Nadine recently celebrated her 60th birthday although you wouldn’t think it by looking at her skin
Nadine Baggott, a beauty expert on This Morning, is renowned for her straightforward approach to beauty and extensive knowledge of skincare. Given her seemingly ageless complexion, we were curious about her secret and decided to ask her.
Nadine, who frequently appears on the ITV daytime show, recently celebrated her 60th birthday. However, looking at her skin, you’d never guess her age.
She attributes her youthful appearance primarily to an innovative anti-ageing serum she applies religiously every night before bed.
The columnist and YouTuber, who boasts over 200k Instagram followers, endorses a skincare regimen of Vitamin C in the morning and Vitamin A in the evening. For her evening dose, she always opts for the award-winning Medik8 Crystal Retinal (from £45), reports the Mirror.
In a conversation with The Mirror’s beauty writer, Bethan Shufflebotham, Nadine revealed: “Vitamin C and Vitamin A are the two long term investments I make for my skin, and the only way I can prove that is because I don’t have the skin for a woman my age. I deserve much worse skin for what I put it through when I was younger.”
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“I don’t use prescription skincare as I have pretty normal, mature skin, but I have a big soft spot for a retinal. Retinal is the strongest form of Vitamin A you can get on the market prior to prescription skincare and my favourite is this one from Medik8.”
Retinal, a next-generation vitamin A that works 11 times faster than standard retinol, is championed by Nadine. She believes no one does it better than Medik8, which boasts a ‘patented retinal stability system’ ensuring ‘unmatched retinal potency and effectiveness’.
The product comes in ‘stages’, starting with 1 and increasing in potency to CR3, 6, 10, and 20. It’s recommended that users start using the products a few times a week to build tolerance before daily use, gradually moving up through the strengths until they can regularly use number 20.
Nadine uses the highest strength Crystal Retinal on a daily basis.
She shared: “I’ve been using retinal for a very long time and Medik8 were the first company in the UK to do it, I think. You can work your way up from the first to the last for minimum irritation, and sometimes even I still get some irritation from the 20 so I’ll step back and use the 10 for a few days and then go back up – but I use it every night.”
Medik8 Crystal Retinal in Strength 1
In addition to retinal, which effectively targets the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture, and loss of firmness, the Medik8 product also contains hydration hero hyaluronic acid to leave the skin feeling supple. Vitamin E works to protect against ageing effects and glycerin locks in moisture.
This powerhouse product is said to provide ‘clinically proven wrinkle reduction with just one tube’, with users noting improvements in texture, brightness, firmness, and clarity.
Nadine explained her love for the product, saying: “I always have a 10 and 20 on the go all the time. Vitamin A is like your skin’s cheerleader and helps your skin repair at night. It boosts collagen production, and elastin production, boosts hydration and stops the clumping of pigment which causes age spots and brightens the skin too.”
“It smells of almonds and that marzipan kind of smell now kind of lulls me to sleep. It has an iconic orange colour and it’s my perfect texture. It’s a gel cream texture so straight after cleansing at night I put it on all over and then the only reason you know I’m an addict is that it does make your pillowcases yellow.”
Medik8 Crystal Retinal in Strength 20
The price of a tube of CR1 starts at £45, with each higher strength increasing in price, with CR20 priced at £99. However, Medik8 recommends just two pumps to cover the face and neck before following with a moisturiser to ‘seal it in’.
They even have their own Advanced Night Restore which is specifically designed to be used after vitamin A. It’s also worth noting that Vitamin A can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen should always be used the next morning after applying vitamin A.
Nadine suggests the Medik8 Crystal Retinal for those showing early signs of ageing, particularly those with perimenopausal skin around 45+. However, she advises first-time retinoid users to start with a lower potency product, and she has plenty of recommendations.
She stated: “If you’re going to use retinol for the first time, 0.3% is the best, L’Oreal has a really lovely one with niacinamide in and No7 has one that’s perfect for beginners too. But if you are using retinal, Medik8 is expensive but I love it. The Ordinary has a 0.2% which is the equivalent of Medik8 20 for a fraction of the price, but if you’re going to use a budget product, I recommend creating a retinal sandwich, so put a moisturiser or serum on first, then your retinal and moisturiser on top because it just helps buffer it into the skin and is more hydrating. More budget products tend to be in a less luxurious base, but I understand why most people couldn’t afford to opt for brands like Medik8.”
But Nadine isn’t alone in her praise for the anti-ageing hero. The Crystal Retinal formula has garnered over 2,700 reviews from shoppers, earning an average rating of 4.8 stars out of five.
One shopper described it as a ‘game changer’ for her skin, adding: “Absolutely love this product. It has been a game changer for my skin and it does not cause any irritation when used as per instructions.”
Another shopper said: “One product I keep going back to. Works amazingly on my sensitive skin and is helping slow down those early signs of ageing.”
A third raved: “My favourite product from Medik8. My skin is very dry and it helps rejuvenate it overnight and reduce the fine line of wrinkles on my face.”
One man commented: “As an 83 yo male with oily skin I’ve only this year developed a few forehead lines that I was keen to address B4 they became too well established. CR6 has achieved a remarkable improvement; there are days when they are invisible. An excellent product demanding a discipline in application that I’m not accustomed to (it’s a man thing! ) but it is a GREAT SUCCESS even with the odd missed night’s application.”
However, some shoppers didn’t see the results they were hoping for, with one writing: “I was expecting great results from this skincare product. As a regular retinal user of 2 years I decided it was safe to start at Crystal Retinal 10 . I’ve used it for around 6 weeks now. There is no discernible difference in my skin. A negative – which I haven’t seen written about – is that it is yellow! So I go to bed looking a bit jaundiced and my pillow cases are discoloured. I will use up what I still have as it is a very expensive product but will not purchase again unless I notice a significant change to my skin.”
One user enthused: “I’ve been using this for almost a month now and my skin is already looking brighter and smoother. The cream is lightweight and absorbs quickly and hasn’t upset my sensitive skin.”
For those aiming to emulate the complexion of a beauty guru, Nadine Baggott’s essential ‘desert island beauty’ product is undoubtedly the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20, £99. However, there are milder strengths available on the brand’s website.