I don’t know about you but, if I’m going to spend $175.00 on a cream, I expect it to give me the smoothest skin I’ve ever had, get rid of my wrinkles, and make me a nice cup of tea, too.
Ok, maybe the tea isn’t such a great idea just before bedtime, but you get the point. If you pay a lot, you have to get a lot in return.
On paper, Colbert MD Soothe Night does promise to give you a lot indeed. It claims to provide a healing environment for skin while calming inflammation, reverse environmental damage, and encourage skin’s natural healing process.
But, can it deliver? Let’s investigate:
What’s In Colbert MD Soothe Night?
SQUALANE TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Squalene is a natural component of human sebum. It’s super moisturising… and super unstable. It goes badly quickly and makes you breakout.
But hydrogenate it (ie, turn it from a liquid to a semi-solid using hydrogen gas) and it turns into squalane. It’s way more stable and 100% non-comedogenic.
Squalane oil is super moisturising. Because it’s so similar to human sebum, your skin absorbs it straight away. It doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind.
Once on your skin, squalane strengthens the skin’s protective barrier so that moisture stays in and germs, pollutants and irritants stay out.
Related: The Complete Guide To Squalane In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
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SHEA BUTTER TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Shea butter is a godsend for dry skin. Derived from the nut of the Shea tree, this fat is rich in moisturising fatty acids and antioxidants.
Fatty acids are what makes it work so well: they create a protective barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. Moisture is now forced to stay into the skin, hydrating it from within.
FYI, shea butter is even more moisturising than mineral oil (what derms consider the gold standard for moisturisation). Its effects lasts for up to 8 hours, if not more!
Related: Why Shea Butter Is The Best Moisturiser For Dry Skin
UREA TO HYDRATE SKIN
Urea is protein garbage. Literally.
When your body uses protein, it spits out a nitrogenous waste byproduct called urea through sweat and urine (ewww!). Your body doesn’t need it. But your skin…. it can’t get enough of this stuff.
Urea is a godsend for dry and troubled skin. It can treat a truckload of skincare conditions, including:
- Contact dermatitis
- Eczema
- Itchiness
- Psoriasis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
Urea works because it hydrates and exfoliates skin at the same time. Oh, it has anti-itching properties, too.
Related: The Complete Guide To Urea In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
Texture
Its creamy texture feels very luxurious and glides smoothly on the skin as well, sinking in fast and not leaving behind any sticky feel whatsoever.
Fragrance
Floral.
How To Use It
It’s the last step of your skincare routine at night.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Colbert MD Soothe Night feels incredibly luxurious on the skin and does a great job at keeping skin soft and supple.
During the harsh and long London winter, this cream really helped my skin stay well moisturized throughout the night. When I woke up in the morning, my skin was as soft as a baby’s, and the fine lines around my eyes looked smaller.
So far, so good. The basics are all covered, and quite well, too. But, what about all that extra bunch of stuff this cream claims to do?
Well, when skin is well-moisturized, you could say it is in the optimal state for healing faster. But what about its anti-aging properties? There’s a sprinkle of antioxidants here, but they don’t really do much.
For the price, I expected a bit more…
Related: If Your Skin Is Perfectly Hydrated, Do You Still Need To Worry About Anti-Aging?
Who Is This For?
Dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
Oily skin may find it too moisturising.
Packaging
A silver jar. Not the best for keeping those antioxidants stable and effective for long (they go bad when exposed to light and air too long). But, at least, the jar comes with a spatula, so you won’t contaminate the cream with bacteria and dirt. Hygiene first.
Does Colbert MD Soothe Night Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Provides essential moisture and a healthy glow. | True. |
| Our unique Triad Delivery System® delivers essential plant-based nutrients. | It may deliver them, but that doesn’t mean they do anything. It’s the 3 ingredients I’ve highlighted above that do the bulk of the work. |
Price & Availability
$175.00/£135.00 at Dermstore and SpaceNK
Do You Need It?
It’s not a must-have. But it is a luxurious treat for dry skin.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
Ingredients
Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Trygliceride, Cyclopenetasiloxane, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Urea, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Betaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Cera Alba, Lanolin Alcohol, Hydroxyproline, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Acetyl Phosphate, Mica, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Carbomer, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Retinyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Parfum, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Stearic Acid, Triolein, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Citral, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool
The second ingredient in this night cream is cyclopentasiloxane, which is silicone. That is the reason the texture feels so smooth. Unfortunately, it is also the reason I won’t use this. Silicone strap dirt and create a film on the skin that is hard to remove. That can cause irritation and acne. I’m so annoyed that I saw this after I purchased the lotion, as I am quite literally now throwing out $160 with this hat going into my trash bin.
Sarah, not all silicones are created equal. Cyclopentasiloxane is volatile so it won’t stay on your skin for long. After spreading the lotion on your skin, it will quickly dissipate into thin air.