the rest of my evening routine and never feels like too much.
When I first started using it, I noticed a bit of sensitivity on the tops of my cheeks. Following it with a ceramide-based moisturizer solved that completely though, and I've been able to use it every night since without any irritation.
With consistent use, my skin was cleared up (and stayed that way), texture improved, and overall it looks smoother and glowier. The improvements were gradual, but it didn't take long for me to start noticing them, and after a while I just realised my skin had simply been looking consistently good.
The formula is one of the reasons I think it's so easy to stick with. Retinal is, of course, the star ingredient. Compared to retinol, it only needs one conversion step to become retinoic acid, making it both more potent and generally faster-acting. Medik8 has paired it with plenty of ingredients that help offset the downsides typically associated with retinoids: glycerin, squalane and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration, while a blend of emollients helps support the skin barrier. There are also antioxidants, including two vitamin C derivatives, cloudberry seed oil and moringa seed oil. None of these are likely to outshine the retinal, but together they make for a well-balanced formula that's comfortable enough to use every night.
From the Crystal Retinal line, this is a relatively low-concentration retinal serum (it goes up to 24). At this point, I feel ready to move up to the next strength. Even if I reach the final stage, I still don't think I'll ever love Crystal Retinal quite as much as Medik8's r-Retinoate Intense Youth Activating Cream. That product had some sort of magic in it that I still can't quite explain. However, Crystal Retinal is significantly more affordable, which makes it much easier to justify buying again.