The Medik8 Crystal Retinal range is the one we recommend most consistently in clinic and the one I personally reach for. Crystal Retinal uses retinaldehyde rather than retinol. Retinaldehyde is one conversion step closer to retinoic acid than retinol, which means it's more potent and works faster, up to eleven times faster than standard retinol, but because of how Medik8 has stabilised and encapsulated it, the results come with significantly less irritation than you'd expect.

The range goes from Crystal Retinal 1 for beginners through to Crystal Retinal 20 for experienced users. In summer, if you're already on Crystal Retinal 6 or above, dropping back one level while maintaining frequency is a sensible adjustment. You keep the results without pushing the skin harder than necessary when it has additional UV stress to manage.

The Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream is in a different category. It combines a retinoid with lactic acid using Skinbetter's patented AlphaRet technology, which significantly improves the appearance of photo-damaged skin with little to no irritation. The reason it's particularly well-suited to summer is that the AHA component is built into the same formula as the retinoid, meaning the skin's tolerance and recovery are optimised together rather than managed separately. Significantly improves texture, tone, pigmentation and fine lines used consistently two to three nights a week. Not a beginner product, but if your skin is ready for it, the results are exceptional. You'll probably see real results after just a few weeks of use, and once you start, you'll never want to use anything else! Apologies in advance 🤣