I Tried the New Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream—Is It Better?

Here’s a little Charlotte Tilbury brand backstory: Tilbury began her career as a makeup artist and created the first iterations of Magic Cream ($105) as a backstage skin prep for the models she was working with. It was designed to revive tired, dull skin and deliver an instant glow. It became a well-known skin savior for events from red carpets to runways. And thus, Magic Cream was born. Some may think of Charlotte Tilbury as a makeup-first brand, but the truth is that Magic Cream, a skin-care product, was the very first item the brand sold.

So when the brand announced that it would be reformulating the widely loved Magic Cream, it was the talk of the town in the beauty world (after all, one jar is sold every minute globally). As a loyal Magic Cream user myself, I wondered if my trusty moisturizing skin prep would still be worth reaching for. Some reformulations end up making the product worse, and some end up making it even better. Luckily, Magic Cream falls into the latter category.

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These are the details to know about the new Magic Cream: First, it now includes a new naturally derived peptide complex designed to renew skin both immediately and over time. Second, after testing, the brand reports that four out of five users agree that it’s like a facelift in a jar. Like the original, it addresses hydration, glow, plumpness and redness thanks to ingredients like rosehip oil, oat extract and ectoin.

I prep my dry skin with Magic Cream for all of my makeup looks, and it sits beautifully under every foundation I’ve worn. This new formula does the same and hasn’t caused any pilling or dry spots, so it still works as a high-performing skin primer to deliver that signature dewy radiance. It has the same creamy, cloud-like, bouncy texture and instantly hydrates my skin.

The biggest difference I noticed? The original Magic Cream could occasionally clog my pores. I tried this new formula while dealing with some breakouts on my chin, and it didn’t irritate them or cause any additional flare-ups, making me love it even more. I’m happy to report I’ll be using the new version of my tried-and-true Magic Cream as my makeup primer every day, just as I did before.

And a new Magic Cream isn’t the only innovation from Charlotte Tilbury lately. The brand has also expanded its famed Pillow Talk line with two new products: Pillow Talk Blush Balm Lip Tint ($32) and Pillow Talk Beauty Soulmates Face Palette ($55). The three-in-one Blush Balm Lip Tint can be used as a sheer lipstick, lip balm and lip tint to deliver a trending blushed lip look that feels as effortless as it looks. Just one swipe gives blurred, dewy, pH-powered color along with skin-care benefits from botanical butters and peptides. It’s offered in six shades. Meanwhile, the Soulmates Face Palette is split into two parts, with one side featuring Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder and the other Pillow Talk Powder Blush. The palette is offered in two shades and is a space-saving option for travel or on-the-go touch-ups.

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