Makeup Lover Meg

After using cheap drugstore moisturisers most of my life, I decided it was about time to invest in some high-end, better quality ones – even if they’re not in budget. I love these two brands so thought I’d try out their skincare products and see what they’re all about! The Nars Luminous Moisture Cream and the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream are very similar in look and texture, but I definitely prefer one over the other…

Let’s start with the Nars Luminous Moisture Cream. It retails at £43, which, for a high-end brand isn’t as pricey as other moisturisers, so it’s perfect if you’re beginning to invest in good-quality skincare but don’t want to break the bank. It’s a thick, cream formula that provides the skin with intense hydration, and gives you a beautiful glow. It’s ideal for dry skin that looks and feels a bit dull and parched, and for more mature skin as it has beech bud extract to boost collagen production and firm the skin. Everyone that I use this on always comments on the fresh smell (even though it’s not fragranced) and can immediately feel how hydrating it is. It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave a really wet or sticky residue, although I do find it ever so slightly greasy…

This is a great moisturiser, but I found that after using it for a few days I broke out around my chin and cheeks – I have oily, acne-prone skin and it was just too intense for my skin. So personally, it’s not for me, and I would only recommend this for people with dry skin. This will be a firm staple in my makeup kit for freelance jobs, though.

Charlotte’s Magic Cream is actually magical. I never understood why someone would pay £70 for a moisturiser but I totally get it now. It has a similar look and effect to the Nars one (luminous and hydrating), but when I first put it on I could tell I was going to love this forever… It still provides rich moisture to the skin but feels so much more weightless and not as thick as the Luminous Moisture Cream. I find this is so much gentler on sensitive or blemish-prone skin, and makes the skin so soft and supple. It also boosts collagen production and plumps the skin, giving you a youthful glow. I know now that I’ve tried this amazing moisturiser I could never go back to those cheap ones… [insert flying money with wings emoji here].

So Charlotte’s Magic Cream pretty much does everything that the Nars Luminous Moisture Cream does, but it’s better for all skin types and has a lovelier feel on the skin. If you can afford to splash out £70 then definitely go for it!