Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 for oily skin
Retinal Vitamin A
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Eclipta Prostrata ExtractAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate skin rejuvenation for your oily skin due to the presence of retinal and 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, which provide benefits for skin renewal and antioxidant activity. Vanilla planifolia fruit extract and Lonicera japonica flower extract offer soothing properties, contributing to overall skin comfort.
- While the formula provides general skincare benefits, the concentrations of retinal and 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid offer moderate improvements for oily shine, making it a supportive rather than primary treatment for your main concern.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing extracts.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsThis high-strength serum is highly regarded by users as an effective step-up for experienced retinoid users, leading to noticeable improvements in skin texture, firmness, and clarity. While it is praised for being gentler than many alternatives and beneficial for anti-aging and congestion, users should be aware of the potential for initial dryness or purging and the product's tendency to stain fabrics.
Highlights
Potent anti-aging Mostly Mentioned
- “lines significantly reduced”
- “skin looks glass-like”
- “texture is completely smooth”
- “youthful bounce returned”
Elegant texture Often Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “creamy and hydrating”
- “smells like apricots”
- “non-sticky finish”
Gentle formulation Often Mentioned
- “zero redness”
- “much gentler than tretinoin”
- “no stinging experienced”
- “tolerated daily quickly”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “very steep price”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “investment skincare”
- “wallet hurts”
Clears congestion Sometimes Noted
- “stopped hormonal breakouts”
- “cleared deep cysts”
- “keeps pores clear”
- “faded post-acne marks”
Dryness/flaking Sometimes Noted
- “flaking around nose”
- “need heavy moisturizer”
- “dry patches at first”
Initial purging Rarely Noted
- “purged for two weeks”
- “spots appeared initially”
- “skin got worse before better”
Staining potential Rarely Noted
- “stained my pillowcase”
- “yellow residue on towels”
- “leaves face slightly orange”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.com, spacenk.com, skinmart.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 work for oily skin?
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 is an average fit for oily skin, offering moderate improvements for oily shine through retinal and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid while keeping skin comfortable with soothing extracts. Oily skin works best with treatments that contain ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to control excess oil and pores, alongside ceramides, panthenol, and lightweight hydrators.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Retinal and 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid provide moderate renewal and antioxidant benefits for your oily skin, while soothing extracts help keep it comfortable. A treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to properly control excess oil, manage shine, and refine pores.
What does Retinal do for oily skin?
Retinal helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and clearing clogged pores when used daily. This ingredient is well-suited for managing breakouts while keeping skin smooth and calm.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with products that provide targeted oil control, lightweight hydration, and oil-absorbing ingredients.
Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and following with this serum once it absorbs. This combination is generally well tolerated, though starting slowly helps ensure your oily skin stays calm.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is used in the evening, starting once a week to see how your skin adjusts before using it more often. It helps improve skin renewal and texture while keeping your skin calm, though oily skin of this type needs stronger oil-controlling active ingredients for best results.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores, but initial purging is a low possibility for oily skin. It is generally safe and helps renew skin, though a product for this skin works best with stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing actives.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (coumarin). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.
Polymers, 2023Concurrent treatment with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and cannabigerol in UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes prevents membrane structure alterations, promotes cell survival, enhances antioxidant enzyme activity and GSH- and Trx-dependent systems, reduces lipid and protein oxidative modifications, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026Topical formulations containing ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, coenzyme Q10, green tea polyphenols, and resveratrol reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines and attenuated inflammatory signs compared to untreated skin and vehicle in 25 Japanese volunteers exposed to sodium dodecyl sulfate.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of Eclipta alba significantly reduced the time required for hair growth initiation and completion in male albino rats compared to control animals, with the 5% petroleum ether extract showing a greater number of hair follicles in the anagenic phase (69 +/- 4) than the control (47 +/- 13).
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Oral and topical administration of Eclipta prostrata promotes hair growth and enhances the induction of anagen in mice by increasing FGF-7 and decreasing FGF-5 expression.
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2019Topical application of a polyherbal formulation containing Cuscuta reflexa, Citrullus colocynthis, and Eclipta alba extracts reduced hair growth initiation time to one third and complete hair growth time by 32% in rats compared with control animals.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil Carrot Seed Oil, Retinal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Edta, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bht, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Vanilla Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Dipteryx Odorata Extract Tonka Extract Bean Extract, Coumarin, Red 4, Titanium Dioxide
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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