About City Beauty
City Beauty is a luxury skincare brand with a mission to help women look and feel their best at every age. Founded by Victoria Renee, the company is known for their high-performance, cruelty-free formulas that target common concerns like dry skin, fine lines, and loss of firmness.
All City Beauty products are made in the USA with clean, clinically proven ingredients. The brand has a strong online presence with over 125k followers on Instagram and features in respected publications like Refinery29, Good Housekeeping, and ABC News. Their signature City Lips Plumping Lip Gloss even won the Good Housekeeping Beauty Award two years in a row.
While City Beauty‘s innovative formulas and chic packaging have earned the devotion of everyone from beauty bloggers to mature women wanting to age gracefully, their products‘ effectiveness is backed by serious science too. Let‘s take a closer look at some of the research behind City Beauty‘s star ingredients.
Scientific Evidence Behind City Beauty Ingredients
One of the things that sets City Beauty apart is their commitment to using cutting-edge, clinically validated ingredients at optimal concentrations. Here‘s what studies have shown about some of the key ingredients in City Beauty‘s best sellers:
Hyaluronic Acid
Found in City Beauty‘s City Lips glosses and Hydrating Repair Peptide Serum, hyaluronic acid has been shown to improve skin hydration by up to 63% and reduce the appearance of fine lines by up to 31%.
Retinol
A 2023 study confirmed that retinol, used in the Multi-Action Sculpting Cream, is a go-to anti-aging ingredient for its ability to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture, tone, and overall appearance.
Alpha-Arbutin
Showcased in the Illuminating Dark Spot Corrector, alpha-arbutin effectively reduced melanin synthesis by 40% in a 2021 study, making it a powerful ingredient for fading hyperpigmentation, age spots, and evening skin tone.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Often compared to Botox, this peptide compound found in the Line-Blurring Wrinkle Filler and Multi-Action Sculpting Cream works by relaxing facial muscles to smooth expression lines and wrinkles.
Top 7 Best Selling City Beauty Products
While all of City Beauty‘s products have something to offer, these 7 have earned the most buzz and loyal fans:
1. Multi-Action Sculpting Cream
This best selling body cream visibly firms, lifts, and tightens skin on the arms, legs, chest, and beyond thanks to a powerful blend of Acacia Biopolymer, Biometric Tripeptide, and Firming Peptides. 96% of users saw tighter looking skin and a "lifted" effect after 12 weeks of use.
2. City Lips Plumping Lip Gloss
Winner of the Good Housekeeping Beauty Award in 2021 and 2022, this advanced lip treatment instantly makes lips look fuller and smoother while nourishing with hydrating hyaluronic acid, peptides, and botanicals. Available in 4 finishes and a rainbow of shades.
3. Illuminating Dark Spot Corrector
This potent yet gentle serum combines alpha-arbutin, resveratrol, and amino acids to dramatically reduce the look of age spots, acne scars, melasma, and other types of hyperpigmentation on the face, hands, and chest. 90% saw a decrease in dark spots after 12 weeks.
4. Line-Blurring Wrinkle Filler
Think of this as the perfect combo of skincare and makeup. Optical diffusers and diamond powder instantly blur lines and imperfections while acetyl hexapeptide-8 and skin-restoring ceramides provide long-term wrinkle smoothing benefits with continued use.
5. InvisiCrepe Body Balm
A body care essential for crepey, dry, or sagging skin, this rich balm is supercharged with niacinamide, lipid compounds, and ribose to deeply hydrate and make skin look firmer, smoother, and more youthful from neck to toe.
6. Hydrating Repair Peptide Serum
Like a big drink of water for your skin, this lightweight but deeply moisturizing serum plumps fine lines and revives a dewy glow with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and gluconolactone. In a clinical study, 100% of participants had more hydrated skin after 8 weeks.
7. Under Eye Recovery
This advanced eye treatment is a customer favorite for making the orbital area look brighter, tighter, and revived thanks to a synergistic blend of peptides, caffeine, and soothing antioxidants. 93% saw an improvement in under eye bags and dark circles.
Pros and Cons of City Beauty
As with any skincare line, City Beauty has its share of pros and cons. Let‘s weigh them out:
Pros
- Products contain proven, high-quality ingredients at effective concentrations
- Formulas are tailored to the needs of mature skin but beneficial for all ages
- Noticeable results with consistent use according to customer reviews and clinical studies
- Cruelty-free and made without parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, or phthalates
- 60 day money back guarantee if not satisfied
- Subscribe and save 11% on every order
Cons
- Luxury pricing may not fit everyone‘s budget
- Some products contain fragrance additives which may not be suitable for sensitive skin
- Can only be purchased through City Beauty website or select retailers
- Some customers report difficulty reaching customer service for returns
What Do Real Customers Think?
City Beauty gets a lot of love online, maintaining strong 4-5 star ratings across review platforms:
- Trustpilot: 4.3/5 stars from 2,407 reviews
- Better Business Bureau: A+ rating, 4.4/5 stars from 2,411 reviews
- SiteJabber: 4.3/5 stars from 1,348 reviews
The vast majority of customers report seeing a visible improvement in concerns like wrinkles, sagging, and skin texture with consistent use of City Beauty products. A few product standouts in terms of rave reviews include the City Lips Lip Plumpers, Multi-Action Sculpting Cream, and Line-Blurring Wrinkle Filler.
The small percentage of negative reviews tend to reference issues with customer service, product returns, or the price rather than the products‘ effectiveness. However, it‘s worth noting that City Beauty offers a 60-day, no-questions-asked return policy on all orders.
Are City Beauty Products Clean?
While City Beauty does not explicitly market themselves as "clean", they do have a detailed page on their website outlining their product philosophy and ingredients standards. All products are formulated without:
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Sulfates
- Mineral oil
- Triclosan
- Formaldehyde
- Synthetic fragrance
- Cruelty
They also use organic ingredients whenever possible and all products are allergy and dermatologist tested. So while not 100% natural or organic, City Beauty does seem to abide by most "clean beauty" standards in formulating their products without known toxins or skin irritants.
Who Should Use City Beauty?
City Beauty‘s products are formulated with mature skin in mind, targeting concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and age spots that tend to crop up in our 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. However, the products can be beneficial for anyone looking to protect and strengthen their skin.
The only exception would be those with ultra sensitive skin or certain skin conditions, as some of the products contain potent actives and natural fragrances that could potentially cause irritation. When in doubt, it‘s always a good idea to patch test a product on your inner arm and consult your dermatologist, especially if you have a history of sensitive skin or allergies.
How Much Do City Beauty Products Cost?
There‘s no denying that City Beauty products are a bit of a splurge, with prices ranging from $35 for a lip gloss to $129 for an advanced anti-aging serum. However, they do occasionally offer discounts and special promotions.
You can also save 11% on every order when you sign up for their subscribe and save program, which automatically sends out a new bottle every 30, 45, or 60 days. The subscription can be modified or canceled anytime.
City Beauty vs. Other Mature Skin Brands
Wondering how City Beauty stacks up to other luxury skincare brands for aging skin? Here are a few key points of comparison:
SkinMedica
- Medical grade skincare brand founded by dermatologists
- Offers a wider range of products including peels and masks
- Slightly higher price point ($80-$300+)
- Only sold through authorized medical providers and spas
SkinCeuticals
- Cosmeceutical brand born from decades of skin cancer research
- Specializes in advanced vitamin C serums and antioxidant formulas
- Prices range from $30 to $300+
- Sold online and through dermatology offices
Paula‘s Choice
- Cruelty-free, fragrance-free brand for all ages and skin types
- Offers one of the largest selections of leave-on exfoliants
- More affordable, with most products under $50
- Available internationally through their website and retailers like Sephora and Nordstrom
While all of these are well respected brands with science-backed formulas, City Beauty stands out for their luxurious textures, targeted formulas for mature skin, and signature products like City Lips. They also tend to get a slight edge in customer reviews and clinical results.
Final Thoughts: Are City Beauty Products Worth It?
After thoroughly analyzing City Beauty‘s brand philosophy, product formulations, clinical studies, and real customer reviews, I feel confident concluding that their products are indeed worth the hype and price tag for those who are serious about their skincare and willing to invest in high-quality formulas.
While no product will work miracles overnight, the overwhelming majority of City Beauty customers report seeing a noticeable improvement in skin tone, texture, and firmness with consistent use over several weeks, and the before and after photos are very compelling.
I appreciate that City Beauty takes a science-first approach, backing up their claims with clinical studies and using proven active ingredients like retinol and peptides rather than just pretty packaging and marketing. The 60-day satisfaction guarantee is also a huge plus, making it a low-risk way to find out if City Beauty‘s products will work for your unique skin.
The main drawbacks are the high price point and lack of accessibility outside of their website. If you‘re on a tight budget, I would recommend starting with just one or two products that target your main skin concerns rather than splurging on the whole line at once. The subscription program is also an easy way to save if you plan to purchase regularly.
The bottom line is that while everyone‘s skin is different, City Beauty offers some of the most potent and thoughtfully-formulated products I‘ve seen for mature skin, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to my closest friends and family. If you‘ve been curious to try them for yourself, I say go for it—your skin will thank you!
Want to learn more or read reviews of a specific City Beauty product? Check out their website at CityBeauty.com.
Note: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a dermatologist or physician before starting any new treatment.
