The 18 best face moisturisers for all skin needs - from dryness and sensitivity to luxuriously rich options
Our beauty team deems these the very best nourishing and hydrating formulas for your skincare routine
The best face moisturisers will not only deliver an immediate hydration hit, but also lock in moisture for all day wear - whilst providing many other benefits for the skin, too.
No matter the extent of your skincare routine, for most, moisturisers are a non-negotiable within their daily regime. They aren't an active treatment, like best hyaluronic acid serums or the best retinol creams, so won't eradicate wrinkles, firm skin or shift pigmentation, like some claim. However, aside from their obvious priority to hydrate, moisturisers can also work to soften the skin, improve tone, soothe sensitivity and strengthen the skin barrier - making it one of the most universal skin essentials around.
18 best face moisturisers - for various needs and skin concerns
Whether you need something for dryness or sensitivity, or you're looking for a night cream or a daily SPF option, these moisturisers are our favourites that will fit into anybody's skincare routine...
Best face moisturisers for all most types
Looking for a quick pick that's reliable and widely-approved by our team of expert beauty editors? These three top the charts for us...
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen and Aleesha Badkar
A moisturiser that works for everything from oily and combination skin to dry or dehydrated, this cream is perfectly balanced, offering something deeply moisturising, with a a skin-softening texture, but is lightweight and quick to absorb.
Buy if: You want nourishing, hydrating and non-greasy
Avoid if: You're on a budget
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
This moisturiser is a perfect example of 'does what it says on the tin' beauty; a traditionally textured cream that makes skin feel demonstrably comforted, without making promises it can't keep or containing anything that will irritate.
Buy if: You want to spend under £10
Avoid if: You prefer more glamorous packaging
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Aleesha Badkar
Instead of potentially harmful additives, this moisturiser is enriched with six African oils, you’ll find nourishing marula oil, soothing baobab and strengthening mongongo among others. Great if you prefer "clean beauty" products, it's a velvety rich cream with an incredibly lightweight feel that sinks into the skin in seconds.
Buy if: You prefer a lightweight texture
Avoid if: You'd be annoyed by the container, which won't show how much is left
Best face moisturisers for dry skin
These are our top three picks, but head to our best moisturisers for dry skin guide if you want more recommendations and helpful information from our experts on how to care for dry skin.
Reviewed by: Naomi Jamieson and Aleesha Badkar
For a comfortable feel and undeniably glowy results, Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream is mega-popular. It leaves skin looking fresh and radiant – a finish that even shines through makeup – warding off any tightness, while dry patches look and feel noticeably reduced. It's seriously like a glass of water for tired and lacklustre skin.
Buy if: You want a dewy, non-greasy, finish
Avoid if: You're on a budget
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
The perfect everyday moisturiser, with a 3-in-1 caring formula, it's fresh and lightweight, with a seriously hydrating formula that incorporates thermal spring water and vitamin E to leave skin soft and comfortable.
Buy if: You want something lightweight and quick absorbing
Avoid if: You need richer nourishment for extremely dry skin
Reviewed by: Jess Beech and Aleesha Badkar
A hydrating moisturiser that absorbs faster than its predecessor, Weleda’s Original Skin Food, but still harnesses the same skin-soothing power thanks to calendula and chamomile extracts. I'd recommend using it as your daily moisturiser or as a mask for a quick fix.
Buy if: You want something affordable, fuss-free and effective
Avoid if: You'd prefer the richer original version
Best face moisturisers with spf
These are our top three picks, but head to our best moisturisers with SPF guide if you want more recommendations and helpful information from our experts on how to protect your skin from the sun.
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
An impressive multitasker, this has a blend of three ceramides to keep even the most sensitive, driest complexions happy, while broad-spectrum protection shields skin from UVA and UVB rays.
Buy if: You want something dermatologist-recommended
Avoid if: You want a more luxury option or have an oilier complexion
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
Half gel, half cream, this offers a lightweight formula that's easily-absorbed into thirsty skin for a dewy and glowy finish that has no signs of greasiness. There’s absolutely no white cast either, so it’s suitable for all skin tones.
Buy if: You want a lightweight gel-cream that absorbs easily
Avoid if: You want SPF 50 (this is only factor 30) or you need something more nourishing for very dry skin
Reviewed by: Jess Beech and Aleesha Badkar
This lightweight day cream, featuring broad spectrum SPF 50, sinks into the skin quickly to deliver a veil of nourishing protection. It's ultra-comfortable to wear and sits well under makeup - plus there’s no white cast, a big tick.
Buy if: You want something to support ageing skin
Avoid if: You're on a limited budget
Best face moisturisers for sensitive skin
These are our top three picks, but head to our best moisturisers for sensitive skin guide if you want more recommendations and helpful information from our experts on how to look after sensitive skin.
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
While all of the best La Roche Posay products are formulated with sensitivity in mind, this calming complex is one of the best for reactive skin prone to redness and stinging. It also contains hero skincare ingredient glycerin to lock in moisture, plus neurosensine to help soothe any itchiness, plus it work to hydrates skin for up to 48 hours.
Buy if: Brand comes with the backing of dermatologists worldwide
Avoid if: You want something with chicer packaging
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Designed specifically for reactive and allergic complexions, this has been proven in trials to calm the skin within 30 seconds and to help restore the skin barrier within 48 hours. With a thick texture that nourishes the skin, it provides deep comfort and hydration to help keep reactive skin calmer for longer.
Buy if: Soothes angry skin quickly
Avoid if: You need a really rich cream for dry skin (though this is available in a thicker Balm version)
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
It might not be housed in the sexiest packaging around, but this moisturiser is excellent for uncomfortable, dry and hypersensitive skin. It’s not too heavy and is free from any potentially irritating fragrance and alcohols, which would make it a particularly good choice for rosacea-prone skin.
Buy if: Your skin is both dry and sensitive/irritated
Avoid if: You don't want clinical-looking packaging
Best face moisturisers for nighttime
These are our top three picks, but head to our best night creams guide if you want more recommendations.
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Aleesha Badkar
This is night cream in its most honest form: an excellent hydrator, which should be the true purpose of any night cream; it replenishes the skin barrier; it leaves skin with an ultra-plumped feel; and it contains a tiny smidgeon of beta hydroxy acid, salicylic, which helps to keep pores clear and congestion-free.
Buy if: You want trusted all-rounder that just works
Avoid if: You prefer a fragranced cream
Reviewed by: Courtney Leiva
This non-comedogenic lotion really can rival the best night cream options at five times its price. It’s lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin without any greasiness or unnecessary fragrance - and it soothes, nourishes and replenishes over the top of any active treatments you may have used beforehand.
Buy if: You want an unfussy, reliable, dermatologist-approved option
Avoid if: You want a more luxury buy
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
Super-creamy with a subtle, spa-like aroma, this clever, science-backed moisturiser that works to reverse aspects of aging skin such as lines, firmness, dullness, and uneven tone, is comfortable to wear on most skin types and will leave you with a soft, plump, glowing complexion come morning.
Buy if: You want a hardworking cream that will target the signs of aging
Avoid if: You're on a budget
Best rich face moisturisers for a touch of luxury
Whether you're looking for a morning option for dry skin, a product to add a bit of luxury to your evening skincare routine, or a staple for a weekly at-home facial ritual, having a rich, luxurious moisturiser in your rotation is a beauty indulgence we all aspire to. These are our top picks.
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Aleesha Badkar
This justly-hyped cream is unlike many face moisturisers, as it actually undertakes active work on elements of the skin such as texture, tone, pigmentation and pores. This comes down to the proprietary TCF8 complex, a 30-years-in-the-making combination of nutrient-dense botanicals, amino acids, and 20+ other elements from world-renowned scientist and regenerative medicine pioneer, Professor Bader. It is also equipped with replenishing avocado and evening primrose oils for a juicy, plumped-up feel. Sure, The Rich Cream is as pricy as moisturisers come, but it's also a one-stop-shop that could streamline your routine down to one cleanser and one cream, if that appeals.
Buy if: You want a cream that can do it all
Avoid if: The £125 price tag is too high
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
L'Occitane's Immortelle Divine Cream is beyond beautiful, with its sunshiny yolk-yellow pot and Provence-in-the-summertime floral fragrance. From a skin-science perspective it packs a punch too, with star ingredient immortelle flower—in both extract and essential oil form—working as a powerful collagen and structure-booster, a protective antioxidant and deep nourisher thanks to natural omega oils. It's got a medium-rich feel that's silky, not claggy. It sinks in well, but you will feel it comforting and supporting the skin for hours after application. If you are on a very strict budget this might not suit you. Otherwise, it's a total winner.
Buy if: You want the best of the best
Avoid if: You're on a strict budget
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Aleesha Badkar
Proving that natural can be hard-hitting, Tata Harper formulas pack a potent punch to deliver incredible results. Brimming with hydrating hyaluronic acid, water-trapping pomegranate extracts, and strengthening orange-derived peptides, this gel cream is focused on protecting skin from harmful aggressors while also preventing moisture loss. Translation? It’s basically your skin’s barriers new best friend. Ingredients aside, the refreshing texture instantly soothes skin, leaving it silky soft and just the right amount of dewy. Foundation sits perfectly on top, too. If, like us, you get through a tub quickly—you can purchase refill pods that snap into the green jar to reduce waste. Clever!
Buy if: You struggle with oily skin
Avoid if: You want a thicker texture
How we tested the best face moisturisers
As a beauty team, collectively, we've tested hundreds of moisturisers. With decades of experience behind us, we know exactly what we're looking for when it comes to picking the best of the best face moisturisers. With that said, we kept a few factors in mind throughout our testing period such as, the texture of the formula, how hydrated our skin felt hours after application, price, how it layered with makeup and other skincare products - to just name a few.
- Price
- Packaging
- Texture
- How it felt on the skin – rich or lightweight?
- Fragrance
- How hydrated and nourished the skin stayed through the day after application
How to choose the best face moisturiser for you
Moisturisers fall into three main categories; emollients, humectants, and occlusives. It's worth familiarising yourself with these distinctions, as they're clues to how the moisturiser will feel and if it's likely to suit you. Bear in mind these are not mutually exclusive, so a product with humectant ingredients can also contain emollients, occlusives, or a combination of all three.
- Emollients: Emollients can be oil, water, lipid, or butter-based, and work to replenish and condition skin, helping it hold onto natural moisture. This makes them a great choice for normal to dry skin types, as well as dehydrated skins that lack water. Very oily skin may find some emollients a bit rich, although textures can vary. Emollients to look out for include shea butter, ceramides, squalane, and coconut oil.
- Humectants: These increase hydration by drawing water into the skin from the atmosphere and holding onto it. This helps make tight skin feel more comfortable, as well as appear plump. Humectants are great for any skin type but work particularly well as day creams or the best night creams for oily skin as they hold hydration within the skin rather than creating a heavy layer on top of it. The most famous humectant is hyaluronic acid, but glycerin, aloe vera, and lactic acid are also members of the humectant club.
- Occlusives: Occlusives are generally the thickest moisturising ingredients. They create a rich layer on top of the skin that prevents water loss, which not only makes skin feel comfortable but can also protect a depleted barrier from irritants. Naturally, occlusives' heavier feel means breakout-prone skin isn't likely to love being smothered in one, but they are often a key ingredient in the best moisturisers for dry skin as well as the best face oils. Seek out beeswax, lanolin, silicones—such as dimethicone—and petroleum jelly (the ingredient often used in skincare trend slugging, which you can find out more about in our what is slugging guide)
Budget is another key consideration in picking the best face moisturiser, as are added ingredients—think gentle acids, vitamins and face moisturiser with SPF. A lot comes down to texture, too. Cream, gel, fluid, and oils are all an option, and the right one for you really comes down to preference. If you have dehydrated skin, chances are you will enjoy the feeling of a rich cream more than someone with naturally oily skin, who will likely prefer a lighter and fresher texture.
