Ask the Expert: A Q&A With Medik8
Senior Education Manager Laura Ford explains all about the science behind Medik8’s famous CSA Philosophy, demystifies its cutting-edge technologies – and reveals which of the brand’s skincare products she can’t live without.
What Is Your Role At Medik8 and What Might A Typical Day Involve?
My role as Senior Education Manager is multifaceted. No day is ever the same, which keeps the role fresh and exciting. One of the most important parts of my role is to create innovative and bespoke education content for our Medik8 professionals around the world. I regularly meet with our Educators and clinics to ensure they are fully supported and best skilled to deliver a true Medik8 experience to the customer.
We know that education is absolutely key to a successful professional brand and my team regularly hosts education events around the world (either virtually or face-to-face). Most recently I have spent time working closely with professionals in the sk:n and Destination Skin clinics around the UK to ensure they are all set for the Medik8 Professional Peels launch.
As a brand, we are ‘led by scientists’ so I work closely with Daniel Isaacs and the R&D team to help develop professional protocols for the incredible new products coming through. I keep a keen eye on ensuring that the formulations are always designed to drive experience for both our customers and our Medik8 professionals, working hands-on with each new innovation.
Developed By Elliot Isaacs
Medik8 believes that its CSA Philosophy can help everyone to enjoy Beautiful Skin for Life. Elliot Isaacs, who founded the brand in 2009. Elliot studied physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry at University, and is a long-time member of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists. The CSA Philosophy he created is grounded in science, and clinically proven to deliver results you can see and feel.
Medik8's Product Portfolio Is Underpinned By Its Famous CSA Philosophy. Can You Please Explain A Little More About It, And Why This Particular Combination Of Products/Ingredients Is So Beneficial For Our Skin?
Medik8’s unique CSA Philosophy is as simple as Vitamin C plus sunscreen by day, and Vitamin A by night. That's it. This simple strategy is clinically proven to visibly reduce signs of premature skin ageing and deliver incredible results you can see and feel.
Vitamin C
This powerful antioxidant fights free radicals to help prevent fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, and uneven pigmentation. But it doesn’t stop there. Vitamin C visibly plumps and firms the complexion while improving the overall look of skin tone and amplifying luminosity. As the Leaders in Vitamin C, Medik8 provides a selection of incredibly powerful formulas in cleverly stabilised systems.
Sunscreen
Up to 80% of premature skin ageing is caused by the sun. That’s why Medik8’s core anti-ageing philosophy prescribes everyday sun protection as an essential step in preventing skin ageing, even when it’s cloudy. As sunscreen specialists, Medik8 has blended each product using premium UV filters in beautifully lightweight textures – you wouldn’t even guess these were sunscreens.
Vitamin A
The gold-standard of anti-ageing skincare, Vitamin A has a wealth of skin benefits including helping to speed up cellular renewal and reducing sebum production. As the experts in Vitamin A, Medik8 has developed a wide range of products showcasing different Vitamin A molecules and strengths to suit each and every client.
Our CSA Philosophy makes achieving 'Beautiful Skin for Life'
In Addition To Vitamin C, Vitamin A And Sun Filters, What Are The Other Key 'Hero' Skincare Ingredients Consumers Should Be Looking For?
Peptides are the perfect addition to any CSA skincare regime. They are short chains of amino acids, linked together by peptide bonds. When applied to the skin, peptides can act as communicators, triggering a response in certain cells of the skin. They give your skin a specific instruction to do something.
Peptides might be in the spotlight for their incredible collagen-boosting powers, but in fact they can do much more. Each peptide has a different action on the skin – not just for skin ageing, but also for tackling skin dullness, hyperpigmentation, anti-glycation, moisturising the skin and more! Medik8 has developed a wide range of peptide products to help our consumers tackle different skin concerns.
Liquid Peptides
If anti-ageing is your main priority, Liquid Peptides is unmatched in its peptide power. With a pioneering drone-based delivery system, this 30% peptide-packed formula is activated within the layers of the skin where it's needed the most.
Clarity Peptides
If your skin is looking dull, red, or congested, Clarity Peptides is the ideal choice for you. Infused with 10% niacinamide and Crystalide peptide, it works wonders to visibly soothe red, inflamed or blemish-prone skin, and boost the skin’s natural luminosity.
Bakuchiol Peptides
If you are someone who cannot use Retinol in your routine but wish to achieve Retinol-like results, look no further. Medik8’s Bakuchiol Peptides utilises the gentle power of 1.25% pure Bakuchiol – a clinically proven alternative to Retinol. This nourishing oil-based serum helps to promote a more youthful-looking, even-toned complexion.
Copper PCA Peptides
If you cannot use or tolerate Vitamin C, Medik8’s Copper PCA Peptides is an ideal solution for you. With patented technology using copper PCA as an antioxidant, this energising peptide serum was formulated to expertly recharge skin for optimal free radical protection.
Eyelift Peptides
If you are someone who cannot use Retinol in your routine but wish to achieve Retinol-like results, look no further. Medik8’s Bakuchiol Peptides utilises the gentle power of 1.25% pure Bakuchiol – a clinically proven alternative to Retinol. This nourishing oil-based serum helps to promote a more youthful-looking, even-toned complexion.
Most Of Us Have Heard Of Exfoliating Acids. But What Is The Difference Between AHAs, BHAs and PHAs, and how should we select which type is best for our skin?
AHAs, BHAs and PHAs all have different ways of working on the skin, and each delivers slightly different end results. Your skincare goal will distinguish which one is best for you.
AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid. This is usually water-soluble and works to exfoliate the upper layers of the skin to target signs of ageing, pigmentation, and congestion. Examples include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid – see Medik8’s Sleep Glycolic (a true 10% glycolic acid at-home peel).
BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid. This is oil-soluble and can therefore penetrate deep into pores, unclogging blockages to prevent blemishes. Examples include salicylic acid, found in Medik8’s Blemish SOS. PHA stands for Polyhydroxy Acid. Water-soluble, this is made up of big molecules therefore they stick to gently working on the top surface of the skin. Examples include gluconolactone, found in Medik8’s every day, twice-a-day acid toner Press & Glow.
Most Of Us Have Heard Of Exfoliating Acids. But What Is The Difference Between AHAs, BHAs and PHAs, And How Should We Select Which Type Is Best For Our Skin?
AHAs, BHAs and PHAs all have different ways of working on the skin, and each delivers slightly different end results. Your skincare goal will distinguish which one is best for you.
AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid. This is usually water-soluble and works to exfoliate the upper layers of the skin to target signs of ageing, pigmentation, and congestion. Examples include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid – see Medik8’s Sleep Glycolic (a true 10% glycolic acid at-home peel).
BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid. This is oil-soluble and can therefore penetrate deep into pores, unclogging blockages to prevent blemishes. Examples include salicylic acid, found in Medik8’s Blemish SOS. PHA stands for Polyhydroxy Acid. Water-soluble, this is made up of big molecules therefore they stick to gently working on the top surface of the skin. Examples include gluconolactone, found in Medik8’s every day, twice-a-day acid toner Press & Glow.
With So Many Different Medik8 Products To Choose From, What Is The Best Way To Create A Successful Skincare Routine?
At Medik8, we believe that skincare doesn’t need to be complicated – in fact, it shouldn’t be. Medik8’s CSA philosophy delivers 90% of your skin health needs, and so it should be the core of every skincare regime. At Medik8 we have a wide selection of CSA products in different strengths, textures, and formats - so there really is something for everyone!
Once you have chosen your core CSA products you can build in your add-ons to target specific skin concerns. For example, Blemish SOS which targets breakouts, or Hydr8 B5 Intense which restores moisture to dehydrated skin.
If you are looking for a bespoke Medik8 regime please contact sk:n, Destination Skin or Courthouse Clinics for a personalised Medik8 consultation.
Medik8 Prides Itself On Being A Pioneer Of Cutting-Edge Skincare Technologies, Such As Nitrogen Blanketing, Time Release Technology and Chirality. What Exactly Are These, And How Do They Make Medik8 Formulations So Effective?
At Medik8, we challenge the norm in every product we create to ensure our customers achieve outstanding results. Our team of in-house cosmetic scientists are committed to breaking boundaries and developing formulas that were previously unthought of. We utilise a number of cutting-edge technologies including Nitrogen Blanketing, Time Release Technology, and Optimised Chirality to ensure that our customers are getting the best experience without compromising on performance.
Nitrogen Blanketing
Nitrogen Blanketing plays a critical role in helping to keep L-ascorbic acid stable in our Pure C15. L-ascorbic acid is notoriously difficult to stabilise as it is easily oxidised by exposure to air, rendering it inactive.
We use a manufacturing process called Nitrogen Blanketing to keep our Pure C15 stable for longer. When the bottles are being filled, they are placed in a special chamber saturated with nitrogen, rather than air. This stops the formula from coming into contact with oxygen before opening, guaranteeing stability on-shelf.
Time Release Technology
Vitamin As and exfoliating acids are some of the best anti-ageing actives in skincare that deliver fast, visible results. However they have downsides, especially during the first few weeks of use. Dryness, irritation and sensitivity can all occur while the skin becomes acclimatised to the ingredient.
We believe that you don’t need to choose between visible results and a great experience – so with Medik8, you get the best of both worlds. Over the years of research and development within our UK superlab we have developed a unique Time Release delivery system that runs through all Medik8 Vitamin As and professional peel formulations. It has also been recently incorporated into our at home-peel peel solution, Sleep Glycolic. In a nutshell, Time Release delivery systems work by slowing down the release of the active ingredient into the skin, to minimise any potential for irritation, dryness, and sensitivity. It also has the added benefit of enhancing stability by protecting the active ingredient from the environment and other ingredients that can sometimes react and degrade the formula.
Optimised Chirality
Chirality comes from the Greek word for hand. Just like our hands, chiral molecules have a mirror image from a left and a right. Ascorbic acid (pure Vitamin C) is chiral – it has an L or a D form. When an ingredient is written with an ‘L’ in front, for example L-ascorbic acid, the ‘L’ describes that the chirally correct form of the molecule has been used.
Chirality is very important in skincare and medicines. The L and D forms are not chemically identical, and usually one is active and one is inactive. In some cases one isomer can be beneficial, and one can be detrimental.
Some brands would use mixtures of the D and L isomer; however, then only 50% of the whole active is working in the skin. This means that basically half of your serum is effectively useless. At Medik8, we filter all of our active ingredients to only use chirally correct molecules, and for those ingredients that don’t have a chiral form, we always choose the most effective or most stable format to avoid irritation and guarantee great results.
Shop Our Expert Medik8 CSA Edit
Individually, Vitamin C, sunscreen and Vitamin A can all improve the way your complexion looks and feels. Used together, they work in serious synergy to deliver optimum anti-ageing results that can transform the appearance of your skin. The Medik8 portfolio cleverly combines these key ingredients, within a wide range of different products and formulations, so there’s something to suit everybody. Embrace the CSA Philosophy today and discover the power of three.
