Tried And Tested: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum

For years backstage at fashion week, Charlotte would mix up her Magic Cream. It became synonymous with the fresh, dewy makeup she created for the catwalks. Since launching it as part of her range in 2014, it has become the backbone to many people’s routines. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, £27.00 might not get as much air time as the cream, but when it comes to achieving a healthy glow it’s no less important, we promise. Here are four reasons why your beauty routine needs the Magic Serum Crystal Elixir…

1. It’s Formulated With Hyaluronic Acid 2.0

Also known as polyglutamic acid. This clever ingredient is four times as moisturising as hyaluronic acid, which has been lauded as the heavyweight skin hydrator for years. Polyglutamic acid is an amino acid derived from soybean. It has larger molecules than hyaluronic acid, which allows it to create a lightweight film across your skin’s surface to lock-in hydration. Charlotte might have been one of the first to incorporate this ingredient into a formula, but you can expect to hear a lot more about polyglutamic acid.

2. It Also Includes Next-Gen Vitamin C

Charlotte pulled out all the stops with this serum to ensure it delivers on its hydrating, plumping and brightening promises. Using Golden Vitamin C, this silky formula helps to gently even out skin tone and brighten your complexion. The serum contains niacinamide to help improve skin tone and reduce the appearance of pore size too.

3. It Doubles Up As A Primer

Given Charlotte’s makeup credentials it’s not surprising that this dreamy formula doubles up as a hydrating primer for your foundation or tinted moisturiser. My skin is generally combination-to-oily, so the slightly runny texture of this serum is enough without needing a cream or lotion before my makeup. If you have drier skin, you might need to apply a moisturiser before your makeup. It goes without saying that I would recommend Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream Moisturiser, £29.40.

4. It Contains A Little Bit Of Magic

In true Charlotte Tilbury style, the formula includes a crystal complex of moonstone, ruby, rose quartz and amethyst to help recharge your natural glow. As someone who looks to science for skincare results, I dismissed this initially and focused on the inclusion of Replexium, a renowned skin-boosting peptide blend. But, after a few days of massaging three drops of this serum into my face and neck, there was no denying my skin looked healthier and more radiant. It’s a glowy finish that I have never managed to achieve with makeup and for this reason alone I won’t be pushing this serum to the back of my bathroom cabinet any time soon.