Mamamia’s Tried and Tested series is your weekly review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellness. You won’t find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice. This week, Senior Lifestyle Writer Erin Docherty reviews the new Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream to see if it’s worth the hype.
The virality of Charlotte Tilbury's beauty products is... next level. Truly, it is.
From Pillow Talk to Flawless Filter and the ever-popular Beauty Light Wands, our girl CT creates the kind of stuff that many other brands try very hard to emulate (see: the endless dupes).
One of her biggest cult products by far, however, is the beloved Magic Cream – which was the makeup artist's very first launch, and the product that catapulted the brand's success.
Promising to transform dull, tired skin instantly, it's so popular that a jar of it sells every minute. Which is... huge.
Watch: Remember that time I tried 10 pumps of foundation on my face? I do. Post continues below.
Since then, the brand has not only expanded into makeup but more skincare, with eye creams, serums and facial oils cropping up.
The most recent launch? Charlotte's Magic Body Cream.
It landed across my desk, secured with a padlock and chain (!!) and while every Charlotte Tilbury press package makes me feel excited, this was next level:
What is Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream?
This fancy-looking body cream promises SO many things. But in short, it's supposed to deliver the same hydrating, smoothing and glowing benefits as the OG Magic Cream, along with some new additions to the formula.
On the website, it's described as a "hydrating, smoothing, firming effect body cream with caffeine, hyaluronic acid and ALGAKTIV™️ UPLIFT for a nourished, radiant body glow!"
It's also formulated with ingredients like rose extract for evening skin tone, damask rose water and oil to improve dullness radiance and glycerin for a plumping effect.
In keeping with the glitzy aesthetics of the rest of her products, the cream comes in a decent-sized white tube with her trademark rose-gold writing.
You can purchase it online at Charlotte Tilbury or online or in-store at Mecca.
But there’s a catch: It'll set you back $80.
So, is it worth its expensive price tag and can you get similar results with budget-friendly products?
To find out, I gave it a whirl.
How did you go with it?
Now, it's getting a wee bit chilly in Sydney and I've noticed my arms and legs are looking like actual tree bark, so I've been SUPER keen to start this trial.
According to the instructions on the product, you're meant to apply the cream daily using "Charlotte’s magic massage technique" – which apparently just means applying the product in the old upward, sweeping motions.
All up, I used it for around a week, applying it every day after showering.
The first thing I noticed was that the texture is way thicker than I anticipated. It's actually quite buttery. However, while it's quite thick, it's confusingly fast-absorbing.
I was actually pretty impressed with how instantly hydrating the formula was, and the fact that it didn't feel greasy or sticky. This is one of my major gripes with body cream and is literally the reason I neglect my entire body when it comes to hydration. However, this stuff was great.
My skin instantly soaked it up and there was no sticky/greasy/gross residue lingering around. I could slip my clothes or pyjamas on right after and I didn't feel gross AF.
The other thing I need to talk about is the glow. Because I need you to know just how radiant and bright it made my skin. You guys, I was glowing.
The formula definitely has a bit of a shimmery element to it because my veiny, dull, purple-y skin somehow looked alive. Healthy. Felt like a gleaming seal.
As well as the instant visible results, you can feel how hydrated and smooth and lovely your skin is. And it actually lasts. My skin still felt smooth and silky the next day.
On the all-important sniff front, I noticed the scent is really quite light – the formula includes ingredients like magnolia oil, which gives it a sweet and floral, yet subtle smell.
Also, I really loved the squeezy tube packaging, because there's nothing I possibly hate more than having to dip my fingers into a pot of cream.
The verdict.
Alrighty. At $80, there's no denying this is one spendy body cream. Like, it's certainly not affordable. Especially when a packet of crisps is like 10 bucks. And if you're anything like me – you're probably going to go through it pretty quickly. I've been using it for about a week and I already feel like I've used up half the tube (I am pretty generous with it, though!).
While it certainly left my skin hydrated, soft and radiant, for me this would be more of a special 'going out' cream as opposed to an everyday option. There are tonnes of other, more affordable body creams out there that will give you similar results.
However, if you'd like to give yourself a little slice of luxury during your self-care routine and are financially able, go for it!
Want to try it for yourself? Head here.
What do you think of Charlotte Tilbury's products? Do you like them? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
Feature image: Supplied; Mamamia.
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