Confidence in a Cream Anti-Aging Moisturizer
QVC-Cult Richness Pick
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Cushiony, whipped texture that feels genuinely luxurious on dry skin
- +Matrixyl 3000 peptide complex supports gradual firming over time
- +Ceramide NP and niacinamide strengthen the skin barrier
- +Humectant stack of glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen for plumping
- +Shea butter base is ideal for winter and cold-weather hydration
- +Decade-long track record with strong real-world user feedback
- +Pairs well with vitamin C and peptide serums without conflict
- −Contains added fragrance, a known irritant trigger for sensitive skin
- −Jar packaging exposes peptides and retinyl palmitate to degradation
- −Too heavy and occlusive for oily or acne-prone skin
- −Price is high relative to the accessible ingredient list
- −Retinyl palmitate is too weak to deliver true retinoid results
The full review.
Before Sephora took IT Cosmetics seriously as a skincare brand, Jamie Kern Lima was standing in front of a QVC camera dunking a powder puff into a tank of water. That pitch — that the brand’s products worked, really worked, and would prove it on live television — is the origin of everything the brand went on to become, and it’s the reason Confidence in a Cream ever got a moment to exist. It launched in 2015 as the skincare anchor for a brand that had already convinced millions of people through a camera lens. The question with any product born from that kind of televised intimacy is whether the formula itself is as compelling as the pitch. The short answer: mostly, yes.
Open the jar and you get a whipped, dense cream with the exact cushiony feel the marketing promises. This is not a light modern lotion — it’s built on a shea butter and caprylic/capric triglyceride base with cetyl alcohol and dimethicone to round out the feel. It melts in rather than sits on top, and within a minute or two of massage you’re left with a soft, slightly dewy finish rather than a greasy residue. The sensory experience is, honestly, a strong part of the appeal. For people shopping in the $50-range moisturizer tier, texture matters, and this one earns its keep on feel alone.
What’s working in the formula beyond the pleasant surface? The real workhorse is the Matrixyl 3000 peptide pair — palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 — which has a decent track record in published studies for signaling fibroblasts and softening the look of fine lines over several weeks of consistent use. They’re supported by ceramide NP and niacinamide, which reinforce the skin’s lipid matrix and help the barrier hold moisture overnight. Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and hydrolyzed collagen stack up the humectant side, drawing water into the upper layers of skin so the emollient base can lock it in. None of this is flashy, but it’s a well-assembled system that does what a good mature-skin moisturizer should do: hydrate deeply, cushion the surface, and slowly, gently, work on the long game of firmness.
It’s also worth being honest about what this cream isn’t. The retinyl palmitate on the INCI list sometimes gets invoked as evidence that this is a ‘retinol cream,’ and it really isn’t. Retinyl palmitate is a gentle retinoid ester used here in tiny quantities — more of a supportive antioxidant gesture than a wrinkle-active. If you want measurable retinoid results, you need a dedicated retinol, retinal, or prescription tretinoin in your routine. And the collagen in the ingredients list is surface-level humectant support, not a structural rebuild — topical collagen molecules are far too large to do anything meaningful in the dermis.
The harder criticism is the fragrance. Perfume is near the top of the list here, and in an anti-aging product aimed at mature skin — which is often more reactive and sensitized than brands like to admit — it’s a puzzling choice. You’re asking customers to apply a fragranced cream to their face twice a day for years on end, and fragrance remains one of the most common triggers for contact dermatitis in skincare. Plenty of people tolerate it fine, and the scent itself is a pleasant floral that fades quickly. But if you’re shopping specifically for anti-aging because your skin is starting to act up, this isn’t the safest pick. The jar packaging is the other ding: it exposes the peptides and retinyl palmitate to air and light with every use, which is less than ideal for long-term stability even with BHT in the formula.
On value: $54 for 60ml is priced like a luxury cream, though the ingredients themselves are accessible and not particularly rare. You’re paying for the cushiony texture, the brand’s dermatologist-consulting pedigree, the peptide complex, and frankly, the confidence of a product that has survived in the market for over a decade with a huge fanbase. It’s not a scam, but it’s also not a screaming deal — there are fragrance-free peptide creams with better packaging at similar or lower price points if you prioritize clinical rigor over sensory luxury.
Who’s actually going to love this? Dry-to-normal skin, especially in fall and winter, when you want a moisturizer that feels like a ritual. Mature skin that tolerates fragrance and is looking for gradual firming and comfort over aggressive actives. People who appreciate the luxurious-feel-without-luxury-price positioning and don’t mind paying for it. Who should skip: anyone with reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin, anyone with oily or acne-prone skin who’ll find this too occlusive, and anyone looking for a retinoid cream — this isn’t it. Treat Confidence in a Cream as what it actually is: a very comfortable, peptide-supported mature-skin hydrator with genuine sensorial appeal and a few formulation choices that keep it from being a true top pick.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Dimethiconol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Elastin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
The Matrixyl 3000 peptide complex — palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 — provides the strongest evidence for this formula. Published research on matrikine peptides shows they stimulate fibroblast activity and support extracellular matrix components like collagen and hyaluronic acid. Controlled studies show visible effects on wrinkle depth after 8-12 weeks of twice-daily use. This formula pairs the peptides with a ceramide-and-niacinamide supported barrier system, a well-validated method to maintain hydration and reduce transepidermal water loss in mature skin. Topical niacinamide at 2-5% concentrations consistently supports ceramide synthesis and improves barrier function, which is vital as skin ages and natural lipid production slows. The retinyl palmitate is too low to deliver meaningful retinoid activity; the conversion from retinyl palmitate to retinoic acid is inefficient, and wrinkle-softening effects typically require higher concentrations. The delivery system works well: a thick emollient base of shea butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride, and dimethicone keeps the peptides on the skin surface and reduces overnight water loss. This occlusive support is as important as the actives for the "plumped, smoother" effect users report, because well-hydrated skin with an intact barrier looks firmer and less lined. From an evidence standpoint, the jar packaging is the weak link — peptides and vitamin A derivatives are sensitive to air and light, and opening a jar twice a day reduces potency. BHT acts as a stabilizer to help mitigate this issue, but it does not eliminate it.
Dermatologist Perspective
Board-certified dermatologists generally view peptide-based moisturizers like this one as a reasonable option for patients with dry, mature skin seeking gradual firming without the irritation of retinoids or acids. The Matrixyl 3000 complex is a well-studied cosmetic peptide system, and the ceramide and niacinamide support aligns with dermatological recommendations for age-related barrier decline. However, dermatologists often caution that fragranced products require careful use on mature or sensitive skin, where the stratum corneum is thinner and more reactive. They also note that patients seeking serious wrinkle-reducing results should use a dedicated retinoid instead of relying on the trace retinyl palmitate in this formula. For patients prioritizing comfort, hydration, and slow, cumulative anti-aging benefits, this cream fits well into a routine.
Where it fits in your routine.
Massage a pea-sized amount into clean skin using upward motions on the face and neck after serums. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF in the morning, as this cream contains no sun protection. At night, use it as the final hydration step or layer it under a facial oil if skin is dry. Do not apply to freshly exfoliated or actively irritated skin; the fragrance may sting compromised areas. A pea-sized amount covers the face and neck; more is not better with this thick, occlusive formula. Keep the jar closed and away from direct sunlight to preserve the peptide and vitamin A content.
At $54 for 60ml, Confidence in a Cream costs more than drugstore anti-aging moisturizers, though it is not luxury-tier. The Matrixyl 3000 peptide complex, ceramide NP, and emollient base justify some of the cost, but the accessible ingredients and fragrance-plus-jar combination limit its value. IT Cosmetics sells larger sizes that lower the per-ounce cost slightly. The cream lasts; a pea-sized amount per application typically lasts three or four months with nightly use. Users who like the texture and fragrance will find the spend worth it. Buyers seeking ingredient efficacy per dollar will get more for the same money from a fragrance-free peptide cream in better packaging.
Dry to normal skin with early to moderate signs of aging, especially those who want a cushiony, comforting texture. Best for people who tolerate fragrance and want gradual peptide-driven firming and deep hydration. This is a strong winter moisturizer for mature skin.
People with fragrance sensitivity, rosacea, eczema, or highly reactive skin need a fragrance-free alternative. The shea-butter-rich base is too occlusive for oily and acne-prone skin. Users wanting true retinoid results should use a dedicated retinol with a lighter base instead of this cream.
Product details.
Dense, whipped, cushiony cream that melts into a rich emollient film.
Noticeable floral-powdery fragrance that dissipates within minutes.
Opaque white jar with screw-off lid. This jar packaging is not ideal for the retinyl palmitate and peptides; these ingredients work better in air-protected containers.
The application feels cushiony and has a scent that fades fast. Skin feels plump and soft after one use; most users see better morning suppleness within the first week.
3-4 months with nightly face and neck application.
12 months
fall winter
The backstory.
Launched in 2015, the cream became the skincare anchor of IT Cosmetics after the brand built a massive following through founder Jamie Kern Lima's televised QVC demonstrations. It was positioned as a hero skincare product to match the reputation the brand had already built with its Your Skin But Better CC+ foundation.
About IT Cosmetics
Established Brand (5–20 years)Jamie Kern Lima founded IT Cosmetics in 2008 with plastic surgeons and dermatologists. L'Oréal acquired the brand in 2016. IT Cosmetics built its reputation on color cosmetics with skincare benefits and now offers standalone skincare developed with dermatologist consulting input.
Common myths.
The hydrolyzed collagen in the jar rebuilds skin collagen.
Topical collagen molecules are too large to reach the dermis. In this formula, collagen works as a surface humectant. Peptides provide the actual collagen support, and that effect is gradual.
Retinyl palmitate makes this a retinol cream.
Retinyl palmitate is a weak retinoid ester used here in small amounts. For real retinoid efficacy, use a dedicated retinol or prescription retinoid — this product's wrinkle work relies on peptides and moisture.
FAQ.
Is Confidence in a Cream good for sensitive skin?
The emollient, ceramide-supported base suits most sensitive skin, but this cream has added fragrance, a known irritant trigger. If you react to perfumed skincare, look elsewhere — IT Cosmetics' Secret Sauce and Confidence in a Gel Lotion also contain fragrance.
Does this moisturizer work for oily skin?
It works for dry to normal skin. On oily skin, the shea butter and emollient base feels heavy and occlusive. For peptide benefits in a lighter texture, IT Cosmetics' Confidence in a Gel Lotion is the oily-skin counterpart.
Does Confidence in a Cream contain retinol?
It contains retinyl palmitate, a gentle retinoid ester, not true retinol. It sits low on the ingredient list and works as a supportive antioxidant rather than a wrinkle-reducing active. Use this as a peptide-and-hydration cream, not a retinoid treatment.
Is it safe to use during pregnancy?
Most dermatologists recommend avoiding all retinoids during pregnancy out of caution, and this cream contains retinyl palmitate. A fragrance-free ceramide-peptide moisturizer without vitamin A derivatives is a safer swap.
How long does one jar last?
A 60ml jar lasts about three to four months with nightly face-and-neck application. The whipped texture means pea-sized amounts are enough.
Is the jar packaging a problem for the peptides?
Jar packaging exposes peptides and retinyl palmitate to air and light during use, which degrades them over time. The formula contains BHT as a stabilizer to mitigate this.
Can I use this with my vitamin C serum?
Yes. Apply vitamin C serum first, wait one minute for absorption, then use Confidence in a Cream. The peptides and vitamin C do not conflict and work as a strong morning anti-aging pairing.
What the community says.
"Rich, cushiony texture"
"Visibly plumps skin"
"Great for dry winter skin"
"Feels luxurious"
"A little goes a long way"
"Contains fragrance"
"Too heavy for oily skin"
"Price feels high for the ingredient list"
"Not fragrance-sensitive friendly"
