I am a Director‑level personal care formulation chemist with over 30 years of experience, and I have authored a large number of formulas sold at major retailers including Sephora, Ulta, Target, Macy’s, Harrods, and QVC/HSN. Based on that background, I can say that this cream does not justify a $500–$1500 price tag.
The ingredient list makes the issue very clear. All of the ingredients positioned as “active” or performance‑driven—including peptides, beta‑glucan, ceramides, and many of the functionals—are listed after EDTA. EDTA is a chelating agent used at or below 0.10%. FDA regulations require ingredients to be listed in descending order of concentration, which means anything appearing after EDTA is present at less than 0.10%.
In this formula, over one‑third of the entire ingredient list falls below the 0.10% mark, including the very components being used to market the product as advanced or clinically effective. At such trace levels, these ingredients do not perform. They are present in the formula only in quantities sufficient to appear on the label—not in amounts capable of delivering meaningful results.
The actual foundation of the formula consists of standard oils, esters, emollients, and conventional emulsifiers. These are common cosmetic raw materials found in countless moisturizers priced between $20 and $40. There is nothing in the composition itself that would justify luxury‑level pricing, nor anything that suggests innovative technology or high‑cost actives.
What the brand is selling is texture. Sensory profile can create a powerful psychological impression of effectiveness. A silky, cushiony, or “luxury” feel often persuades consumers that a formula must be high‑performance. But texture is simply the result of emollient and emulsifier selection, not evidence of meaningful active concentrations or clinical efficacy.
Despite the marketing story, this cream functions as a basic moisturizer with negligible levels of the ingredients that would provide real benefits. The pricing reflects branding and sensory design rather than scientific value.
Consumers often assume that high price signals high potency. In this case, the ingredient list tells a very different story. This is an extremely expensive formulation built primarily from standard materials, with more than one‑third of its ingredients present at less than 0.10%. The actives are far too diluted to produce results, making the product’s price point unjustifiable.

Holy cow, this one really, really, really works. MBR Cream Extraordinary is exactly that: extraordinary. A little goes a long way, and the deep, lasting hydration I’ve been chasing for decades? Finally achieved. It’s rich, creamy, feels like heaven on the skin, and most importantly—it’s worth every penny.

I’ve used everything….trust me. If you have dry, dehydrated and aging skin, there’s nothing more luscious and moisturizing than using this MBR as your night cream. It is rich but feels amazing, and you will wake up with plump, glowing skin. I’m not sure about the gold flakes or if that makes a difference but when I stop using this cream, I notice. While Vernix plus serum TEWL is good, I find this even richer for night.