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Medik8 vs Simple

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Medik8 and Simple are British skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care. Medik8 features serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, suiting dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. Simple provides gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone skin and oily skin best. While both brands share a British origin, the former focuses on specialized active formulations, and the latter offers balanced, accessible daily essentials.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

This page compares some of the most popular Medik8 and Simple products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Simple products

People Say

Medik8Simple
  • Gentle and non-irritating formulation Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • Hydrating texture and formula Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “sinks in beautifully — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Lightweight and elegant texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedNot noted
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • Value for money and affordability Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “better value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Fades dark spots and brightens Often MentionedNot noted
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “immediate glow — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • High price point Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “made me break out constantly — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “caused breakouts — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “caused me to breakout — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Packaging issues and fragility Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “hard to get last bit out — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”

Medik8 vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $235.67 · 96% fitBuy Simple routine · $128.28 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medik8 vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $418.54 · 90% fitBuy Simple routine · $280.29 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Medik8 vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $419.65 · 93% fitBuy Simple routine · $259.77 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Simple: which is better?

Medik8 delivers superior routine fit across most skin types on this page, whereas Simple offers more value-friendly and gentle options. Medik8 products on this page often help improve skin texture and brighten dark spots with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

What is the difference between Medik8 and Simple?

Medik8 stands out for targeting signs of aging and dark spots with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, whereas Simple focuses on budget-friendly, gentle hydration using glycerin and niacinamide. Medik8 fits dry, sensitive, and combination skin best on this page, while Simple works best for acne-prone and oily skin types.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Medik8 or Simple for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High fit on the products on this page. Its formulas help deliver deep hydration with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 delivers superior results for cleansers compared to Simple, particularly showing a superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots on the products on this page. Reviewers note that the products on this page help improve skin texture and brightness effectively.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, whereas Medik8 has a high price point that reviewers often mention. Simple offers value-friendly moisturizers and better value for money.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Medik8 or Simple?

Medik8 has more fragrance-free products on this page, offering eleven fragrance-free formulas compared to Simple, which lists every product on this page as fragrance-free.

What are the parent companies of Medik8 and Simple, and when were they founded?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, while Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC.

How do the routines for dry skin differ between Medik8 and Simple?

Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin using products like Hydr8 B5 Intense, which features hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality and hydration. Simple offers a High routine fit for dry skin with items such as its Replenishing Rich Moisturiser.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Medik8 fits with a Superior routine level while Simple achieves a High routine level. Reviewers mention that Medik8 improves skin texture and smoothness better, whereas Simple offers better value for money and affordability.

Medik8 or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is generally better for moisture as its routines fit dry skin at a Superior level compared to Simple at a High level. Medik8's moisturizers and serums feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps provide deep hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Simple for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, compared to High for Simple. Reviewers note that the products on this page for Medik8 are mostly gentle and non-irritating serums.

Medik8 or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for this skin type while Simple achieves a High fit. Reviewers note that Medik8 helps improve skin texture, though it carries a higher price point.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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