HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
If there’s one skin care product that I know the most about, it’s moisturizer. My chronically dry and sensitive skin has made me a moisturizer-testing machine, with countless formulas tried, from luxury preparations to drugstore heroes. I’ve had my fair share of honorable mentions, but this one affordable firming cream for the face is by far my favorite (find out my favorite moisturizer for the body here). And after a few months of being sold out, it’s finally back in stock.
Made and sold by Sephora, this night cream might be easily overlooked and therefore a true hidden gem. And with a price tag that’s just $20, you would assume that you would be missing out on quality or effective ingredients, but I’m here to promise you that you’re absolutely not.
It’s crafted in France, the birthplace of some of the fanciest and most expensive creams out there. (You won’t see this information on the product page, but it’s printed on the product packaging based on the jar that I currently have in my possession.) The cream feels fancy and expensive too. The texture is dense and occlusive, but don’t let the heavy feel fool you. This moisturizer absorbs into the skin beautifully, without a greasy aftermath or product pilling. It genuinely leaves my rough and bumpy skin feeling supple, plump and most importantly, comfortable.
In terms of ingredients, the $20 Sephora cream is on par with some other luxury and clinical formulations.
Like Biossance’s $56 option, it contains a combination of marine algae and peptides, which are a type of protein that may boost collagen and elastin production, resulting in skin that appears more lifted, feels firmer and with smoother fine lines.
Other noteworthy ingredients include antioxidant-rich jojoba oil that can help combat visible signs of premature aging (like DHC’s $46 face cream), plus a generous trifecta of glycerides, otherwise known as lipids capable of replenishing the skin and preventing moisture loss. All for a non-luxury price.
The firming peptide cream also adheres to Sephora’s “Clean” commitment, a banner that the retailer gives to products that “go beyond regulatory standards to avoid controversial ingredients without sacrificing effectiveness,” according to the website. It’s also an unscented formula so it promises to be safe for sensitive skin, a claim that I can personally attest to.
I use this only at night, as the brand intended, only because I do think it would be a bit too heavy for daytime use. I apply it as the last step in my routine and after all of my actives, like retinol or my lactic acid serums, without any kind of ingredient conflict.
I hope I won’t live to regret revealing one of my best-kept beauty product secrets but based on the bevy of promising reviews listed on the Sephora website, other people have already caught on to this peptide cream’s brilliance. One 65-year-old reviewer claims that, with this moisturizer, their skin stays smooth and “seems to resist wrinkles.” Other reviewers validate my insistence that it performs just as well as high-end night creams.
See these promising reviews for yourself down below or try the Sephora cream for yourself before it sells out again.
“I’ve been using this moisturizer for half a year, and I am loving it! It’s unscented, which is nice because it doesn’t conflict with other scented products I’m using, and it’s thick and creamy but still works into my skin easily. I also use it to moisturize over my tattoo to keep it looking gorgeous. Honestly a steal for the price.” — TheDamselfly
“This is such a hidden gem. I live in the desert and between convection oven winds, sun, and cranked office A/C, my skin can get dry af. This is a wonderful night time moisturizer. She thick. Like THICK. My skin looks noticeably more hydrated in the morning after I use this. Especially under my eyes and around my mouth. It has no scent and doesn’t det down sticky. I’m 34 and have some cute fine lines. They’ve been looking more plump since I started using this about a month and a half ago. Also, I have combo skin and don’t notice any additional oily spots even with this being so juicy. This is going to be a staple product in my skincare now.” — TinyUglyFace
“I have a ton of high dollar night creams and moisturizers but this one is my absolute favorite. So good for my very dry skin, can be used with a variety of serums and eye creams without pilling. My skin feels soft and supple in the morning, not greasy at all.” — Victoria3586
“This is my go-to for night cream. Haven’t used anything else for years because this stuff works! Smooth skin that seems to resist wrinkles on an almost 65 year old face. And the price fits well into my budget.” — PhoenixFace