REVIEW: You can (and should!) take this moisturiser everywhere you go

This BURO Beauty Empties winner has been a firm favourite of our Beauty Editor’s since its launch—find out why ahead.

In the last year, I’ve been quite the jet-setter. First, a brisk three weeks in the London autumn, then three days in the Turkish winter, a few fruitful weekends in Singapore, and finally, a hot and humid trip to Sri Lanka. You’d think all this travelling would have me looking as rough as I feel, right? Well, no, actually.

How, you ask? I’ve got a secret weapon, and it has seen me through each and every one of my travels in the last year. Behold, the Sunday Riley C.E.O Afterglow Brightening C Gel Cream. We spoke to the actual Sunday Riley late last year in the lead-up to the launch of the moisturiser, and since then I’ve been pushing the product to its limits.

 

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According to Riley, the idea behind C.E.O. Afterglow was to create a lightweight, humectant moisturiser that would work for all skin types. The product has been formulated to absorb quickly into the skin while delivering long-lasting hydration and a generous boost of brightening vitamin C. Specifically, the star ingredient is THD ascorbate, often touted as the ‘gold standard’ of vitamin C for its stability and efficacy. In addition, the cream is fortified with other potent actives to further plump, protect and smooth the skin, such as antioxidant-rich lutein; the anti-ageing ergothioneine; moisturising allantoin; and hydrating sodium hyaluronate. But, is it as good as it sounds?

I’d have to say yes! Applying the cream is a sensorial dream. Although it is indeed lightweight, the cream creates a film over the skin—not one that feels suffocating, but one that instead soothes and cushions the skin, creating a moisturising veil that’ll have you waking up to plumper, more radiant skin. It’s a great companion in our sunny and humid Malaysia, helping me combat my dark spots and dull skin with daily use. That said, I was curious to see how well the moisturiser would perform in different climates—hence, the world tour.

 

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When I was in London, my skin was really suffering. First from the nippy weather, but also from the terribly hard water. I was battling breakouts and dryness from every angle, and this moisturiser is the only thing that was stopping me from becoming a husk of inflammation. I was expecting the need to follow up with several layers of face oil given that the moisturiser was so well-suited to our Malaysian humidity, but to my surprise, a light serum layered underneath was enough to keep my skin from cracking and crusting over. All in all, despite the chilly winds and dry weather, this moisturiser kept me glowing and hydrated and really helped to brighten up any pesky post-breakout hyperpigmentation. 

I was expecting the moisturiser to perform similarly in Singapore and Sri Lanka given that the weather there is comparable to Malaysia’s heat and humidity. However, because I did end up spending far more time outdoors when travelling to these countries (public transport in Singapore is too convenient to pass up and I couldn’t bring A/C to the beach in Sri Lanka), I did find that I had to switch up my C.E.O. Afterglow routine a bit. Rather than wearing it day and night like I do at home or in cooler climates, I kept the moisturiser for my evening routine, using just sunscreen during the day. It ended up being the only product (except for sunscreen and cleanser) that I needed on my trips. Not only did it help to stave off any signs of sun damage, but it also kept my skin moisturised overnight without turning me into a greasy, congested mess come morning.

Essentially, the verdict is that the C.E.O. Afterglow is the moisturiser that does it all. Plus, if that wasn’t enough, it’s also vegan and cruelty-free as well as B Corp certified. Knowing that the product has been made not only to the highest quality but also to the highest ethical standards instils a lot of confidence in me as a consumer.

Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. Afterglow won the award for “Best Glow Up” in our 2023 BURO Beauty Empties. Shop the Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow here and check out the full list of winners here.

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