As any dermatologist will tell you, your moisturiser is one of the most important weapons in your beauty arsenal. Because the best moisturisers don’t just deliver moisture, they also work to lock in all those other nutrients you’re putting on your skin, from your vitamin C to your retinol and, most crucially, your hyaluronic acid. Of course, your serums, essences and sheet masks do their bit, but when it comes down to it, nothing beats a good moisturiser. “Moisturising the skin maintains the integrity of the skin’s barrier function, and is vital for good skin health,” says skin health specialist and founder of Decree, Dr Anita Sturnham.
How do I choose a moisturiser?
When it comes to finding the right moisturiser, it’s important to take external factors into account. For example, what’s the weather outside? If cold and dry, you might want to use a richer formula. If it’s hot and humid, a lighter formulation should suffice. Some days it might not matter what the weather is like and your skin might require some extra TLC, Dr Sturnham recommends keeping various formulations in your kit. “Your skin needs change on a day-to-day basis, with factors like stress, hormones, travel and lifestyle all impacting upon its hydration levels, leaving us prone to dryness. I recommend having two moisturisers – a light formulation and a richer one.”
Should I moisturise in the morning or night?
Again, it’s down to how your skin looks and feels. Some like to moisturise in the morning, and others in the evening. But most dermatologists would recommend doing both. Because, what you’re essentially doing with a moisturiser protecting the top layers of the skin, known as the epidermal barrier, from external factors like UV rays, blue light, bacteria, pollution and fluctuating temperatures, meanwhile sealing all the moisture within. Applying it both morning and night can therefore make a huge difference to its quality and texture.
What is the best face moisturiser?
“To do all the above, the best face moisturiser will contain both humectant and emollient properties to support the skin. Ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and squalane are brilliant ones to look out for,” says Sturnham. “Even if your skin is oily and often breaks out, it’s a myth that you should skip the moisturiser step. The key is just to ensure you are using a well-formulated product, which performs the protective function without clogging pores.” If you are concerned about oily skin, however, Sturnham suggests opting for a water-based product, which means ‘Aqua, water, deionised water’ should be the top three ingredients on the label. Meanwhile, those with dryer skin types should look to moisturisers that contain ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and urea.
What moisturisers do dermatologists recommend?
Most experts recommend products that have been made in collaboration with dermatologists, which is why CeraVe is a very popular brand. In particular, its moisturisers contain a healthy dose of nutrients – ceramides, hyaluronic acid and patented MVE delivery technology – which keep the skin hydrated for longer. Other brands derms recommend include Dr Sam Bunting’s, La Roche-Posay, Medik8 and Skinceuticals. See below for recommendations for every skin type.
Vogue’s best moisturisers for every skin type
- Best moisturiser overall: Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30, £81
- Best moisturiser for dry skin: Glossier After Baume, £30
- Best moisturiser for oily skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat, £21
- Best moisturiser for radiant skin: Tatcha the Dewy Skin Cream, £67
- Best vitamin C moisturiser: Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C SPF 30 Cream, £59
- Best moisturiser for acne-prone skin: Eucerin Dermopurifyer Oil Control, £15
- Best affordable moisturiser: CeraVe Moisturising Lotion, £17
- Best affordable moisturiser for mature skin: Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Intensive Repair Moisturiser, £38
- Best moisturiser for rosacea: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Rosaliac AR Concentrate, £26
Read more: 20 Best Retinol Creams & Serums To Achieve A Youthful Glow
How we chose the best moisturisers
Every moisturiser in our edit comes vetted by skin experts, who we consulted for the ingredients that work best for every skin type. In addition, you’ll find the tried-and-tested favourites of the Vogue beauty team, chosen for the consistency, efficacy and long-term benefits of formulas we can personally vouch for. Whether you’re looking to restock your current moisturiser or find a new one to target specific skin concerns, below are our most trusted recommendations to help streamline your search.
Best moisturiser for dry skin
No matter how dry your skin is, slathering on the thickest cream you can find isn’t necessarily the answer, as tempting as it sounds. Because often, as Sturnham argues, “thicker products are packed full of pore-clogging ingredients, including silicones.” While silicones can also have huge protective benefits, some are better than others. Look for cyclomethicone, dimethicone, jojoba, candelilla and glycerin, which all provide intensive moisturisation without clogging.
Medik8
Ultimate Recovery Intense
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: calming arnica, healing allantoin and repairing beta-glucan
Benefits: quells inflammation, redness and protects against bruising. Is free from parabens, synthetic colourants and fragrances
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Designed to defend the skin following professional treatments, Medik8’s moisturiser works wonders on dry and broken skin. Made with ingredients clinically proven to support the skin’s natural repair processes, it speeds up cell renewal and locks in moisture to shield weakened skin from the environment. The rich cream consistency is one we love in icy weather – it leaves a lasting barrier that protects against cold and moisture-whipping winds.
Glossier
After Baume
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: humectants (glycerin and Cupuaçu butter), vitamin E rich babassu oil, fermented probiotics
Benefits: soothes sensitive skin, attracts and seals in moisture and balances the skin’s microbiome. Is vegan-friendly
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Rich in vitamins, nutrients and non-comedogenic oils, this moisturiser nourishes dry skin while reinforcing the microbiome for a healthy, protected barrier. Deeply hydrating, it is non-greasy thanks to Babassu oil which melts at body temperature and sinks in quickly for instant comfort.
Aesop
Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Hydrating Cream
Size: 60ml
Key ingredients: an antioxidant-rich blend of parsley seed, white tea, vitamin E and rock rose
Benefits: though it’s a rich and replenishing formula, it’s mattifying, too, so you’re not left with an unwanted tacky residue
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Enriched with antioxidant-heavy ingredients and emollient botanicals, Aesop’s Parsley Seed Cream has a buttery formula that works to strengthen and replenish the skin. Plus, the brand’s signature herbaceous fragrance will keep you coming back for more.
Murad
Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Cream
Size: 48g
Key ingredients: nourishing bilberry seed oil, fatty acids – including omega 3 and 6 – as well as allantoin to retain moisture
Benefits: a complexion-boosting blend that leaves your skin feeling soft and supple
Why it's Vogue-approved:
If your skin’s feeling dry and lacklustre, Murad’s Cellular Hydration Cream could be the answer. Made up of fatty acids, nourishing oils and fast-acting compounds that mimic calming botanicals, this formula leaves skin feeling dewy and protected. While it’s great for dry skin, it will work for all complexions: from oily to combination.
Read more: Why Hydrating Serums Are The Ultimate Skincare Boost, According To Experts
Best moisturiser for oily skin
Though it may seem counterintuitive, those with oily skin will also need to invest in a good moisturiser. Just because the skin is oily, does not mean it is hydrated. “Look for the term ‘non-comedogenic’ (which means non-pore clogging) on the label, and ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, phytoceramides and glycerin, because they won’t clog your pores,” explains Sturnham.
Eucerin
Dermopurifyer Oil Control Mattifying Fluid
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: glycerin, salicylic acid, soothing licorice extract, and skin-softening dimethicone
Benefits: actively targets blemishes and acne, reduces redness and moisturises while regulating sebum
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Mattifying without being drying, this a great pick for those prone to shine. The salicylic acid has a comedolytic effect (which means it breaks down and prevents new comedones from forming) so if your oily skin tends to get breakouts and blackheads, this is the moisturiser for you. With glycerin to hydrate the skin and licorice to calm redness, it’s also an excellent choice for comforting sensitised acneic skin.
La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Mat
Size: 40ml
Key ingredients: glycerin, mattifying perlite, sebum-controlling Sebulyse
Benefits: moisturises and exfoliates clogged pores with a non-comedogenic formula
Why it’s Vogue-approved
To moisturise skin while tackling excessive shine, La Roche Posay’s formula contains Perlite – a mineral from volcanic rock that effectively absorbs oil. Also in the mix is thermal spring water to calm irritation, glycerin to draw in moisture and Sebulyse to regulate sebum production. Heavily recommended by dermatologists for its hypoallergenic formula, it’s a safe bet for hydrating oily skin that errs on the sensitive side.
Best moisturiser for mature skin
As we age, our body’s reserves of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin depletes, while our skin barrier, which helps prevent transepidermal water loss, weakens, which is why it’s so crucial for those with mature skin to invest in a good moisturiser.
“To keep your skin barrier strong, look for formulas that are rich in ceramides,” says Brown. “We use an all-natural Ceramide Complex in our face oil, The Light Fantastic, to help build long-term resilience.”
Another key ingredient to look out for is retinol, an active ingredient which works by increasing cell turnover and stimulating collagen production.
Estée Lauder
Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Creme Moisturiser
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: cactus stem cells, hibiscus and moringa extracts, plus hyaluronic acid
Benefits: nourishes skin with a plumping, firming and tightening effect
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Velvet-soft and ultra-nourishing, this cream is formulated with plant extracts to help strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier and smooth lines for a radiant, youthful complexion. Rich but not greasy, it absorbs easily into the skin.
Elemis
Pro Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: micronised sunscreen, skin-tightening Mimosa extract and elasticity-boosting Padina Pavonica
Benefits: has a weightless gel formula that melts into the complexion and softens skin on contact, provides broad spectrum sun protection from harmful UV rays
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Here is a cream that epitomises the adage “you get what you pay for.” While it immediately softens and conditions skin of all ages, its blend of clinically proven collagen-promoting factors makes it the ultimate formula for those with mature skin. In all our years of trialling beauty, no moisturiser has come close to its time-tested acclaim, and while it’s on the spenny side, we can confirm it is a sure investment for eternally supple skin.
Augustinus Bader
The Rich Cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: nourishing evening primrose oil, as well as strengthening vitamin E, antioxidant-rich argan oil, plus avocado oil and hyaluronic acid.
Benefits: proven to reduce signs of ageing whilst also promoting elasticity and hydration
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
With a starry fanbase that includes Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Victoria Beckham and Hailey Bieber, The Rich Cream comes heavily A-List approved – for good reason. Formulated with the brand’s patented TFC8 technology designed by stem cell specialist Dr. Augustinus Bader, it’s a science-backed moisturiser which is clinically proven to reduce signs of ageing including fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
Royal Fern
Phytoactive Cream 50ml
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: fern extracts and powerful, plant-based ingredients to help stimulate cell growth
Benefits: A deeply moisturising formula, it goes further into the epidermis than most creams for a more effective result
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
From the silky texture to the science-backed ingredients, Royal Fern’s phytoactive cream is not only satisfying to use, but also delivers positive results. Made with the patented Royal Fern Complex, it delivers 12 hours of moisture deep into the skin while stimulating collagen production and improving pigmentation, for a more even complexion.
Best moisturiser to boost radiance
“Hydration is the cornerstone of radiant skin,” shares Pai Skincare founder, Sarah Brown. This is why most moisturisers will give your skin an instant boost. “But for truly brighter skin, look for a moisturiser that combines occlusives (ingredients which form a barrier to seal moisture in) and emollients (lubricating agents which prevent water loss and soften the skin) with targeted actives.”
Another key ingredient to look out for, says Brown, is vitamin C; a powerful antioxidant, it defends the skin against dullness-causing external factors, as well as evening out skin tone, for an overall brighter complexion. “However, it’s important to use a stabilised form, such as the oil-soluble and all-natural Vitamin C in our C-2 Believe moisturiser, otherwise you won’t get a controlled, consistent dose and see the benefits.”
Pai
C-2 Believe Vitamin C Face Moisturiser
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: camellia oil, stabilised vitamin C and hyaluronic acid
Benefits: brightens skin without irritation, provides antioxidant defence and is patch test approved for sensitive skin
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
For all its brightening abilities, vitamin C is notorious for causing irritation. Enter Pai’s moisturiser, which uses a slow-release, oil-soluble form from plants to gently lift discolouration, whilst conditioning skin with mango butter for a soft and radiant complexion.
Medik8
Daily Radiance Vitamin C Cream SPF30
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: vitamin E, C-Tetra® (vitamin C derivative), hyaluronic acid and UV filters
Benefits: protects against ageing and destructive UV rays, stimulates collagen production and retains moisture for radiant skin
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
It should come as no surprise that Medik8 makes a stellar vitamin C cream – the brand is known for innovating science-driven formulas that improve on industry norms. Here, that’s C-Tetra® – a patented form of ascorbic acid whose reactive parts have been blocked, allowing you to reap the brightening benefits without sensitising side effects.
Yendy
Super Shea Moisturiser
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: shea butter, squalane, rosehip oil and vitamin C
Benefits: resurfaces dark spots and rough texture, leaves skin with a luminous glow
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
There is much to love about Yendy’s moisturiser, which uses fine shea butter from West African farmers to rejuvenate dull skin. The emollient star ingredient leaves skin cushion-soft after just one use, but it’s the long-term brightening power that makes this cream one of our all-time favourites. Massaged into the skin, it’s incredibly effective at sloughing off dry patches and dark spots, and has a luxurious cream consistency that delivers moisture without grease.
Tatcha
Dewy Skin Cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: plumping Okinawa algae, antioxidant-rich purple rice bran, gold and humectants (glycerin & hyaluronic acid)
Benefits: plumps, deeply hydrates and protects skin from pollution and oxidative stress
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Tatcha’s elegant offering is one to pick for instant radiance and plumper, firmer skin over time. A pearl-sized amount on the gilded spatula is all you need for a dewy glow, thanks to a rich formula that cocoons skin in camellia extract and moisture-magnetising ingredients. Gold-infused, it leaves skin gleaming and helps quell inflammation, with further antioxidant protection courtesy of Japanese algae and purple rice.
Read more: 17 Of The Best Night Creams, According To Skincare Experts
Best moisturiser for combination skin
Dry skin on the cheeks but oily on your T-zone? Those with combination skin shouldn’t be afraid to use different moisturisers for different areas.
“Our Moisturizing Gel-Cream contains niacinamide and green tea to reduce redness and brighten skin. It has the weightless, cooling texture of a gel with the lasting hydration of a cream. The ultra-lightweight, oil-free formula delivers effective, targeted hydration to thirsty skin,” founder Marc Elrick of skin barrier supporting skincare brand, Byoma, explains. “The unique, gel-cream texture absorbs instantly, softening and hydrating skin with a barrier-building blend of carefully chosen actives for restoring results.”
Byoma
Moisturising Gel Cream
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: tri-ceramide complex, niacinamide, blue tansy and polyhydroxy acid
Benefits: gently exfoliates dull skin with PHA, delivers lightweight moisture and is vegan-friendly plus fragrance and alcohol-free
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
With a weightless consistency and blend of skin-balancing ingredients, this serum-like moisturiser is a safe pick for combo skin. Whether your skin leans on the oily or drier side, its complex of ceramides and fatty acids are well placed to bolster your moisture barrier and keep hydration where it’s needed most.
Paula's Choice
Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturiser
Size: 15 and 50ml
Key ingredients: potassium, magnesium and calcium electrolytes, glycerin, antioxidant fruit extracts and squalane
Benefits: electrolytes transport hydration into the deepest layers of the dermis to quench dehydrated skin, while non-greasy emollients ensure moisture is locked in
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
This lightweight lotion boasts an intelligent electrolyte formula that infuses skin with moisture well past the surface level. Fast-absorbing, its whipped texture is a pleasure to apply and sinks in well to leave skin sumptuously soft. What‘s more, it doesn’t contain pore-clogging ingredients so can be trusted to hydrate oily, blemish-prone skin, as well as seal moisture within thirsty complexions thanks to an emollient-rich formula.
Read more: 14 Best Acne Treatments & Products For Spots
Best moisturiser for sensitive skin
Whether sensitive or sensitised, your skin is in need of some support, which means you’ll want to look for a formula that both calms and strengthens.
“Opt for ingredients that have proven anti-inflammatory benefits to settle flare-ups and help soothe irritation,” says Brown. “For example, in our bestselling calming face cream The Anthemis, we use chamomile. Then look for ingredients that will bolster the skin’s defences. Sea aster actively calms troubled skin and reduces visible redness and blotchiness, as well as reinforcing the skin barrier. Lastly, look for ceramides; if you think of your skin cells as bricks, then these lipids are the mortar that holds them together and keeps them strong.”
Scientia
Ceramide Skin Rescue
Size: 65ml
Key ingredients: ceramides, aloe vera leaf juice, jojoba oil and hyaluronic acid
Benefits: strengthens skin’s moisture barrier and shields sensitive skin from irritants, has a cooling formula that soothes the complexion. The balm is vegan and pregnancy-safe
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
With not one or two, but five types of ceramides in this milky balm, it’s a must-have for reinforcing your skin’s natural defences. If you find your barrier compromised by over-exfoliation, this is the ideal salve – it shuns all harsh actives in favour of hyaluronic acid and skin-similar lipids to nurse your complexion back to health. Super soothing and protective, the formula is also gentle enough that it has been deemed safe for use by pregnant women.
Beauty Pie
Happy Face Extreme Relief Cica Moisture Cream
Size: 75ml
Key ingredients: calming Centella Asiatica, anti-inflammatory Japanese grass extract and ceramide gel matrix
Benefits: soothes redness and swelling while rebuilding the moisture barrier. Is vegan-friendly and paraben-free
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Designed for those with very fussy skin, Beauty Pie’s cream is totally free from irritants and resurfacing actives. The simple but effective formula champions a soothing blend of botanicals, including Centella Asiatica and Japanese grass extract which both have inflammation-quelling qualities. In addition, there’s betaine to reduce wrinkle depth and sodium hyaluronate – a form of HA – that deeply hydrates to restore supple skin.
Best moisturiser for rosacea
When it comes to rosacea, simplicity is key. “Keeping it protected and nourished, and providing a non-inflammatory environment, will help it to keep the good inside the skin, and the bad out,” shares Dr Emma Craythorn. Be sure to wear sunscreen with UVA and UVB after your moisturiser every day to keep skin protected against UV light.
Eucerin
Anti-Redness Soothing Care
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: SymSitive (a proprietary sensitivity regulator), soothing panthenol and anti-inflammatory licorice root extract
Benefits: hypoallergenic formula developed to be well tolerated by sensitive skin, which provides antioxidant defence
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Best for dry complexions prone to rosacea flare-ups, this hydrating lotion acts as a shield for sensitive skin. It’s completely free from alcohol, fragrance, parabens and offending ingredients known to trigger redness, with a softening and smoothing effect when massaged into the skin. What’s more, should reactivity strike, the intelligent SymSitive active is on hand to stop it at the source, providing relief from itching and burning by regulating hyperresponsive neurons in the skin.
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Rosaliac AR Concentrate
Size: 40ml
Key ingredients: discomfort-relieving Neurosensine, thermal spring water and colour-correcting green pigments
Benefits: hydrates and seals moisture in skin with shea butter and glycerin, calms irritation and inflammation with thermal spring water
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
La Roche-Posay’s cream works on all fronts to alleviate symptoms of rosacea, from the green tint that cancels out redness to the nourishing formula that keeps skin hydrated and soothed. Neurosensine, a naturally occurring dipeptide that lowers skin reactivity, has been added to reduce sensations of discomfort as well as the flushing responsible for blotchy skin.
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