‘This new vitamin C serum is the only one that doesn't irritate my problem skin'
'I've been testing out this new skin-brightening vitamin C serum for months and can confirm it's a game-changer for blemish-prone skin like mine,' says our beauty editor
Skin experts agree that vitamin C is one of the best skincare ingredients you can add to your routine, proven to be effective at brightening and evening the skin, defending against future damage, and tackling other signs of ageing. Vitamin C serums and creams, though, aren't always tolerated well by all skin types, including sensitive or spot-prone complexions – both of which apply to me. However, I've been testing Medik8's brand new serum, and it's a game-changer for problem skin like mine.
Medik8 already makes a few hugely popular vitamin C serums, including the original C-Tetra (a longtime favourite with beauty editors) and C-Tetra Luxe (which has a richer texture). However, both of these are oil-based consistencies, which can block pores in blemish-prone – something I've certainly found in the past. Now Medik8 has just launched its C-Tetra Advanced serum, priced at £69, an effective formula containing 20% stabilised vitamin C in a gel-serum texture, designed to get visibly brighter skin and reduced wrinkles in just seven days.
I received a bottle of Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced a few weeks ago ahead of its launch and I've been using it almost every morning since. I was a little dubious about trying it as Medik8's existing vitamin Cs haven't been right for me, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this one; the formula is like a very light, runny cream instead of an oil, sinks into skin quickly, and layers brilliantly with my other skincare and make-up products (I currently follow it with Medik8's brilliant Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream and my favourite Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral SKINSCREEN).
It did give a slight immediate brightening and evening out effect to my face, but it was about about a week of using it that I really started to notice a difference: my skin felt my much softer and smoother, looked generally more healthy, and my foundation looked fresher and less patchy. I didn't also get any breakouts or irritation (use it every other day at first if you're unsure).
Of course, other factors may have affected this result, but I'm thrilled to have finally found a high-performance vitamin C serum that suits my skin.
One point I'd flag is that it's not as hydrating as soon of my other favourite serums; usually I can go straight from serum to SPF in the mornings, but using this, I do need to apply a moisturiser in between. For this reason I think that this new launch is best for those with combination-to-oily skin, while anyone with dry skin should probably go for one of Medik8's other vitamin Cs (there's a handy tool on the website to help you to decide which is right for you).
C-Tetra Advanced is also quite highly fragranced (probably because vitamin C doesn't usually smell very pleasant); this isn't something I have an issue with, but if you're skin is very sensitive to scent, you may want to go for something like CeraVe Skin Renewing 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum, £29.
If you're looking for more alternatives, Facetheory Glow-C Vitamin C 20% Serum contains the same level of vitamin C (20%) but even cheaper at £23.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I found a way to get £39 Medik8 serum for £4.50'
The Glossybox Summer Bag Limited Edition is back for 2025 and shoppers can snap it up now - but they'll need to be quick as it's expected to sell out Beauty fans can get their hands on almost £100 worth of free makeup, skincare and haircare products with a £45 spend this week. It comes as Glossybox has released its highly anticipated Summer Bag Limited Edition, which rivals the likes of Boots and LookFantastic. Packed with 10 premium, viral and essential beauty must-haves, it's worth over £142 but shoppers can buy it for £ standout brands including Sol de Janeiro, Morphe, ICONIC London, and Medik8, it's a seriously good-value treat whether you're stocking up for holidays or just want a beauty refresh. The star of the show is undoubtedly Medik8's cult-favourite C-Tetra Serum, worth a whopping £39 alone. That means you're essentially paying £6 more to get nine extra beauty goodies and the stylish summer bag it all comes in. Known for brightening, smoothing and protecting skin with its potent Vitamin C formula, the Medik8 serum is a science-backed skincare powerhouse. As part of the offer, it works out at £4.50. Elsewhere, ASOS is offering their Luxury Travel Essentials Beauty Box for £40. Coming in a handy travel pouch, the edit boasts £135 worth of products, saving £95 on the RRP. Inside, shoppers will find eight products from a range of top brands, including Elemis, Laneige, Sol de Janeiro and Elizabeth Arden. As part of the offer, each item works out at £5 apiece, making Glossybox's better value per item. Boots has released their Get Holiday Ready Beauty Bag, too. Priced at £32, this limited-edition bundle holds a value of £124.50, and contains seven mini and travel-friendly products including Floral Street's Sunflower Pop Eau de Parfum , which is usually £29 for 10ml - that's only £3 less than the price you pay for the whole box. And it actually works out at £4.57 when you divide the number of products you get by the price you pay. Another summer beauty haul is LookFantastic's Summer Heroes Edit for £45. Valued at over £150, the exclusive bundle includes six beauty gems, including four full-sized items from high-end brands such as Sol de Janeiro and ESPA. Glossybox has promised that this edit is 'better than ever', and if that's the case, then shoppers are going to be thrilled because last year's haul saw some pretty impressive reviews. There aren't currently any ratings for the 2025 edit, but last year, one said: 'My bag arrived today and I was really surprised at the quality of the items that I received. I absolutely loved the Hawaiian Tropic fragrance mist it smells amazing and the other items were equally as good.' Another described it as the 'best box ever', adding: 'Loved, loved all the products and the bag is a lovely colour, well done Glossybox.' With another thrilled with the contents, writing: 'Loved this limited edition. The bag is lovely and all the items are great and exactly as I expected, with a few additional treats like someone else mentioned, some tic tacs, a strawberry hydration sachet and a can of peach and orange prebiotic drink. 'This is the best limited edition box that glossybox has done for a while. You had to choose if you wanted dry shampoo and the redken spray or the shampoo and conditioner. I choose the dry shampoo and redken spray and received both.' One shopper seemed disappointed to have not received the dry shampoo in their box. They left a four-star review, commenting: 'I was surprised at how quickly I received my order! Fabulous summer holiday edition, I'm pleasantly surprised that I love all the items and the bag is fab. I'm a little disappointed that the dry shampoo is missing. I do however love all the little extra treats I received. All in all it's a brilliant box!' Medik8 C-Tetra Serum (Worth £39) frank body Express-o Coffee Scrub (Worth £16) ICONIC London Triple Threat Mascara - Brown (Worth £22) Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum® Cream (Worth £11) e.l.f. SKIN Bronzing Drops Mini (Worth £5) Hawaiian Tropic Tropical Oasis Body Mist (Worth £12) Revolution Beauty Reloaded Palette Iconic Fever (Worth £5) Morphe Hot & Unbothered Dripglass Lip Gloss Duo (Worth £18) Revlon Professional Equave Hydro Instant Detangling Conditioner (Worth £4.80) Rituals The Ritual of Karma Overnight Body Mask (Worth £6.48)
NBC News
5 days ago
- NBC News
Kraft Heinz to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products by end of 2027
Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that it will remove FD&C artificial dyes from its products by the end of 2027, and will not launch any new products in the U.S. containing those ingredients. The company said in a release that about 10% of its U.S. items use FD&C colors, the synthetic additives that make many foods more visually appealing. Kraft Heinz brands that sell products with these dyes include Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, MiO, Jell-O and Jet-Puffed, according to a Kraft Heinz spokesperson. The company removed artificial colors, preservatives and flavors from its Kraft macaroni and cheese in 2016 and its Heinz ketchup has never used artificial dyes, according to Pedro Navio, North America president at Kraft Heinz. It is unclear how removing the dyes will affect the company's business, as consumers could perceive the products as healthier but also may be less drawn to duller colors. The decision follows pressure from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for the food industry to pull back on artificial dyes as part of a larger so-called Make America Healthy Again platform. The FDA in April announced a plan to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes by the end of next year and replace them with natural alternatives. Besides the previously banned Red No. 3, other dyes that will be eliminated include red dye 40, yellow dye 5, yellow dye 6, blue dye 1, blue dye 2 and green dye 2, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at the time. Kennedy said at the time that the FDA and the food industry have 'an understanding,' not a formal agreement, to remove artificial dyes. The Health and Human Services secretary discussed removing artificial food dyes during a meeting in March with top food executives from companies including Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo North America, General Mills, WK Kellogg, Tyson Foods, J.M. Smucker and the Consumer Brands Association, the industry's top trade group. A spokesperson for Kraft Heinz said on Tuesday that the company looks forward to partnering with the administration 'to provide quality, affordable, and wholesome food for all.' Momentum against food dyes had been building for years. In January, before President Donald Trump and Kennedy took office, the FDA announced a ban on the use of Red No. 3 dye in food and ingested drugs. The dye gives many candies and cereals their bright red color, but is also known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The FDA allowed Red No. 3 to be used by food manufacturers for years, though the state of California had already banned the dye in 2023. Kraft Heinz said in the release Tuesday that it has made more than 1,000 recipe changes over the past five years to improve product nutrition. 'The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we've been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio,' Navio said. 'Above all, we are focused on providing nutritious, affordable and great-tasting food for Americans and this is a privilege we don't take lightly.'
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Fewer wrinkles in one WEEK: The potent serum that works 11 times faster than standard retinol (and it's gentle, too)
You're constantly fine-tuning your beauty routine. If one of your primary goals is to reduce visible lines and wrinkles, you may have your work cut out for you. But if you're tired of that song and dance, it's time to turn your attention to Medik8. The brand's Crystal Retinal Age Defying Night Serum could well be considered the end-all, be-all of anti-aging treatments — because it's available in multiple progressive strengths to help your skin become more tolerant over time. Medik8 Crystal Retinal Age Defying Night Serum Take control of aging skin once and for all with the serum clinically proven to reveal skin that both looks and feels younger in just a week. It's available in six progressive strengths, making it easy for anyone — even those with sensitive skin — to take advantage of retinal's efficacy. Used regularly, it virtually erases fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots while firming skin and leaving your complexion firm and glowing. $85 Shop Its key ingredient is retinal, a derivative of vitamin A that works 11 times faster than standard retinol to visibly reduce those signs of aging you've tried so desperately to erase. Fine lines? Deep-set creases? They're no match for this system. It's really quite genius. Medik8 offers six different Crystal Retinal formulas. The first in the range is specifically designed to meet the needs of sensitive skin, which means even those who've never been able to use standard retinol can finally reap the rewards and see results — without the risk of those unwelcome side effects. As your skin grows accustomed to the treatment, you can ladder up to beginner level 3 before advancing to levels 6, 10, and 20. The final formula in the range, 24, is for experts whose skin can tolerate the higher concentration. The results are truly astonishing at every level. A whopping 100 percent of people felt the serum was 'gentle,' while 97 percent noted their skin looked more youthful. Impressively, in a clinical trial participants experienced a 20 percent reduction in both wrinkles and dark spots, along with an 11 percent improvement in firmness. Those are exactly the kinds of results you expert of an anti-aging product — but very few deliver the way that Medik8's game-changing solution does. In fact, it's clinically proven to smooth away wrinkles in just one week, with improved elasticity in four. The benefits are the same no matter which formula you choose: a smoother, more radiant, more refined complexion that is free of stubborn wrinkles, dark spots, and congestion. Medik8 stabilizes its formulas to ensure that they remain potent to the very end of the tube, so you never have to worry about them losing their efficacy. In other words, you truly get your money's worth — making this advanced skin care worth every penny. Thousands of reviewers agree that it's made all the difference. 'Beautiful results with no side effects,' praised one shopper. 'My skin has never looked better, it's smooth and clear and starting to feel much firmer.' 'Really see a different in fine lines and skin texture using this! The texture is beautiful, a lovely silky formula that absorbs well and doesn't feel like it just sits on the skin,' raved another customer. What more could you ask for than an anti-aging treatment that is both gentle and widely regarded for delivering visible results? Pick up the Medik8 Crystal Retinal Age Defying Night Serum and get set for a more youthful complexion!
