Okay, I caved. I bought the Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanser because my feed was 90% this bottle and 10% people I don’t follow. The claim? It dissolves SPF and makeup while chemically exfoliating your face into a glow.
But here’s the thing nobody tells you—it smells exactly like a melted fruit pastille. Not mad about it, just confused every single morning.
It’s a £32 gel cleanser that doubles as a 2-in-1 makeup remover and daily exfoliant. The brand calls it a “smoothing” wash, which is fancy speak for “we put acids in it.”
Gel-to-Milk Texture
Starts slippery, turns into a soft milk that doesn’t strip your skin raw.
Makeup Melting Power
It removed my waterproof mascara with zero eye rubbing. Genuinely shocking.
No Foam, No Drama
Zero suds. If you need bubbles to feel clean, this will freak you out at first.
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
It’s not just a cleanser—it’s a lazy person’s acid peel. The blend is gentle but effective, targeting texture without making your face feel like sandpaper. It’s the kind of formula that makes you realize your old cleanser was just soap with good marketing.
- Lactic Acid: Smooths rough patches and fades dullness
- Salicylic Acid: Clears pores and keeps breakouts quiet
- Niacinamide: Calms redness and strengthens your barrier
- Glycerin: The reason your face doesn’t feel tight afterward
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
It’s the texture of a light gel—slippery, almost like a hydrating serum. It doesn’t foam, it just glides. I used it on dry skin first (their recommendation) and my face felt like I’d just done a gentle peel. Not squeaky, not greasy—just clean.
Week three, and the real surprise? My nose blackheads are visibly smaller. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought it was just a glow thing, but it’s actually a texture thing wearing a glow costume.
Photo: pmv chamara / Unsplash
My skin looks brighter, but let’s be clear—it didn’t erase my pores or turn me into a CGI filter. What it did: cleared the bumpy texture on my forehead and made my morning moisturizer actually sink in instead of sitting on top.
Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash
It’s a genuinely smart cleanser, not just a pretty bottle. If you’re tired of your drugstore wash leaving you tight and dry, this is the upgrade that actually makes sense.