Annayake may not be splashed across every billboard like some beauty giants yet its Japanese-inspired formulas command quiet respect among skincare devotees. The brand’s reputation for meticulous research and elegant textures gave me high hopes for Ultratime Anti-Ageing Night Cream before I even twisted the lid.
The name itself sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi spa menu, promising to press pause on the clock while you are asleep. According to Annayake, this cream teams a vitamin-rich complex called Vitakyo with a cell-syncing ingredient dubbed rytnium plus soothing almond extract and barrier-boosting ceramides. In theory all that goodness helps stressed skin wake up smoother brighter and better defended against tomorrow’s onslaught.
To see if reality matched the pitch I swapped out my usual night treatment and used Ultratime exclusively for a solid two weeks. I noted everything from texture to next-morning results so you will know if it is worthy of your bedside table.
Disclaimer: this is not a paid or sponsored review. The jar was purchased with my own money and every observation is personal and honest. Skincare is never one-size-fits-all so your experience could differ.
What Is Ultratime Anti-Ageing Night Cream?
This product sits in the overnight treatment category, meaning it is designed to work while you sleep when skin naturally shifts into repair mode. Unlike a standard moisturizer that mainly locks in hydration, an overnight treatment typically delivers concentrated actives intended to support cell renewal and reinforce the barrier during the eight or so hours you are off duty.
Ultratime Anti-Ageing Night Cream takes that brief and loads it with a cocktail Annayake calls Vitakyo, a blend of nine vitamins aimed at nudging tired cells to turn over more efficiently. The formula also includes an ingredient branded as rytnium, said to help coordinate the build-up of new cells so the epidermis acts more like a unified shield. Almond protein adds a soothing element while ceramides bolster the lipid layer that can thin with age or aggressive exfoliation.
The texture has been engineered to melt into skin rather than sit on top so the actives can get to work without leaving residue on the pillow. In theory you wake up to a complexion that looks rested and a barrier ready to face daytime stressors.
Did It Work?
I put my regular overnight serum in time-out for three days before cracking open Ultratime in the name of “science” (imagine me wearing a lab coat next to my bathroom sink). Fourteen nights felt like a decent window to judge whether this jar could keep its late-night promises.
Application was simple: spatula scoop, warm between palms, press over face and neck then lights out. Night one the texture impressed me immediately. It is cushiony but not greasy and absorbed in under a minute leaving just a soft veil. By morning my skin looked decently hydrated although not exactly radiant. I chalked that up to first-use jitters and pressed on.
Through the first week the most obvious change was how plush my skin felt upon waking. The usual tightness around my mouth was gone and any redness from retinol or cold wind faded faster. Fine dehydration lines along my forehead seemed to blur a bit after night four though I needed good light to see the difference. What I did not notice was the “luminous” effect the brand advertises. My complexion still required a touch of brightening serum in the morning to look lively.
Week two delivered slightly stronger results. By day ten I could skip my lightweight day cream because the lasting hydration from Ultratime carried me to lunchtime. Makeup settled less into smile lines and the overall texture of my skin felt smoother to the touch. Still, the bigger ticket claims around wrinkle delay and barrier reinforcement remained subtle. My skin was comfortable and calm yet the youthful bounce I get from peptide-heavy formulas did not fully appear.
As the final night rolled around I had a balanced view. Ultratime definitely nourished and soothed, and it delivered moderate plumping that anyone with dryness will appreciate. However the brightening and firming payoff stayed shy of transformative, at least within two weeks. I can confidently say it works as a solid comfort cream for stressed skin but it does not outperform my usual treatment enough to earn a permanent slot on the shelf. I will finish the jar for nights when I crave a silky hug yet I will not repurchase once it is empty.
Main Ingredients Explained
At the heart of Ultratime sits Vitakyo, a proprietary nine vitamin blend anchored by stable forms of C, E and B group nutrients. These work as antioxidants to mop up the daytime free radicals still lingering in skin and they also nudge cell turnover so dull surface cells are replaced a bit faster. Rytnium, a lab refined seaweed ferment, is pitched as the traffic controller for this renewal stage. While data on rytnium is largely brand owned, sea algae are widely valued for their polysaccharides that improve moisture retention which matches the plush feel I experienced.
The cushioning texture comes from a mix of squalane, macadamia sterol esters and hydrogenated castor oil. Squalane is lightweight and bio-identical to part of our own sebum making it a smart emollient for most skin types. Do note the formula also contains palmitic acid and microcrystalline wax which rank moderately on the comedogenic scale meaning they could clog pores if you are very acne prone. That is what “comedogenic” means in plain speak: an ingredient that can encourage formation of comedones or blockages in the pore. My normal-dry skin saw no congestion in two weeks but oily or blemish prone readers may want patch test first.
Ceramide 2 joins hydrogenated lecithin to reinforce the lipid barrier that naturally thins with age. Think of ceramides as the mortar between your skin cells bricks, keeping moisture in and irritants out. Almond protein rounds things off with a dose of soothing amino acids which is welcome if retinol or cold weather leaves your complexion cranky. There is also dimethicone, a breathable silicone that locks water in, and glycerin which acts like a magnet pulling hydration toward the upper layers.
Less glamorous yet worth flagging are the preservatives and scent additives. The cream relies on phenoxyethanol plus a trio of parabens, all EU approved at these levels but occasionally avoided by purists. Fragrance compounds such as linalool and amyl cinnamal sit near the bottom of the list. Sensitive noses or easily irritated skin should take note.
Animal ethics wise the presence of royal jelly extract means the formula is not vegan. Most vegetarians are comfortable with bee by-products but strict vegans will want to skip it. All other actives appear plant or mineral derived though sourcing of squalane is not specified so shark free status cannot be confirmed.
If you are pregnant or actively trying, proceed cautiously. Retinyl palmitate, a vitamin A ester, is far milder than prescription retinoids yet doctors often advise avoiding any topical vitamin A derivatives during pregnancy. Always run new products past your healthcare provider.
Finally a quick shout out to the iron oxide CI 77492 tucked in here. It likely adds the pale yellow tint you will notice when scooping the jar and has no skin benefit but is harmless. Overall the ingredient deck balances comfort lipids, barrier helpers and a respectable antioxidant charge with a few potential pitfalls for acne prone, fragrance sensitive or expectant users.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here’s the quick rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Silky cream melts in fast leaving a comfortable cushion that lasts well into the next day
- Noticeable reduction in morning tightness with mild plumping of fine dehydration lines
- Ceramides and squalane support the barrier so redness from actives or cold weather calms more quickly
- Elegant texture pairs smoothly with other routines never pilling under serums or sleeping masks
What to Consider:
- Luminous brightening claim stayed modest so those chasing glow may still need a vitamin C booster
- Rich occlusives plus microcrystalline wax may not suit very oily or congestion prone skin
- Contains fragrance and several parabens which ingredient minimalists might prefer to skip
My Final Thoughts
After two weeks of nightly slathering I feel I have given Ultratime Anti-Ageing Night Cream a fair hearing alongside the parade of overnight treatments that have marched across my bathroom shelf over the years. It is a pleasure to apply, keeps dehydration at bay and delivers that quiet sigh of relief you feel when your skin stops feeling tight. If your main concerns are comfort, softness and a gentle nudge toward plumper lines you will probably be satisfied. If you are chasing more dramatic brightening or a noticeable lift you may be left wanting an extra gear. On my personal scorecard it lands a respectable 7/10: solid craftsmanship just not quite the showstopper its marketing prose suggests.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, with caveats. My dry-leaning pals who dislike heavy occlusive balms will likely enjoy it. My oily or breakout-prone friends I would steer toward something lighter. Those sensitive to fragrance or avoiding parabens should also proceed carefully.
Speaking of steering, a few alternatives spring to mind that I have put through their paces. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an unfussy allrounder that nails hydration, barrier support and mild brightening at a friendlier price point while suiting virtually every skin type. If your priority is antioxidant repair with a side of peptides Advanced Night Restore by Medik8 layers beautifully under thicker moisturisers and gives a subtle firmness come morning. For nights when you want a calming cocoon Cica Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE uses centella to take the heat out of redness without skimping on moisture. And if a richer marine-collagen experience sounds tempting Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS offers a buttery texture that leaves skin noticeably bouncier after a week.
Whichever jar you settle on remember a couple of unglamorous realities. First, patch test like I am your over-protective parent apologising for nagging but keen to save you from an unexpected reaction. Second, results only stick around if you do: think of night creams as gym memberships for your face, not one-time miracles.