GREAT skincare doesn’t necessarily mean expensive creams or serums with loads of ingredients, some products achieve icon status, thanks to their use by celebrities or their great results, despite the fact they don’t look the part.
Egyptian Magic Cream is one of these. Rihanna loves it, Kate Hudson loves it and top make-up artist Val Garland loves it so, in such illustrious company, I couldn’t wait to try the product and bring you my Egyptian Magic Cream review.
I wanted to find out if it really lives up to all of the hype surrounding it, so I stripped back my skincare routine and put it to the test.
- Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay - buy here
Pros
- A little goes a long way
- Glides easily over skin
- Immediately gives a glowing sheen
- Skin feels generally softer
- Gives long-lasting hydration
- Can also be used as lip balm
Cons
- No real scent
- Is quite greasy
- Not vegan
- A balm rather than a cream
- Takes a while to sink in
Egyptian Magic Cream review: quick summary
If you're all about no-frills skincare then this face cream is for you.
The thing I immediately noticed when I opened the box was that this pot of goodness isn't trying to convince you that it knows what it's doing.
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It's confident enough in its own ability not to have extravagant packaging or a carefully curated scent. And on the whole, my expectations were met.
The first, very crucial, thing to note is if you're expecting a cream — admittedly, I was — you may get a slight surprise because Egyptian Magic Cream is very much a balm despite the name.
This texture means a little really does go a long way because the product glides super easily over the skin. It also creates a glowing film so my skin immediately looked smoother, and it doubles up as a lip balm which is a bonus at any time of the year.
But the balmy texture is a double-edged sword. I noticed that my skin felt quite greasy when I put the product on and it did take a hot second for it to sink in.
However, when it did my skin felt hydrated and nourished, and I have continued to use the balm every single day since it first arrived.
As I said earlier, this is no-frills skincare, so don't be surprised by the almost non-existent scent because everything in this pot is natural. And that means no added fragrance.
- Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay - buy here
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Egyptian Magic Cream review: full review
This face cream has had a lot of hype over the last few years, so when it arrived at my door I was looking forward to finding out if it lives up to its reputation.
According to the back of the pot, the Egyptian Magic Cream is based on Ancient Egyptian folklore that says a skin cream existed, "to maintain radiant, healthy, smooth and glowing skin." But how does it claim to do this?
It's made from six natural ingredients, but for vegans, this cream's a no-no because the product contains beeswax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis (a glue created naturally by bees to seal hives), as well as olive oil.
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I liked the sound of the story as a whole but the million-dollar question was, does it actually work?
To really get an answer to this question, I stripped my skincare routine right back, using only a cleansing balm, toner and then this cream to see whether I saw any noticeable changes to my skin.
The first thing I noticed when I unscrewed the top of the tub was that it wasn't a cream at all, but a balm, and I must admit I was a little surprised.
Nevertheless, I carried on, trying to decide how much of the product I would need to comfortably moisturise my entire face. The answer was not much at all. With this product, a little goes a long way.
My immediate reaction when I put the balm on my skin was that it felt quite greasy and I wasn't sure about the texture of it at all. It did take a little while for it to sink in, so if you're thinking of using it under makeup do bear that in mind.
But once it had, my skin felt hydrated, nourished and healthy straight away. The hydration was genuinely long-lasting; my skin didn't feel dry all day.
The texture (which is similar to petroleum jelly) left a film-like layer on the skin while it was being absorbed which made my face look smoother immediately. No filter necessary.
- Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay - buy here
I also noticed how soft my skin felt once the product had sunk in, which is a promise often made by skincare that isn't always delivered upon.
So despite my early reservations about the texture and sliminess of the balm itself, after a few days, I found myself really looking forward to putting it on my skin.
On top of using it as a moisturiser (which is just one of its many uses) Egyptian Magic Cream is also the best lip balm I own. It's natural, hydrating and long-lasting, so swipe it over your lips if they could also do with extra TLC.
And I've seen a noticeable improvement in my skin. I seem to be getting fewer blemishes and I don't have any flaking or dry skin around trouble areas like my forehead and nose. Result.
What is Egyptian Magic Cream used for?
According to the Egyptian Magic website, literally everything: moisturising, spot treatments, eczema and psoriasis, lip balm, as an after-sun treatment. You name it, it probably does it.
Egyptian Magic Cream also uses only natural ingredients so it's a great one specifically for sensitive or blemish-prone skin.
- Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay - buy here
Is Egyptian Magic Cream cruelty-free?
In short, yes. It has the PETA seal of approval so you know it's for real.
However, because there is beeswax, honey, royal jelly and bee propolis on the ingredients list, it doesn't qualify as vegan.
How much does Egyptian Magic Cream cost?
This hydrating hero comes in a range of sizes with something to suit every price point.
The smallest 7.5ml sample size costs only £4.25 and the largest 118ml tub is a reasonable £29.99.
Superdrug sells 45ml for £15.99 and Beauty Bay offers a slightly bigger 59ml for £19.95.
- Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay - buy here
Egyptian Magic Cream review: the verdict
So is it worth all the hype? Well, we all know Rihanna is never wrong about this sort of thing so of course it is.
Despite my initial reservations, I really love this product. My skin is more hydrated for longer, it looks smoother, feels softer and I'm obsessed with using it as a lip balm.
It's definitely keeping its place in my skincare routine and maybe next time, I'll size up from the 59ml to 118ml pot. Because when you find something that works, why not?
What’s the alternative to Egyptian Magic Cream?
Egyptian Magic Cream is more of a balm than a cream, so the first similar product that comes to mind is good old petroleum jelly, yes the same Vaseline your mum keeps as standard in the family medical kit. You can also buy this unbranded from Amazon, pharmacies such as Boots and supermarkets, such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
If you’re looking for something with the same kind of consistency that you can apply as a lip salve, or to dry skin patches, then Elizabeth Arden 8-hour Cream has a distinguished pedigree and has been around for years (since the 1930s). Similarly, Weleda’s Skin Food nourishes dry skin and provides intense hydration – and it’s been around since 1926. This skincare hero contains beeswax, sweet almond oil, healing calendula and soothing chamomile among its ingredients.
Where to buy Egyptian Magic Cream?
Egyptian Magic is available to buy in both high-street shops and on the internet. We found it in large pharmacies and department stores, as well as on specialist beauty websites.
Egyptian Magic Cream is available online to buy from:
- Amazon
- Beauty Bay
- Boots
- Holland & Barrett
- Superdrug
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