AVON has been delivering door to door beauty staples since before many of us could recite the alphabet yet the heritage giant still slips past some modern skincare radars. Its staying power is impressive
The latest testament is the whimsically named Distillery Sleep Potion Night Cream. The label conjures images of midnight alchemy and AVON leans into that fantasy, promising a crystal clear gel packed with niacinamide plant based glycerine and sodium hyaluronate that blankets skin in forty eight hour hydration for a morning glow minus the enlarged pores
Curiosity won, so I benched my usual night treatment and put this potion through a full two week test drive, keeping every other variable steady to judge whether it deserves a spot on your nightstand and in your budget
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored. All opinions are my own and results can vary from person to person
What Is Distillery Sleep Potion Night Cream?
At its core this is an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to be the final layer you apply before bed so ingredients can work uninterrupted while skin is in repair mode. Unlike a quick day cream it is meant to sit on the face for six to eight hours, gradually releasing hydrators and actives without competing with makeup or UV exposure.
Distillery Sleep Potion is a clear gel-cream housed in a 30 ml pot. The formula pairs niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 often used to help minimise the look of pores, with plant-based glycerine and sodium hyaluronate that attract water to the skin. The brand claims up to 48 hour moisture which, translated, means you should wake with a comfortably hydrated feel rather than tightness or flakes.
The checklist reads vegan, fragrance free and alcohol free plus it has been dermatologically and allergy tested. In short it is positioned as a gentle, do-it-all night layer suitable for most skin types, including those wary of heavy occlusive balms or strong perfumes.
Did It Work?
In the name of skincare science I shelved my long-time overnight serum for a three-day washout period so the Sleep Potion could take the stage solo. Fourteen days felt like a solid window to judge whether midnight magic was happening or if I was just dreaming it.
I applied a pea sized scoop each evening after cleansing and toner, warming the clear gel between my fingertips before massaging it across face neck and the stubbornly dry patch on my chin. The texture was silkier than expected from a water-based formula and absorbed in under a minute leaving a light dewy film rather than a sticky layer. Once or twice I followed with a drop of facial oil to lock things in but most nights I let the cream stand alone.
Nights one through three delivered instant gratification: skin felt cooled hydrated and a touch bouncier by morning. The promised 48-hour moisture is optimistic though. By late afternoon the next day my cheeks were still comfortable yet the T-zone asked for a mist or light lotion so I would downgrade that bold claim to a respectable 24-hour cushion.
By the one week mark I noticed a subtle uptick in overall suppleness. Makeup sat a bit smoother and there was less flakiness around the nostrils. Pore size however refused to shrink on command. Any blurring effect came more from the hydrated glow than from a true change in diameter. I also began to spot a faint shine on my forehead by mid morning which meant those with naturally oily skin may need to pair this with a mattifying toner.
At the end of the two weeks my complexion looked calm smooth and plump but not remarkably different from results I achieve with my usual routine. No irritation or congestion surfaced which speaks to the formula’s gentleness. Still the elevated glow AVON teased never quite reached show-stopping status and the pot’s 30 ml size will vanish fast if you are generous with application.
So did it work? Yes in the sense that it hydrates reliably softens fine dehydration lines and plays nicely with sensitive skin. It falls short on dramatic pore shrinking and marathon moisture. Will I slot it into my permanent arsenal? Probably not though I would keep a jar on hand for travel nights or minimal routine days when simple cushiony hydration is all I need.
Distillery Sleep Potion Night Cream’s Main Ingredients Explained
First up is niacinamide, the multitasking form of vitamin B3 that makes appearances in every other trending serum for good reason. At a sweet-spot concentration it helps reinforce the skin barrier, calm redness, quell excess oil and over time refine the look of enlarged pores. I did not clock a measurable pore shrink in two weeks but the ingredient’s barrier support likely contributed to the calmer tone I saw by day fourteen.
The hydration backbone is a trio of plant-based glycerine, sodium hyaluronate and hydroxyethyl urea. Glycerine is a classic humectant that pulls water into the upper layers of skin keeping it comfortably supple. Sodium hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid, small enough to sit closer to the surface and create that plump dewy finish many of us chase. Hydroxyethyl urea adds an extra moisture retaining layer and, unlike natural urea, has no scent. Together they create the light cushiony feel that never tipped into greasy territory during my test run.
Butylene glycol functions as the slip agent making the gel glide across skin then vanish in less than a minute. Carbomer, sodium hydroxide and disodium EDTA thicken, stabilise and keep the pH in check while phenoxyethanol steps in as the main preservative. Everything sits in a water base with a hint of agave leaf extract that the brand does not shout about yet may lend a smidge of soothing antioxidants.
Ingredient purists will be pleased to know the pot is free of animal derivatives which makes it suitable for vegans and vegetarians. None of the listed ingredients carry a high comedogenic rating. In other words they are unlikely to clog pores compared with heavier oils or waxes though individual reactions always vary.
Expecting or nursing? All components here are generally considered low risk however doctors remain the ultimate authority during pregnancy. When in doubt run any new topical past your practitioner before committing to nightly use.
Worth noting: phenoxyethanol sits at a safe industry-standard level under 1 percent so preservative sensitive users should still fare well. The formula is also fragrance free and alcohol free which lowers the odds of irritation for reactive skin.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks of nightly use here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Silky gel texture sinks in fast leaving a breathable cushion rather than a heavy film
- Reliable overnight hydration that keeps skin comfortable for roughly a full day
- Vegan alcohol free formula stayed calm on my sensitised cheek area with zero stinging or breakouts
What to Consider:
- Thirty-millilitre pot disappears quickly if you prefer a generous scoop each night
- Pore size looked about the same so results here may be subtle at best
- Those with very dry or very oily skin might need to layer an oil or a mattifier to tailor the finish
My Final Thoughts
Night creams are the unsung stagehands that keep the show running while we snore so I take them seriously. After two weeks in which Distillery Sleep Potion replaced my usual rotation I can say it earns a solid 7/10. It hydrates kindly, never suffocates skin and sits well on my occasionally cranky cheeks. If you are hunting for a lightweight cushion that will keep normal to combination skin comfortable until coffee o’clock you will probably enjoy it. If you crave the big guns of barrier repair, visible resurfacing or an oil-free matte dawn you may find it pleasant yet unremarkable. I would recommend it to a friend who wants fuss-free hydration in a vegan fragrance free pot but I would also caution them to keep expectations at human not fairy-tale level.
Should you want to roam beyond Avon’s shelves I have a few tested favourites. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is my trusty allrounder, a skin-quenching blanket that behaves on every skin type and costs less than most weekend brunches. When I am in the mood for bouncy pillowy skin I reach for Laneige’s Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask. For nights that demand a dash of luxury there is ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream whose silky finish feels like the skincare equivalent of fresh hotel sheets. Finally Biossance Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue is my pick after cold windy days when my barrier is pleading for extra kindness. All four cover hydration but each brings its own twist so you can match the vibe to your skin’s nightly mood.
Before you slather anything on please channel your inner over-protective parent and patch test behind an ear or along the jaw. Give the formula a full skin cycle to work and remember any glow gained will dim if you ghost your routine.