FIND YOUR ROUTINE
(And we'll email you a copy)
Most people buy skincare the wrong way round. They buy the product they've heard of, or the one with the best packaging, and then try to work out where it fits. The result is usually three actives that fight each other, a routine that irritates the skin, and the conclusion that "nothing works."
Medical-grade skincare is different, and not just in strength. Over-the-counter products are formulated to be safe for everyone, which means the active concentrations are kept low enough not to react on the most sensitive skin. Clinical formulations are prescribed to a specific concern at a concentration that actually does something — which is exactly why they need matching to your skin rather than picking off a shelf.
Answer four questions below and we'll build you a routine in the right order, using Obagi, Marini SkinSolutions and Medik8. It's free, it takes a minute, and we don't ask for your details. Where a product needs a prescription, we'll tell you which and why.
Which medical-grade skincare is right for me?
If your main concern is pigmentation, dark spots or melasma Start with vitamin C and a brightening agent. Obagi-C Fx pairs L-ascorbic acid with arbutin — the non-prescription route, and enough for mild to moderate pigmentation. Where pigment is deeper, hormonal or long-established, prescription strength does what these cannot: Obagi-C Rx swaps arbutin for 4% hydroquinone, and Obagi Nu-Derm is the full programme for significant sun damage, age spots and sallowness. Daily SPF is not optional — pigment returns faster than it cleared.
If your main concern is acne or congestion Salicylic and azelaic acid do the work: Marini Bioclear exfoliates, decongests and calms inflammation, and the azelaic acid also treats the marks breakouts leave behind. If you're still breaking out after eight to twelve weeks, the routine has reached its limit rather than failed, and prescription retinoids are the next step.
If your main concern is fine lines and ageing Retinol has to convert to retinoic acid in the skin across several steps, which is why even a good one works slowly. Tretinoin is retinoic acid already, and remains the most evidence-backed topical there is for lines, texture and photoageing. If you want the non-prescription route, the Marini Skin Care Management System is the most complete system available.
If your main concern is dullness and uneven texture Obagi Professional-C Serum in 10%, 15% or 20% — we match the strength to your skin rather than defaulting to the highest. The Vitamin C Care Kit is the efficient way to start from scratch: cleanser, exfoliating day lotion, polish and tinted SPF 50 together.
If your skin is sensitive, red or the barrier is damaged Repair first, actives later. A non-foaming, fragrance-free cleanser and a mineral SPF for four to six weeks — adding a retinoid or acid to inflamed skin reliably makes it worse. Most people who believe they can't tolerate actives were simply started too fast.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding No retinoids, tretinoin, hydroquinone or benzoyl peroxide. Vitamin C, peptides, barrier support and rigorous sun protection remain effective and safe. Pigmentation is more reactive in pregnancy, so SPF matters more now than at any other time.
Obagi or Marini SkinSolutions — which should I choose?
Obagi is the stronger prescription route, and unmatched for pigmentation and sun damage — Nu-Derm and Obagi-C Rx have decades of evidence behind them. Marini SkinSolutions is the best complete non-prescription system, and the SCMS is the closest thing to a full answer in one box: vitamin C, peptides and growth factors, glycolic and salicylic exfoliation, hydrators and SPF, sequenced so you're not guessing what goes where. Neither is better — they're aimed at different problems. Browse Obagi · Browse Marini SkinSolutions
Do I need prescription skincare?
Not necessarily. A well-chosen non-prescription routine outperforms a badly used prescription one. But if you've been consistent for three months and progress has stalled, that's usually the point where prescription strength earns its place. Prescription products can't be sold openly under MHRA rules, and shouldn't be supplied without knowing your history — hydroquinone has a defined course length and isn't used indefinitely, tretinoin isn't used in pregnancy, and both need adjusting for deeper skin tones where irritation can itself cause pigmentation. Complete the online skin consultation and our medical team will review your suitability. If approved, you'll receive an access code to unlock your prescribed products.
What order should skincare go in?
Cleanse, treat, hydrate, protect — and where a system is prescribed, follow it as supplied rather than layering another routine on top of it. Nu-Derm, Obagi-C Rx and the Marini SCMS all include their own cleanser and sunscreen; adding more usually causes irritation rather than better results.
Is medical-grade skincare actually different from high street skincare?
Yes, in concentration and in formulation. Over-the-counter products are formulated to be safe for everyone, so active concentrations are kept low enough not to react on the most sensitive skin. Clinical formulations are made at concentrations that produce measurable change, which is also why they need matching to your skin rather than choosing at random.
Do I need a consultation to buy skincare?
Not for non-prescription products — buy those directly. Prescription products such as tretinoin, Obagi Nu-Derm and Obagi-C Rx require our online skin consultation, reviewed by our medical team, with an access code issued if you're suitable.
How long before I see results?
Vitamin C and hydration show within two to four weeks. Pigmentation and retinoid results take twelve weeks or longer, and there's often an adjustment period of dryness and flaking first. Anything promising faster than that isn't working the way it claims to be.
Can I use several actives at once?
Sometimes, but it's the most common reason routines fail. Vitamin C in the morning and a retinoid at night works well; retinoid plus strong acids on the same night usually doesn't. Introduce one thing at a time.
Do you ship across the UK?
Yes. Non-prescription products ship UK-wide. Prescription items are dispensed following our online skin consultation and medical review.