DR MO’S SIMPLE MEDIK8 SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR MORNING AND NIGHT

Skincare routines have a habit of multiplying. One serum becomes three, three becomes a shelf and suddenly bedtime needs its own playlist.

Dr Mo takes a different approach: fewer steps, smarter serums. "If you want a simple skincare routine, this is a very simple AM and PM routine for healthy, glowing skin," says Dr Mo. Every step comes from Medik8 , the science-led brand behind some of the hardest-working serums on our shelves. In his words, "the serums in this skincare routine are vital."

Dr Mo's Medik8 routine at a glance:

• Morning: cleanse, tone, Exo-PDRN, Liquid Peptides, vitamin C and SPF50+.
• Night: double cleanse, retinal eye cream, Crystal Retinal and a night cream.

In this article

• Dr Mo's morning routine
• Dr Mo's night routine
• Your Medik8 routine questions
• About Dr Mo

Dr Mo's morning routine

Think of the morning as prep and protect: clean skin, a few hard-working serums, then SPF to see you through the day. Here's how Dr Mo does it.

Step one: cleanse

Start with the Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel . It lifts away the night before without that squeaky, tight feeling, thanks to prebiotic inulin and glycerin that keep the skin barrier comfortable. It's gentle enough to pull double duty in your evening routine too.

Step two: tone

Next, a swipe of Medik8 Press and Glow . This PHA tonic gently exfoliates to wake up dull, uneven-looking skin. It's kind enough for sensitive skin too. Press three to four pumps onto a cotton pad and sweep it over the face, steering clear of the eye area. It's one of the quiet heroes of Medik8's cleansers and toners .

Step three: Exo-PDRN

Now for the first of Dr Mo's favourites. The Medik8 Exosome-PDRN Prismatic+ Serum (or Exo-PDRN, as he calls it) teams plant-based PDRN with triple exosomes , growth factor MiniProteins and niacinamide. The result? A serum designed to refine tone, smooth texture and bring back radiance. New to PDRN? Our guide to PDRN explains why it's one of skincare's most talked-about ingredients.

Step four: Liquid Peptides

Then comes Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP , a featherlight serum with a 30% multi-peptide complex, Dual MiniProteins and micro-encapsulated hyaluronic acid. It targets the look of expression lines and deeper-set wrinkles while keeping skin plump with hydration. If peptides are your thing, Medik8 has a whole peptide line-up worth getting to know.

Dr Mo rates the pairing: "These two work beautifully together to improve fine lines and wrinkles, and they work at a cellular level to give you long-term results to improve the quality of your skin." If fine lines and wrinkles are top of your list, this is a duo worth knowing.

Step five: vitamin C

Vitamin C is a morning must. Dr Mo's pick is Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced , with 20% stabilised vitamin C to brighten skin and give antioxidant protection against free radicals and pollution. Exactly what you want before you step outside. Massage two to three pumps over the face, neck and décolletage. It sits alongside the original in Medik8's C-Tetra family , so there's a vitamin C for every routine.

Step six: protect

No morning routine is complete without SPF. Dr Mo finishes with Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50+ , a daily moisturiser and sunscreen in one. One less step, no corners cut. It matters even more when you use vitamin A at night. Still looking for your SPF match? Our guide to the best SPF moisturisers is a good place to start.

Dr Mo's night routine

Evenings are for renewal. After a day of sunscreen, makeup and pollution, Dr Mo cleanses thoroughly, then brings in Medik8's heavy hitter: vitamin A .

Step one: double cleanse

Two cleansers, one clean slate. Massage Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil into dry skin to melt away makeup and sunscreen. Add a splash of warm water to turn it milky, then rinse. Follow with the Total Moisture Daily Cleansing Gel to take care of anything left behind. Never tried it? Here's how to double cleanse like a pro.

Step two: eyes

The skin around your eyes deserves its own treatment. Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye pairs retinal with ceramides in a dedicated eye cream. It comes in three strengths (3, 6 and 10), so you can build up over time.

Step three: Crystal Retinal

If there's one step Dr Mo won't skip, it's this one. "The most important serum that everybody should be using for long-term health of your skin is always Crystal Retinal," says Dr Mo.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal is a night serum built around retinal , a form of vitamin A. As Dr Mo explains, "this works by increasing the turnover of skin, giving you new, healthy, fresh skin." Retinal sits one conversion step closer to retinoic acid (the form skin uses) than retinol. Wondering how the two compare? Our retinol vs retinal guide breaks it down.

It comes in five strengths, from 1 to 20. Dr Mo's advice? Play the long game. "The higher you go with this, the better, over a long period of time." Think marathon, not sprint. Medik8 suggests Crystal Retinal 3 for most vitamin A beginners. If your skin is on the sensitive side, start with Crystal Retinal 1 . Finish at least one full tube before moving up a strength. Want a week-by-week plan? Our Crystal Retinal guide walks you through every strength.

Step four: night cream

Seal it all in with Medik8 Advanced Night Restore , the star of Medik8's Advanced Night range . Ceramides, squalane and peptides support the skin barrier while you sleep. It's designed to leave skin looking smoother and firmer by morning, which is our kind of wake-up call.

Just starting out? The Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 and Advanced Night Restore duo takes care of steps three and four in one go.

Your Medik8 routine questions

What order should you apply Medik8 products in?

The golden rule: thinnest to thickest. After cleansing, work from the lightest textures to the richest. In the morning, that's cleanser, tonic, serums and SPF. At night, it's a double cleanse, eye cream, Crystal Retinal and night cream. Keep vitamin C for the morning and vitamin A for the evening.

Can you use Medik8 Liquid Peptides with retinal?

Yes. Medik8 says Liquid Peptides can be used alongside any of its products. Dr Mo keeps things simple, with peptides in the morning and Crystal Retinal at night.

Can you use Medik8 Liquid Peptides with vitamin C?

Yes. Dr Mo layers Liquid Peptides and C-Tetra Advanced in the same morning routine. Medik8 says Liquid Peptides plays well with its whole range.

Can you use Exo-PDRN and Liquid Peptides together?

Yes, and Dr Mo is a fan. He uses them back to back every morning, saying they "work beautifully together to improve fine lines and wrinkles."

Do you need SPF when using retinal?

Yes, every single morning. Vitamin A can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so a broad-spectrum SPF is non-negotiable. Dr Mo finishes his morning routine with Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50+.

New to Medik8? Our Medik8 101 guide covers everything from its CSA philosophy (vitamin C, sunscreen and vitamin A) to the products fans rate most. When you're ready to build your own routine, start with our Medik8 serums or take in the full Medik8 range .

About Dr Mo

Dr Mo (BDS) shares straight-talking skincare advice with his followers as dr_motox .