Deputy Editor Niamh Devereux gets the scoop on the newly-formulated Magic Cream by Charlotte Tilbury
Yes, Charlotte Tilbury really does use the word ‘darling’ that often. It’s January, and I’m sat before the skincare and makeup mogul in her London headquarters for the exclusive (embargoed) launch of her newly reformulated Magic Cream — and she’s practically giddy with excitement. It’s been 13 years since the iconic cream first hit shelves; it was first concocted while Charlotte was a makeup artist working backstage with models and celebrities.
Her blend of hydrating vitamins and oils became known as ‘Charlotte’s secret cream’, which she used to revive dry and tired skin during chaotic Fashion Weeks or ahead of red-carpet events. Nowadays, the brand says that one pot is sold globally every minute. So, I am curious: if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Charlotte explains that the reasons she first created the cream are more prevalent than ever.
“We have less sleep, more screens, more stress, harsher water, higher UV levels, not to mention more actives and aggressive treatments,” she tells us. “The needs of our skin have greatly evolved and I wanted to work alongside leading scientists to really innovate and supercharge the formula, to protect the skin barrier and reverse the signs of ageing – basically, I call it my Death Becomes Her cream, because it’s like a miracle in a jar. It has been ten years in the making.”
This is a big claim – as are the comments from the clinical trials of over 250 people who tested it over eight weeks. 4/5 of that group likened the cream to a “face lift in a jar” and noted it improves the appearance of hydration, glow, plumpness, redness, uneven texture, firmness, elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, lift and neck lines. Basically, everything you’d ever look for in skincare.
Director of Scientific Development Jonathan Reynolds tells us that these results are mainly thanks to a plant found in the Mediterranean: The Trachelospermum ‘Star of Ibiza’, which is, ironically, where Charlotte grew up. She laughs that it couldn’t have been a more fateful coincidence.
Jonathan explains that, in a skincare-first and exclusive to the brand, stem cells were isolated from this plant (referred to as the Eternal Jasmine Youth Plant™ by team Tilbury) and used to create a powerful blend of over 100 peptides. This advanced peptide complex is infused through the reformulated Magic Cream, along with skin barrier strengthening Ectoin, recently deemed “the most underrated skincare ingredient” by British Vogue. Charlotte describes it as a gladiator, shielding skin cells and making sure they are constantly hydrated, while the peptide complex is like Jane Fonda gearing up for a collagen workout.
With all this hype, I was determined to put the new formula to the test for eight weeks, like the clinical trials. While my mother has been a repeat customer of the cream for the past few years, I hadn’t used it for an extensive period before. Whenever I had applied it, I noted the instant glow it gives and thought it to be an excellent base before applying makeup. But this time I made a commitment to apply it twice a day for the past two months.
And honestly? I can say I’ve seen a huge improvement in the texture of my skin. Since Christmas, it had been particularly dry and dull, while fine lines have been increasingly visible in the past couple of years. The texture and finish of the cream feels the same as it did before; Charlotte says she wanted to ensure you would not be able to notice the difference between the original in application.
While I’m not sure I look like I’ve had a face lift, my skin is definitely softer, smoother and visibly glowing. That’s not even me tooting my own horn; I’ve been wearing less makeup as I’ve been more confident in my skin, and the glow has been commented on by colleagues and friends. When I do apply foundation, I find it sits a lot better on my skin and doesn’t settle into fine lines or dry patches like it did before.
As someone who suffered an awful psoriasis flare-up this time last year, having this level of confidence in my skin is incredible. While the cream isn’t fragrance-free and I wondered if it would irritate or cause any breakouts, it didn’t – other than the odd hormonal spot over the past two months. With an expensive price tag, I’ll be reducing my application to once a day going forward, but I will be using it going forward. I’ve gotten my mother, in her 60s, onto the new formula also and she has been slathering herself in it, telling me it has done wonders for hydration and bounce. The claims are bold, but the results don’t lie, darling. (Sorry – I couldn’t resist adding one more.)
€97 for 50ml, charlottetilbury.com
