Margys is one of those quietly confident Swiss-born names that skincare insiders nod at approvingly while many casual shoppers are still catching up. The brand has built a loyal following by focusing on science-driven formulations and a touch of spa-worthy luxury, and I have to admit its reputation for delivering polished complexions had my expectations sitting fairly high.
Enter the intriguingly titled Inskin Activ’Night Cream. The name promises action while you sleep, and Margys backs it up with bold statistics that talk about instant lift, fewer fine lines, a brighter tone plus generous hydration and soothing benefits. In short, a single formula said to multitask through the night and leave skin looking as if it got far more than eight hours of rest.
During a full two-week test drive I applied it nightly to see whether it could justify its confident claims, high price, and, more importantly, whether it earns a spot in a real-world routine.
Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored review. All thoughts shared here reflect my personal experience and results can vary from person to person.
What Is Inskin Activ’Night Cream?
Inskin Activ’Night Cream sits in the overnight treatment category, a group of products designed to take advantage of the skin’s natural repair cycle that peaks while we sleep. Unlike daytime moisturisers whose priority is protection against light, pollution and temperature shifts, an overnight formula can focus on regeneration, support and comfort because it is not battling external stressors.
Margys positions this cream as a perfecting radiance treatment promising three main benefits: a visible lifting effect, a reduction in the look of fine lines and wrinkles and a brighter more even complexion. The brand also claims long-lasting hydration and a soothing action for skin prone to imperfections. These promises are backed by a small in-house user test on twenty participants aged thirty to sixty-three, which returned satisfaction scores hovering around the ninety percent mark after immediate and 28-day use.
To achieve those results the formula combines plant stem cells, marine ferment and a 3 percent dose of hydrolysed collagen alongside vegetal retinol and zinc for gentle resurfacing and sebum balance. It is free from mineral oils, parabens, PEGs, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, silicones and sulphates, a detail that will appeal to readers who screen their routines for these commonly flagged components.
Application is straightforward: used every evening on face, neck and décolleté until absorbed. The cream then goes to work overnight while the skin’s own repair mechanisms are in full swing, aiming to leave the complexion softer, smoother and more luminous by morning.
Did It Work?
In the name of rigorous science I pressed pause on my usual overnight serum for three full evenings before starting the test run, a highly controlled experiment worthy of a white coat if you ask me. Fourteen nights felt like a fair window to judge early performance so I kept the rest of my routine identical and logged progress each morning.
Night one delivered what I would call a comfort win. The cream sank in quickly, left no greasy veil and I woke up with skin that looked pleasantly rested. Nothing dramatic, but a welcome bounce in texture. By the third application that supple morning-after feel had become consistent. Makeup went on a bit smoother which I credit to the hydrating base of shea butter and triglycerides doing their occlusive duty without heaviness.
The touted instant lift shows up as a gentle tightening sensation about twenty minutes after application. It is subtle, more like the face feels supported rather than visibly hoisted, and it fades by lunchtime the following day. Fine lines around my mouth softened slightly around day six though the change was easiest to spot in certain light, not the across the board blurring I secretly hoped for.
Brightening proved slower. Week one offered a fresher tone but the larger promise of a “more even complexion” only started to peek through at the end of week two. I still needed my concealer for a lingering post blemish mark so the effect landed somewhere between radiance boost and full corrective action.
On the soothing front the formula did a respectable job. A tiny hormonal breakout along my jaw settled more quickly than usual and there was no hint of the congestion I sometimes get from richer night creams. Hydration also held steady through several unusually dry late spring evenings so the long lasting claim checks out.
Where it fell short was cumulative transformation. My skin felt good and looked marginally brighter yet the improvement in wrinkles and firmness never moved past mild. After fourteen days of diligent use I would award Activ’Night Cream a solid B for comfort and day to day polish but not the makeover level result implied by those lofty ninety percent statistics (maybe I just unluckily fell into that 10%).
So did it work? Mostly yes. It moisturised, calmed and added a dose of overnight glow, but the lifting and line smoothing stayed closer to cosmetic than corrective. Given the price point and the sheer competition in my bathroom cabinet I will finish the jar but I am not racing to reorder – just being real with you.
Main Ingredients Explained
The formula opens with a classic trio of skin cushioning emollients: pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride and shea butter. They create the velvety feel I noticed from night one and seal in moisture while you sleep. None of them are heavy mineral oils yet shea butter scores a 0-2 on most comedogenic scales which means acne-prone users may want to patch test. A comedogenic ingredient is one that can clog pores and trigger breakouts so sensitivity here is individual rather than guaranteed.
Margys then leans on a headline mix of actives. Apple stem cells bring antioxidant protection and are touted for preserving skin’s own stem cell longevity. Moringa seed extract offers anti pollution benefits and a gentle purifying effect that pairs nicely with zinc gluconate’s sebum balancing talent making the cream friendly for combination skins that dread overnight congestion.
Marine ferment extract supplies minerals and amino acids that support barrier repair while the 3 percent hydrolysed collagen sits on the surface to form a flexible film that reduces transepidermal water loss and gives that faint tightening sensation I felt about twenty minutes in. Because collagen is animal derived this product is not suitable for vegans or strict vegetarians though the rest of the INCI is free of obvious animal by-products.
The quietly potent star is retinal, sometimes called vegetal retinol here because it is produced via plant-friendly biotechnology. Retinal converts to retinoic acid in one metabolic step so it works faster than traditional retinol at nudging cell turnover and boosting collagen synthesis. That same efficiency also places it in the caution zone for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding; dermatologists usually advise avoiding vitamin A derivatives unless a medical professional green lights them.
Supporting players include sodium hyaluronate for water binding, tocopheryl acetate for antioxidant back-up and a fragrance blend of geranium and amyris oils that delivers a spa like scent but may be an irritant for the highly reactive. Preservatives rely on sodium benzoate, 1,2-hexanediol and ethylhexylglycerin which keep the formula paraben free. There are no silicones, PEGs or sulphates to worry about although the CI 17200 colourant gives the cream its faint blush hue and could be a deal breaker for purists. Overall the ingredient deck is thoughtfully assembled to hydrate, renew and brighten yet still gentle enough for nightly use on most skin types.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the straight-up rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Cushiony texture absorbs quickly and leaves a comfortably velvety finish by morning
- Delivers steady overnight hydration without clogging or greasiness on combination skin
- Retinal plus zinc keep minor breakouts calmer while boosting visible radiance
- Subtle tightening effect gives makeup a smoother laydown the following day
What to Consider:
- Lifting and wrinkle softening remain modest even with consistent use
- Includes hydrolysed collagen which may not suit vegans or vegetarians
- The price tag makes it a huge investment
My Final Thoughts
Inskin Activ’Night Cream earned a respectable spot on my bedside table over the past fortnight yet it stopped short of becoming a non-negotiable – the main snagging point being the price – it does seem like Margys has truly tried to make the Ferrari of the night cream world.
The texture, gentle retinal and reliable hydration make it a pleasant nightly companion and I rate it 7/10 for the overall boost in smoothness and morning comfort. If your main goal is to maintain balanced, nicely moisturised skin with a whisper of brightness this is a solid if not spectacular option. Those seeking a more pronounced firming or wrinkle overhaul will likely crave stronger actives or a longer visible payoff.
I would recommend it to friends who sit firmly in the normal to combination camp, appreciate cleaner-leaning formulas and prefer a low-irritation route to mild radiance. I would hesitate for anyone on a strict vegan regimen or for budgets that demand dramatic returns in exchange for every pound spent. Given the wealth of overnight treatments I have tested, it is good rather than great.
If you decide to keep shopping, a few alternatives I have rotated through might fit different needs. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream performs as an excellent one-and-done workhorse that somehow caters to dry, oily and sensitive skin types at a friendlier price. For a cushiony yet active approach ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream delivers faster plumping in my experience. Fans of barrier support may prefer BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue which excels during colder months. And when all you want is lightweight hydration paired with a fresh glow LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask still holds its cult status for good reason.
Before you dive in, remember a few basics. Patch test on the jawline or behind the ear, apologies for sounding like an over-protective parent but the extra step can save you from days of irritation. Any gains in brightness or smoothness will fade if the product gathers dust so consistency is key. Finally skin is wonderfully individual and what gives me a gentle lift might feel like a full transformation for you, so manage expectations, stay observant and enjoy the process.