Clinical Studies

Medik8 is a cosmeceutical skincare brand. As such, we use only the best active ingredients in our formulations. We use clinical studies from trusted, ethical sources to validate what we do.

STUDIES ON RETINYL RETINOATE

Study - Synthesis and in vitro biological activity of retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid retinoid derivative.
H. Kim et al, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2008, 16, pp 6387-6393

A novel vitamin A hybrid is synthesised via a condensation reaction between retinol and retinoic acid to form retinyl retinoate. Retinyl retinoate is proven to be photostable. In parameters looking at retinoic acid activity (such as CRABP2 induction and collagen synthesis) retinyl retinoate showed higher biological activity than retinol. The biological effects of retinyl retinoate is caused by the molecule itself, not by splitting down into its constituent parts.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate can be used during the day time as it is photostable, and it is more powerful than retinol. Retinyl retinoate is directly biologically active, and does not need to be broken down into retinol and retinoic acid to work in the skin.

Study - Retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid vitamin derivative, improves photoaged skin: a double-blind, randomized-controlled trial
H. Kim et al, Skin Research and Technology, 2011, 17, pp 380–385

A prospective double blind, in vivo clinical study on 11 Korean women using 0.06% retinyl retinoate for 12 weeks. A statistically significant improvement in facial wrinkles and roughness were seen during the study, and were found to improve 22% more than that of a 0.075% retinol cream.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate is able to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and rough skin, and is more powerful than retinol.

Study - Improvement in skin wrinkles from the use of photostable retinyl retinoate: a randomized controlled trial H. Kim et al, British Journal of Dermatology, 2010, 162, pp 497-502

>An in vivo study of 46 Korean women with periorbital wrinkles. One study compared 0.06% retinyl retinoate with a placebo cream over 12 weeks, applying twice daily. Another study compared 0.06% retinyl retinoate with 0.075% retinol cream, applying twice daily. The retinyl retinoate treated wrinkles improved as compared with wrinkles treated with retinol or placebo. Significant improvements were seen in average roughness. No side effects were seen with retinyl retinoate.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate applied twice daily was significantly more effective than retinol. Retinyl retinoate is gentle on the skin.

Study - Novel anti-wrinkle effect of cosmeceutical product with new retinyl retinoate microsphere using biodegradable polymer
H. Kim et al, Skin Research and Technology, 2012, 18, pp 70–76

An in vivo study on 44 Korean women over 12 weeks. All patients used a cream containing 0.06% retinyl retinoate for 12 weeks. Half of the women used a cream that encapsulated the retinyl retinoate into a polymer encapsulation system. The encapsulation helped penetration and produced more significant changes in visual wrinkle grades than the non-encapsulated retinyl retinoate.

Key result - Encapsulating retinyl retinoate boosts penetration and power.

Study - Retinyl Retinoate, a Retinoid Derivative Improves Acne Vulgaris in Double-blind, Vehicle-controlled Clinical Study
B Kim et al, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2013, 10(5), pp 260-265

An in vivo study on 15 patients with acne vulgaris, using 0.05% retinyl retinoate over 8 weeks on half of their face. On the other half a placebo cream was applied. The cream with retinyl retinoate showed a significant decrease in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions, and a reduction in sebum production.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate can be used as a mild, long term approach for blemish-prone skin.

STUDIES ON RETINALDEHYDE

Study - Synthesis and in vitro biological activity of retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid retinoid derivative.
H. Kim et al, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2008, 16, pp 6387-6393

A novel vitamin A hybrid is synthesised via a condensation reaction between retinol and retinoic acid to form retinyl retinoate. Retinyl retinoate is proven to be photostable. In parameters looking at retinoic acid activity (such as CRABP2 induction and collagen synthesis) retinyl retinoate showed higher biological activity than retinol. The biological effects of retinyl retinoate is caused by the molecule itself, not by splitting down into its constituent parts.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate can be used during the day time as it is photostable, and it is more powerful than retinol. Retinyl retinoate is directly biologically active, and does not need to be broken down into retinol and retinoic acid to work in the skin.

Study - Retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid vitamin derivative, improves photoaged skin: a double-blind, randomized-controlled trial
H. Kim et al, Skin Research and Technology, 2011, 17, pp 380–385

A prospective double blind, in vivo clinical study on 11 Korean women using 0.06% retinyl retinoate for 12 weeks. A statistically significant improvement in facial wrinkles and roughness were seen during the study, and were found to improve 22% more than that of a 0.075% retinol cream.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate is able to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and rough skin, and is more powerful than retinol.

Study - Improvement in skin wrinkles from the use of photostable retinyl retinoate: a randomized controlled trial H. Kim et al, British Journal of Dermatology, 2010, 162, pp 497-502

An in vivo study of 46 Korean women with periorbital wrinkles. One study compared 0.06% retinyl retinoate with a placebo cream over 12 weeks, applying twice daily. Another study compared 0.06% retinyl retinoate with 0.075% retinol cream, applying twice daily. The retinyl retinoate treated wrinkles improved as compared with wrinkles treated with retinol or placebo. Significant improvements were seen in average roughness. No side effects were seen with retinyl retinoate.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate applied twice daily was significantly more effective than retinol. Retinyl retinoate is gentle on the skin.

Study - Novel anti-wrinkle effect of cosmeceutical product with new retinyl retinoate microsphere using biodegradable polymer
H. Kim et al, Skin Research and Technology, 2012, 18, pp 70–76

An in vivo study on 44 Korean women over 12 weeks. All patients used a cream containing 0.06% retinyl retinoate for 12 weeks. Half of the women used a cream that encapsulated the retinyl retinoate into a polymer encapsulation system. The encapsulation helped penetration and produced more significant changes in visual wrinkle grades than the non-encapsulated retinyl retinoate.

Key result - Encapsulating retinyl retinoate boosts penetration and power.

Study - Retinyl Retinoate, a Retinoid Derivative Improves Acne Vulgaris in Double-blind, Vehicle-controlled Clinical Study
B Kim et al, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2013, 10(5), pp 260-265

An in vivo study on 15 patients with acne vulgaris, using 0.05% retinyl retinoate over 8 weeks on half of their face. On the other half a placebo cream was applied. The cream with retinyl retinoate showed a significant decrease in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions, and a reduction in sebum production.

Key result - Retinyl retinoate can be used as a mild, long term approach for blemish-prone skin.