Obagi ELASTIderm Lift Up & Sculpt Moisturiser Review

The Obagi ELASTIderm Lift Up & Sculpt Moisturiser is a rich facial cream built around Obagi's own Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ (zinc, copper and malonate) alongside polyglutamic acid and cross-linked hyaluronic acid. It's aimed at mature, normal-to-dry skin looking for a barrier-supporting, hydrating moisturiser that helps improve the appearance of crepiness and loss of facial definition over time.

Quick facts

• Brand: Obagi Medical
• Format: 50ml rich-yet-lightweight cream, airless pump jar
• Key actives: Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ (Zinc Carbonate, Copper Carbonate Hydroxide, Malonic Acid), Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Shea Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan
• Use: Morning and evening, after serum and before SPF/night routine
• Skin types: All types including sensitive; hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic
• Price point: Sits at the upper end of Obagi's pricing tier — check the current price on the product page

Who it's for

This moisturiser is aimed at people noticing sagging, crepiness or a loss of facial definition, typically from the mid-30s onwards, who want a rich, barrier-supporting cream rather than a thin daily lotion. Because the formula is described as hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, it's also worth a look for sensitive or reactive skin that reacts badly to heavier anti-ageing creams. It layers naturally into Obagi's wider ELASTIderm system for anyone already using the Facial Serum or Advanced Filler Concentrate.

Who should skip it

Very oily or acne-prone skin may find a rich cream like this too heavy for daily wear, particularly in warmer months. The formula does contain parfum/fragrance and cetearyl alcohol, so fragrance-sensitive or reaction-prone skin should patch test first. It's also not the product for anyone chasing fast, dramatic change — Obagi's own testing tracked this formula over several weeks of consistent twice-daily use, not days. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or unsure whether an actives-led routine is right for you, contact our team before starting.

How to use it

Apply morning and evening after cleansing, toning and any serums, patting the cream gently into skin in an upward motion until fully absorbed. During the day, follow with SPF as normal. Obagi suggests layering this after ELASTIderm Facial Serum and before Advanced Filler Concentrate, applying products from thinnest to thickest consistency, and it can sit alongside a vitamin C or retinol routine without conflict.

The ingredients that matter

The formula's signature is the Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ — a combination of zinc, copper and malonate that Obagi has patented specifically to support elastin production, cross-linking and organisation, the mechanisms behind skin's ability to spring back into place. Sitting alongside it is Polyglutamic Acid, a humectant peptide also used in dermal fillers, paired with a cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative that Obagi states holds meaningfully more water than standard hyaluronic acid.

The emollient base leans on Squalane, Shea Butter and Meadowfoam Seed Oil — three lipid-rich ingredients that help reduce moisture loss through the skin barrier without leaving a greasy finish, which is what gives the cream its "rich yet lightweight" feel on skin. Beta-Glucan and glycerin round out the formula, both included to support barrier repair and day-to-day hydration alongside the firmer-skin actives.

Obagi cites its own 2024 in-house testing on the product's technical data, reporting visible improvement in fine lines across participants after six weeks and early elasticity changes from around three weeks of consistent use. These are manufacturer-reported figures rather than independently verified results, and individual outcomes will vary with skin condition and consistency of use.

FAQs

Verdict

The Obagi ELASTIderm Lift Up & Sculpt Moisturiser earns its place as a considered, ingredient-led firming cream rather than a marketing-first anti-ageing product. The Bi-Mineral Contour Complex™ and polyglutamic acid pairing is genuinely interesting on paper, and the texture delivers on the rich-but-non-greasy claim. It's best suited to mature or crepey skin already comfortable investing in the ELASTIderm system, rather than a first port of call for anyone new to anti-ageing skincare.