PR Sample

Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

review cult51 London night cream

I’ve never been a fan of 3D anything. I’m probably the only person who’s seen Avatar in 2D only and then wondered what the fuss was about. Ahem… So, when a cream promises me 3D results, I’m like, “Fine, whatever… what does that even mean anyway?” I don’t know. But the culprit in question, Cult51 Night Cream, has achieved cult status so quickly here in the UK, I just had to see if it lives up to the hype. In this review, I’ll tell you what results you can expect, who should use it, and whether it’s worth the splurge:

What’s In Cult51 Night Cream?

HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN

Hyaluronic Acid is one of the most hydrating ingredients found in skincare. It’s a moisture magnet that draws water from the environment and binds it into your skin. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! Extra moisture = plumper, softer and brighter skin. P.S. Hyaluronic Acid isn’t the only moisture magnet here. Glycerin does the same thing, but on a smaller scale.

Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type

DIMETHICONE TO MINIMISE FINE LINES

Dimethicone is a heavy silicone. No, it doesn’t suffocate skin or clog pores. What it does is make wrinkles look smaller. Dimethicone fills every nook and cranny in your skin, a trick that blurs out pores and makes fine lines look less obvious – for a while. As soon as you wash it off, they’re still there. While it’s at it, Dimethicone also gives slip to a product and makes the texture silky smooth.

Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?

SNAKE VENOM TO FREEZE WRINKLES?

This cream doesn’t contain snake venom. Phew! It contains SYN-AKE, a peptide that mimics snake venom. Here’s the theory: snake venom freezes its victims. When you apply it to your skin, it can freeze muscles, so they can’t contract and give you wrinkles. Just like Botox does. Does it work? The manufacturer swears it does, but I need more proof than that…

The only independent study I found shows that using a cream with “multiple growth factors, antioxidants, and a collagen-building peptide [Syn-Ake]” twice a day for 3 months can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. But the cream has so many goodies, how can you know SYN-AKE is what did the trick? Maybe it contributed a little. Maybe it contributed a lot. Maybe it did nothing. We just don’t know.

P.S. Its proper name (the one on the ingredient list) is Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate. What a mouthful!

Related: Why Is There Snake Venom In My Skincare Products?

SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE TO PREVENT WRINKLES AND BRIGHTEN SKIN

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a form of Vitamin C that fights free radicals, boosts collagen production, and even helps treat acne. If you’ve got oily or acne-prone skin, this is the best form of Vitamin C for you.

SAP isn’t the only antioxidant here. The cream also contains Vitamin E, licorice extract, and more. None of them is present in high amount, but I’m still glad Cult51 added a few in. You can never go wrong with antioxidants. The more you use, the better for your skin.

Related: Types Of Vitamin C In Skincare: Which One Is Best For You?

ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE TO SMOOTHEN SKIN

Isopropyl Myristate is both an emollient and a texture-enhancer. In plain English, it means it makes skin softer and smoother and also makes the texture pleasant to use. Win win. There’s just one little problem: it’s super comedogenic. 

Oh, scientists are quick to tell you there’s no scientific study proving it clogs pores. That’s true. But then how do you explain that whenever I use a face cream with Isopropyl Myristate, I get pimples left, right, and centre? Luckily, this didn’t happen this time. Probably because there’s not enough to clog my combination skin. But if yours is oily or acne-prone, stay away!

Texture

It’s silky and light. While it’s richer than the brand’s daytime cream (obviously!), it is lighter than most night creams and absorbs quickly into your skin.

Fragrance

Clean and subtle. I’m personally not a fan of fragrance in skincare. It’s the most irritating ingredient out there. When something irritates you, this is usually it. But, if a cream must contain a fragrance, at least it’s this quite faint and inoffensive.

How To Use It

It’s the last step of your skincare routine at night (unless you want to use an oil on top, but that only makes sense if your skin is super dry to begin with). If you can, use a spatula or at least, wash your hands before scooping it out, so you won’t introduce any bacteria in it.

Packaging

A see-through jar with a grey cap. I’m not a fan. For starters, it’s not hygienic. Plus, the light and air the jar lets in slowly degrade antioxidants, so they eventually (we’re talking months here), stop working.

Performance & Personal Opinion

I use Cult51 Night Cream every single night for a month. Every single morning, I’d wake up to gorgeous skin. Clear. Soft. Smooth. It just makes my skin look healthy and rested. My fine lines look smaller too. So, yeah, it does an amazing job at moisturizing skin. And when skin has all the moisture it needs, it looks healthy and younger.

But this 3d effect the brand is talking about? I don’t get it. I’m also a bit disappointed about its anti-aging properties. The mix of peptides and antioxidants will do something, but it’s not as powerful as retinol. Use this for your moisture needs, but don’t try away your anti-aging serums!

Related: If Your Skin Is Perfectly Hydrated, Do You Still Need To Worry About Anti-Aging?

What I Like About Cult51 Night Cream

  • Lightweight texture that absorbs quickly without feeling greasy.
  • Leaves skin noticeably softer, smoother, and well-rested by morning.
  • Provides long-lasting hydration that helps fine lines look less noticeable.
  • Layers well over serums without pilling.

What I DON’T Like About Cult51 Night Cream

  • Anti-aging claims are oversold, the peptide blend isn’t a substitute for retinol.
  • The “3D effect” the brand promises isn’t something I noticed.
  • Contains fragrance and essential oils, which may irritate sensitive skin.
  • Expensive for what is essentially a very good moisturiser.
  • Jar packaging isn’t the most hygienic or ideal for preserving antioxidants.

Who Should Use This?

This is a great choice if your main goal is hydration. I’d especially recommend it for normal, dry, or slightly dehydrated skin that needs a nourishing night cream without the heavy, greasy feel many rich formulas have. If you’re buying it expecting dramatic wrinkle reduction or firmer skin, I think you’ll be disappointed.

Does Cult51 Night Cream Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIM TRUE?
Award-winning CULT51 Night Cream works in synergy with your own metabolism to regenerate cells and give your skin a more youthful appearance. It doesn’t work in synergy with your metabolism to regenerate cells (whatever that means), but it does give skin a youthful appearance.
From your very first application, you can expect to see a difference in the luminosity and evenness of your skin tone. Your complexion will appear naturally radiant and even-toned. Yes, that’s the power of moisture and silicones. They plump up fine lines so your complexion looks more even and give your complexion a dewy glow.
Clinical trials have proven – 
Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by an average of 41% in just 6 weeks.
Increases elasticity and firms skin by an average of 148% in 6 weeks.
Increases skin hydration by 112% in 12 hours.
Makes skin look 10% more luminous in 6 weeks (competing against best-expected laser treatment results).
Diminishes the colour intensity of age spots by an average of 10% in 6 weeks.		 I’d be more impressed by these results if I knew how the studies were done. Did they just ask women if they thought their skin look better or did they do any scientific tests?

Price & Availability

£135 at Cult51

Do You Need It?

If you’re looking for a moisturiser for dry skin that has a sprinkle of anti-aging properties, this is a good option to consider.

Ingredients

ctives: Peach Kernel Extract, Vitamin E Complex, Hyaluaronic Acid, Aloe Vera Juice, concentrated solution of Botanical Heteropolysaccharides, extracted from the seeds of the Ayurvedic plant Indian Senna (Cassia Angustifolia), Mannitol, Yeast Extract, Amino Acids and Peptides, Pomegranite Extract, Japanese Seaweed Extract (Wakeme Kelp Canadian Brown Algae; also contains B1, 2, 3, 6 & 12), Amino Acids, Oligopeptides, Noix de Grenoble Walnut provides Phytic Acid and Polyphenols, UC Peptide, Synthetic Tripetide, Liquorice Roots Extracts, Gardenia, Vitamin C Complex.

Aqua, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Faex Extract, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernal Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Parfum, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Rosa Damascene (Rose) Flower Oil, Butylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Trideceth-6, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Angustifolia Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabia Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylisothiazolinone, Pentapeptide-25.