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Medik8 vs Galderma

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

Medik8 and Galderma are established skincare brands from Britain and Switzerland, respectively. The British brand offers serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, while the Swiss brand specializes in serums. Dry skin and dry sensitive skin suit the former best. Both differ in their targeted offerings, as the former features specialized options for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, while its counterpart provides specific acne treatments for similar concerns.

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

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Medik8 vs Galderma products

People Say

Medik8Galderma
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels smooth — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Acne Clearing and Prevention Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
    • “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “cleared my hormonal acne — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
  • Gentleness and Non-Irritation 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”
    • “didn't burn my face — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “Plumps skin with moisture — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
    • “immediate glow — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Dryness and Peeling Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “slightly drying — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “need a thick moisturizer — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “Made my face very dry and tight — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “skin flaking off — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Severe Irritation and Burning Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Color Transfer and Fabric Bleaching Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “stained my white pillowcase — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
  • High Price Point Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Initial Purging Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”

Medik8 vs Galderma serums and treatments

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Galderma: which is better?

Medik8 is better for hydration and gentleness, whereas Galderma is better for clearing acne. Reviewers note that Medik8 provides deep hydration and gentle serums, while Galderma offers effective acne-clearing serums but may cause severe dryness and peeling.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Galderma?

Medik8 stands out for gentle hydration and anti-aging care, whereas Galderma excels at effective acne clearing. The products on this page show that Medik8 achieves superior ratings for dry and sensitive skin types.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Galderma?

Galderma is more affordable than Medik8, since the high price point of the products on this page is a negative review theme for Medik8 but not for Galderma.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or Galderma?

Galderma does better for acne clearing and prevention according to reviewer themes. Lovi rates Surface Radiance Cleanse by Medik8 as Superior for acne-prone skin, while Galderma offers targeted options like Epiduo Gel which is High for acne-prone skin.

Between Medik8 and Galderma, which brand offers better options for dry and sensitive skin types?

Medik8 offers better options for dry and sensitive skin types, as its products on this page achieve a Superior or High Lovi fit level for dry and sensitive skin and reviewers frequently mention deep hydration and gentleness. Galderma, on the other hand, rates lower for these skin types and reviewers frequently report severe dryness, peeling, and irritation.

How do the fragrance ingredients compare between Medik8 and Galderma products?

Medik8 features mostly fragrance-free products on this page with only Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream listing fragrance, while every Galderma product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand has products that are better suited for acne-clearing and prevention, Medik8 or Galderma?

Galderma has products on this page that are better suited for acne-clearing and prevention, as reviewers mostly mention them as effective acne-clearing serums.

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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