I’ve never been a fan of 3D anything.
I’m probably the only person who’s seen Avatar in 2D only and then wondered what the fuss was about. Ahem…
So, when a cream promises me 3D results, I’m like, “Fine, whatever… what does that even mean anyway?”
I don’t know. But the culprit in question, Cult51 Night Cream, has achieved cult status so quickly here in the UK, I just had to see if it lives up to the hype.
What’s In Cult51 Night Cream?
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Hyaluronic Acid is one of the most hydrating ingredients found in skincare.
It’s a moisture magnet that draws water from the environment and binds it into your skin. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water!
Extra moisture = plumper, softer and brighter skin.
P.S. Hyaluronic Acid isn’t the only moisture magnet here. Glycerin does the same thing, but on a smaller scale.
Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
DIMETHICONE TO MINIMISE FINE LINES
Dimethicone is a heavy silicone. No, it doesn’t suffocate skin or clog pores.
What it does is make wrinkles look smaller. Dimethicone fills every nook and cranny in your skin, a trick that blurs out pores and makes fine lines look less obvious – for a while. As soon as you wash it off, they’re still there.
While it’s at it, Dimethicone also gives slip to a product and makes the texture silky smooth.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
Need help creating an anti-aging routine that really works? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
SNAKE VENOM TO FREEZE WRINKLES?
This cream doesn’t contain snake venom. Phew! It contains SYN-AKE, a peptide that mimics snake venom.
Here’s the theory: snake venom freezes its victims. When you apply it to your skin, it can freeze muscles, so they can’t contract and give you wrinkles. Just like Botox does.
Does it work? The manufacturer swears it does, but I need more proof than that…
The only independent study I found shows that using a cream with “multiple growth factors, antioxidants, and a collagen-building peptide [Syn-Ake]” twice a day for 3 months can reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
But the cream has so many goodies, how can you know SYN-AKE is what did the trick? Maybe it contributed a little. Maybe it contributed a lot. Maybe it did nothing.
We just don’t know.
P.S. Its proper name (the one on the ingredient list) is Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate. What a mouthful!
Related: Why Is There Snake Venom In My Skincare Products?
SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE TO PREVENT WRINKLES AND BRIGHTEN SKIN
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a form of Vitamin C that fights free radicals, boosts collagen production, and even helps treat acne. If you’ve got oily or acne-prone skin, this is the best form of Vitamin C for you.
SAP isn’t the only antioxidant here. The cream also contains Vitamin E, licorice extract, and more. None of them is present in high amount, but I’m still glad Cult51 added a few in.
You can never go wrong with antioxidants. The more you use, the better for your skin.
Related: Types Of Vitamin C In Skincare: Which One Is Best For You?
ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE TO SMOOTHEN SKIN
Isopropyl Myristate has two jobs in skincare:
- Emollient: It makes skin softer and smoother
- Texture-enhancer: It makes the texture more pleasant to use
The problem? It’s super comedogenic.
Oh, scientists are quick to tell you there’s no scientific study proving it clogs pores. That’s true. But then how do you explain that whenever I use a face cream with Isopropyl Myristate, I get pimples left, right, and centre?
Luckily, this didn’t happen this time. Probably because there’s not enough to clog my combination skin. But if yours is oily or acne-prone, stay away!
Texture
Silky and light. Lighter than most night creams.
Fragrance
Clean and subtle.
How To Use It
It’s the last step of your skincare routine at night.
Performance & Personal Opinion
I use Cult51 Night Cream every single night for a month. Every single morning, I’d wake up to gorgeous skin. Clear. Soft. Smooth. It just makes my skin look healthy and rested. My fine lines look smaller too.
So, yeah, it does an amazing job at moisturizing skin. And when skin has all the moisture it needs, it looks healthy and younger.
But this 3d effect the brand is talking about? I don’t get it.
I’m also a bit disappointed about its anti-aging properties. The mix of peptides and antioxidants will do something, but it’s not as powerful as retinol. Use this for your moisture needs, but don’t try away your anti-aging serums!
Related: If Your Skin Is Perfectly Hydrated, Do You Still Need To Worry About Anti-Aging?
Who Is This For?
Dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
Oily and acne-prone skin.
Packaging
A see-through jar with a grey cap. I’m not a fan. For starters, it’s not hygienic. Plus, the light and air the jar lets in slowly degrade antioxidants, so they eventually (we’re talking months here), stop working.
P.S. There’s a travel size available, too.
Does Cult51 Night Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Award-winning CULT51 Night Cream works in synergy with your own metabolism to regenerate cells and give your skin a more youthful appearance. | It doesn’t work in synergy with your metabolism to regenerate cells (whatever that means), but it does give skin a youthful appearance. |
| From your very first application, you can expect to see a difference in the luminosity and evenness of your skin tone. Your complexion will appear naturally radiant and even-toned. | Yes, that’s the power of moisture and silicones. They plump up fine lines so your complexion looks more even and give your complexion a dewy glow. |
| Clinical trials have proven – Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by an average of 41% in just 6 weeks. Increases elasticity and firms skin by an average of 148% in 6 weeks. Increases skin hydration by 112% in 12 hours. Makes skin look 10% more luminous in 6 weeks (competing against best-expected laser treatment results). Diminishes the colour intensity of age spots by an average of 10% in 6 weeks. |
I’d be more impressed by these results if I knew how the studies were done. Did they just ask women if they thought their skin look better or did they do any scientific tests? |
Price & Availability
20ml, £50.00; 50ml, £125.00 at Feel Unique and Harvey Nichols
Do You Need It?
If you’re looking for a moisturiser for dry skin that has a sprinkle of anti-aging properties, this is a good option to consider.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Aqua, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Faex Extract, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Prunus Persica Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Trideceth-6, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Punica Granatum Extract, Escin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
So in the end for somebody of your age, would splurging that much on a moisturizer be worth it?
Hannah, if a moisturizer contains powerful anti-aging ingredients, yes. Wrinkles don’t appear overnight, so the sooner you starting using anti-aging products, the better. You’ll be able to put off wrinkles for that little bit longer.
When I say as soon as possible, I don’t mean in your teens. During adolescence, sunscreen is more than enough. But once you enter your 30s, you want to start using other powerful anti-aging ingredients.