07-05-2025
I'm a beauty writer and found a way to get Medik8 £45 anti-ageing retinal for £4.50
I'm a beauty writer and found a way to get Medik8 £45 anti-ageing retinal for £4.50
The edit contains 11 dermatological skincare formulas each boasting high-performance ingredients, from brands including Medik8, Augustinus Bader and more
This Medik8 Crystal Retinal is worth £49 alone
Over the past year, I've found myself gradually moving away from trend-led skincare and leaning more into dermatological, science-backed formulas . As someone who has tested beauty products for a decade, I would apply almost any product to my face without a second thought - but over time, it's not been kind to my skin barrier, which has led me to a long-term skin health journey that focuses on clinical backing and proven ingredients.
Dermatological Skincare seems to be a growing trend for 2025, with retailers like Boots even having dedicated sections in store for such edits. Like many people, I've grown more aware of how ingredients impact the skin, particularly as I start to notice early signs of ageing and want to focus on prevention rather than short-term benefits.
One product I've been using as part of my nightly routine is the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1, which is a potent retinal formula which is said to be 11x more powerful than regular retinol. The product is a firm favourite with This Morning beauty expert Nadine Baggott, who has worked her way up the various strengths of the product and claims it to be the secret behind her age-defying skin.
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I received the sensitive-friendly, beginner version of the formula in a beauty Easter Egg earlier this year and as I approached the end of my tube, I was looking to purchase the next strength up. But at £49, I knew I - a self-confessed bargain hunter - would want to find some way to save a few quid on it. So when I spotted LookFantastic's Dermatological Edit containing the exact product I'd had my eye on, I knew it was worth a closer look.
The edit contains 11 dermatological skincare formulas each boasting high-performance ingredients. The haul is worth £170, but is priced at £50 , which is only £1 more than what I would have paid for the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 on its own.
The Dermatological Edit
£170.00
£50.00
LookFantastic Buy here Product Description
Discover everything you need to enter your best skin ever era, with 11 science-backed skincare heroes, formulated to target skin concerns.
I loved how the Crystal Retinal 1 gently introduced vitamin A into my routine without any irritation. I could have probably gone straight in with the Crystal Retinal 3, which is suited to 'beginners', but as I mentioned earlier, my skin barrier has had a bit of a tough time of late so I wanted to start super slowly and when I was ready to level up to strength 3, this box offered the most cost-effective way to do it.
Medik8's Crystal Retinal 3 delivers all the radiance and firmness I've come to expect, while remaining gentle on my skin, which is a big win. I apply it in the evening, follow with a moisturiser, and wake up to visibly smoother, more refreshed skin. And while I'd have happily paid £50 for the LookFantastic Edit solely for this formula, it's not the only impressive product tucked inside, with some of the most trusted names in derm-grade beauty - including La Roche-Posay, Augustinus Bader, Bioderma, and First Aid Beauty - also featured.
Augustinus Bader is a brand famously used by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston. A 15ml vial of their eye cream would usually set shoppers back £160, but the edit contains a mini version worth £32, allowing for a taste of luxury I'd have otherwise never afforded. I must admit, it's an incredibly indulgent cream that works wonders on my puffy under eyes, but it's not something I'd ever be able to justify rebuying. Maybe that's the downside to curated edits offering insane value like this, because I get hooked on products that my bank balance won't stretch to when I run out.
Augustinus Bader's eye cream - this mini version is worth £32
I was also impressed by the Bioderma Sebium Kerato+ Anti-Blemish Gel-Cream, worth £18, which has been formulated for blemish-prone skin and works to improve skin texture and refine pore visibility. Meanwhile, the Cetaphil Daily Defence Cream SPF50 with UVA/UVB filters, has become a daily essential, not just for when the sun peeks out, but to help prevent early signs of ageing.
I wasn't a fan of every single product inside the edit, though. The [coat]s Purifying Hydrating Clay Cleanser is a dual-action formula that removes excess oil and de-clogs pores, revealing refreshed, balanced skin. However, as someone with already quite dry skin, this wasn't suitable for me, but at least it didn't go to waste as I was able to give it to my sister, who does have more combination skin than me.
Everything inside the LookFantastic Dermatological Skincare Edit, £50
LookFantastic aren't the only retailer to be offering beauty buffs amazing value with a curated haul of products, though. That said, they were the only ones I could find offering a dermatological-specific edit.
Elsewhere, Boots has launched a Self Care Beauty Box that is valued at £137, but costs £34. Designed to promote daily self care and pampering, the edit features a handpicked selection of 12 skincare, haircare and body care goodies from brands like Estee Lauder, No7 and Wella. More than half of the contents are full sizes, too, each working out at £2.83 as part of the offer. By comparison, the items in the LookFantastic edit work out at £4.55 each.
Everything inside the Boots Self Care beauty box that costs £34
(Image: Boots )
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Space NK has also got a fun haul, inspired by the viral TikTok trend, o f 'the everything shower' . The luxury edit of bath, body, and haircare costs £70 and is worth £165, boasting names like Sol de Janeiro, Living Proof and Alpha-H.
