Medik8 vs Simple
Medik8 and Simple are British skincare brands offering cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and more. Medik8 features hyaluronic acid and suits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while Simple incorporates niacinamide and glycerin to suit oily skin and acne-prone skin best. The first brand relies on advanced formulations to address aging, dark spots, and texture, whereas the second brand focuses on gentle, everyday care for specific concerns like dark spots, acne, and maturity. Both labels differ in their targeted skin types, ingredient profiles, and core philosophies.
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
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
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Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€8.85
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Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner
Morning
€34.00
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Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€78.95
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SPF
Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen
Morning
€12.98
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
€10.97
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Serum or Treatment
Bakuchiol Peptides
Evening · Once a week
€50.76
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Nourishing Mask
Abib Rice Probiotics Overnight Mask
Once a week
€15.30
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Cleanser
Refreshing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€14.98
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner
Morning
€34.00
-
Moisturizer
Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€9.87
-
SPF
Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen
Morning
€12.98
-
Pre-Cleanser
Micellar Cleansing Water
Evening · Once a week
€9.87
-
Serum or Treatment
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule
Evening · Once a week
€14.98
-
Nourishing Mask
Abib Rice Probiotics Overnight Mask
Once a week
€15.30
Medik8 vs Simple routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€20.50
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€78.95
-
SPF
d'Alba UVessence Mild Waterfull Sun Cream SPF 50
Morning
€16.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€97.52
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
€33.50
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
€76.50
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
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Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€16.79
-
Cleanser
Refreshing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€14.98
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€9.87
-
SPF
d'Alba UVessence Mild Waterfull Sun Cream SPF 50
Morning
€16.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Micellar Cleansing Water
Evening · Once a week
€9.87
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
€16.90
-
Serum or Treatment
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Evening · Once a week
€5.20
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€16.79
Medik8 vs Simple routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€39.80
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€78.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€97.52
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
€33.50
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
€76.50
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
€28.50
-
Cleanser
Refreshing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€14.98
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€9.87
-
Pre-Cleanser
Micellar Cleansing Water
Evening · Once a week
€9.87
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
€16.98
-
Serum or Treatment
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Spot Cream
Evening · Once a week
€18.49
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
€28.50
Questions and answers
Medik8 or Simple: which is better?
Medik8 offers superior overall performance for dry and sensitive skin on this page, while Simple provides gentle and budget-friendly hydration. The products on this page help improve skin texture and reduce dark spots with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
What is the difference between Medik8 and Simple?
Medik8 stands out for improving skin texture and fading dark spots with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Simple is noted for offering value-friendly and gentle formulations featuring niacinamide and glycerin. The products on this page show that Medik8 achieves superior routine fit levels for dry, dry sensitive, combination, and sensitive skin compared to Simple.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Medik8 or Simple for dry skin?
For dry skin, Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior and Simple as High. Medik8 helps deliver deep hydration and plumping with products like Hydr8 B5 Intense, which features hyaluronic acid.
Medik8 or Simple: which cleanser is better?
On this page, Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas Simple Refreshing Facial Wash has an Average fit level for those skin types. Reviewers indicate that Simple does better for a gentle and non-irritating formulation, while Medik8 improves skin texture.
Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Simple?
Simple is more affordable compared to Medik8, which often receives feedback for its high price point. Reviewers frequently mention Simple for offering value-friendly moisturizers.
Medik8 or Simple for oily skin?
For oily skin, both Medik8 and Simple achieve a High Lovi fit level on the products on this page. Reviewers report that Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers, while Medik8 provides gentle and non-irritating serums.
Medik8 or Simple: which moisturizer is better?
Medik8 provides a superior fit for dry skin with products like Hydr8 B5 Intense, while Simple offers budget-friendly options such as Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. The products on this page help deliver hydration using ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which is supported by clinical findings.
Medik8 or Simple for sensitive skin?
Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior for sensitive skin, while Simple is rated High. Medik8 features gentle and non-irritating serums, whereas Simple is noted for gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers.
Medik8 or Simple for acne-prone skin?
Medik8 provides a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin, while Simple offers an Average fit. The products on this page from Medik8 help improve skin texture and brightness, whereas Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly makeup removers.
Medik8 or Simple for mature skin?
For mature skin, both Medik8 and Simple are strong choices, as Lovi rates both brands as High. Medik8 products on this page often help improve skin texture and brightness, while Simple offers gentle, budget-friendly moisturizers.
Medik8 or Simple for skin with dark spots?
For skin with dark spots, Medik8 fits better on this page with a high routine fit, while Simple reaches an average fit level. Medik8 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid which helps support skin quality and anti-aging effects.
Medik8 or Simple for dry sensitive skin?
Medik8 is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration and a gentle, non-irritating experience.
Research behind their key ingredients
Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Evaluation of moisturizing and irritation potential of sacha inchi oil
Borage Oil Treated with Immobilized Lipase Inhibits Melanogenesis
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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