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Medik8 vs Elemis

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

Medik8 and Elemis are British skincare brands known for creating curated formulations that span serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more. Medik8 relies on hyaluronic acid and suits dry and sensitive skin best, while Elemis weaves together glycerin and shea to serve dry and mature skin. The two differ in their founding years, corporate ownership, and specific hero ingredients, yet both offer targeted solutions for acne, dark spots, and aging.

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

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Medik8 vs Elemis products

People Say

Medik8Elemis
  • Deep hydration Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and elegant texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Gentle and non-irritating formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Skin plumping and smoothing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Brightening and glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “instantly fresh glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Pleasant experience and scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • High price point Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Slow or underwhelming results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't see a difference — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “didn't see difference — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Verdict still out. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
  • Packaging issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”

Medik8 vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medik8 vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medik8 vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Elemis: which is better?

Both brands offer strong options, but Medik8 is a better fit when you want gentle, non-irritating formulas, while Elemis stands out for lightweight, fragrant textures and skin-smoothing results. The products on this page from Medik8 are especially suited for dry, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin, whereas Elemis focuses heavily on dry, mature, and dry sensitive skin types.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Elemis?

Medik8 is known for its gentle formulas, while Elemis stands out for its lightweight textures and pleasant scents. Both brands offer effective hydration, but Medik8 has a routine fit level of Superior for dry skin compared to Elemis at High.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Elemis for dry skin?

For dry skin, Medik8 fits best with a Superior routine fit, while Elemis offers a High fit on the products on this page. Medik8 is best for dry skin, sensitive skin, and dry sensitive skin, and its key ingredients like hyaluronic acid help provide deep hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse has an acne-prone skin fit level of Superior, whereas the Elemis Superfood Facial Wash has an average fit level. Both cleansers help clean the skin, but Medik8 is better suited for acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Elemis?

Both Medik8 and Elemis feature a high price point as a common drawback in reviews, so neither brand is notably more affordable than the other.

Between Medik8 and Elemis, which brand has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products?

Medik8 has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products, with 11 of 12 products on this page listing no fragrance compared to only 4 of 22 products for Elemis.

How do the ownership and founding years of Medik8 and Elemis compare?

Medik8 was founded in the United Kingdom in 2009 and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, while Elemis was founded in the United Kingdom in 1989 and is owned by L'Occitane Group.

Which brand has fewer complaints regarding strong fragrance and skin irritation according to reviewers?

Medik8 is better for avoiding skin irritation, as reviewers note it provides gentle and non-irritating formulas. Additionally, Medik8 products on this page generally have fewer fragrance concerns since only one product lists fragrance, compared to Elemis where strong fragrance and skin irritation are sometimes noted.

Medik8 or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Medik8 and Elemis achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Review themes show that Elemis offers a more lightweight and elegant texture, while Medik8 provides a more gentle and non-irritating formula.

Medik8 or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both Medik8 and Elemis offer effective moisturizers, with Medik8 featuring deep hydration options like Hydr8 B5 Intense and Elemis providing luxurious choices like the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. Hydrating formulas that include hyaluronic acid help support skin moisture barriers.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at High. Reviewers mention that Medik8 products are gentle and non-irritating.

Medik8 or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both Medik8 and Elemis have a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Medik8 features gentle and non-irritating serums, whereas Elemis provides deep hydration and smoother skin texture.

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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