Spa+Clinic Team After three years of work, Medik8 has launched r-Retinoate, a new type of vitamin A.
Retinyl Retinoate Youth Activating Cream (r-RetinoateR for short) represents a genuine breakthrough in anti-ageing skincare.
Retinol can have issues – notoriously irritating, Retinol delivered at levels high enough to have visible effects on skin ageing can be too much for many consumers’ skin.
They may get an itchy rash, break out or develop an area of dry skin and feel that it was a waste of time and money.
Medik8 decided to do something about it. Retinyl retinoate is a hybrid vitamin A compound made with a condensing reaction of retinol and retinoic acid. It is a cosmetic ingredient freely available without a prescription.
Retinoic acid (tretenoin), also known as vitamin A acid, is a medicine for acne, also used by many as the ultimate wrinkle buster.
“It is extremely effective but irritates even the hardiest of skins,” says Medik8. “By combining these two virtually identical actives into one new hybrid molecule, retinyl retinoate seems to exhibit features of both. It is clinically proven to be up to eight times better thanrRetinol but without the irritation and incredibly, capable of applying during the day, as well at night, without loss of results.
“The formula is a light cream serum texture; fast absorbing and moisturising with a pleasant fragrance. It has been created through an exclusive collaboration with a Korean ‘superlab’ where we have taken their incredible raw technology and made it into an exquisitely high performing finished product.
“The active ingredient must be kept and transported at minus 20 degrees C to ensure it arrives fresh and potent ready for blending in Medik8’s UK-based labs; maximising anti-ageing results in every single bottle.”
The science behind retinyl retinoate has been published in several respected and peer-reviewed journals, including a clinical study in the eminent British Journal of Dermatology.
“Within this study a pair of in-vivo trials showed that retinyl retinoate applied twice daily led to results significantly more effective than the placebo or higher-strength retinol in treating periorbital wrinkles,” says Medik98.
“Importantly, no severe side effects were observed. In the double-blind trial, wrinkles were evaluated by two dermatologists based on a global photodamage score.
“After 12 weeks, the average photodamage score improved for all patients on the retinyl retinoate-treated side, compared with the placebo treated side.
“Further, after only eight weeks, eight percent of the patients had decreased photodamage scores with retinyl retinoate treatment, in contrast to 59 percent of those using retinol.
“Aside from irritation, another drawback of retinol is its light (UV) instability. That is simply it becomes inactive when in sunlight.
“This is why many reputable retinol brands say to use retinol only at night. Since mounting evidence suggests that retinol does not just help repair collagen damage but also protects collagen from UV destruction in the first place.
“The ability to use retinol during daytime would be highly beneficial. r-Retinoate does just that too, answering a whole host of anti-ageing concerns; from fine lines and wrinkles to loss of firmness, elasticity and even tone.”
