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Medik8

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream.

About this product

An anti-aging eye cream from Medik8 that pairs retinal, a form of vitamin A, with ceramides, designed to soften the look of fine lines and crow's feet around the eyes.

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Propanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PPG-12/​Smdi Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosterols, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Cyclodextrin, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pandanus Conoideus Fruit Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Cellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinal, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate

More from Medik8 20 products · Guru Score 94% →

Guru Score

83%

Yay

5 experts · Moderate agreement
#10 in Eye CareSee the ranking →

What they liked

  • Helps smooth fine lines and crow's feet
  • Gentle encapsulated retinol stays potent

What they flagged

  • Pricey for an eye cream

What the gurus are saying

Retinal, a form of vitamin A, is the detail these experts keep coming back to in this eye cream. Reviewers say it smooths the look of fine lines and crow's feet while staying gentle on the eyes, partly because the retinal is encapsulated to cut down on irritation. Anyone new to retinoids may want to start with a couple of nights a week, then build up to every other night.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take September 2026

Best for

Type

Eye CareCream

Key actives

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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✓Yay
"Under the eye, which is super super sensitive for me, I'm actually using the Medicate Crystal Retinol Eye Cream, the mid strength option. This is formulated to be super gentle around the delicate eye area, but it's still getting that [retinal] fix. That works really, really well for me and is just really helping with any crows feet and that crepiness under the eye."
All 21 takes from Mad About Skin
Worlds Best EYE CREAM 2025 - Anti Aging Eye Cream That Actually Work
"Really, they've taken time to think about what the under eye skin needs and packed it all into one product. I love this. You've got the ceramides to boost the barrier function of the skin. And whilst yes, strictly speaking, it isn't necessary to have a separate under eye retinoid, I think for a lot of people you could find that beneficial. You only need the tiniest amount. And I'll find a tube of this will probably last me 6 months. So it's an investment. You don't get through it a lot."
TOP 5 SKINCARE SERUMS 2023 - My Anti-Aging Favourites
"They do three strengths, [...] they do a six and they do a 10. While this isn't the cheapest product out there, it definitely packs the punch and I do find little goes a long way. I've bought two tubes now and I'd say a tube lasts me about four months. I use it just in the evening for beautiful anti-aging results. This is packed full of retinal, which is my favorite vitamin A derivative, far better than retinol in terms of anti-aging and less sensitizing, so it's like perfect for the under eye."
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"No other eye cream has tackled my fine lines and crows feet like this one. It's amazing, and it means I can use retinoids under my eye, whereas all the retinoids my skin was just too sensitive for. You can go for one of the higher strengths. I've stayed at the low strength because I think that just works best for me, but if you've got deeper lines and wrinkles you might want to go for one of the higher potency options, which is absolutely fine."
🏆 SKINCARE AWARDS 2025 - Worlds Best Skincare 2025
"I absolutely love this product in an evening. Usually on a morning I'll use one of my favorite Korean eye creams to help reduce puffiness, inflammation, and dark circles. Then on an evening, I reach for this Medik8 one to minimize fine lines and wrinkles and just erase those crows feet. This works really well because it has [retinal], which is my favorite retinoid, alongside ceramides and other calming and soothing ingredients. They do three different strengths, which is phenomenal."
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"You can with this. For the best anti-aging ever, it's not the cheapest product out there, but you know what, sometimes I'm happy to invest if I think I'm getting more for the money I'm spending. The technology in here to make it super gentle is worth every single penny. That for me is the standout eye cream of the year, bar none."
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"This is their retinol eye cream which again featured very heavily and prominently in my best eye creams of 2025 video. [...] This wonderful and with 30% off it it's a staple for me in my evening routine. I use a retinoid eye cream every night. This is my current favorite. I put three of them on order because that'll last me a full year and my under eye will be when you see me at this point in 2026, my under eye will be snatched and flawless thanks to Medik8."
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"Medik8 are good guys, they're not price gouging, they're not hiking up their prices. This is [...] the best anti-aging eye cream you're going to find on an evening. [...] My under eye just loves it. A little does go a long way as well, it's super rich, super hydrating, so you don't need a lot of it. [...] One of these will last me two months and I would probably buy six in a year."
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"That retinal is also encapsulated, so that prevents some of the irritation. So even though you're getting a super high dose, you get far less side effects than you'd expect because of that encapsulation. It's that technology that you're paying for, and I think this is worth every single penny. [...] It's a slightly darker color than the Beauty of Joon, that's because it's got more retinal in it and retinal has this beautiful yellow coloration."
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"It doesn't sensitize. It is probably the best under eye formulation I have ever ever found for a retinoid. It nourishes, it hydrates, it doesn't sensitize, and you still get that anti-aging. [...] Obviously, start with the lowest strength and work your way up. For me, I actually stuck with the lowest strength because I think that just works best for my delicate under eye, which is quite dry to start with."
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"There is definitely space for under-eye specific retinoids. And of all the ones I've tried, this is the only one that I genuinely think packs a punch and is worth investing in. Beautiful for the anti-aging in your evening routine. What I love about this applicator is it's super precise, so you can dab just a little bit on, no wastage, really easy to apply. Medik8, one of my favorite British brands, and that one of the best products from them."
10/10 PERFECT SKINCARE - Best Skincare 2024
"Not with this. This is specifically formulated to let you get that dose of anti-aging retinal around the eye, minimize the risk of sensitivity and irritation, and maximize the benefits. I absolutely love it. I'm a complete convert. While it's again not the cheapest product, I love the innovation of having different strengths so they've got three, they've got six, they've got ten. I use the three, that's all I need."
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"The Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream is hands down the best anti-aging eye cream on planet Earth. I've tried a lot over the years for the crows feet, the fine lines and wrinkles, tried it all, and very few things have really worked that well. This has just really really worked for me. They do three strengths, this is the lowest strength which works for my delicate under eye, but you could go for a higher strength if you want."
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"That eye cream comes in three strands, start with the lowest, work your way up, but it's one of the best anti-aging eye creams I've ever ever discovered. So so good. And I would say if you like Medik8 and you don't want to pay full price, 25% off until the end of November honestly is a really nice saving."
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"I would say the lowest strength is really just for people with super sensitive under eye, that's you go for the lowest strength and stick with it. Most people can start with the mid strength and then graduate up to the highest strength, which is something that I've done. [...] If I had to choose one eye cream to be the best of 2025, it goes to this hands down."
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"It's packed full of ceramides and other plumping ingredients that are going to deeply nourish, hydrate, smooth out. But this will also boost collagen, fade fine lines and wrinkles, and help with discoloration under the eye. I think that this is hands down the best retinoid eye cream on the market because of that technology and that blend of ingredients. It does command a slightly higher price point, but I think it's worth the investment."
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"The fact they have three strengths is phenomenal. [...] The reason this works is it's encapsulated. It takes the strength of the retinoid [...] down a little because it actually extends the application. It's slow release, so you're not getting that hit of [retinal] on application. It's sort of delayed release, meaning it's much more gradual, much more gentle, but you still get the same results."
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"This is the Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream, three different strengths, and this is hands down the best eye cream for an evening you'll ever find. Great for anti-aging, smooths everything out, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. I love the fact this has three different strengths. I go for the middle strength because I think that's all you need, but it's really up to you. You can start super gentle or you can go for more high potency."
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"If you did want a separate eye cream, I genuinely think that Medik8 one is a great evening one. This is quite a thick cream, I like that because it allows for more precise application. I will put it under my eye, I don't take it right to the lash line because all products when you put them on the skin will migrate upwards when they warm, so you don't want to take this right to the lash line, just put it around the eye but not right to the lash line and take it into the hairline."
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"This is the Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream, they do two strengths, a low and a high strength, this is the high strength one. A great anti-aging eye cream that is a bit more expensive than some other ones on the market, but it removes those fine lines and wrinkles and plumps out the under eye. [...] If you're looking to boost your under eye confidence, this could be it. I will definitely definitely be purchasing a couple of these."
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"It's a really good dupe for the Medik8 Crystal Retinal Eye that I love, but it comes with a higher price point, around forty five pounds versus ten pounds for the dupe, a huge price differential for something very similar. Medik8 will always have my heart, fantastic product, but I think where Medik8 led, Beauty of Joseon have followed and just done it cheaper."
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"Under the eye, which is super super sensitive for me, I'm actually using the Medicate Crystal Retinol Eye Cream, the mid strength option. This is formulated to be super gentle around the delicate eye area, but it's still getting that [retinal] fix. That works really, really well for me and is just really helping with any crows feet and that crepiness under the eye."
✓Yay
"This really started it all when I first discovered this product from Medik8, it led to my whole deep dive into finding their best products. [...] This was my favorite product last year when I discovered it, so I called it my 2024 product of the year. I did a whole deep dive video on why this was my favorite product of the entire year last year and I'm still on my game with this because there is nothing better in my opinion."
All 5 takes from The Budget Dermatologist
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"This really started it all when I first discovered this product from Medik8, it led to my whole deep dive into finding their best products. [...] This was my favorite product last year when I discovered it, so I called it my 2024 product of the year. I did a whole deep dive video on why this was my favorite product of the entire year last year and I'm still on my game with this because there is nothing better in my opinion."
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"You want to start by using it just a couple nights a week, get your skin used to it, make sure you're not having any irritation or side effects, [...] and then you can increase to every other night. You can even stay with every other night if you're happy with that and getting results, or you can increase to nightly if you are that consistent and dedicated. Having these options is crucial, it's very rare to find, so that is one of the reasons this is a definite splurge-worthy item for me."
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"Probably there's no going back. This eye cream contains retinal, not retinol. Retinal is the strongest form of retinoid that you can get over the counter. It is better than retinol because retinal only has to undergo one conversion on your skin to turn into retinoic acid, which is like tretinoin or the prescription form of retinoids. So retinal is the closest thing you can get to prescription strength without a prescription."
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"This is my 2024 product of the year, my very favorite product that I feel like has made the biggest gamechanging difference on my skin. It is this anti-aging eye cream by Medik8, it's called Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye. This has retinaldehyde in it, which is the best anti-aging ingredient you can get over the counter, but it's very gentle on the eyes."
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"This is a retinoic aldehyde eye cream and a retinoic aldehyde face cream, and both of these only have to undergo one conversion to get to retinoic acid. I also love this brand because there's..."
✓Yay
"I honestly recommend this one if you're a little bit older, so if you're in your late 40s to 50s this one is amazing for helping to reduce the look of crow's feet or wrinkles on the side of the eye. It'll also help to lift and depuff your eye because it contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which are amazing for really building up the skin barrier, helping to increase elasticity in that area, and making it look tighter, firmer and smoother."
✓Yay
"Similarly, Medik8, their Crystal Retinal eye cream is another one I like. It contains retinaldehyde instead of retinol, but has very similar benefits, and over time it stimulates collagen and helps to ever so slightly thicken the under eye skin."
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✓Yay
"This has become one of my favorite eye treatments. [...] I credit Medik8 for being such a big part of my retinoid journey. [...] I was really excited when these came out because [...] this area around my eyes can benefit from something more, a lot lot more potent, and these are the first clinical strength retinal formulas for the eyes. The texture for me is about as good as it gets. It's moisturizing enough, it's hydrating enough, it's silky enough. I use this on my brow bone as well."
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What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream?

An anti-aging eye cream from Medik8 that pairs retinal, a form of vitamin A, with ceramides, designed to soften the look of fine lines and crow's feet around the eyes.

Is Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream worth it?

Yes. All 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

What is Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream's Guru Score?

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream best for?

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye Cream is generally suited to mature skin.

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