Exclusive: I Tried Peach & Lily’s New Zombie Cream and My Skin Looked Plumper In One Week

4 min readAS AN ADULT acne warrior, I’m very sensitive to moisturizers. My oily complexion needs the perfect balance: something hydrating enough not to leave my skin parched, yet not so rich that I feel I need to wash my face right away after applying it. Enter the Peach & Lily Advanced Rebound Bioglow Zombie Cream. This brand-new face cream promises to target signs of senescent (zombie) cells, to help my skin look younger.ProsHydrating and non-greasyMakeup applies smootherAcne clears up quickerDoesn't pillKey SpecsSkin TypesDry, normal, combination, oilyIngredientsGlycerin, sodium hyaluronate, polyglutamic acid, ceramides, squalane Size50ml (1.7 oz)What Are Zombie Cells?Zombie cells are similar to damaged employees who aren’t doing their jobs but refuse to leave the office, says dermatologist Nicole Ruth, DO. “Instead of quietly retiring, they remain in the workplace and send out disruptive messages that interfere with everyone around them,” she tells me. In other words, zombie cells release harmful inflammatory signals that can damage healthy skin cells and structures that keep my skin firm and resilient.What I LikeWith that in mind, I was excited to see if targeting zombie cells would make a visible change in my own skin. I’ve been using the Peach & Lily cream as my nightly moisturizer for a week. I swapped it out for my beloved (but a bit heavy) Sonsie hydrating cream. And while it’s still early—I’m a big believer in giving something the full bottle as a fair trial—I have to say, I’m impressed. Which doesn’t come easily since I’ve been reviewing beauty products on and off for a decade as an editor.Over the past week, I’ve noticed my skin feels bouncier. Makeup sits more smoothly on my skin, and even my pesky breakouts seem to be recovering faster. I only need to use a pimple patch one time versus my usual week-long regimen.SHOP PEACH & LILYIt Seamlessly Fits Into My RoutineBecause it’s summer and I’m a religious Differin gel user, I always have to make sure I’m wearing sunscreen during these months. I’m pretty good about it and even make sure to use it when stepping out to walk the dog. While other moisturizers sometimes feel too heavy underneath my beloved Elta MD sunscreen, I’ve noticed the Peach & Lily Advanced Bioglow Zombie Cream doesn’t. It leaves my skin moisturized enough that my daily sunscreen doesn’t pill, but it’s not so oily that creases appear immediately.The TextureThe consistency doesn’t feel too heavy when I touch the bouncy, creamy texture. When I first got it, I worried I might need a thicker layer, but a pea-sized amount of product has been the perfect amount of moisturizing and glowy.The ScienceAs a science girly, I was also pretty impressed by the data behind the product. According to the brand, people who used the cream reported that their skin appeared six years younger in two weeks, with skin appearing nine years younger after three months. While I can’t say with certainty that my skin is say, three years younger in the week I’ve used it, I do think my complexion 100% looks better. I look more fresh-faced in the mirror, and my skin also just feels better—whether it’s the end of the day and I’m washing my makeup off or putting on sunscreen to run errands or do a night of full glam. It almost feels like there’s more plumpness to my skin.Impressive IngredientsPeach & Lily's proprietary 6.1% Tri-Senolytic System is designed to visibly minimize the effects of zombie cells through three steps: Clear, calm, and rebuild. While the science behind senolytic skincare is promising, it’s still an emerging area of research, according to Dr. Ruth. Most topical claims are from manufacturer-sponsored testing rather than large, independent, peer-reviewed clinical trials that show creams clear zombie cells in living facial skin, she adds.That said, Peach & Lily’s doesn’t rely solely on it’s zombie cell claims. Alongside its patent-pending blend are well-established skincare ingredients. Notably, a trifecta of glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and polyglutamic acid are humectants attracting water to the skin, while ceramides and squalane help strengthen my skin barrier. It’s also packed with ectoin, which has moisturizing and barrier-supportive properties, notes Dr. Ruth. Ectoin has been studied in formulations for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin.Thanks to what’s likely a gentler combination of humectant and barrier-supporting ingredients, my face still feels softer and looks more youthful.What I Don’t LikeAt $59, this is Peach & Lily’s priciest individual product—I definitely had sticker shock. (The brand also sells an eight-piece bundle that’ll set you back $285. Santa, are you taking notes?) Spending nearly $60 on myself is a lot and way more than I'd pay for a brand-new, non cult-status cream. I was even hesitant to even try the $32 OUAI Fine Hair Shampoo that’s become my new daily must-have.After getting over the cost of Peach & Lily, I realized its packaging helps justify the cost. The heavy jar feels like expensive glass rather than cheap plastic of my usual drugstore products. Plus, the pretty coral and peach design looks good on my shelf. Because let’s be honest: Who doesn’t love pretty packaging? FWIW, the combination of ingredients and my positive testing make it easier to help treat myself to this cream.Final ThoughtsIt’s not easy discovering a face cream that rebalances my oily, acne-prone skin without feeling overly greasy. I’d prefer not looking like a disco ball in Ibiza most of the time. After just one week of testing, Peach & Lily has already exceeded my expectations. It’s actually enjoyable to apply each night, and my skin soaks it up quickly, securing it a spot in my summer beauty routine.SHOP PEACH & LILYMore Expert-Vetted Skincare ProductsI’m still sticking with my jar of Peach & Lily face cream, but if you’re open to other anti-aging products consider these dermatologist recommendations. I chatted with Dr. Ruth and her fellow dermatologist Hadley King, MD, for the low down on their suggestions, including a luxurious $220 face cream from G.M. Collin.Hydrating Daily MoisturizerG.M. Collin G.F. Repair CreamDr. Ruth suggests the G.F. Repair line for its mix of growth factors and exosomes. This rich and velvety face cream melts into the skin without leaving behind a pesky film. It can be applied twice daily to help improve hydration, skin texture, and fine lines, she notes. This face cream is also fragrance-free which is ideal if you have a sensitive nose.Bioelements Peptide ArchitectDr. King prefers Bioelements because it contains trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2, which she says may delay the production of progerin protein that contributes to aging when it accumulates. The marine collagen peptide supports collagen, density, firmness, elasticity, and the skin barrier.Carina Hsieh, MPH, is the deputy features editor of Women’s Health. She has more than a decade’s worth of experience working in media and has covered everything from beauty, fashion, travel, lifestyle, pets, to health. She began her career as an intern in the fashion closet at Cosmopolitan where she worked her way up to Senior Sex & Relationships Editor. While covering women’s health there, she discovered her passion for health service journalism and took a break to get her Masters in Public Health. Post-grad school, she worked as a freelance writer and as The Daily Beast’s first Beauty, Health, and Wellness Reporter. Carina is an alum of the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Yale School of Public Health. She and her French Bulldog, Bao Bao, split their time between Brooklyn and Connecticut. She enjoys reformer Pilates, (slow) running, and smelling the fancy toiletries in boutique fitness class locker rooms.Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Women's Health and has nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like red light therapy for hair growth and LED face masks, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, such as strengthening shampoos and body washes for dry skin on our site. Previously, she was the beauty editor at Best Products where she tested quite literally thousands of launches for her quarterly column and the Best New Beauty Awards package. She also launched the beauty and wellness coverage at NBC News and contributed to CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper's BAZAAR. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventures.