Highborn London has quietly built a reputation for premium, plant-forward formulas that feel a little bit indulgent and a lot effective. If the name has somehow slipped past your radar, think of it as the boutique brand beauty editors whisper about when the bigger labels are not listening. Their latest launch, Night Elixir, certainly sounds like something conjured in a fantasy novel but the promise is grounded in real science: a silky overnight cream that hydrates, repairs and leaves skin looking freshly pressed by sunrise.
The brand claims a parade of benefits, from smoothing fine lines to bolstering elasticity and locking in deep hydration. All of it wrapped in vegan friendly cruelty-free credentials. Tempting, yes, but glossy product pages can only say so much. I spent two full weeks massaging the Elixir into my face and neck each evening to find out whether the glowing morning-after narrative holds up and if the price tag earns its keep.
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored. Every observation you will read is my own and results will naturally vary depending on your unique skin type, lifestyle and preferences.
What Is Night Elixir?
Night Elixir is an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to be applied before bed and left on while you sleep. Overnight products work during the skin’s natural repair cycle when cell turnover increases and there is no interference from makeup, sunscreen or daytime pollutants. They tend to be richer than day creams so they can deliver moisture over several hours without needing reapplication.
This particular formula falls into the category of an intensive night cream. It combines humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate with a blend of plant oils to draw water into the skin then seal it there. The brand positions it for mature or fatigued skin that shows early signs of fine lines, reduced elasticity and dryness. It is vegan friendly and cruelty free which may appeal to readers who prioritize ethical sourcing.
Used consistently each evening, Night Elixir aims to address dehydration, barrier weakness and visible aging in one step so that skin feels more supple and looks fresher by morning.
Did It Work?
In the spirit of hard hitting journalism I benched my usual overnight cream three days before starting Night Elixir so my skin could detox and give me what felt like pristine test conditions. Very scientific if you ignore the fact I took notes in my phone while half asleep. Fourteen nights is a respectable window to judge whether a product is a fleeting fling or a keeper so that became the plan.
Application was pleasant from night one. The cream has a buttery glide that melts in after a minute of gentle tapping. One pump covered face and neck without leaving that uncomfortable film that strands of hair love to stick to. The scent is a faint mix of oat and avocado which disappears by the time I set my alarm.
Morning results were quick on the hydration front. By day three my cheeks felt fuller and the usual tightness around the mouth was gone. Makeup sat more smoothly because dry patches were basically erased. If hydration is your main battle consider this box ticked.
Fine lines and elasticity needed more patience. Around day seven the faint creases on my forehead looked a touch softer, not ironed flat but less shouty. The bounce test was subtler still. I pinched my jawline most evenings hoping for that satisfying spring yet the improvement was the difference between a 6 and a 7 out of 10 on my highly sophisticated scale.
Allergic reactions were happily absent. No clogged pores, no redness, just one rogue spot that I blame on a late night pizza. The barrier support claim seems credible given the lack of irritation though it is harder to quantify.
Did it deliver on every promise? Mostly. Hydration and comfort were standout, early line smoothing was noticeable, firmness mildly better. At the current price I expected a little more wow so I will stick with my usual retinol based night cream for now. Still, if your skin is parched and you lean clean beauty the Elixir might be worth the splurge even if it did not earn a permanent spot on my shelf.
Night Elixir’s Main Ingredients Explained
At first glance the INCI list reads like a who’s who of nourishing plant oils and classic hydrators. The backbone is glycerin paired with sodium hyaluronate, two tried-and-true humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin so you wake up with that plush, pillow-crease-free look. Shea butter, apricot, avocado and argan oils then swoop in to seal the deal, forming a soft occlusive layer that keeps that moisture from vanishing overnight.
Several of those oils bring more than just slip. Avocado oil is loaded with oleic acid and vitamins A, D and E giving it solid anti-inflammatory cred. Evening primrose oil supplies gamma-linolenic acid that can calm the kind of low-grade irritation mature skin often develops. Argan oil contributes antioxidant tocopherols that hunt down free radicals generated during the day.
The soothing crew includes allantoin and finely milled oat kernel flour. Both are loved by dermatologists for quieting redness and itch in sensitive complexions. Green tea extract adds an extra antioxidant punch along with polyphenols that may help rein in excess sebum.
As for texture enhancers cetearyl alcohol and stearic acid might sound harsh but they are fatty alcohols that actually condition skin while giving the cream its body. Phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin act as broad-spectrum preservatives keeping the jar stable for months of nightly dips.
If you follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle you are in luck. Every ingredient here is plant-derived or lab-synthesized without animal byproducts and Highborn London is certified cruelty free.
A quick pore-watcher’s note: coconut oil and wheatgerm oil rank higher on the comedogenic scale which means they can potentially clog pores and trigger breakouts in very congestion-prone skin. The percentages appear low but if you are acneic patch test before committing.
Expectant or breastfeeding? The formula is free of retinoids and high-dose salicylates yet pregnancy is not the time for ingredient roulette. Always clear new topicals with your doctor first.
Last housekeeping detail: there is no added fragrance beyond what the natural oils supply so the light oat-nut aroma fades fast and should not clash with whatever pillow spray or hair mask you use at bedtime.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Two weeks in, a clear pattern of strengths and caveats emerged.
What Works Well:
- Deep, lasting hydration that smooths dry patches and supports a comfortable skin barrier overnight
- Silky texture sinks in quickly so you can head to bed without a sticky pillow scenario
- Vegan cruelty free formula draws on antioxidant rich plant oils and soothing oat which may appeal to ethically minded or sensitive users
What to Consider:
- Firming and line softening are present but subtle so results may underwhelm if you want dramatic anti-aging payoff
- Rich oil blend includes coconut and wheatgerm which could be comedogenic for congestion prone skin
- Premium price point positions it closer to treatment products with stronger actives
My Final Thoughts
After a fortnight of slathering on Sleep Cheat I can say it is a respectable performer that largely keeps its own promises, if not quite the sorcerer of shut-eye it aspires to be. Hydration and barrier comfort are its headline acts and on those fronts it earns a solid 7/10 from me. The wrinkle softening felt more like a polite suggestion than a dramatic reveal and I never quite got the lit-from-within radiance some competitors deliver, yet my skin undeniably woke up better moisturised and less cranky.
Who will love it: anyone pregnant, planning to be pregnant or simply ingredient-cautious who wants a fuss-free night cream that behaves itself on the pillowcase. Sensitive types should also appreciate the absence of fragrance and essential oils. Who might shrug: extreme desert-dry complexions craving a thick occlusive hug, or devoted anti-agers hunting for retinol-level wrinkle rewrites. As for me, I will happily recommend it to friends who tick the first box but I will steer my results-driven crowd toward heftier actives.
Speaking of options, a few tried-and-tested alternatives sit within easy reach of my bedside drawer. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream is an excellent all-rounder that somehow blends rich nourishment with a surprisingly airy finish and it comes in at a friendlier price point. If you fancy a more spa-like cocoon the Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS wraps skin in buttery peptides that visibly plump by morning. LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask is my pick for nights when dehydration lines threaten to stage a revolt while Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Night Cream offers pharmacy-grade hydration plus a gentle smoothing effect that sneaks up over time. I have rotated through each of these and can vouch for their different strengths depending on what your skin is plotting.
Before you dive headfirst into any new jar a quick reality check: overnight treatments are marathon products not sprints, so whatever gains you see will need consistent use to stick around. And please humor me with a small patch test on your jawline or inner arm first, I know that sounds like something an over-protective parent would say but a tiny dab today beats a full-face flare-up tomorrow.