You probably know that Charlotte Tilbury and her makeup line started with Magic Cream. This is the little jar she mixed up backstage between fashion shows with the words “Charlotte’s Secret Cream” written on it. Models loved it for keeping their skin healthy while they were constantly putting on and taking off makeup.
She tells The Irish Times, “I made it to fix the skin barrier before skin barriers were a thing.” “We did 40 fashion shows a season with celebrities and models. They used baby wipes, darling.” Their skin was very red and sore. There was a lot of makeup going on and off. I made it because it fixes things, adds moisture, and gives skin a dewy glow. It makes the skin look fuller and smoother right away. I called it Magic Cream because it works like magic.
Not everyone was sure about the product when it first came out. “People told me, “It’s a little thick cream.” People don’t really want this. And she says, “I didn’t care.” “They didn’t get what I meant by glow either. They would say, “Why are you talking about glow?” I had some people who didn’t believe in me, but I knew what I was doing.
It’s no longer a secret what Magic Cream is. It’s something that happens all over the world. The brand says that one pot is sold every two minutes around the world. Since then, it has led to the creation of an entire “Magic” family, which includes Magic Serum, Magic Night Cream, and other versions.
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A few months ago, the brand said it was changing the formula for Magic Cream. Why change something that people love? It’s a dangerous thing to do.
Take a look at Givenchy’s Prisme Libre Loose Powder, which is a hero product for the brand. In 2024, the formula was changed to make the finish better and get rid of the talc, which a lot of brands have stopped using because they are worried about asbestos contamination. The packaging stayed mostly the same, but the performance changed, and people were quick to complain.
People often don’t want to change things, even when the science is better and the changes are objectively better, because they love the original.
Tilbury says, “The reasons I made Magic Cream back then are more common now.” “We’re living in a time of exhaustion for our generation.” We’re not getting as much sleep as we used to. We are around more blue light and pollution. Our skin’s defences are really taking a beating. I have always said that I will never touch an iconic product, especially one with a huge customer base like Magic Cream, unless I can make it better and make sure that people will love it even more while also meeting the needs of our skin. And that’s what I did.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream has been reformulated (charlottetilbury.com)
The signature glow is still there in Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream.
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Tilbury is one of the few founders who can sell a product like this. But she also seems to care about the science. This isn’t just a new look with new packaging and a few trendy ingredients. The jar looks almost the same, on purpose, so that loyal customers don’t get confused. The changes are on the inside.
“Peptides are the building blocks of proteins. They tell the skin what to do and what to make more of,” she says. Tilbury says that this complex is meant to help with repair and strength. The new formula also has NAD, growth factors, and Pro-Collagen 1 in it.
After using it for a few weeks, I can say that there are two important things to keep in mind.
First of all, I couldn’t tell it apart from the original, so I checked the packaging again. The signature glow is still there, though. It calms you down and is rich without being too heavy.
That being said, this is a reformulation, not a new product (and the price stays the same, at about €66 for 30ml). If you didn’t like Magic Cream the first time you tried it, the new version probably won’t change your mind.
What will the upgrade to Magic Cream mean for the other “Magic” products?
Tilbury grins. “You’ll have to wait and see, sweetheart.”
This week, I’m really enjoying…
Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Hair Bandage Balm (€39.20 from millies.ie) is a great new product that is meant to seal, smooth, and hydrate the look of split ends. It comes in a pot that fits in the palm of your hand and has a cream-to-gel formula that feels just as light on your hair. A little goes a long way. It also smells good.
