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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 offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. Medik8 relies on hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle effect duration and suits acne-prone, dark spot, and mature skin best, while Elemis uses glycerin and shea to increase hydration, improve barrier function, reduce inflammation, and relieve skin pruritus for dry, balanced, and sensitive skin. Both appeal to distinct preferences through these specialized formulations.

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 serums and treatments

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Elemis: which is better?

Both Medik8 and Elemis are popular UK skincare brands, with Medik8 offering gentler, fragrance-free serums and Elemis featuring a wide range of luxurious, richly scented moisturizers and cleansers. Reviewers note that Medik8 helps provide non-irritating anti-aging results, while Elemis is unlikely to disappoint those seeking lightweight textures and glowing skin.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Elemis?

Medik8 is noted for its gentle, non-irritating formulas, whereas Elemis is often preferred for a lightweight texture and pleasant scent. Both brands offer high price points, but Medik8 products on this page are mostly fragrance-free while many Elemis products contain fragrance.

Medik8 or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 provides cleansers like Surface Radiance Cleanse that achieve a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots, whereas Elemis cleansers are generally rated High or Average for those skin types. Medik8 is also known for gentle and non-irritating formulas, making it a better choice for sensitive skin compared to Elemis.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Elemis?

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

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or Elemis?

Medik8 is generally the better choice for avoiding breakouts because reviewers frequently note its formulas are gentle and non-irritating, whereas Elemis users sometimes report skin irritation. Both brands offer products on this page with high or superior fit levels for acne-prone skin, such as Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse and Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel.

Between Medik8 and Elemis, which brand has more products formulated without added fragrance?

Medik8 offers more products formulated without added fragrance, with 11 of its 12 products on this page listing no fragrance. In contrast, Elemis has only 4 of its 22 products formulated without added fragrance.

Which brand was founded earlier and in what year, Medik8 or Elemis?

Elemis was founded earlier, in 1989, whereas Medik8 was founded in 2009.

Which brand is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, Medik8 or Elemis?

Medik8 is owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025, whereas Elemis is owned by L'Occitane Group.

Medik8 or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 and Elemis both offer moisturizers that help deliver deep hydration. Reviewers note that Elemis moisturizers provide a more luxurious and lightweight texture with pleasant scents, whereas Medik8 focuses on gentle, non-irritating formulas.

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

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