Normally I hate reformulations of my favourite products – I mean, why, oh why, mess with a good thing? The only time in recent memory I’ve liked a reformulation was when Estée Lauder revamped the 30-year-old formula of Double Wear, which actually doubled my love for it. Ordinarily, though, I find they get worse… or maybe I just don’t like change?
Anyway, last year I was invited to an event to find out all about the newness Charlotte Tilbury was bringing for 2026. From the Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer to the products we remain sworn to secrecy about, we found out all the tea. And in that tea was the news that the brand’s beloved Magic Cream was being reformulated. Cue shock and horror around the room.
But the brand insisted (of course) that this new cream was even better than before, with more actives, a patented complex and clinical studies that would wow us. I loved the original Magic Cream – a moisturiser so good that when Charlotte used it backstage, models would beg to know what this unmarked, unreleased product was. It was one of my favourite night creams, thanks to its rich-but-not-oily texture and how plump and hydrated my skin felt come morning. So, of course, I had to check out the new formulation to see if it still deserved a spot in my night-time skincare routine…
Charlotte Tilbury New Magic Cream review
Tester: Keeks, Beauty Director
Skin type: Combination
Skin concerns: Uneven skin tone and loss of elasticity
I’ve tested this cream for three months, going through two pots back to back, and I can hand on heart say it’s still one of my favourite night creams – in fact, I love it more than the old formula. With this new iteration, I feel like I’ve seen a bigger difference in my skin’s appearance and texture, whereas previously it was simply a nice cream that left my skin thirst-quenched by morning.
I believe this is largely down to the new ‘supercharged formula’, featuring the first-to-market Recoverstem Peptide. This encompasses over 100 peptides to help skin cells continually renew. It’s clever and, according to the brand, clinically proven to work on skin in just 28 seconds – which, in my humble opinion, really speaks to the magic in the product’s name.
After two months’ use, I think my skin looks and feels great – I glow without makeup, it feels firm and bouncy and because of this, it’s kept its place as one of my go-to night creams. In clinicals 4/5 testers agreed that it's like a 'facelift in a jar' and I can see why – it's not going to reverse deep wrinkles or collagen loss but it does inject a much needed bit of life into your skin and I noticed this after just a couple of weeks of continued use – I'm now on my second jar.
The brand loves to talk about how the new formula is perfect for day and night because it works as both a primer and moisturiser, but for me, I prefer to stick to night-time use. It doesn’t contain SPF, so I’d need to add another layer before applying my make-up and, for me, that’s too much product on my face – I prefer an SPF moisturiser as it means fewer layers.
The price is definitely at the mid-to-higher end of the beauty spectrum but, with the new science-backed formula, I think splurging on this cream is more worthwhile than ever.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
