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This is the brand making smart skincare ingredients simple for all skin types.

Earning an eager recommendation from the Good Housekeeping beauty team is no small feat, especially when it comes to science-based skincare. But when the opportunity arose to give our favourite Medik8 skincare products a shoutout, more than a handful of clever cult favourites came quickly to mind.

So, what makes Medik8 skincare stand out? In our opinion, Medik8 is the master when it comes to retinoids, with a one-of-a-kind progressive strength tier system that allows you to tackle an array of age-related skin concerns, using a concentration that works best for your skin. Simply start with the gentlest strength - Crystal Retinal 1 - then work your way up through the different concentrations as far as you can, maybe even all the way to Crystal Retinal 20, which requires an in-clinic professional vetting before you're allowed to take a tube home.

But vitamin A (aka retinol) isn’t the only ingredient we back this brand for. Medik8’s 'CSA' philosophy was developed to keep your everyday skincare routine simple, but is grounded in serious science. The formula? Vitamin C and sunscreen by day, then vitamin A by night: the vitamin C for antioxidant protection with a brightening boost and collagen stimulation; SPF to shield skin from sun damage and help to maintain a youthful-looking complexion; and your expertly formulated vitamin A to speed up cellular renewal as you sleep. It's an easy-to-follow regime that our beauty team is fully behind.

These are the Medik8 skincare products that you’ll find our writers, editors and beauty director reach for on the daily.

"I’m devoted to retinoids (vitamin A) and have used them in some form, be that prescription or in beauty products for thirty years. For those who want to try a retinoid but don’t know where to start, or have found retinol (the form that’s most commonly used in beauty products) irritating I recommend Medik8 Crystal Retinal. Retinal is another form of retinoid which tends to be less irritating, especially when used in the ladder system Medik8 offers – as you finish one serum you can step up to the next level." - Beauty Director, Eve Cameron

"I’ve never had any of the common problems with retinoids (the infamous sensitivity, flaking or redness), largely because I eased my way into the ‘retinol journey’ with this. It combines a powerful (but also gentle) form of Vitamin A with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E, so it feels more luxurious than most retinoid products. It’s not cheap, but I think it’s completely worth it, if only to skip the overwhelm of getting to grips with a potentially confusing ingredient." - Senior Beauty Editor, Alexandra Friend

"It's been surprisingly hard for me to find a good hyaluronic acid serum that ticks my boxes: not gloopy, not sticky, and actually hydrates my skin noticeably. This ticks all of my boxes. Applied to damp skin, it gives it a real, juicy plumpness, and restores any lost moisture." - Beauty Writer, Phoebe Lee

"I find that after a night using Medik8’s Sleep Glycolic exfoliator my skin looks so much clearer and more refreshed, even if I’m not feeling particularly well-rested! And as long as I don't overdo it, the formula doesn't irritate my sensitive skin." - Beauty Editor, Fleur Fruzza

"I wear this every single day and so do the multiple friends I’ve recommended it to. It’s a year-round daily sunscreen that comes in two factors (30 and 50) but it’s also comforting enough to double-up as a day cream – and as someone with historically dehydrated skin I never thought I’d say that about anything. Makeup works well over the top and it makes my mornings much easier. Love it." - Senior Beauty Editor, Alexandra Friend

"Although 8 times more powerful than retinol, retinyl retinoate is extremely gentle, making it perfect for softening lines around the delicate eye area. I use this daily with no irritation at all. 100% worth splurging on." - Acting Beauty Editor, Charley Williams-Howitt