"In a world where beauty products have a social media-induced virality that goes as quickly as it comes, it’s harder than ever to sort through the noise to find what really works. You have to take reviews and testaments with a grain of salt. However, you also don’t want to miss out on a product that could be exactly what you’re looking for. This was the case when I first heard the buzz about Dieux Skin’s Instant Angel moisturizer.
If there’s one person who can make a product sell out with a mere mention of it, it’s Hailey Bieber. When she mentioned that Instant Angel was her moisturizer of choice in a skincare video in 2022, it blew up on social media. After researching the brand and diving into what makes Instant Angel special, I was eventually sold by its super fair price. I decided to see what the hype was all about.
When we say we’re obsessed with everything Dieux Skin, we mean it. Below, here are my unfiltered thoughts about Instant Angel after testing it out for the three months.
Dieux Skin
Dieux Skin’s mission is to have clinically vetted skincare at a transparent price. They don’t count on customers throwing caution to the wind when they buy skincare. Instead, they want consumers to understand exactly what they’re buying and how it works. With three cofounders of varied expertise—a beauty editor, a clinical cosmetic chemist, and a career brand builder—they’re aiming to create more honesty within the beauty industry.
My skin
While I don’t have the burden of acne anymore, I define my skin by its two major problems: extreme dryness and extreme sensitivity. My skin is so dry that I don’t think it’s produced a drop of oil since middle school. At the end of the day, rather than having oily skin, it just looks drier and duller. I’ve also had a long journey with perioral dermatitis, which flares up from time to time. (It is definitely exacerbated by using products my skin doesn’t like.)
About Instant Angel
Instant Angel is a moisturizer and a protector of the skin’s barrier. It’s rich and has no fragrance. Additionally, it lacks the residue that many thick moisturizers leave on the skin.
Using a blend of ingredients like phytosterols, free fatty acids, and squalane, Instant Angel provides lasting hydration while reinforcing the skin’s barrier leaving it feeling strong, smooth, and firm. Ultimately, the brand wants this product to do it all for you so you can “Dieux less.”
The ingredients
- 3% Moisture Complex: A blend of humectants and moisturizing ingredients provides immediate and long-lasting moisture.
- 0.5% Dipalmitoyl Hydroxylproline: An amino acid shown to help with the appearance of wrinkle depth.
- 2% Barrier Repair Complex: A mix of Hexapeptide-12, Ceramide NG, and emollients that help repair age-related damage.
- 2% Meadowstolide: A lipid that helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss, aiding in repairing dry and dehydrated skin.
- 4% Phytosterol and Free Fatty Acid Complex: A plant-derived lipid complex (phospholipids, triglycerides, linoleic acid, and phytosterols) that mimics and reinforces skin’s natural lipid layer to help replenish weakened and sensitive skin.
A nourishing face cream that moisturizes and reinforces the skin’s barrier. It’s rich, has no overwhelming fragrance, and doesn’t leave a residue like many other rich creams.
The price
Instant Angel retails for $45. The site provides price transparency, which breaks the $45 down as follows:
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Formula, packaging, and testing: $8.50
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Payment processing: $2.68
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Shipping & handling: $6.50
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Total cost: $17.68
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Markup: 2.55x
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Instant Angel price: $45
The results
I started using Instant Angel three months ago and broke into my second tube a couple of weeks ago. (Spoiler alert: I thought it was worth re-purchasing.)
Because of my extremely dry skin, I’m used to thick, heavy-duty moisturizers, but I don’t always love how they feel on my face. Many leave me feeling like I have a film left over. It makes me feel like my face is sweating even when it isn’t. Instant Angel’s texture is similar to other thick moisturizers I’ve used. However, when you apply it to the skin, it doesn’t feel thick. When I work it into my skin, it leaves it feeling hydrated and dewy but not greasy or slathered in oil.
I tested Instant Angel by using it as a part of my morning and night routine. This is rare for me. Usually, I reserve my heavy-duty moisturizers for nighttime only. However, it leaves my skin feeling and looking so healthy in the morning that it’s a staple for me then too.
Prior to Instant Angel, I was at a point where I really struggled with my skin. Despite it being summer, I felt like there was nothing I could do to make myself look alive. My skin was drier than ever and looked dull and unhealthy. I have had an incredible amount of success with this moisturizer, and I chalk it up to its support of the skin’s barrier. My skin has transformed so much that I actually see a sheen on it coming from within. Because my skin feels healthier, it has also been responding better to the other products I use, like my vitamin C. It feels like Instant Angel worked on healing and repairing my skin, not just masking the damage.
I’m not the only one on the team who loves this product either, “I have very dry skin in the wintertime, and the only thing that has saved my skin the past several years is the Dieux Instant Angel moisturizer. This is the thickest, most hydrating moisturizer I have ever tried, and I have tried a LOT of moisturizers. When I put it on at night, I wake up in the morning with my skin looking (and feeling) glowy and soft. Every time I feel a chill in the air and feel my skin starting to flake and tighten, I know it’s time to bring out this product. I would highly recommend to anyone who feels like they’ve tried everything for their dry skin!” — Emma Ginsberg, Podcast & Editorial Assistant
The verdict
Of all the moisturizers I’ve ever used that have promised me hydrated, healthy skin, this one has delivered the most noticeable results. My skin has noticeably changed since I started using it. It looks more hydrated, healthy, and plump.
For $45, I don’t think I’ll ever find a product that beats this. While there are definitely lower-priced ones on the market, there are many higher-priced ones, too—many of which I’ve tried and don’t work. Especially as we transition into the cooler, drier months, I recommend Instant Angel to keep your skin hydrated and happy.
My rating: 5/5
For $45, I don’t think I’ll ever find a product that beats this.
A nourishing face cream that moisturizes and reinforces the skin’s barrier. It’s rich, has no overwhelming fragrance, and doesn’t leave a residue like many other rich creams.
More products we love from Dieux Skin
I have a confession to make—I don’t really believe in eye creams. I’ve tried many throughout the years only to be left underwhelmed by the results almost every time. However, I do believe in Dieux’s Forever Eye Mask. Once I introduced this product into my routine, my eye creams started actually yielding results. My under eyes tend to be quite dry and dull, but when I combine a hydrating cream with these eye marks, my eyes are visibly brighter and more hydrated after just a few minutes.
— Garri James, Senior Managing Editor
My skin and I have been locked in a constant struggle since I moved from Los Angeles to a much colder climate. My skin is dry, constantly breaking out, and my barrier is totally compromised. Dieux’s moisturizers have been my saving grace. I use Instant Angel at night, but in the mornings, when I want something a bit lighter, the Air Angel Gel Cream is a godsend. It features a slightly matte finish (perfect for me since, in addition to being dry, my skin can get oily throughout the day), is super hydrating, and makes my skin feel amazing. It’s also acne-friendly and wears beautifully under makeup. It’s truly a hero of my skincare routine.
— Garri James, Senior Managing Editor
Get the moisturizer we can’t stop raving about, along with Dieux Skin’s serum Deliverance, which addresses irritation, the appearance of fine lines, and uneven tone.
Save 20% with code EVERYGIRL20
The perfect eye care combo: Dieux Skin’s new eye serum Auracle paired with their award-winning Forever Eye Mask.
Save 20% with code EVERYGIRL20
