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.
With moisturisers being one of the most product dominated markets in skincare, there's an abundance of formulas to choose from. So, we've done the hard work for you by testing an array of moisturisers in order to find the 9 very best buys available on the market. Enter, our guide to help you find the perfect hydrator for you...
The best face moisturisers, chosen by our beauty team
RRP: £79
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
RRP: £9
As with everything CeraVe creates, the formula is centered around ceramides. This emollient ingredient rebuilds natural ceramide stores within the skin, which helps build a strong barrier to prevent water from getting out and irritants from getting in. This barrier-boosting cream contains three forms of gentle giant ingredient ceramides, plus we get good old hyaluronic acid to grab (and hold onto) moisture for hydration. In fact, it's 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 like more glamorous packaging
RRP: £59
Clean beauty brand, Drunk Elephant, is famous for what it doesn’t include—otherwise known as ‘the suspicious 6’—such as fragrance, SLS and dyes. However, this moisturiser is enriched with six African oils, you’ll find nourishing marula oil, soothing baobab and strengthening mongongo among others. The cream also contains moisture-retaining ceramides and fermented green tea to help minimise signs of aging. While it’s described as ‘a velvety rich cream’, it has an incredibly lightweight feel and sinks into the skin in seconds delivering a steady hit of hydration throughout the day. The results? Nourished, hydrated skin that looks radiant.
Buy if: You want a lightweight texture
Avoid if: You'd be annoyed by the container, which won't show how much is left
RRP: £10.99
Forget the slightly dull-looking plastic tube of this moisturiser from The Inkey List, because what's inside is solid gold for hydration and skin-tone improvements. Ingredients-wise, we've got good old humectant glycerin, plus antioxidant-packed fermented clary sage, and kakadu plum extract, both of which work to combat pollution and UV-induced dullness. It may be that fermented botanical that lends this moisturiser a slight sharp tang on the nose although, for many, it will be far preferable to artificial perfume. The cream itself is slippery and almost gel-like on the skin, which gives this a modern feel and leaves a light dewiness behind.
Buy if: You're looking for a great value cream
Avoid if: You'd find the sharp smell off-putting
RRP: £28
If your face is mostly well-behaved, but occasionally gets caught up in a spot of congestion, dehydration, or reactive bother, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream would be a truly useful moisturiser to have on standby. It deeply hydrates with its blend of hyaluronic acid, olive-derived squalane, and occlusive polymers, which ticks off any moisturising needs. The best thing about this cream is its unobtrusive nature and ability to gel with just about any other product—skincare or makeup—happily working to hydrate, either alone or after five other steps. It feels glorious, all slippery and glossy, and smells of nothing because it's unfragranced (great news if your skin is having a sensitive moment).
Buy if: You've got unpredictable skin
Avoid if: You prefer a fragranced cream
RRP: £28
This Paula’s Choice option boasts a lightweight, breathable, oil-free and non-greasy formula, which has been created with acne-prone skin in mind. Starring three superstar ingredients—niacinamide, ceramides and blueberry extract—the lightweight lotion helps minimise pores, strengthen the skin’s barrier and calm redness, all without clogging pores. Skin instantly looks refreshed and will become clearer over time, too. To incorporate this cream into your skincare night routine, massage a small amount (a little goes a long way) into your face after cleansing and toning. Come morning, your skin will look revived. Sold?
Buy if: You struggle with oily skin
Avoid if: You want a thicker texture
RRP: £59
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
RRP: £58
Not only is this formula effective for hydrating the skin, with hyaluronic acid in a quenching water base, but it's also a very rigorous exfoliator, thanks to a combination of not one, but two alpha hydroxy acids, plus fruit enzymes. These work together to shift dry old cells from the skin's surface, which immediately and noticeably boost skin texture and glow. While it has been carefully formulated (it has a sensible balance between moisturisers and acids) we wouldn't recommend using this twice a day. In an ideal world, this would be your every-second-night cream, subbed in with something basic that's all about nourishment.
Buy if: You've got textured skin
Avoid if: You're more sensitive to exfoliants
RRP: £125
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
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.
