Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 for combination skin
Retinal Vitamin A
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Eclipta Prostrata ExtractAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 rejuvenation for your combination skin, as retinal and 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid work to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while squalane and carrot seed oil provide soothing benefits.
- While the formulation is generally hydrating and cleansing, it lacks specific ingredients to target your oily shine concerns.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of beneficial components.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
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 combination skin?
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 works moderately well for combination skin by smoothing fine lines and keeping skin soft, but it lacks specific ingredients to control oily shine. To truly fit this skin type, a product needs helpful ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or propolis to balance oiliness and enhance radiance without causing irritation.
Scientific Reports, 2020International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
This treatment is a moderate fit for your combination skin because retinal and 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid help smooth fine lines, while squalane and carrot seed oil provide soothing benefits. To work best for combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to regulate oiliness and manage oily shine without irritation.
Scientific Reports, 2020International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026
What does Retinal do for combination skin?
Retinal helps smooth the skin and reduces signs of aging or breakouts when used regularly. It is unlikely to cause severe irritation when introduced gradually, keeping combination skin feeling calm and smooth.
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing steps and before your moisturizer. Treatments with active ingredients are placed in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it absorb before using this product. This approach helps keep your combination skin calm while addressing fine lines and wrinkles. To best care for combination skin, this type of product also needs ingredients that balance oily shine.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is used in the evening as part of your routine. Combination skin needs ingredients to balance oily shine alongside soothing and smoothing components.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This treatment is unlikely to cause severe breakouts, though initial purging may happen at a low rate. Combination skin also needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients to keep pores clear and control shine.
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
Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Dissolving 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, 2026Liposomal formulation of 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid enhanced skin retention and reduced UV-induced extracellular matrix degradation in skin explants compared to free EAA.
Journal of Liposome Research, 2025Twice 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
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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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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
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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