Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
Versus

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 Versus The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion

Serum
Emulsion
British Brand United Kingdom
Canadian Brand Canada

Updated on March 15, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and cruelty-free . They have a total of 0 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, retinoid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

New Comparison

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 39 ingredients

The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion 32 ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 39 ingredients

The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion 32 ingredients

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Crystal Retinal 3

Water

Skin Conditioning

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Isododecane

Emollient

Cyclodextrin

Absorbent

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetearyl Olivate

Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Sorbitan Olivate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Retinal

Skin Conditioning
Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Vitamin C IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores Icon

Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Emulsion Stabilising

Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Polyaspartate

Humectant

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Disodium EDTA

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Titanium Dioxide

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Alumina

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Isostearic Acid

Cleansing
Bad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Coumarin

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

CI 14700

Cosmetic Colorant
2 / 1

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinal, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, BHT, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Stearic Acid, Coumarin, CI 14700

Retinal 0.2% Emulsion

Water

Skin Conditioning

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyapatite

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Retinal

Skin Conditioning
Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide

Skin Conditioning

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol

Masking
Fragrance IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Ergothioneine

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Bisabolol

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isohexadecane

Emollient

Hexyldecanol

Emollient

Maltodextrin

Absorbent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum

Skin Conditioning

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Emulsion Stabilising

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Isoceteth-20

Emulsifying
May cause irritation Icon

Polysorbate 60

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Antioxidant
2 / 0 Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Lactic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyapatite, Retinal, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ergothioneine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Hexyldecanol, Maltodextrin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

Crystal Retinal 3
10
10
10
liked
mixed
disliked
not rated
Unlock with Premium
Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
10
10
10
liked
mixed
disliked
not rated
Unlock with Premium

When to use

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 39 ingredients

The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion 32 ingredients

217 Routines
1% use in am
99% use in pm
59% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
391 Routines
4% use in am
95% use in pm
51% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 39 ingredients

5.00
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1

The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion 32 ingredients

5.00
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1
What people say
Great Value 100% Works Well 100% Absorbs Well 75%
See all reviews for Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
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