I’ve gone wild for the PLouise Cheetah collection - have you?

PLouise quite literally went wild for a recent launch, unleashing a limited edition Cheetah collection on an audience hungry for something, shall we say, a little more ‘adult’-looking. The cult brand’s offering was rightly hailed an instant success - and not just for the eye-catching animal print packaging. As I found out, this is a collection that delivers above and beyond for its price point. 

So, what did I buy and how do I rate the products?

Before we break down the products, a quick confession: I came to PLouise’s Cheetah collection a bit late. While the rest of the beauty world was tracking the drop, I was off rubbing shoulders with the glitterati of the prog-rock world in a very remote field somewhere in Wales. Yes, I was happily detached from the industry cycle.

When I finally caught up, the Cheetah release felt like a genuine revelation. In a year that hasn't been particularly thrilling for beauty launches, these products actually excited me. With dozens of skincare and makeup items to choose from, I took the risky route to getting my hands on some of it - I plumped for a ‘Behind the Door’ TikTok mystery bundle, curated by the brand’s presenter/singer Victor. Prices started from, I think, £25 for Door 1. I pushed the boat out and spent £80 on Door 6, which guaranteed Cheetah goodies. I was a bit worried that I’d end up with not a lot, or products I wouldn’t use.

The risk paid off. My package arrived a few days later - and I was in for a pleasant surprise. Tucked inside a rather heavy box was not one but two of the individual bundle variations. I received the Cheetah Hot Hunt Skin & Body Self Care Set and the Cheetah Soft Savage Refresh & Renew Skincare Set. Both came with gorgeous animal print vanity bags, and the sets retail at £56 each. While I could have got both the sets for £80 on a recent 'Buy 2' deal, I didn’t lose out by going for the mystery bundle. Phew!

Cheetah collection skincare

In the Soft Savage Refresh & Renew Skincare Set, I found the following products - all formulated with the Cheetah signature scent Untamed Sugar (think caramel and biscuit):

• Clear The Air cleanser

• Rich and Radiant Moisturiser

• Wildy Does It mask collection

• Glow And Get It gel toner pads

• Thrive And Revive repairing facial oil

• Always Alert caffeine and peptide eye fluid/serum

• A large Soft Savage cosmetics bag

Inside the Cheetah Hot Hunt Skin & Body Self Care Set, I got:

• Pass The Plump (a twist-up lip treatment

• A whipped body foam called Clean Up Your Act

• An oil-to-milk body emulsion called Layers of Love

• Lip Loyalty peptide lip treatment

• Soft Soak shower oil

• Sculpt And Slide face mask

• Gold engraved Gua Sha

• Stunning Hot Hunt Cheetah Print bag with pearl detail zip fastening

As an aside, PLouise has recently introduced facial skincare products containing plant-derived PDRN. This is quite a savvy move because, although PDRN derived from salmon sperm is considered the closest match for human skin, it isn’t as sustainable. Neither is it vegan, which consumers consistently demand when it comes to beauty products.

I was excited to try all the newness this range has to offer, in particular the facial oil, toner pads, eye serum, and rich moisturiser. The mask also intrigued me.

What I like about these sets is that they each contain a full, structured routine, clearly explained in steps on the brand’s website. The ingredient lists are strong on botanicals, putting PLouise on a footing with more expensive eco anti-ageing brands such as Annemarie Börlind and Liz Earle. There is a deliberate Korean layering influence going on here, which should give you an insight into both the ethos and quality. 

Stand-out skincare products from the PLouise Cheetah collection

I’ve used these products every day since they arrived. I can tell you now that I noticed a visible difference in the texture and radiance of my skin when I woke up after using them for the very first time. I can’t say the same for some of the super-expensive spa brands I’ve tried - something I don't impart lightly. So, what impressed me?

The cleanser is super lightweight, silky and hydrating. It delivers a full cleanse in one shot. I like the convenience of the pump action bottle and the sleek design. I followed up with the gel toner pads. In a huge tub, complete with tweezers for hygiene, these pads are whisper-thin but coated in generous layers of  luxurious ‘jelliness’. That’s the only way I can describe it. This product left my skin feeling super plump and hydrated. 

Next up, I used the Thrive And Revive facial oil. I am a fan of this type of product. Not many people know it, but… Facial oils don’t just condition the skin, they tone, support the lipid barrier function, and also minimise pores. This oil comes in the most fabulous dark glass bottle. I used two pumps and spent an enjoyable few minutes gently massaging it into my skin. In actual fact, I took the Gua Sha from the body set and used it to ‘roller’ the product into fine lines and to shift fluid from under my eyes. Super! 

I’m always desperate to try the latest eye products, so the Always Alert serum went on next - a full step ahead of schedule. This is a milky fluid that is a hybrid serum-cream. It works, by the way. I applied a tiny bit more after using the rich moisturiser - and woke up without a bag under my left eye (a miracle!). 

Moving onto the Rich And Radiant moisturiser, I was in for another surprise. The packing for this product is quite innovative. The pump magically pops up when you twist the lid. This is another light and silky product. The ‘finish’ is smooth and velvety. It reminds me of a ceramide-packed moisturiser retailing at over £80 a jar. I’m not joking. My skin felt at least 10 years younger after using it. 

I haven’t tried the Slip And Slide Mask yet, but I can’t wait. 

Substance over hype

While PLouise established its juggernaut status in colour cosmetics and viral Obsessed For Less double-cleansing set, this collection proves its trajectory is shifting towards serious, targeted skincare.

These aren't gimmick products wrapped in trendy packaging; they are thoughtful, active-led formulations designed for adult skin concerns. 

PLouise is the biggest-selling skincare brand on TikTok. As for Obsessed For Less, I can’t live without it - and purchased two on a Buy 1, Get 1 Free deal from the Cheetah collection. I love it so much, it was on my Christmas list last year. My favourite scents are orange (great in summer and winter) and, of course, Fluffy Pancakes (which was only really a full release to coincide with the launch of the Fulfilling Dreams light-up box bundle). Untamed sugar isn’t far off Fluffy Pancakes, in my opinion.

Cheetah can be credited with turning me back onto PLouise. With the exception of a couple of TikTok bundles for my grandaughter, the only thing I've bought from the brand this year (that I can recall) is the advent calendar (again via the brand's official shop on TikTok). In fact, the mini Obsessed For Less from advent Door Number 1 was with me on my jolly jaunt to Wales.

What the brand is doing now is moving further and further into ‘treatment’ territory, offering skin solutions for people like me - who are literally desperate to hold back the years and are willing to pay for products that work. Hardly ‘kiddie’ stuff. The skincare solutions in the Refresh & Renew Set are not overly-hyped. They deliver. We got a hint of what was to come when PLouise launched a popping serum and a repair treatment in the Candy Bears range last year. The Bubble Burst Popping Serum is fantastic under the eyes, by the way. 

I think as well, PLouise can be credited with taking the word ‘boring’ out of hand care. The Cheetah collection includes the trendiest hand care set ever - with great ingredients. It really is the time to ensure your hands don't give your age away!

Also in the collection is The Hot Spot PR Box, which retails at £160, a tinted lip conditioner collection (£30), a Pack Your Shit And Go suitcase bundle (£45), Cheetah Mode make up set (£56), a Claim To Tame hair care boxed bundle (£35), and the full Cheetah collection with everything for £291.

The question now is: how is PLouise going to keep customers coming back for more when the Cheetah collection is sold out? I’m assuming some of the stand-out products from this range, like the eye serum, will be retained, under a different name and with different packaging. I hope so, anyway. 

Often skin revitalising products are vastly over-hyped. I’m pleased to tell my readers that wasn’t the case for those launched in the PLouise Cheetah collection. More, please!

While you are here, why not grab the latest issue of free Beauty Portfolio magazine?