Brace yourself: if you happen to see this jar sitting atop your dressing table, it means that any second now, your lady’s maid will magically materialize to dress you, gently brush every lock of hair into place, and pin a diamond tiara on your head.
(Side note: I have watched an obscene amount of Downton Abbey over the past few days.)
Only Charlotte Tilbury could turn a standard-issue makeup artist’s trick — applying a layer of rich moisturizer on your face before putting on your face paint — and turn it into a bonafide F.L.L. (that’s “Fancy Lady Lifestyle,” dahhhling), with one of her line’s most renowned products: Magic Cream.
Lots of people swear by this rich, thick cream, which is made for all skin types and designed to be applied right before going in with your makeup.
Devotees of the Cult o’ Magic Cream claim that it potently plumps the skin, and it does contain heavy-hitting hydrators like hyaluronic acid, shea butter and aloe vera (to name a few), but I’d characterize the plumping effect as subtle.
The idea is that it’s supposed to smooth your canvas, so to speak, before you layer your foundation, concealer, powder, etc. on top. So, basically, it’s a rose-scented moisturizer/primer combo in a very pretty jar.
One thing about it? It smells fancy and expensive, and my skin absorbs the rich cream right away. Immediately after applying my base makeup on top of it — my foundation, powder, concealer, etc. — my base products look a little richer, more vibrant and slightly smoother. Everything looks a little more…natural and less like “makeup.”
If you’re a seasoned makeup person, you’ll see a subtle difference, but I dare say that most people won’t.
Here’s the thing: you can get a similar effect with any moisturizer, and doing a quick hit of moisturizer before base makeup is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Be that as it may, this cream’s ability to actually adhere to whatever you layer on top is its super power. In that way, it’s far better than a run-of-the-mill moisturizer. A lot of similarly rich creams will make your makeup slip right off, but this doesn’t. So, as a primer, it’s very effective.
I like it. A lot. But I don’t like the price. AT ALL.
INGREDIENTS
This product is gluten free.
AQUA/WATER/EAU, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, OLUS OIL/VEGETABLE OIL/HUILE VÉGÉTALE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE, POLYESTER-7, PHENOXYETHANOL, NEOPENTYL GLYCOL DIHEPTANOATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, STEARETH-21, AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL EXTRACT, CARBOMER, DIMETHICONOL, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, CHLORPHENESIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, XANTHAN GUM, HYDROLYZED VIOLA TRICOLOR EXTRACT, ALLANTOIN, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, DISODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CAMELLIA OLEIFERA SEED OIL, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL, ROSA DAMASCENA EXTRACT, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, MICHELIA ALBA LEAF OIL, SODIUM LACTATE, COCO-GLUCOSIDE, PEG-8, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, TOCOPHEROL, PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, PLUMERIA RUBRA FLOWER EXTRACT, ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, NICOTIANA SYLVESTRIS LEAF CELL CULTURE, LINALOOL, CITRONELLOL, GERANIOL.
The 30-ml. jar at top is $64, a 50-ml. jar is $100, and a 150-ml. jar is $225. (Wow!) Sephora also sells a tiny 0.5-ml. mini jar for $29. Every size it comes in is crazy pricey!
If you aren’t too keen on dropping your beauty budget on a product that’s basically invisible, not to worry; you have other options. Head over to MAC, and give Prep + Primer Natural Radiance a try (it’s an underrated rock star, IMHO).
While it isn’t anywhere near as luxurious as Charlotte’s Magic Cream, it does basically the same thing, and it’s about 50% less pricey at $42 for a 50-ml. size.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ruchita says
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:54 amI’m so fascinated by the idea of having a lady’s maid! I can’t imagine having someone help me get dressed, but I guess back in the day those corsets and dresses were complicated.
This product is very pretty, but I agree the price tag is a bit steep. I think if I was going to spend that much money I might spring for something like foundation that would have more of a visible impact.
Karen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 6:49 amYes! Especially all the layers in Victorian clothing. So complicated!
I do have to say that the 1920’s era dresses look super comfy. I love the dropped waist and loose fit of the dresses. 🙂 The fringe and beading doesn’t look cat friendly, though.
Ruchita says
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:01 amI agree! The dresses from the 1920s are so pretty and they look comfortable. That reminds me, I follow @thiswasfashion on IG and they feature fashion from past decades.. What’s funny is seeing pictures from the 1990s because that still doesn’t seem like that long ago. 🙂
Karen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:41 amI know. What’s interesting to me is when watching shows made now of that era. When wardrobe people get it right, its scarily accurate of the time, I’ve noticed. Remember the knit ribbed tops? And how the jeans fit (the waists were all so wonderfully high).
Kim says
October 22nd, 2019 at 6:43 amI always moisturize before putting on my BB cream but I’d be a bit dry and flaky (especially in the winter) if I didn’t. I’ve been happy with the drugstore bargain CeraVe, which also has hyaluronic acid but, if I ever have a ladies’ maid, I’m totally splurging for the Magic Cream. HAHA! Though, honestly, having someone fuss over you seems like more of a nuisance than a help. I guess when you’re expected to look perfectly dressed and coiffed, it’s a necessity though. 🙂
Karen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 6:48 amYa know, that thought has crossed my mind as well. Won’t another pair of hands just get in the way? But I think it would be kind of great to have someone help relieve some of the decision making. I wouldn’t mind outsourcing clothing choices and hairstyles and accessories to someone!
Kim says
October 23rd, 2019 at 8:45 amThat’s true. And some expertise, in my case, would be a welcome help. 🙂 I am very glad we live in the era of the independent woman, though. The restrictions of the DA lady of leisure would definitely not suit me.
Eileen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 12:49 pmI have mature (in my 70’s), bone dry skin, but by the time I get all of my skin care items on (serums, moisturizer, sunscreen), I really don’t need anything else to achieve a healthy glow; especially since I use a good hydrating foundation. As for substituting Magic Cream for one of my current products, no way. I’ve tried samples of it a couple of times, and wasn’t impressed. For my skin type, there are better options available.
Since so many younger women wear matte/long wear foundations, Magic Cream would probably help offset that flat look that they can produce–but then, any good moisturizer would do that. Because it is pricey, if someone were curious, I’d suggest getting a sample before buying into the hype.
Jennifer says
October 22nd, 2019 at 12:51 pmExcellent advice Eileen. I’ve been spared from buying a lot of stuff by trying a sample first and finding out I didn’t care for it or it just didn’t work for me. That’s why I adore Sephora so much.
Eileen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 3:19 pmAnd, the SA’s at my local Sephora will always give me enough product to last several days so I can give a it a fair shake. I love my Sephora.
Jennifer says
October 22nd, 2019 at 12:49 pmGirl, I tried Pillow Talk this week and liked it.
However, I couldn’t decide if I get the same effect with lipsticks I already own like Urban Decay’s Backtalk–which is just a slight bit darker. Or Bobbi Brown’s Brown.
It did make my lips smooth. I didn’t pull the trigger but I still might.
This cream sounds like the bomb though.
Isn’t there a VIB sale coming up soon??? I need one for all these Charlotte products.
Jennifer recently posted … What’s Your Most Used Kitchen Equipment?
Karen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:48 pmYes! There’s a sale in November coming up soon.
Suzanne C says
October 22nd, 2019 at 1:00 pmI watch Downton and think “I really need Anna to do my hair”. I can do my makeup and get dressed, but how great would it be to have someone do your hair everyday? But then, I really like having my hair brushed. It’s so soothing. And also someone to put my clothes away and make my bed. That would be super.
I picked up a jar of the CT Magic Cream last year during the Rouge sale and was zero % impressed. It just seemed so heavy, in texture and in scent, like something my grandmother would’ve used. (One of them. The other one probably never spent that much money on beauty products in her entire life, much less on one product, lol.)
Chelsea says
October 22nd, 2019 at 4:02 pmI can break out from looking at this but it does look so luxurious!
I just picked up the new Krave Beauty Oat So Simple face cream and it’s too light this time of year but otherwise nice! I layer something on the dryer parts of my face. Their Matcha Hemp cleanser is nice too.
Karen says
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:44 pmOh, that brand is new to me! Just checked out their website and there are some nice-looking items.
Chelsea says
October 23rd, 2019 at 6:46 amThe cleanser smells so good – not a strong smell, just smells like green tea. Doesn’t seem to be drying me out either.
Erica says
October 24th, 2019 at 1:56 amThe vegetable oil means it would be a waste of $100 for me and the jar packaging is a no no. Air deteriorates and makes less effective the good skin ingredients which there are not really any, not superior anyway. Oat is about it. No retinols, lactic acid ie what you find in far superior brands. Another thing bc it’s jar packing, you stick your fingers in and contaminate it. Even if you use a spatula , how cleanly is that? Yeah, I’d expect better from something so expensive. This is doesn’t do it for me. Sorry