Unique Technologies

At Medik8, we pride ourselves on being pioneers of cutting-edge product technologies in skincare. Our products are truly bespoke, designed by our in-house formulation scientists and researchers who intricately curate and experiment with the unique ingredient combinations to deliver the best possible experience and results. Throughout the process, we meticulously test and constantly fine tune our formulations to ensure they are of the highest quality in skincare. 

Here are some of the key technologies and testing we do which make Medik8 formulations so effective.

Enhanced Stability

Some active ingredients in skincare are notoriously difficult to work with due to stability issues, for example, vitamin A, vitamin C and oxyresveratrol (Oxy-R). These ingredients are sensitive to things like light, heat and air. Using unstable actives on the skin can cause irritation, or even skin damage over time.

An example being ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C which remains the most difficult to stabilise. We have gone to exceptional measures to stabilise Pure C15™, from producing the formula in a nitrogen chamber to prevent the fragile molecule from coming into contact with air, to teaming the ascorbic acid up with a rechargeable antioxidant network within the formulation. Innovative stabilisation techniques are the key to making the most out of our active ingredients.

Revolutionary Ingredients

Medik8 not only strive towards stability innovations and cutting edge product technologies, we also have exclusive ingredients that you will not find elsewhere within the skincare industry.

The r-Retinoate range is home to a true breakthrough in vitamin A skincare technology: encapsulated retinyl retinoate. Retinyl retinoate spectacularly fuses retinol (the classic form of vitamin A) and retinoic acid (the active form of vitamin A) together in a unique super molecule. Patented all around the world with a wealth of robust, scientific evidence, retinyl retinoate is the first molecule of its kind to be published in the British Journal of Dermatology. The best part? It is exclusive to Medik8, meaning that you will only be able to find it in our r-Retinoate range.

Bespoke Testing

All Medik8 products undergo many forms of testing before they arrive ready to purchase on the market. This includes in-house stability and sensory testing to ensure the high quality of our formulations, consumer and clinical studies to test the overall effectiveness of our products, and analytical trials to validate newly discovered, innovative product technologies. 

For example, we conducted a unique analytical stability trial on our revolutionary Crystal Retinal™ formulation to test the efficacy of our patent-pending stabilisation complex. The complex was designed to ensure the retinal is stabilised throughout its whole life cycle - from raw material, all the way onto our skin. A unique analytical method was developed by scientists at Medik8 and the School of Life and Medical Sciences Division at the University of Hertfordshire to study the behaviour of retinal over time. Analytical technique UV-Vis was used to assess the stability of our final Crystal Retinal formulation, with the results displaying how much of a substance is actually present in a formula. We compared the UV-Vis spectrum of stabilised, encapsulated Crystal Retinal, alongside a control of unstabilised, unencapsulated Crystal Retinal. We found that almost all of the stabilised, crystal-encapsulated retinal remained after one year, while the unstabilised retinal degraded within just one month.

360 Sun Protection

In our Advanced day creams we use a carefully chosen combination of premium chemical sunscreen filters. Blended at precise levels, these next-generation filters provide high level protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Exceptionally stable in the sun, kind to the skin and offering high protection, we’ve hit the jackpot in the perfect chemical sunscreen formulation. 


Our sunscreen formulations are also reinforced with advanced 360 environmental protection, to expand the protective benefits for the skin. The Advanced day creams feature pollution, blue light, infrared and anti-glycation protection. Taking environmental protection to new heights of innovation, Advanced Day Ultimate Protect even features light-activated DNA repair enzymes for the most resilient, unique protective technology.

We have made resilient sun protection easier than ever to slip into your daily routine.

Time Release Technology

All Medik8 vitamin A products include Time Release Technology to minimise irritation potential while maximising results. Our Intelligent Retinol™ serum protects retinol in a polymer reservoir, essentially working as a protective shield between retinol and the skin. The polymer reservoir slows down how quickly the retinol is able to penetrate into the skin. This significantly minimises the risk of irritation and ensures that skin benefits are received slowly over a prolonged period of time. Experience is key. 

Patented Breakthroughs

The innovations continue outside of our core CSA philosophy. See our peptides range for example, featuring multiple patented formulations.


Oxy-R Peptides™ features a one-of-a-kind, patented stabilisation system to yield the unique benefits of ultra-high strength oxyresveratrol (Oxy-R). While exceptionally powerful, Oxy-R is an incredibly unstable ingredient. Our solution? The 1% Oxy-R is stored in a patented preservation serum in the lid until it is plunged into the rest of formula using our click-activated packaging technology on first use. Patented stabilisers within the activated formula keep the Oxy-R fresh for 6 weeks - ensuring it remains potent until the final drop.

Copper PCA Peptides is also an incredible result of Medik8’s original research. Featuring copper PCA, a groundbreaking antioxidant that boasts broad spectrum protection against a wide range of free radicals, Copper PCA Peptides was independently tested for antioxidant activity and was found to be 5 times more effective than the next leading brand.* Medik8 only uses the most active, chirally correct form of copper PCA for the optimal antioxidant performance.

*Results from 3rd party independent tests assessing antioxidant performance

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