I slapped Medik8’s high-dose retinal on my face and waited for the peel. It didn’t come. That’s the shocker — not that it works, but that my greasy T-zone actually *liked* the burn.
Oily skin is thick-skinned literally. We can handle the heavy stuff. But this serum made me realize there’s a difference between “strong” and “stupid-strong.” This is the former.
It’s Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 20 — the strongest in their line. $92. The claim that hooked me: retinal converts to retinoic acid in one step, not two. So it’s 11x faster than retinol. But without the red, angry face.
Time-Release Delivery
Encapsulated retinal so it doesn’t all hit your face at 2 AM.
Triple Lipid Base
Squalane, ceramides, and shea butter. Sounds heavy. Absorbs in 12 seconds flat.
Yellow AF Color
It’s bright yellow. Looks like mustard. Don’t panic — it’s not staining.
Three actives doing a very specific dance. The retinal is the star, but the supporting cast stops your face from quitting. No fluff ingredients — just the stuff that matters for oil control and cell turnover.
- Retinaldehyde (0.2%): Directly signals skin to speed up shedding — unclogs pores fast
- Tripeptide-5: Calms the irritation retinal loves to cause
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol): Stops oxidation so the serum doesn’t die in the bottle
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydration without grease — sinks, doesn’t sit
Texture is a thin gel-cream. Spreads like water. Zero tackiness. I waited 30 seconds and put moisturizer on top — no pilling, no slick. My skin felt tight in a good way, like it had been lightly starched.
Week 2: I woke up with less oil on my nose than I’ve had since puberty. Weirdest part? No purge. I expected the cyst explosion. Got a single whitehead. That’s it.
Pores looked smaller by week 3. My chin texture — those tiny bumps — flattened by 70%. Still got the occasional hormonal zit, but they healed in 2 days instead of 5. Oil production dropped maybe 30%. Not bone-dry, just… normal.
Best acne treatment for oily skin? If you’ve built tolerance, yes. If you’re new to retinoids? Start with their Crystal Retinal 3 and work up. This is the endgame, not the beginning.