Is This $1,000 Moisturizer Worth the Splurge?
Pros:
Intensely hydrates
Gently exfoliates and brightens
Improves elasticity, texture, and tone
Smooths skin
Cons:
$995 for about 1.7 ounces—it’s an investment product
Needs to be emulsified
Takes a few minutes to absorb
We’re no stranger to luxury here at BAZAAR.com. But despite the price tag, the one thing we look for in a skincare product—from drugstore to designer—is results. It’s not often a cream just shy of $1,000 lands on my desk, so I jumped at the opportunity to test 111SKIN’s Celestial Black Diamond Cream. At $995 per jar, I had to know if this rich (literally) cream was really worth the splurge. As the weather just changed from fall to bitter cold, I figured it was as good a time as any to add it to my routine.
111SKIN is known for its indulgent sheet masks, serums, creams, and more, which are beloved by stars like Sara Sampaio and Georgia Fowler. The Celestial Black Diamond Cream comes in a heavy black jar and is accompanied by a small scooping tool with a cooling circular metal tip.
It contains the brand’s key ingredient NAC Y², which was created with biochemical engineers who tested components of the ingredient on astronauts in space (hence the name). Apparently, skin ages more rapidly in space, and the engineers saw dramatic results in improving cellular turnover and targeting signs of premature aging. The addition of diamond particles (from Earth) helps gently exfoliate, and there's also classic plumping and brightening ingredients like retinyl palmitate, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, and licorice root in the cream.
From the packaging to the high-tech ingredients, this decadent moisturizer is as extravagant as it gets. Although gifting skincare can be tricky, this cream is perfect for anyone with dry skin and a flair for the finer things in life.
How I Tested It
I have combination skin, so I don’t typically gravitate toward super-rich creams. My normal routine is to layer on hydrating, nourishing serums and top them with a lighter moisturizer. But since getting the 111SKIN jar in my hands in September, I used it every night for more than six weeks—just in time for transitional weather to wreak havoc on my skin.
I applied the cream as the last step after my evening serum lineup, which switches from exfoliating formulas to retinol to peptide-filled treatments. As soon as I used the applicator to scoop out a pea-sized amount of product (this amount covered my face, neck, and décolletage), I could tell the texture was rich and plush. The thick white cream smelled like clean linens—fresh but not overpowering—and it didn’t irritate my skin. I applied it upward in circular motions per the instructions.
Ease of Use
You know that feeling when you’re applying sunscreen and it won’t fully absorb into your skin? That was my initial reaction to the Celestial Black Diamond Cream. But I quickly learned that the product first needs to be emulsified between the palms of my hands for a few seconds. Once I emulsified and warmed the cream, it easily spread across my face and absorbed into my skin in seconds. Thick creams typically conjure greasy skin, but this one left my skin slightly mattified, soft, and bouncy.
Price/Value
There’s no arguing this cream is very expensive. But considering you are using a small amount—even less than you would with a typical cream since emulsifying it thins out the formula to cover more surface area—it lasts you a while. After about two months of using it every night and applying it very generously from the top of my forehead to my décolleté, I’m still not halfway done with the jar. It’s an investment, but one that we all deserve—especially around the holidays.
The Verdict
111SKIN markets this cream as a brightener, and I’d agree; it did just that to my skin overall. It won’t magically fade dark spots, but I definitely looked more luminous in just a few uses. After slathering it on my face at night, the moisturizer left a cushiony finish that blurred any texture and made my skin feel as expensive as the cream itself.
Final Rating: 4.0
If money is no object when it comes to skincare, or you’re looking for a gift that will surely impress, then the Celestial Black Diamond Cream is perfect for you. By the way, 111SKIN also makes a Celestial Black Diamond Body Cream (for a fraction of the price!), and it’s just a luxurious as the face version.
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