'I used this luxe night cream for 4 weeks straight. Here’s what happened.'

Do you know how many creams I have tested in my 20 years of being in beauty media? 

Neither do I.

I lost count over a decade ago. But if I had to guess, I’d say many, many hundreds, if not thousands.

Quite a few moisturisers and serums have been from the brand Beauté Pacifique. My facialist got me onto it about five years ago when I first started seeing her for treatment, and I've used some of their products in my ever-evolving routine since then. 

So, when I was asked to roadtest their vitamin A night cream, Crème Métamorphique ($103), it was an obvious "yes'" from me. Then they requested I use it at night for a month straight. Sounds easy enough, but for a beauty editor who chops and changes frequently, it was more of a commitment than you might realise. 

Still, I agreed because I was keen to see what this tube could do.

Image: Supplied. 

What is Beauté Pacifique's Crème Métamorphique?

Firstly, let's take a look at the product and its claims. The night cream works to target sun damage in the skin's structure and stimulate collagen production. The formula contains two types of vitamin A (with a delivery system into the dermis that was originally patented), which got me excited.

Vitamin A is essentially the umbrella term for retinol (and its variants). Vitamin A is a skincare active, and a powerful one at that. It does a bit of everything — because it speeds up cell renewal and turnover, it’s used to target multiple skin concerns like dark spots and hyperpigmentation, fine lines, mild breakouts and post-acne scarring. It can also help reduce the look of pores, so essentially, it’s going to improve the overall look and texture of your skin.

Because it’s strong, when you first start using a vitamin A product, you need to introduce it slowly so your skin doesn't freak out. Twice a week is ideal, then every second night. Some products can be used every night once you’ve allowed your skin to build up tolerance.

I’ve been using vitamin A in my night-time routine for many, many years, so my skin is well adjusted to the ingredient. It also means I have a lot of personal experience to refer to when deciding what makes a good vitamin A serum or cream (and which ones I don’t think are great). 

Crème Métamorphique comes in a very generous 115ml, which is pretty unheard of. Most vitamin A products are 50ml — so the large size means it will last you longer, especially as you introduce it slowly.

How did you go with it?

Despite being a regular retinol user, I can tell straight away if vitamin A serums or creams I test are too strong or likely to cause irritation — my skin tells me. 

A retinol serum I was trialling a few months ago made my skin feel itchy and really flushed within half an hour of applying it, so I washed it off. This formula didn’t do that at all.

Image: Supplied. 

The product itself has a beautiful cream texture that feels nourishing on the skin once applied. That’s thanks to the ingredients included in the formula, in addition to the two forms of vitamin A.

The brand has used squalane, an oil naturally occurring in our skin (which decreases as we age) and an important part of the lipid system. It acts as an effective 'transporter' for the vitamin A, helping with better penetration.

The addition of glycerin (a very effective humectant) also penetrates easily into the epidermis, making the skin soft and supple, and is ideal for use on sensitive or dry skin types.

It’s used at night on clean skin as the first step after cleansing. You only need to apply a thin layer — a little goes a long way.

Following the instructions, I used a small amount every second night, massaging it in until the white cream texture was fully absorbed.

After the first week of use, I stepped it up and incorporated it into my nighttime routine five days a week, focusing on layers of hydration on the other two nights. Feeling my face in the mornings, my skin was definitely smoother to the touch and overall looked more unified in terms of tone and texture.

When applying it, I used it down my neck because, although lines there are normal and necessary for moving our heads, mine are getting deeper and more obvious as I progress through my 40s.

I also applied the teeniest amount to my décolletage. The skin in that area is super delicate, much like the skin under our eyes, so it can’t always tolerate retinol. Because I only used a very small amount and, thanks to the formula's nourishing ingredients, my chest didn’t react at all.

Big win, as that’s where dehydration lines and pigmentation are becoming more prominent.

The verdict.

At the end of the four-week trial, I’m pleased to report my skin loved the cream and I didn’t experience any flaking or purging, which can sometimes happen with vitamin A. Overall, my skin looked and felt radiant, appeared a little plumper and clearer.

Shop Beauté Pacifique's Crème Métamorphique online or find a stockist.

Feature Image: Supplied.