Charlotte Tilbury magic cream vs Revolution miracle cream: Is the £10 alternative just as good?

Formula

Make-up artist to the stars, Charlotte Tilbury first innovated the magic cream as a primer for models backstage. As word got out about the formula that provided instant rejuvenating results, she bottled it up and it became the first product ever sold from her eponymous skincare brand. The magic cream has since become Tilbury’s bestselling product, with one pot of the award-winning formula selling every two minutes across the world.

Infused with eight “magic” skincare ingredients – which supposedly combine to hydrate, plump, brighten, smooth, firm and revive skin – the cream claims to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles within just four weeks. This is thanks to the holy grail of skincare saviours found in the formula: hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E and plumping peptide complex.

There’s also camellia oil to help lock in moisture, rose-hip oil for added hydration and depuffing, as well as shea butter for nourishment. Aloe vera is also included for smoothing and the frangipani flower extra not only has moisturising properties but also awards the product its pleasing fragrance. Importantly, the cream also features SPF 15, giving moderate protection for skin against UV rays.

Read more: Charlotte Tilbury beautiful skin foundation review

At £79, this is certainly an opulent purchase for most. In classic Charlotte Tilbury style, the packaging is pure luxe with the glass jar topped off with a rose-gold-coloured lid and inner seal that helps keep the cream fresh. Helping to cut down on waste, the magic cream gets extra kudos for the sustainable ethos behind the packaging, with the formula being refillable (£69, Charlottetilbury.com) and the jars recyclable.

Application and results

Using it each morning as a pick-me-up (and wake-me-up), we loved how lightweight the cream was, despite its thick consistency. Massaging two pea-sized amounts (a little goes a long way) into our face and neck in circular motions, the formula is quick-absorbing and has the same calming effect on our skin as a facial does. Within just a few days, it was immediately clear that the cream does indeed live up to the hype. Our skin looked plumper, dewier, firmer and, above all, far healthier.

Tilbury dreamt up the cream to transform dull and tired skin – which, during a hectic summer, is exactly how our skin looked. But after a couple of uses of her magic cream, our skin felt rejuvenated, glowy and softer, thanks to the oils and ingredients that flooded our face with moisture.

Formula

With more than 80 million views on TikTok and a waiting list of 10,000 people before it was restocked, Revolution’s budget cream had a lot to prove. Just like Charlotte Tilbury’s £69-dearer cream, the product claims to plump, brighten, hydrate and smooth skin – promising to yield the same instant results.

A glance at the ingredients list, and it’s clear that many of the hero elements are there: niacinamide to even out skin tone, shea butter to nourish, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, vitamin C for a radiant glow and peptides to boost collagen and firmness. There’s also glycerin and shea butter to plump, nourish and smooth.

Read more: Charlotte Tilbury SPF review

But compared with Charlotte Tilbury’s pot, there’s unfortunately no SPF in the formula, nor rosehip oil or the specific plumping peptide complex used in her cult cream. As for the packaging, the pot feels similarly luxe with an inner seal keeping the cream fresh, and a golden lid topping off the orange pot. But, unfortunately, it isn’t refillable or recyclable.

Application and results

Upon first impressions, the texture of the cream is gooier than the magic cream’s consistency. As such, it feels cool and refreshing on skin, which many may prefer over Charlotte Tilbury’s thicker product. Massaging two small pea-sized amounts into our face and neck, we found we needed less product for full coverage than we did with Charlotte Tilbury’s. Despite feeling slightly heavy on our skin, the cream nevertheless glided on easily and was quick to absorb.

Just like the luxury cream, there was no residue or stickiness after use, and our complexion had an instant radiance-boost. We were pleased to see, after a couple of days of use, our skin felt softer and looked dewier, just like the product said on the tin. Our only gripe was that it didn’t feel – or look – to have the same plumping properties as Charlotte Tilbury’s magic cream.