'I destroyed my skin barrier but this peptide-fuelled night cream healed it in days'

I knew I’d messed up the moment I rinsed off the peel. My skin felt hot, tight and angry, like I’d potentially scorched the top layer clean off. What was meant to be a quick pre-summer holiday glow boost had left me red and painfully dry. In a moment of mild panic, I reached for Medik8’s Advanced Night Restore, the night cream I’ve kept in my cupboard for these exact type of emergency events.

Packed with peptides, ceramides and antioxidants, it’s a formula that goes beyond just moisturising. It’s actively rebuilding. Medik8’s signature ‘midnight repair complex’ blends ingredients like dragon fruit extract, saskatoon berry and restoring peptides that work in synch with the skin’s natural overnight repair cycle. There’s also niacinamide to calm and a blend of lipids to strengthen and replenish the barrier, which, let’s be honest, mine was now sorely lacking.

Within two nights, the sandpapery texture started to smooth out and the redness faded. My skin stopped stinging whenever I applied cleanser– always the telltale sign of damage. By day four, I’d gone from flaky and sensitised to actually hydrated, bouncy and even. Both my skin and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

I now recommend this to anyone whose barrier is hanging by a thread, or who simply wants a deeply nourishing night cream that doesn’t overwhelm or flare up skin conditions like eczema, perioral dermatitis or rosacea. Normally £60, it’s currently in Medik8’s summer sale, making it a more affordable £48 for a short while. Trust me and my sore face, it’s worth the price.

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Since my own results have been so good, I wondered whether others have experienced similarly impressive results. A quick scan of the product page told me yes, I’m in good company.

One reviewer writes: “A beautiful cream which has transformed my skin following extensive damage to my skin barrier, thankyou!”

A second adds: “Love this cream- super nourishing and rich without being greasy. Helps me skin look plump and hydrated in the morning,” with a third saying: “I like this cream very much. It is light and not too greasy and it smells nice. It makes my skin glow and gives it protection overnight.”

“I love the texture of this cream. I usually use my liquid peptide serum before and I apply Advanced Night Restore. These two are my favourite combination. Great texture, absorbs quickly and makes my skin feel hydrated,” pens a fourth.

While I have no negative things to say about the cream, other than its usual RRP being a little high at £60 for a 50 ml tub, I do think you can get good repairing results with other lower-cost products as well. If it’s a peptide-packed formula you’re looking for, The Inkey List’s Peptide Moisturiser is a good alternative for £16.

With a dual peptide formula that aims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and balance the skin's natural oil levels, it has plenty of calming goodness for those, like me, who have overdone their actives. Plus, if you shop it this week, you can use the code SUMMER20 to get 20% off it.