Beauty writer Bethan and her mum trialed the InnBeauty Project duo for seven weeks following the launch at Sephora – here’s what they thought
As a beauty writer, I have to admit I rarely get an opportunity to finish a product before the next one lands on my desk. However, there’s a moisturiser and eye cream duo that I’ve been trialling with my mum for seven weeks that’s had us almost fighting over the final pumps.
In July, Sephora became the exclusive stockist of InnBeauty Project in the UK as the New York-born brand branched out of North America for the first time. The brand has become renowned for their clean, high-performance and refillable formulas that appeal to women of all ages, with some pretty impressive clinical results.
Since their arrival this side of the pond, I – a 27-year-old with an extensive moisturiser collection and high expectations – and my anti-ageing obsessed 53-year-old mum, have been trialling the brand’s Extreme Cream Refillable Moisturiser and Extreme Cream Firming and Contouring Refillable Eye Cream and it’s the first time either of us have devoted ourselves to a product in a long time.
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Coming in at £49 each, both the moisturiser and eye cream are packed with powerhouse actives such as peptides, bio-retinol and ceramides. They’re also refillable making them ideal for sustainability-conscious skincare fans.
Since both mum and I have been reaching for the Extreme Cream duo daily, we’ve already agreed to split the cost of refills. The refill pods slide neatly into the ‘forever’ jars and cost £44, saving £5 on every future purchase.
We’ve found that each tub lasted seven weeks with two people using it every day. This means it would last one person around 14 weeks, working out at 50p per day initially, and 45p per day with the refills.
Both of us have dry skin, and while the eye cream is suitable for all skin types including normal, dry, oily and combination, the moisturiser is only recommended for dry or combination skin. As a result, some skincare users with oilier complexions may prefer a lighter formula.
For example, the Skin + Me Light Moisturiser is a smooth, lightweight cream powered by a tri-ceramide blend to strengthen the skin barrier without clogging pores. It costs £21.99 on the Skin + Me website. Alternatively, Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel with Pump costs £37 and is made for combination to oily skin types.
My mum and I have differing skincare priorities, I look for wrinkle prevention, hydration and anything to combat my dark circles, while she seeks firming, lifting, and nourishment. While usually we’d need to hunt down different products to suit our individual needs, InnBeauty Project delivers on all fronts and works well for both of us.
The Extreme Cream Moisturiser offers a reverse-emulsion texture that feels rich and luxurious, but still sinks in without feeling thick and heavy. It targets fine lines, sagging, and dryness with 7% lifting peptides, 2% bio-retinol, and ceramides to restore the skin barrier.
I loved the thick texture of the moisturiser and the way it appeared to plump my skin while giving it a dewy finish. I personally preferred to use it before bed to wake up with a glow and smooth feel, while mum enjoyed using it in the morning as it provides a great base for makeup without pilling or greasiness.
Meanwhile, the Extreme Cream Eye Cream boasts hexapeptides, bio-retinol, and biomimetic peptides and is formulated to visibly lift and firm sagging eyelids while reducing puffiness and wrinkles. We both agreed this was better for evening use for waking up with eyes less puffy, while keeping the delicate under-eye area hydrated.
Over time after using both products for almost two months, I noticed that my complexion looked clearer, more plump and less dark around the eyes, while mum experienced her skin feeling firmer. I think it’s most noticible on her jawline, while her hooded eye lids look subtly more lifted, too.
And we aren’t the only mother-daughter duo to be converted. One five-star review of the Extreme Cream Moisturiser on the Sephora site said: “The best moisturiser. I bought it for my mum initially and tried it for a couple of days went back and bought one for myself as well.”
Others have even compared it to the Victoria Beckham-loved Augustinus Bader Rich Cream (from £77). One said: “If you are looking for AB level but don’t want to pay the ££ get this. The reverse emulsion makes it feel so luxe. I couldn’t believe the level of moisture on my skin.”
Another wrote: “I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt so attached to a product ever?. In about a month of 2x a day of usage, my face is brighter and seems brighter (reduced redness). The texture is divine, its unscented but has a super mild and slightly enjoyable natural smell, is pretty thick but easy to move around/quickly absorbs, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated immediately – honestly, if I didn’t know the price, I would say it’s an easy upgrade/substitute for the Bader cream.”
However, not everyone has been sold. One said: “I was SO excited to try this that I purchased it the day it dropped on the App. Unfortunately, it’s just not hydrating enough for my dry skin. It does produce a nice glow upon application, however my skin soaks it up and I feel dry again in a half hour. I can’t speak to any of the lifting claims because I did not use it long enough to notice.”
While InnBeauty Project may be new to the UK, it’s already making a name for itself in the skincare market and if two women with 26 years between them are happily sharing the same moisturiser and eye cream, then I’d say the brand is doing something very, very right.