Medik8 is running a 20% off sale. I repeat: Medik8 – the science-backed skincare brand that’s beloved by editors, Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – has discounted almost every product on its site by 20% for a limited time only. Including Rosie’s beloved R-Retinoate Cream. We are weeping.

When it comes to cutting-edge technologies, Medik8 are pioneers. TBH, they’ve been ahead of the curve for years now – despite its recent surge in popularity on TikTok and Instagram (cue: endless GRWMs and glass skin reveals). Beauty editors, dermatologists and A-list celebs have long been in on the secret, and based on results alone, it’s a secret worth knowing about.

The brand first made waves with its CSA Philosophy, coined by founder Elliot Isaacs back in 2009 – long before skin cycling or slugging were even a thing. The idea? That youthful skin could be ‘as simple as sticking to Vitamin C and SPF application by day, then Vitamin A (aka retinol) by night’. The best Medik8 skincare routines still reflect this.

Ahead, a full breakdown of the best Medik8 products for clear skin, plus a closer look at this CSA philosophy.

Why is Medik8 so good?

As the name suggests, Medik8 began its journey to stardom as a professional skincare line – not for use at home, rather in clinics, pharmacies and medical spas. As such, Medik8’s OG formulations were put through their paces in strict clinical trials, assuring quality and efficacy. Everything they release today still gets tested in the same way.

What’s more, Medik8 products – thanks to their clinical nature – typically feature higher concentrations of active ingredients than other over-the-counter skincare buys. Think: stabilised vitamin C for radiance, and retinal (Vitamin A’s cooler, more potent cousin) for smoothing. And thanks to smart delivery systems, actives go deep – so you’ll actually see results. These aren’t just products that look good on your shelf.

Director of Research at Medik8, Daniel Isaacs said: “At Medik8, we emphasise the importance of science and research in our skincare products which are developed and made in the UK. We use premium, high strength active ingredients, and invest a lot of time and money into our in house product development.”

Dr. Mo Hamed (otherwise known as Dr Motox) – a leading industry aesthetics doctor – agreed. He told us: “Medik8 is my go to brand for most skin types. I love them because they combine clinical-grade ingredients with gentle formulations. This means all skin types can be treated with their products.”

What’s new from Medik8 right now?

C-Tetra® Advanced

Medik8’s latest launch is the C-Tetra Advanced – a vitamin C serum which our Beauty Director, Fiona Embleton, coined the best she has ever tried when she reviewed it ahead of its launch. She has road-tested over 200 vit-C serums, but deemed this one to be a rarity: delivering on the glow front but not irritating sensitive skin.

Following in the footsteps of Medik8’s bestselling C-Tetra and C-Tetra Luxe, C-Tetra Advanced not only contains 20% stabilised vitamin C for brightening and hyaluronic acid for a moisture injection, but two other superstar ingredients to boot.

The first is plant exosomes – lipids that are extracted from plants – which have been found to encourage cell-to-cell communication, helping to repair damaged skin and reduce inflammation. In the Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced serum, the plant exosomes are from green tea. They encapsulate the vitamin C, carrying it deeper into the skin, while also having a soothing effect and protecting the skin barrier. So even sensitive skin or first time vitamin C users can avoid irritation from a high dose of vitamin C.