Slathering this on before SPF is a rookie move. It pills like crazy under sunscreen — I learned the hard way at 8am.
The texture is rich enough to break apart your makeup base. Save it for when you’re done with daylight.
Mary & May sells this for $16 as a “daily moisturizer.” The tube claims it’s for both AM and PM — I call BS.
Jelly-to-oil texture
Melts into a protective film in 30 seconds. Too heavy for morning unless you live in a freezer.
Blackberry extract 73.5%
That’s not a typo. Nearly three-quarters of the formula is fermented blackberry. Smells like a tart jam you’d eat.
No silicones
Surprisingly. Most “intense” creams use dimethicone to fake slip. This one doesn’t — which explains the pilling.
Photo: Alexandra Tran / Unsplash
Fermented blackberry is the star — it’s packed with anthocyanins that fight oxidative stress better than vitamin C in some studies. But there’s also niacinamide and adenosine for barrier repair. No retinol, so it’s safe under eyes.
- Fermented Blackberry: antioxidant bomb that calms redness
- Niacinamide 2%: fades dark spots slowly but surely
- Adenosine: anti-wrinkle peptide that firms without irritation
- Shea Butter: occlusive seal that stops transepidermal water loss
Photo: Chalo Garcia / Unsplash
First pump feels like a thick gel. Rub it in and it turns into an oily balm — not greasy, but definitely slick. Absorbs in about 45 seconds if your skin is damp. On dry skin? More like 2 minutes.
Week two my forehead texture smoothed out. Unexpected win: my nose stopped peeling from tretinoin. Bad surprise — if you use too much, you’ll wake up looking like a glazed donut.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
Three weeks in and my skin looks bouncier — like I actually slept 8 hours. Redness around my nose faded about 40%. But my dark circles? Unchanged. Don’t believe the glass-skin hype for mornings.
Photo: ajie wp / Unsplash
Use it as your last step before bed. Your skin will wake up plump, not greasy. Just never, ever put it on before SPF.