Essano has quietly built a reputation for turning botanical buzz into bathroom-shelf staples, charming both ingredient purists and casual skincare fans alike. The New Zealand label may not yet enjoy household-name status, yet its pink-hued bottles frequently spark the kind of word-of-mouth praise money cannot buy.
Enter Visible Repair Night Cream, a title that practically promises a Cinderella moment before breakfast. Essano pitches it as a moisture-drenched treatment for mature skin that leaves the face looking lifted and feeling firmer in as little as two weeks. They lean on clinically backed claims involving Lapagyl, bakuchiol and niacinamide to support that confident sales pitch.
I spent a full fortnight slathering it across face, neck and décolletage to see if those promises translate into noticeable results, and more importantly if the £ it commands is justified.
Disclaimer: this review is neither paid nor sponsored. All views are my own and skincare outcomes naturally differ from person to person.
What Is Visible Repair Night Cream?
Visible Repair Night Cream is Essano’s take on an overnight treatment, the kind of product designed to work while you sleep rather than compete with sunscreen or makeup during the day. Overnight treatments are typically richer than daytime moisturisers because skin temperature rises at night, causing more water loss. A thicker formula can therefore focus on replenishing moisture and supporting the skin’s natural repair cycle without the barrier of daytime pollutants or UV exposure.
This cream targets women whose skin is starting to show slackness and fine lines that a basic moisturiser no longer addresses. Essano cites three headline ingredients to justify that brief: Lapagyl, a botanical extract reputed to slow visible ageing; bakuchiol, often pitched as a gentler counterpart to retinol; and niacinamide, a multitasker known for bolstering the skin barrier and evening tone. The brand’s own clinical testing on a small group of women over 50 reported improvements in firmness and general appearance within two weeks, which is why the product is marketed on a two-week turnaround claim.
Texture wise it sits in the classic night cream mould: oil rich, occlusive and intended for face, neck and décolletage after cleansing and toning. There is no SPF or actives that demand morning-only use so the formula focuses on barrier support and gradual resurfacing overnight. In short, Visible Repair Night Cream is positioned as a single-step evening moisturiser that aims to hydrate, slightly firm and subtly brighten mature skin without the potential irritation of stronger retinol products.
Did It Work?
In the name of skincare science I benched my trusty ceramide-heavy night balm for three days before starting Visible Repair Night Cream, a move that felt both noble and slightly terrifying given an upcoming photo shoot. Fourteen days strikes me as a fair window to judge any moisturiser promising quick results, so I stuck to one pump each night after cleanser and toner, resisting every urge to sneak in a face oil or sleeping mask.
Night one was all about texture. The cream spread easily, absorbed in maybe two minutes and left a velvety film that never crossed into greasy. By morning my skin felt cushioned, a nice change from the occasional tightness I wake up with. That plumpness continued through the first week yet I cannot say I noticed real lifting or firmness until around day nine, and even then the effect was subtle, like the difference between a freshly made bed and one you smoothed quickly with your hand.
Week two delivered the most visible shift: my nasolabial folds looked a hint softer and a couple of sun spots appeared marginally lighter, likely thanks to the niacinamide. Friends commented that I looked “well rested” which I attribute partly to the cream and partly to an unplanned reduction in late-night doomscrolling while testing it. What I did not experience were clogged pores, redness or that tell-tale retinol peel, so the bakuchiol seems to play nice with reactive skin.
Still, the promised firmness boost felt measured rather than mind-blowing. I suspect those with drier or more mature skin than mine might see a bigger payoff, whereas combination types could find the richness borderline heavy come summer. Scent might also be a deal breaker; it is a soft floral that disappears quickly but fragrance-free purists will raise an eyebrow.
Bottom line: yes, Visible Repair Night Cream meets its claims in a modest, realistic way but it stops short of a Cinderella transformation. My skin looks hydrated and slightly perkier yet not so changed that I feel compelled to retire my current night treatment. I will finish the jar, perhaps reach for it during colder months, though it will not earn permanent residency on my shelf.
Main Ingredients Explained
The first name on Essano’s marquee is Lapagyl, a bark extract rich in polyphenols that labs say can slow the appearance of skin ageing by supporting collagen. In real-world terms it behaves like a gentle antioxidant shield, keeping free radicals from accelerating fine lines. Next comes bakuchiol, the plant-based retinol alternative prized for nudging cell turnover without the dryness or photosensitivity that often accompanies prescription vitamin A. After two weeks I did notice a mild smoothing of texture which I attribute to this ingredient doing its slow but steady work overnight.
Niacinamide sits further up the INCI list than I expected which bodes well because its sweet spot is around 5 percent. It is responsible for the brighter tone I clocked in week two, plus it reinforces the skin barrier so the richer oils in the formula do not simply sit on the surface. Speaking of oils, there is a whole pantry here: flax seed, jojoba, rosehip, shea butter and squalane. These bring emollience and essential fatty acids yet they can be hit or miss for congestion-prone skin. Flax and shea in particular score around 3-4 on the comedogenic scale, meaning they have a moderate chance of clogging pores if you are already battling blackheads or milia.
The good news for plant-based shoppers is that every ingredient is derived from plants or synthesised in a lab so the cream is suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. There is no beeswax, lanolin or other obvious animal derivative. Fragrance is present, listed simply as Parfum, and the allergens limonene and linalool appear in trace amounts. These are standard in many scented products but can provoke irritation for hypersensitive skin so patch testing is wise.
On the pregnancy front bakuchiol has not shown the same red flags as retinol, however obstetric dermatologists still prefer a case-by-case approach. Because the formula also contains essential oil components it is safest for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding to run the ingredient list past a healthcare professional before slathering it nightly.
One final point worth noting: the cream relies on potassium sorbate and ethylhexylglycerin rather than parabens for preservation. That will please anyone avoiding parabens yet it also means the jar should be kept away from heat and used within its recommended nine-month window to maintain full efficacy.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks of nightly use here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Rich yet quick-absorbing texture that leaves skin cushioned by morning without a greasy film on the pillow
- Bakuchiol and niacinamide deliver gentle smoothing and brightness with zero redness or peeling so it feels safe for reactive skin
- Plant-heavy, vegan formula with no parabens makes it an easy swap for anyone avoiding harsher synthetics
What to Consider:
- The thick balm-like feel may sit heavy in humid weather or on oilier complexions
- Light floral fragrance could be a hurdle for scent-sensitive users
- Jar packaging exposes the actives to air and fingers which can nudge you to finish it faster than a pump
My Final Thoughts
A reliable night cream is the unsung hero of any regimen, quietly doing the heavy lifting while we do absolutely nothing. After two weeks with Essano’s Visible Repair Night Cream I can say it is a respectable workhorse rather than a fairytale carriage. The texture pampers, the cocktail of bakuchiol, niacinamide and Lapagyl coaxes a bit more spring from sleepy skin and, crucially, it never punished me with irritation. Yet the lift is more gentle nudge than dramatic hoist and the overall glow, while pleasant, stopped short of prompting double takes in the mirror. On my personal scoreboard that lands it at a solid 7/10.
Who will love it? Dry to normal complexions that crave comfort, want a plant leaning formula and are content with steady incremental gains. Who might not? Oily or fragrance sensitive skins that prefer gel textures or completely scent free formulas, plus anyone chasing prescription-level results on a drugstore timeline. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, with the caveat that expectations stay realistic and a backup lightweight option is handy for warmer months.
If you are browsing the night-treatment aisle and fancy a different ride, a few jars have impressed me just as much if not more. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is the dependable allrounder I reach for when my skin refuses to pick a lane: hydrating, smoothing, sensibly priced and agreeable to every skin type in my household. For a spa-like cocoon the Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS delivers plush nourishment with a whiff of luxury that makes bedtime feel slightly decadent. Those who prefer a weightless veil yet demand serious barrier support will find Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue by BIOSSANCE a quiet overachiever. Finally, ingredient minimalists who like their formulas clever but unfussy should consider Night Shift by Stratia, a silky emulsion that punches above its price with ceramides and gentle exfoliants.
I have rotated through all of the above long enough to empty each pot so the praise is born of genuine late-night commitment, not a fling after one Insta-worthy swatch.
Important housekeeping before you dive in: patch test new products on a discreet patch of skin for at least 24 hours (sorry to sound like an over-protective parent, but reactions are no joke). Remember that any firmness or brightness you earn will fade if you abandon ship, so consistent use plus sunscreen in the daytime remain non-negotiable.