Option A
Crystal Retinal
Medik8 · from £45
A graduated retinal routine, from first use to expert strength
Head to head · Skin prep
Medik8 Crystal Retinal vs The Ordinary Retinal 0.2%.
Two retinaldehyde serums with very different price points and starting points: a six-step strength ladder against a single high-strength emulsion.
Option B
Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
The Ordinary · £15.20
Experienced retinoid users
The verdict
Should I buy Medik8 Crystal Retinal or The Ordinary Retinal 0.2%?
Choose Medik8 Crystal Retinal if you are new to retinoids or want a graduated route: six strengths from 0.01%. Choose The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% if you already tolerate retinoids and want high-strength retinal cheaply — £15.20 for 15ml, against £104 for 30ml of Medik8’s equivalent 0.2% strength. Both are evening-only.
Desk research, not a wear test. Prices are UK guide prices from official pages or named retailers when checked, and may have changed. How we compared.
Side by side
The specifications, compared.
Every row is drawn from the official product page or a named UK retailer listing. Brand wear and performance figures are the brands’ own.
| Specification | Medik8 Crystal Retinal | The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Medik8 | The Ordinary |
| Format | Retinal night serum | Retinal serum emulsion |
| Finish | Serum | Light emulsion |
| Retinoid | Retinaldehyde, 0.01%–0.24% across six strengths | Retinaldehyde, 0.2% |
| Size | 30ml per strength | 15ml |
| At 0.2% strength | Crystal Retinal 20: £104 for 30ml | £15.20 for 15ml |
| Supporting ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, squalane, vitamin C derivatives | Synthetic oat analogue, hydroxyapatite |
| Fragrance | “No artificial fragrance”, but coumarin, tonka bean and vanilla extracts are listed | No fragrance on the ingredient list |
| Starting schedule | Twice a week for two weeks, alternate nights for two, then nightly | Once a week, building to twice a week |
| Aimed at | First-time to expert users, one strength at a time | Experienced retinoid users |
| Pregnancy guidance | Medik8 advises avoiding vitamin A | Not tested in pregnancy; speak to a doctor |
| Guide price | from £45 | £15.20 |
Checked 25 September 2026. Prices, shade ranges and formulas can change; the official page is the final word.
Which to choose
Choose by what you need.
Choose Crystal Retinal if…
- You are new to retinoids and want to start at a very low strength
- You like a clear path — finish a tube, then move up
- You want a 30ml bottle
- You prefer a single brand routine with written build-up steps
Choose Retinal 0.2% Emulsion if…
- You already use a retinoid comfortably
- You want 0.2% retinal for £15.20
- You prefer a formula with no fragrance on the ingredient list
- You are happy with a low-frequency schedule of once or twice a week
What they have in common
- Both use retinaldehyde (retinal), one step closer to retinoic acid than retinol
- Both are evening treatments, with sunscreen the next morning
- Both are vegan, according to the brands
- Neither is covered by the EU’s 0.3% retinol limit, which applies to retinol and its esters, not retinal
How we compared
Desk research, stated plainly.
This comparison is desk research. We lined up the two products’ published formulas, ingredient lists, sizes, directions and UK prices from official pages or named UK retailers on 25 September 2026. Neither product was tested in a laboratory or worn by our editors for this page.
There is no overall score. Two well-made products can suit different skin, budgets and routines, so the verdict is framed as “choose this if”. Brand claims are reported as brand claims, and no brand paid to be compared.
Questions
Crystal Retinal vs The Ordinary Retinal 0.2%, answered
Is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% the same strength as Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20?
- Both are 0.2% retinaldehyde by stated concentration. The supporting formulas, sizes and directions differ, so the products are not interchangeable one-for-one.
Which is better for a retinoid beginner?
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal, because the range starts at 0.01% and asks you to finish a tube before moving up. The Ordinary positions its 0.2% emulsion for experienced users.
Can I use both together?
- No. The Ordinary says not to combine its retinal with other retinoids, and layering two retinal serums increases the risk of irritation. Choose one.
Which is better value?
- At the same 0.2% strength, The Ordinary costs about £1 per ml and Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 about £3.47 per ml. Medik8’s lower strengths cost less, from £45 for 30ml.
Sources
Where the facts come from.
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal, official product page (opens in a new tab)
- The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, official product page (opens in a new tab)
- Medik8 — Crystal Retinal 24 strength (opens in a new tab)
- American Academy of Dermatology — Retinoid or retinol? (opens in a new tab)
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2024/996 on vitamin A in cosmetics (opens in a new tab)
All sources checked . Spotted an error? Email desk@thecastindex.com or read our corrections policy.
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