Review: Nuxe Creme Etincelante

I have never really reviewed Nuxe products so far even though I have used them for years, but that's because I wasn't too sure of their availability outside of France. Now they have landed in the US, they can be bought online from pretty much anywhere, so I thought it would be interesting for some of you to read the opinion of a long-time user of the brand.

So first of all, a word about the brand itself. It was created in the early 90's by a young French businesswoman . The first product she developped was the Huile Prodigieuse,a multi-tasking oil that is very practical for active women who are also young mothers, like herself. The public embraced this great product and the new brand's ethos: no mineral oil, mostly no parabens, no animal ingredients and the use of natural active ingredients to promote beauty in a healthy and nature-friendly way. That sounds pretty good.

One product I like a lot is the Crème Etincelante, which is resurfacing cream ensuring radiant and refined skin - think light peeling. I'm actually concerned it might be discontinued in France but it's still available online and present on the US website, so I think you guys should enjoy it while you can.

The product pitch, as the brand gives it:

Star active INGREDIENTS
Hibiscus Flower, Citrus Fruit Acids (Lemon, Orange) and Sugars gently exfoliate your epidermis. Poppy Petals have a moisturizing effect and the precious Lupine Flower oxygenates your skin.

Is this product for me?
Yes, if your skin is thick or if you have blemishes (hard spots, open pores). It is also suitable for normal to combination skins, should they be dull or shiny. 

In short, this is a moisturizer containing fruit acids and plant extracts, that will help skins with imperfections achieve a more even skintone and smoother skin surface.

Does this work?

This is a pretty active formula, indeed. I need to mention that there is a lotion version for very oily skin, and that the cream version exists for normal skin or for dry skin; the one I use is the cream for normal skin.

I do see improvement on my skin with this cream (hey, I have even repurchased it!), even right after application as it makes a smooth even base for makeup, and keep your skin quite matte for a long while.

The downside: I can't wear it on a daily basis, as it makes my skin get a bit tight and sensitive. That's just me, and I guess that comes from the fruit acids. Just like with any type of AHA, I have found I can still use this a few times a week without issues; so typically that will be what I put on my face on a day where I don't wear any makeup, for example.

I must also say that I adore the texture and the perfume of this produt, I would probably repurchase only for that if it were just a regular moisturizer!

The product comes in a 50ml jar and retails for USD 33 to 44 (check out several retailers!) - £23 - €22 to 30. (For once the conversion factors are quite right).

Full ingredient list (and there are parabens in this one, maybe that's because it's being phased out?):

Aqua (water), octyldodecanol, butylene glycol, glycerin, cyclopentasiloxane, C20-22 alkyl phosphate, boron nitride, hydrogenated coconut oil, C20-22 alcohols, xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, fagus sylvatica extract, papaver rhoeas seed extract, hydrolysed lupine protein octenylsuccinate, bisabolol, hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, vaccinium myrtillus fruit/leaf extract, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) seed extract, saccharum officinarum (sugar cane) extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel extract, adansonia digitata pulp extract, papaver rhoeas petal extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) fruit extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) fruit extract, hydrolysed sweet almond protein, acer saccharum (sugar maple) extract, glycine soja (soybean) sterols, tromethamine, hydroxyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer, tocopherol, xylitol, phenoxyethanol, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, benzophenone-4 (sulisobenzone), ceteareth-20, polyacrylate-13, squalane, acetylated glycol stearate, cetearyl alcohol, parfum (fragrance), tristearin, behenyl alcohol, polyisobutene, acrylates/C10-3- alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, methylparaben, polysorbate 60, phospholipides, cyclohexasiloxane, disodium EDTA, glycerrhetinic acid, hydrogenated castor oil, ethylparaben, butylparaben, polysorbate 20, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, retinyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate, ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, ethyl oleate, xanthan gum, beta-carotene, benzyl salicylate, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, citronellol, butylphenyl methylpropional, limonene, linalool.