published on July 06, 2024 in blog

I tried this skin cream made famous by Rihanna it costs less than 5 and my skin looks AMAZING

A full-on cult favourite, I was feeling optimistic about writing an Egyptian Magic Cream review.

Loved by celebs like Kate Hudson and Rihanna and top makeup artist Val Garland, this skincare product comes with a lot of clout.

But does it really live up to the hype? I stripped back my skincare routine and put it to the test.

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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.

It's confident enough in its own ability to not 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 skin. It also creates a glowing film so my skin immediately looked smoother, and it doubles up as a lip balm which is a lifesaver in this cold weather.

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

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 some vegans this cream's a no-no because the product comprises olive oil, bees wax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis (a glue created naturally by bees to seal hives).

I liked the sound of the story as 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.

And 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.

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 around 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 a bit of extra TLC.

And I've seen a noticeable improvement in my skin. I seem to be getting less blemishes and I'm not getting any flaking or dry skin around trouble areas like my forehead and nose. Result.

Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay - buy here

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.

Is Egyptian Magic Cream cruelty free?

In short, yes. It has the PETA seal of approval so you know it's for real.

However, due to the fact that 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.

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

Where to buy Egyptian Magic Cream

Egyptian Magic Cream is available to buy from Amazon, Beauty Bay, John Lewis, and Superdrug.

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?

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