On the flip side, the Magic Cream contains ingredients that can be sensitizing and comedogenic, which can cause acne. “I would say this is better for patients with skin that is not very sensitive to clogged pores,” Dr. Evans says. “This is what we would call more mature skin, or dry skin that’s not sensitive skin. You have to be careful with some of those ingredients, like various plant oils, which can clog pores. They have some cetyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate. These are places where patients could be prone to acne, and that could flare it.” 

According to Dr. Evans, the moisturizer also features antioxidants that can be helpful for anti-aging, as well as brighteners, such as vitamin C. “It has a stable vitamin C extract and tocopherol [vitamin E].” However, she notes that some people can also be triggered by vitamin C, so do with that information what you will. She also talks about the plant-based components, saying, “Whenever I think of botanicals and dermatology, I always get worried. I like to tell my patients that we’re allergic to what we’re like. Poison oak may be the most natural thing in the whole world, but people have terrible allergies to it. This cream uses oat kernel extract and watercress. Those could be potential allergens for people.”

Check out the full ingredient list here.