A Busy Mum Reviews Medik8’s New C-Tetra Advanced Serum to Help Restore Her Glow
I’m the Digital Product Lead at Adore Beauty who oversees the digital experience on our website and app. I'm a curly girl advocate who loves to thrift the most outrageous things I can get my hands on and a mum of two young boys and a cheeky Choc lab.
I’m tired.
And not like your regular tired, but like full-time-working-mum-of-two-young-boys tired… and my skin is starting to show it.
I turn 39 this month, and since having my second child a year and a half ago I feel like my skin has started to lose its oomph. It’s also gone from showing early signs of ageing, to just straight up showing ageing.
So when I was asked to try Medik8’s latest C-Tetra Advanced serum, a new vitamin C gel-serum that’s supposed to brighten skin and reduce visible signs of ageing, I jumped at the chance.
*Full disclosure: I am a regular user of vitamin C serums as they are the perfect all-rounder for someone short on time, who needs a one and done, do-it-all serum. So my review will be about how I feel about this Vitamin C serum as I’m already a big fan of Vitamin C serums generally.
What Is the Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced?
The science-y bit:
Ok, now for the science. Medik8 is a highly trusted and reputable cosmeceutical skincare brand known for its science-driven, results-oriented products that aim to give you professional and real results.
Their newest vitamin C launch is kind of game-changing thanks to it’s inclusion of powerful plant-derived exosomes and potent antioxidants help brighten your complexion.
What you need to know about the new Medik8 vitamin C serum that's perfect for age management:
- A gel-serum formula for a non-greasy feel and nicer absorption.
- Formulated with 20% Stabilized Vitamin C: Utilises tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a lipid-soluble and highly stable form of vitamin C that penetrates deeply to boost collagen production, brighten skin tone, and provide antioxidant protection without the irritation often associated with pure ascorbic acid.
- The addition of this powerful 20% vitamin C is gentle on the skin.
- Includes Phyto Exosomes: Plant-derived (extracted from the leaves of green tea) vesicles that support skin barrier function and aid in recovery from environmental stressors, enhancing overall skin resilience.
- Acetyl Zingerone: A potent antioxidant that neutralises free radicals, offering additional protection against premature ageing.
- Other Key ingredients include:
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrating & plumping. Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the skin to instantly plump and hydrate, re-awakening skin ready for the day.
- 2% N-Acetyl-Glucosamine (NAG) Benefit: Barrier-supporting, non-acid exfoliant for smoother skin. A gentle skin-refiner that smooths the look of pores, while increasing the skin’s own natural hyaluronic acid levels over time.
This powerful and innovative combination provides Medik8’s most advanced antioxidant protection yet, for new-found skin resilience.
Says the brand:
"Because of their remarkable ability to deliver replenishing bioactives into our skin cells faster and more effectively, our phyto exosomes intelligently enhance skin health, unlocking the true potential of plant bioactives.
Together with our supercharged vitamin C, they help to prevent & reduce premature skin ageing through supporting healthier-looking, more resilient skin."
What’s the Difference Between Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe and Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced?
Just like their expertly designed retinal ladder system, the skincare scientists at Medik8 have created a tiered approach for their vitamin C formulations too.
This potent antioxidant also needs to be matched to your skin’s tolerance ranging from gentle starters to high-performance blends, with the powerful 20% formula at the top:
We'll let the experts at Medik8 explain further:
My Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced Gel-Serum Review:
As I said above, I am a well-travelled vitamin C user, so I was very interested to see how this one would stack up against some others I’ve used that have a much heftier price-tag.
The first thing I’ll talk about is the texture.
This is the first potent vitamin C product I’ve used that had the consistency of a moisturiser, others I’ve used are more of a sticky serum feel. Because of this, the smooth, milky texture glides on very easily and feels incredibly hydrating as it goes on.
The lightweight, non-greasy texture also absorbs quickly, making it ideal for layering under moisturisers, sunscreens and your makeup routine with no issues of piling.
Next up, what you’ve all been waiting for - the before and after!
These two images were taken about two weeks apart where I had been using C-Tetra consistently every morning, and as you can see my skin looks:
- Brighter
- More hydrated/plump
But the major wins are the improvements to some of my wrinkles - especially on my forehead and around my eyes which look a lot less deep. All in just two weeks!
Final Verdict:
All in all I was VERY impressed with the improvements made, especially since it felt a lot nicer going on than a lot of other vitamin C serums I’ve used in the past.
Plus, price-wise while it’s not the cheapest option, it is a LOT cheaper than the most expensive options out there.
So if you’re looking to dip your foot into the vitamin C serum world and want something a little more affordable, I would definitely recommend it.
Discover more of Medik8's powerful skincare products below:
