Medik8 Redness Corrector Advanced Neutralising Cream

Reviewed by Tiffany on April 8, 2015

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I’m in my mid-20s and my biggest skin issues are large/blocked pores (but not acne), acne scars I’d like to fade and dryness. I’m very pale, so I always feel like my face looks a bit flushed and pink, which I’m not a fan of. I also get the occasional pimple I wish was less visible, but I don’t wear makeup daily.

I was very excited to hear about Medik8 Redness Corrector Advanced Neutralising Cream ($105 in the shop). I was hoping for a product that would serve as a daily moisturizer and give me some immediate cosmetic benefits from the green pigments designed to combat redness. I also wanted something that would maybe help me tackle the underlying causes of the “flush” I always seem to have.

In terms of ingredients, it has a lot of great inclusions to calm and reduce inflammation (all the actives are broken down for you by effect on their website) and is free of oils, parabens and alcohol. I also really appreciate that this comes in a 2 oz. size rather than the 1 oz. I feel is typical of moisturizers, because I can go through a lot of product as I use it on my face, neck and cheeks, and I have dry skin. It’s still a bit pricier than I’d prefer, but not as pricey as some.

Unfortunately, the actual results of the product are a mixed bag. This can only serve as a moisturizer if you have oily skin— there was no way I could use this without a richer moisturizer underneath. I would say even normal skin will not find this to be enough. The immediate concealing effect from the green pigment is not completely unnoticeable, but almost. I also feel like I have to use a lot of product because it sinks in almost immediately, making it a little difficult to spread.

I have not noticed any permanent reduction in redness or in the frequency of my occasional zits, but the product does have a very nice cooling/soothing effect that can be felt on contact. I would actually compare it to using a strong alcohol-based toner like Sea Breeze, which I now know is a very bad idea for me with my dry skin. That refreshing cooling sensation that comes from the evaporation of the alcohol is something I had missed, but in this case, it’s happily not the result of the inclusion of harsh or drying ingredients!

For me, I found the most effective use of this product was almost like a primer (and it did do very well under makeup when I decided to wear some). I typically only do my skin care routine once a day, during/following my shower, usually at night. I would get up in the morning and apply this before going to work as a nice pick-me-up and for perhaps a bit of a concealing effect, and then if I had something that called for it that day, I’d apply makeup on top.

I’ve enjoyed having it in my arsenal (and will be conserving it for potential summer sunburns as I’m sure it would come in handy then), but I won’t be repurchasing because it’s not able to fill a spot in my skin care routine (treatment/moisturizer). Instead, it's a nice “extra" that I don’t have room for in my budget. I would say this would be ideal for someone who has oily, acne-prone skin as a moisturizer to calm, cool and protect.