15 best moisturisers of all time, tried & tested by GLAMOUR editors
Equipping yourself with one of the best moisturisers can make your skincare routine a lot more effective in the long run. After all, they're responsible for keeping your skin hydrated and looking after your moisture barrier, which automatically grants them a must-have status, regardless of your skin type.
I've had my fair share of skincare mishaps – from overwhelming my skin with too many actives, triggering my rosacea with highly concentrated formulas and drying out my skin with powerful retinoids – but I've always steadily relied on quality moisturisers to revive, nourish and soothe my skin through it all.
The truth is, dermatologists agree that constant hydration can benefit every skin type (yep, even oily and acne-prone). “Skin oil (sebum) and skin hydration are two separate things and just because the skin is oily does not mean it is well hydrated,” shares board-certified dermatologist Alexis Granite.
“Think of your skin like a pavement or a brick wall with cement in between the blocks. If you don’t look after it, the cement cracks and the wall leaks letting moisture out and pollution and other negative things in,” says Dr Christine Hall, GMC registered, general practitioner in medical aesthetics.
Skip to FAQs: Which moisturisers are best for each skin type? | How often should I moisturise?Should I use moisturiser or a serum? | In which order should I layer my moisturiser? OR shop the best editor-approved moisturisers.
Best moisturisers 2024 at a glance:
- Best moisturiser overall: Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C-Tetra Cream
- Best moisturiser for dewy skin: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
- Best overnight moisturiser: Medik8 Advanced Night Restore
- Best daily moisturiser with SPF: CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50
That said, given just how overly-saturated today's beauty market is with all types of skincare formulations – be it face serums, exfoliants and toners – it may be hard to nail down the basics of your skincare regimen and choose a moisturiser that ticks all the boxes.
So, whether you're looking for a specific formula to help reduce redness, pigmentation or protect your skin from those harmful UV rays with added SPF protection, we're here to help you find your exact moisturiser match. Having spoken to multiple dermatologists and aestheticians, we broke down all the do's and the don'ts as well as all the best tried-and-tested creams that are genuinely worth the fuss.
Meet the experts:
- Dr Christine Hall, GMC registered, general practitioner in medical aesthetics.
- Dr Alexis Granite, Board Certified, Consultant Dermatologist at CeraVe.
How we test the best moisturisers
Over the years, the GLAMOUR beauty team has collectively tested over a hundred moisturisers on a variety of skin tones – from lightweight water-based formulas to richer creams for lasting hydration. We've judged the formulas based on consistency and whether they managed to lock in the moisture for a long period of time, all while keeping in mind conditions such as eczema and rocasea.
Ahead, our full edit of the best moisturisers for all skin types…
Best moisturiser overall
Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C-Tetra Cream
- Consistency: cream.
- Skin types: all
Why we love it: On the lookout for a brightening moisturiser for dewy skin? It really doesn't get better than Medik8's Daily Radiance Cream, which not only features a stable, effective and low-irritation form of vitamin C but also hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, as well as advanced UV filters to shield your skin. “I love how hydrating it feels on the skin, and it works amazingly with my trusty C-Tetra serum,” says Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
Best moisturiser to wear under makeup
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types.
Why we love it: We find this a bit heavy for a daily moisturiser. But for priming pre-makeup, evening out a patchy complexion or instantly feigning you've had 8 hours sleep? Nothing beats it. Keep it in your desk drawer for any last minute meetings or surprise hot dates. “I slather it on every morning before applying my makeup and my skin really thanks me for it; I have dry skin and am currently going through a bout of hormonal acne, so rich and soothing formulas like this one are a godsend,” says Georgia Trodd, GLAMOUR's Senior Commerce Writer.
Best nighttime moisturiser
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types, especially sensitive skin.
Why we love it: Looking for a hydrating moisturiser that can keep your skin well-nourished as you sleep? Say no more. The derm-approved Medik8 Advanced Night Restore repair cream is filled to the brim with ceramides, peptides and antioxidants, making it the perfect product to follow up after a good, firming retinol serum. “I'm yet to find a nourishing nighttime moisturiser that plumps up my skin just as well as the Medik8 Advanced Night Restore. As someone who hates a greasy cream, I appreciate the lightweight texture, as well as how neatly it worked with the rest of my serums and eye cream."
Best moisturiser for skin barrier repair
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types.
Why we love it: This versatile yet effective repair cream is perfectly suitable for everyday use, regardless of your skin type. Thanks to a formula that contains bilberry seed oil and allantoin, this product is great for helping your facial skin retain moisture and protect it from external aggressors such as pollution. Great for skin conditions such as rocasea and eczema.
Best moisturiser for dry skin
Farmacy Beauty Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser
- Consistency: Rich cream.
- Skin type: All skin types, particularly dry and sensitive skin.
Why we love it: This rich cream features soothing properties, thanks to the included buckwheat honey blend – ideal for dry and sensitive skin types. Its rich formula will soothe dry patches like a dream, thanks to a handful of nourishing ingredients and occlusives such as vitamin E and shea butter to replenish the skin barrier, retain moisture and prevent water loss. Easily one of the best moisturisers around. “This moisturiser has been a favourite of mine for about two years now. It's helped me repair my moisture barrier after it had been damaged as a result of high concentration active ingredients. I enjoyed how smoothly it glides on and how nourishing it feels on my skin for a whole day. One downside? The slightly more expensive price tag,” – Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
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Best moisturiser for dewy skin
- Consistency: Rich cream.
- Skin type: Normal to dry skin.
- Reasons to shop: dewy finish, hydrating feel.
- Reasons to avoid: expensive.
Why we love it: This rich, moisturising cream from Tatcha works to plump and hydrate the skin – in fact, it's easily one of the best. Formulated with a blend of hyaluronic acid and Okinawa algae, it even contains antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice to help protect your delicate skin against environmental aggressors like pollution. “My complexion soaks up the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream like a dream, resulting in the dewiest and glowiest skin that peeks through my makeup,” says Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
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Best plumping moisturiser
The INKEY List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types, particularly dry skin.
- Reasons to shop: plumping formula, smoothes fine lines and wrinkles over time.
- Reasons to avoid: nothing of note.
Why we love it: Made with several bio-active ceramides, this face cream from The INKEY List is designed to help restore your skin's elasticity and boost your natural skin barrier, especially when it comes to dehydrated skn. Incredibly hydrating and available for a relatively modest price. “During the colder months, my dull and dry skin loves nothing more than a replenishing and plumping moisturiser, and the Inkey List's latest innovation is exactly that. Almost immediately upon application, my skin feels bouncy and visibly hydrated. I've also noticed that over the two months that I've used it, my smile lines became less evident and my redness was a lot calmer, resulting in a more even skin tone.”
Best K-beauty moisturiser
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All-in-One Cream
- Consistency: Lightweight gel-cream.
- Skin type: All skin types.
- Reasons to shop: incredibly hydrating, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free.
- Reasons to avoid: not vegan.
Why we love it: Powered by the magic of ethically collected snail mucin – yes, snail mucin – this K-beauty bestseller is great for improving your skin's elasticity and preventing moisture loss. It's also cruelty-free, dermatologist-approved and hypoallergenic. A solid choice for combination skin. Hands down, one of the best budget moisturisers around.
Best moisturiser for oily skin
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types.
- Reasons to shop: lightweight feel, lasting hydration.
- Reasons to avoid: expensive.
Why we love it: This peptide-powered face cream from Drunk Elephant is perfect for firming your skin while also smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains amino acids and soybean folic acid and is ideal for everyday use. “This lightweight moisturiser has an incredibly refreshing gel-like texture that's perfect for everyday wear and keeps my sensitive skin nice and soothed throughout the whole day.” – Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
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Best affordable moisturiser
- Consistency: Rich cream.
- Skin type: Dry and very dry skin.
- Reasons to shop: rich, nourishing formula.
- Reasons to avoid: might feel greasy on oily skin.
Why we love it: This face cream features extracts of gentle viola tricolor, calendula and chamomile, as well as a rich base of oils and beeswax, making it nice and gentle for sensitive and itchy skin. It's also incredibly versatile and can be used as a body cream, especially on dry areas like hands, feet and elbows.
Best moisturiser for mature skin
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types, particularly mature skin.
- Reasons to shop: lightweight, fast-absorbing formula.
- Reasons to avoid: more expensive than other options.
Why we love it: One of Elemis' best products. This face cream is fast-absorbing and lightweight, leaving your skin feeling plumper and smoother. Great for minimising the look of fine lines within just two weeks. A must-have for your skincare routine.
GLAMOUR-approved: The Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is one of my favourite moisturisers of all time. It's cooling upon application, smells a total dream (I always feel like I've had a spa treatment after applying it), and it makes my skin feel so, so soft. During the day, I apply a separate SPF over the top – but you can get an SPF30 version, too. – Sophie Cockett, Senior European Commerce Editor.
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Best everyday moisturiser with SPF
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: Normal to dry skin.
- Reasons to shop: features SPF protection, affordable.
- Reasons to avoid: takes a while to absorb.
Why we love it: Developed by dermatologists, this day cream will address all of your skin needs. This affordable face moisturiser contains three essential ceramides that help restore your natural skin barrier, which consists of natural lipids. After all, it has over 70% of 5 star ratings on Amazon for a reason.
Best moisturiser for acne-prone skin
Byoma Moisturising Gel Cream 50ml
- Consistency: Lightweight gel-cream.
- Skin type: All skin types, particularly sensitive skin.
- Reasons to shop: budget-friendly, lightweight and formula.
- Reasons to avoid: isn't as hydrating for dry skin types.
Why we love it: Gentle, yet effective. If your skin is prone to breakouts, this oil-free and fragrance-free moisturiser works to calm inflammation and redness, thanks to a tri-ceramide complex that contains ceramides, cholesterol, niacinamide and fatty acids. One of the best gel moisturisers around.
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Best nourishing moisturiser
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types.
- Reasons to shop: convenient packaging, nourishing formula.
- Reasons to avoid: nothing of note.
Why we love it: Specially designed to help create a nice and even base for your makeup, the Glossier Priming Moisturizer helps reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, blemishes and unwanted redness. Lightweight, buildable and cruelty-free to boot.
Best moisturiser for sensitive skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Soothing Cream for Sensitive Skin
- Consistency: Lightweight cream.
- Skin type: All skin types.
- Reasons to shop: soothing, suitable for sensitive skin.
- Reasons to avoid: nothing of note.
Why we love it: After a good moisturiser for sensitive skin? This formula might be just the thing you've been looking for. Offering up to 48 hours of hydration, this cream will help keep your skin nice and soothed, whether you're aiming to minimise dryness, tightness or itchiness; Its innovative formula is enriched with probiotic-derived fractions and neurosenine and thermal spring water, offering comfort for even the most stressed of complexions.
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Should I use moisturiser or a serum?
Moisturisers fortify the top layer of your skin, increasing hydration at the surface, while facial serums use active ingredients such as salicylic acid to penetrate the skin more deeply and target specific skincare concerns (like brightness, dark spots, skin tone or anti-ageing).
Moisturisers and serums are the main way we can treat our skin to an injection of potent ingredients, and using both will only maximise the benefits. Plus, moisturisers are a must-have if you tend to use exfoliating products too.
In which order should I layer my moisturiser?
“The most important thing is that your SPF will always come last. Following this rule, in general you should apply your skincare in order of consistency - starting with the thinnest and working up to the thickest which will usually be your moisturiser,” suggests Dr Christine.
Dr Christine advises to follow the rough order of toner first, then facial essences/serums, followed by a moisturiser and a dedicated sunscreen for face. “The only exception to that rule is if you use a facial oil in which case that comes after the moisturiser to occlude or seal everything underneath it in.”
After you’ve massaged in your moisturiser, don’t forget to gently dab on some eye cream (a caffeine eye cream, if you fancy), and use one of the best silk pillowcases while you sleep to complete your truly comprehensive skincare regime. Just remember: everyone's skin concerns will differ slightly, so it's worth working out what your skin loves to sip on, taking into account seasonal or hormonal changes.
Looking to upgrade your skincare routine? Read up on our guides on best cleansers, best face serums and more.
For more beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Which moisturisers are best for each skin type?
- Best moisturiser for oily skin/acne-prone skin – “As a general rule it is better to look for a lighter, water-based, oil-free moisturisers, like a gel moisturiser if you already have very oily skin,” says Dr Christine Hall. “Moisturising ingredients and humectants such as hyaluronic acid, squalane, ceramides and glycerin are all well suited to oily skin,” shares Dr Alexis Granite. “Other actives to consider include retinol, salicylic acid and niacinamide, all of which are especially good if you are prone to breakouts in addition to oily skin.” Dr Alexis also advises to avoid occlusives, “including petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil and paraffin.”
- Best moisturiser for mature skin & best moisturiser for dry skin – “As we age, we produce less oil and our skin becomes drier. Look for richer cream moisturisers that contain ceramides and lips to really nourish the skin barrier and prevent further moisture loss,” shares Dr Christine. According to Dr Alexis, you may also benefit from layering a hyaluronic acid serum underneath “to help combat dryness.”
- Best moisturiser for sensitive skin - Dr Christine Hall advises to “look for fragrance and paraben-free, hypoallergenic formulations to avoid any unnecessary irritation.” You might also want to consider formulas with ceramides, emollients and aloe vera to help repair your skin's moisture barrier.
How often should I moisturise?
According to Dr Christine, “for those with very oily skin moisturising with a light product once daily may be enough. Others might require a richer heavier cream that will they might even need to reapply throughout the day.”
For a day moisturiser, you should try and get some antioxidant action (vitamins A, B3, C or E) from your moisturiser so it's always a good idea to look out for potent plant extracts such as resveratrol, as well as some level of SPF (you still need to apply an actual sunscreen, though – something with at least SPF 30 should suffice). At night, should should use your night cream to incorporate a collagen-boosting retinoid, which is renowned for its rejuvenating, youth-boosting benefits.
