Endless repurchases and one reformulation later, I still can&rsquo;t get enough.&nbsp;

I still remember the first time I used Charlotte Tilbury&rsquo;s viral Magic Cream. And for someone who tests countless products daily for a living, the fact that I can recall that moment so vividly says everything. I was a junior in high school, and while beauty had already been my number-one obsession for years, I hadn&rsquo;t quite landed on the right routine for my skin type. But really, who has it figured out in high school?&nbsp;
At the time, I was experimenting with every formula I could get my hands on, which wasn&rsquo;t always easy growing up in the Philippines. Sephora, Ulta, and similar retailers weren&rsquo;t accessible, so keeping up with mainstream Western products meant stocking up while traveling or relying on family and friends to bring back coveted items from abroad. Meanwhile, like most people in that particularly volatile, skin-confusing stage of life, I was dealing with near-constant breakouts.&nbsp;

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. Photography courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury.

Then came my chance. On one of my dad&rsquo;s business trips to the Netherlands, I immediately scanned my wishlist. At the top: Magic Cream, the backstage staple I had seen across countless celebrity tutorials and, of course, on Charlotte Tilbury&rsquo;s own glowing complexion on social media. Her signature demos promised instantly radiant, lit-from-within skin&mdash;and I was all in.&nbsp;
The moment it finally arrived, I barely paused before tearing open the box and running straight to my bathroom. What followed felt transformative. My skin looked luminous, but not greasy. The experience was my first introduction to luxury beauty&mdash;the weighty glass jar, the signature rose gold lid, the rich, cushiony texture melting into my skin. And then there was the real clincher: my makeup applied seamlessly, with zero pilling and a noticeably smoother finish (something I hadn&rsquo;t experienced with other creams at the time).&nbsp;
So yes, despite the investment-worthy price tag&mdash;especially for a 16-year-old&mdash;it quickly became a staple. Now, nearly eight years later, I&rsquo;ve lost count of how many jars I&rsquo;ve gone through.&nbsp;

Needless to say, when I heard that Charlotte Tilbury was reformulating the very product that quite literally changed my adolescent life, I was nervous. Sure, the only difference is that it now comes with 100 peptides. But it&rsquo;s not a secret that the fate of reformulations falls at two extremes: they&rsquo;re either incredibly good or deeply disappointing. So given my history with Magic Cream, this one felt personal. Was I about to be forced to bid farewell?&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve been testing the new formula for nearly two months now&mdash;and I have some thoughts. Ahead, my full review for L&rsquo;OFFICIEL.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">First Impressions: Old vs. New Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream</h2>

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L'OFFICIEL USA may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if products are purchased through our links. These items were gifted. Neither decides our editorial decisions.
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Testing Process</h3>

Full transparency, I hadn&rsquo;t reached for the original Magic Cream in months. While it will always be a favorite, I was in one of those phases of my routine where other go-tos&mdash;like Rhode&rsquo;s Barrier Restore Cream and La Roche-Posay&rsquo;s Cicaplast Baume&mdash;were my current fixations. Plus, I had a steady rotation of new launches to test.&nbsp;
As soon as I heard about the relaunch, I reintroduced the original formula into both my day and night routines for two weeks (paired with a milky toner) before transitioning to the new version. I tested it across the board: under makeup, on bare skin, and layered more generously at night.
The timing couldn&rsquo;t have been more ideal. Between the demands of Fashion Week, the exhaustion of moving apartments, and the harsh, dry New York City winter, my skin was in need of serious repair. It felt depleted and stressed&mdash;no plumpness, brightness, or glowiness whatsoever&mdash;making it the perfect time to put the newly infused 100 peptides to the test.&nbsp;

<h3 style="text-align: center;">Packaging, Price, and Availability</h3>

Side by side, the old and new jars are indistinguishable. The Magic Cream I&rsquo;ve known and loved remains unchanged on the surface: the same weighty glass jar, signature rose-gold lid, and overall luxe feel.
Importantly, the relaunch didn&rsquo;t come with a price increase. A full-size 50 mL jar still retails for $105, with a 30 mL at $69 and a 15 mL mini at $32. Or, if you really love it, it also comes in a 150mL jar for $260. It&rsquo;s available on <a href="https://www.charlottetilbury.com/us/product/giant-charlottes-magic-cream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charlotte Tilbury&rsquo;s website</a> and at&nbsp;retailers like <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/magic-cream-anti-aging-moisturizer-with-hyaluronic-acid-P520201?skuId=2936987&amp;icid2=products%20grid:p520201:product" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>, <a href="https://www.ulta.com/p/magic-cream-anti-aging-moisturizer-with-hyaluronic-acid-pimprod2057537?sku=2652685" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ulta</a>, <a href="https://www.nordstrom.com/s/magic-cream-anti-aging-moisturizer-with-hyaluronic-acid/8848414?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&amp;breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&amp;color=960" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nordstrom</a>, <a href="https://www.revolve.com/charlotte-tilbury-charlottes-magic-cream-150ml/dp/CTIL-WU377/?d=F&amp;tCurrency=USD&amp;tCountryCode=US&amp;tCurrency=USD&amp;tCountryCode=US&amp;deeplink=true&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=PMax:+Product+Listing+Ads+-+PLA+-+Beauty+High+Inventory&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23097860533&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD9qhJjDPRiA9dgsfVx5Q6o4n4nbf&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwyYPOBhBxEiwAgpT8P27cgZuNnplSR5IKJsKrUesRapdziCw1-15HSNQKu_ZuFWX-0z4bURoCvSAQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Revolve</a>, and <a href="https://bluemercury.com/products/charlotte-tilbury-charlottes-magic-cream-1?search=7610723926091&amp;variant=42185193259083" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bluemercury</a>.

<h3 style="text-align: center;">Texture &amp; Finish</h3>

Thankfully, the texture and finish stay true to the original&mdash;the very qualities that drew me in in the first place. It still delivers that signature silky glide and rich yet lightweight feel that leaves behind a soft, radiant glow.
What did surprise me, however, was how much more quickly the new formula absorbed into the skin. It already took barely any effort before, but now, it happened within seconds. After nighttime use, it felt as though it penetrated more deeply, delivering a level of hydration that was noticeably more sustained.
The glow is slightly more pronounced, too&mdash;just enough to enhance that lit-from-within effect, without ever tipping into greasy territory.

<h3 style="text-align: center;">Fragrance</h3>

As for the fragrance, the scent stayed the same. It&rsquo;s still that soft floral aroma with a fresh, powdery finish. Never overpowering, and, in my opinion, it adds to the overall sensorial experience. Still, it&rsquo;s something to keep in mind if you&rsquo;re sensitive to fragrance.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Results: What Does the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Do?</h2>

I&rsquo;ll be honest: in the nearly decade I&rsquo;ve spent using Magic Cream (albeit with temporary pauses), its appeal has always centered around how beautifully it sits under makeup. Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, it&rsquo;s not that it didn&rsquo;t deliver on the fundamentals of a moisturizer, but its priming effect was so good that I never felt compelled to think too deeply about what it was doing for my skin&mdash;until this relaunch.&nbsp;
Let me be clear: the new iteration is just as impressive under makeup. Beyond the natural dewiness it imparts, it allows everything layered on top to blend more seamlessly, quickly, and evenly. It has seriously outperformed not only its predecessor, but also many of the other moisturizers I regularly reach for.&nbsp;

I realized that I&rsquo;ve been underestimating it as a true hydration hero all these years. For one, it&rsquo;s the kind of formula that feels indulgently rich yet virtually weightless on the skin (which is no easy feat). But more importantly, I can&rsquo;t think of another cream that, on its own, has restored this level of plumpness in just one night. By morning, my skin looked visibly fuller, smoother, and more even-toned after weeks of winter-induced irritation.&nbsp;
And while I&rsquo;m not necessarily the ideal candidate to speak to its claims around reversing signs of aging (I am, after all, in my early 20s), there&rsquo;s no denying that my skin looks markedly more refreshed and revitalized with consistent use. If anything, the real testament to its nourishing power is how well it sustains hydration: even on those in-between days when I skipped my routine entirely, I still woke up with skin that feels comfortably balanced.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Verdict</h2>

Even as someone who's tested hundreds of creams and moisturizers, Magic Cream still ranks firmly in my top three&mdash;and is, without question, my number one for makeup prep.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s a certain simplicity to its efficacy, but with the newly infused blend of 100 peptides, the formula feels more genuinely elevated than ever. It&rsquo;s no surprise the brand reportedly sells one jar every minute.
While those with oily skin might reach for the brand&rsquo;s lighter alternatives like Magic Water Cream, the regular daytime version is still the best option for normal to dry skin.&nbsp;
To be fair, you shouldn&rsquo;t overlook the fragrance if you have reactive skin. It&rsquo;s indulgent, sure, but no cream, even this one, is worth a breakout.&nbsp;
As for myself, I&rsquo;d be hard-pressed to ever give Magic Cream up.&nbsp;

This Charlotte Tilbury Moisturizer Is Still The Ultimate Makeup Skin Prep Step

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