Medik8 Or Geek and Gorgeous or another?

[meelee20119]

Hi

i am almost out of my current skincare and am looking for a change.

I have previously used Roc Retinol and also Elizabeth Arden Retinol but neither state the percentage of retinol used. I did email ROC and ask for this information but got nowhere they just said it differs throughout throughout the range (even though I asked them about the capsules).

I have looked at a ton of YouTube reviews and Medik8 and Geek and Gorgeous retinal always seem to come out good, also Paula’s choice retinol.

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations
Im looking for a retinol product and then a peptide

Many thanks for any help
Mele

PS Not looking to go to something like Tret just yet as my skin can be sensitive (perimenopausal)

I wouldn't overly obsess about percentages, the delivery system and formula are really the thing that determines efficacy (alongside concentration) in cosmetics but it's hard to know as a consumer what's a good formulation. Medik8 does specialise in retinoid formulations so it's one I always feel comfortable about recommending. Geek and Gorgeous does get similar good reviews and I like the brand a lot, it is a budget brand though, and it's hard to compare formulas like for like when there's a price difference between them as that difference in price might be down to a more effective delivery system or stabilisation of the formula. But both will be a level up from brands like Roc and Elizabeth Arden.

Paula's Choice retinol is very good but since you mention you're sensitive it's one I'd avoid, it can be quite irritating. Retinaldehydes are a safer pick, if you're super sensitive go for Medik8 R-retinoate, it's really effective with no irritation but it's also got a frightening price tag.

Thank you.

I was hoping someone who had maybe used the two could share their results. The ones I have seen online stated the Geek and Gorgeous delivered just as good results as the Medik8.
I am willing to go to the Medik8 price point if need be but would be good to hear from people who have tried both.

I did watch I think it was Dr Gray on YouTube and she said if you can’t or don’t want to use Tret then instead of all the fancy OTC ones try adapalene gel
I believe it’s very similar to Tret but not as potent? Has anyone tried it?

I wouldn’t say my skin is super sensitive it just gets dry easily at times

thanks again
M

Dr Dray, probably? She's a bit <ahem> controversial. Adapelene is primarily an anti acne medication, in the US you can get it without prescription but that's not the case in Europe. I think you can get it through the superdrug/boots clinic services but I think you do need to have acne to get it prescribed. Skin+me and Dermatica also offer it (and tend to be a bit more accommodating to requests), but it's quite costly to go the prescription subscription route for adapelene.

I assume her reasoning for recommending that over cosmetic retinoids is that it has to comply to standards of medicine which are much higher and transparent than cosmetics as manufacturers have to prove efficacy. The percentage does pretty much tell you everything and there's no guessing whether the formulation is good or not.

Anyhow, adapelene is assumed to have anti ageing effects like tretinoin but it's never really been tested for that so it has the same unknowns as cosmetic retinoids to an extent.

This is a good discussion thread on the Geek and Gorgeous Retinal products.

If you're not married to retinaldehydes only, Indeed Labs Retinol Reface is a good one at a reasonable price.

Ye I think that was here. okay I’ll give that a miss.
Ill have a look at the product you mentioned, it’s a minefield!!

I only want a peptide and a retinal and I’ve been looking for a week.

Im still planning on sticking with using Argireline and Matrixyl and am going to give Geek & Gorgeous A Game a try.

Can anyone recommend a compatible exfoliater? I looked at the ordinary ones but read you can’t use acids with
Argireline and Matrixyl

Acids can degrade peptides a bit, but tbh it would probably all be a bit much in one routine anyhow. As most people alternate retinoid and acids at night you can just skip the peptides on acid nights. Obligatory caution for both acids and retinoids needing to be introduced gradually and not at the same time to your routine. Build up tolerance for one and then move on to introducing the next.

For acids, I'm a big fan of Biologique Recherche P50, Geek and Gorgeous make a similar PHA product but it's much milder. Paula's Choice glycolic and BHA are also good (latter more for oily skin, blackheads, etc.). The Ordinary glycolic is also decent but has a really odd smell.

I have been using medik8 for a couple of months following a horrible few months on tret (which made my skin incredibly dry and also perioral dermatitis). I really wanted to try something as I have sun damage but my tret journey had terrified me. Medik8 has been a game changer (along with a vit c cream). My skin has never looked better and I’m 58.

Haven't used medik8 as I am saving it for when I really need it and thought o would build up to it as it is quite expensive. I have used geek and gorgeous both A game 5 and 10. It is lovely and would recommend it.

I've used both. I found medi8 smoother to use ( not sure it warrants the price tag) g &g was ok for the price. There was a youtube video where they studied the ingredients and said they were very similar.
I've tried tret for over a year and didn't see a big difference despite going up. I'm now trying the new ordinary high strength one. Will see how I get on