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Medik8 r-Retinoate Youth Activating Cream
Medik8

Medik8 r-Retinoate Youth Activating Cream

Efficacy75/100IrritancyMedium
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Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing
3 ingredients credited for this claim
Good support
What the product description says
“r-Retinoate Youth Activating Cream”
From product name

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, hyaluronic acid.

When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.3–3.5%
Hyaluronic acidKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation~3.1–4.6%
TocopherolEffect: LowPure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~9.8–14.6%
Anti-oxidation
Not advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claim
Strong support

This product contains antioxidants (tocopherol) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

TocopherolKey activeEffect: HighPure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~9.8–14.6%
Anti-aging
Not advertised by the brand · 3 ingredients credited for this claim
Strong support

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinyl retinoate.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

Retinyl retinoateHeroEffect: HighA "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol~25–38%
Hyaluronic acidEffect: LowOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation~3.1–4.6%
TocopherolEffect: LowPure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~9.8–14.6%
Exfoliation
Not advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claim
Strong support

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: retinyl retinoate.

Retinyl retinoateKey activeEffect: HighA "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol~25–38%
Anti-blemish
Not advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claim
Strong support

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: retinyl retinoate. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

Retinyl retinoateHeroEffect: HighA "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol~25–38%
Evens skin tone
Not advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claim
Moderate support

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl retinoate.

Retinyl retinoateHeroEffect: MediumA "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol~25–38%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Retinyl retinoate
Medium risk
We flagged 1 ingredient with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Retinyl retinoateA "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinolHigh~25–38%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
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Cheaper Alternatives
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Argan & Retinol Wrinkle Repair Night Cream
Naturopathica Argan & Retinol Wrinkle Repair Night Cream
76% match
$134.00
3 Night Cream
VERSO 3 Night Cream
76% match
$112.37
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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Retinyl retinoate~25–38%
Hero · Anti-aging, Evens skin tone, Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-agingAnti-blemishExfoliationEvens skin tone

A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol

More about Retinyl retinoate
Tocopherol~9.8–14.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-inflammatory

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Unspecified form of vitamin c~5–7.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Unspecified form of vitamin c
Hyaluronic acid~3.1–4.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation

More about Hyaluronic acid
Glycerin~2.3–3.5%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Ingredient list view

Retinyl retinoate, Tocopherol, Unspecified form of vitamin c, Hyaluronic acid, Glycerin

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Medik8r-Retinoate Youth Activating CreamYOUR PRODUCTVERSO3 Night CreamNaturopathicaArgan & Retinol Wrinkle Repair Night CreamIt CosmeticsConfidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturiser
Match—76%76%73%
Price$142.78$112.37−$30.41$134.00−$8.78$16.00−$126.78
Shared key ingredients—2 of 42 of 42 of 4
Key difference—Butyrospermum Parkii ButterRetinolColloidal Oatmeal
Irritancy Medium High High High
Drying alcohol— Contains drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol —
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid vitamin derivative, improves photoaged skin: a double-blind, randomized-controlled trialpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Improvement in skin wrinkles from the use of photostable retinyl retinoate: a randomized controlled trialpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
  5. 5
    Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humansncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Physiochemical properties and application of hyaluronic acid: a systematic reviewonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Medik8 r-Retinoate Youth Activating Cream
Medik8r-Retinoate Youth Activating Cream
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.