28 best moisturisers in 2025, tried & tested by Glamour editors

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

Consistency: Thick and nourishing.
Skin type: Normal to dry, mature skin.
Key ingredients: TFC8® complex, evening primrose oil, argan oil, hyaluronic acid.

Why we love it: If you’re after that ‘skin but better’ transformation, The Rich Cream is definitely worth the hype (even if it requires taking out a loan to purchase it). It features Professor Bader’s patented TFC8® technology — a complex of amino acids, vitamins and peptides — which helps support cell renewal and improve tone and texture. Evening primrose and argan oils nourish deeply, while hyaluronic acid locks in moisture. It's thick, but sinks in fast, and with regular use, skin looks visibly smoother, plumper and more even.

AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Cream

Consistency: Mid-weight cream.
Skin type: Dry and reactive.
Key ingredients: Ceramides, panthenol, cholesterol, phytosphingosine.

Why we love it: When your skin is feeling sore, stripped or just overwhelmed, this is the kind of cream that instantly makes everything feel better. A cult favourite in Korean pharmacies, it uses a skin-mimicking blend of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids to restore your moisture barrier and stop irritation in its tracks. There’s also panthenol for calming, long-lasting hydration and phytosphingosine to keep your skin microbiome happy. It’s not exactly aesthetic for your shelfie, but it’s definitely effective - especially if you’ve gone too hard on the actives or your skin’s having a meltdown. Think of it as a reset button in a tube.

Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C-Tetra Cream

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin types: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: 7% vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E.

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 brightening vitamin C, but also hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing vitamin E, as well as advanced UV filters to shield your skin. This is a perfect multi-hyphenate if you're looking to reduce hyperpigmentation. Personally, we looove how this facial cream feels on our skin and how well it pairs with other Medik8 products.

Tester: Fiona Ward, GLAMOUR's freelance contributor.
Tester's skin type: combination.
Testing time: 2 months.

Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream

• Consistency: Creamy and comforting.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Clarins’ [COLLAGEN]³ Technology (collagen polypeptide, pecan tree extract, organic mitracarpus extract) and niacinamide.

Why we love it: Clarins knows its stuff when it comes to firming, and this new version seriously steps things up. It’s powered by the brand’s [COLLAGEN]³ Technology - basically three clever ingredients working together to boost collagen and keep skin looking smoother and more lifted. The texture is rich and velvet, but it melts in like a dream and doesn’t leave you shiny or sticky. Plus, niacinamide adds that subtle glow so your skin looks brighter and more even with every use - what’s not to love?

Nip + Fab Teen Skin Fix Zero Shine Moisturiser

• Consistency: Lightweight gel-cream.
• Skin type: Best for oily or breakout-prone skin.
• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, wasabi extract, and mattifying powders.

Why we love it: Finding the right moisturiser for a teen can be a tricky task - you want hydration without the greasy feel or added shine. This one from Nip + Fab gets the balance just right. It keeps skin smooth and hydrated while helping to control oil and calm breakouts - basically a life saviour for teenage skin. Niacinamide works to regulate sebum and tighten pores, while wasabi extract (yes, wasabi), helps keep spots at bay. There’s also mattifying powders to keep shine at bay all day long. Pop this under the tree this year - trust us, your teen will thank you.

L’Occitane Shea Ultra Rich Comforting Face Cream

Consistency: Rich cream.
Skin type: Dry and dehydrated skin.
Key ingredients: 25% shea butter, vitamin E, glycerin, linseed extract.

Why we love it: This is the face cream equivalent of a duvet day. It’s loaded with 25% shea butter, so it’s thick, comforting and exactly what dry skin needs. It melts in slowly and leaves your skin soft, calm and properly cared for - no tightness, flakiness, just relief. There’s also glycerin for hydration, vitamin E for protection, and linseed to help smooth things over. If your face gets cranky in winter or you’ve been hitting the retinol too hard, this is the one to reach for.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream

• Consistency: Thick cream.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, aloe vera, camellia oil, shea butter.
• Pros: Great to wear under makeup.
• Cons: Those who prefer lighter consistencies may find this too thick, not fragrance-free.

Why we love it: Some may find the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream a bit heavy for a daily moisturiser (although there's a lighter water cream rendition which we really rate), but for priming pre-makeup, evening out a patchy complexion or instantly feigning you've had eight hours sleep? Nothing beats it. The deeeeep quenching action has deservedly won an addicted fan following. Slather it on every morning before you apply your favourite makeup look – trust us, your skin will thank you for it.

Tester: Georgia Trodd, GLAMOUR's Senior Commerce Writer.
Tester's skin type: oily.
Testing time: 4 weeks.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin type: All skin types, particularly mature skin.
• Key ingredients: Mediterranean algae, ginkgo biloba, glycerin, shea butter, jojoba seed oil.

Why we love it: This Elemis bestseller is a classic in its own right. It has a lightweight, fast-absorbing and deeply hydrating formula that leaves your skin feeling noticeably smoother and plumper within a few weeks of consistent use, plus it now comes infused with SPF30 for better protection. Offering up an impressive 24 hours of hydration, it taps up moisture-boosting marine and plant actives including Padina Pavonica, Chlorella and Ginkgo Biloba. Meanwhile the delicate floral scent was designed to soothe your mood as well as you skin. One of our favourites at the GLAMOUR office and an absolute must-have for your skincare routine.

Tester: Elle Turner, GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor.
Tester's skin type: combination.
Testing time: 4 months.

Byoma Moisturising Gel Cream

• Consistency: Lightweight and non-greasy.
• Skin type: All skin types, but particularly oily.
• Key ingredients: Tri-ceramides, niacinamide, green tea.
• Pros: Lightweight feel, lasting hydration.
• Cons: Nothing of note.

Why we love it: This deeply hydrates thirsty skin (and provides lasting moisture) but without feeling remotely heavy, cloggy or greasy. The gel-like texture sinks in in seconds and reinforces the skin barrier with its tri-ceramide complex and blend of antioxidants like green tea and niacinamide.

Eucerin AntiRedness Soothing Care

• Consistency: Lightweight, comforting cream.

• Skin type: Sensitive and rosacea-prone skin.

• Key ingredients: SymSitive, liquorice root extract, panthenol.

  Why we love it: Developed with hypersensitive and rosacea-prone skin in mind, this formula takes a science-led approach to soothing irritation. SymSitive works directly at the source of discomfort by targeting hyper-reactive nerve endings in the skin, helping to reduce burning and stinging sensations before they escalate. Liquorice root extract provides natural anti-inflammatory benefits to calm redness, while panthenol helps strengthen and repair the skin barrier over time. With no fragrance, alcohol or parabens, it’s the perfect choice for anyone with super reactive skin.

Murad Restorative Hydro-Hyaluronic Cream

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin type: All skin types, especially dry and combination.
• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, sunflower extract, coconut extract.
• Pros: Hydrates skin for up to 24 hours, restores the skin barrier, smooths, plumps, brightens.
• Cons: Nothing of note.

Why we love it: Searching for a hit of hydration? You've found it with this multi-functional staple from Murad. It's powered by Advanced Hydro-Hyaluronic Technology, which is hyaluronic acid at low, medium and high molecular weights to deliver deep hydration to the different layers of the skin, revealing a soft, smooth and supple complexion. Lessening the look of fine lines and wrinkles and uneven texture and tone, this powerhouse works hard to strengthen the skin barrier, reduce water loss and increase your natural radiance.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin type: Normal to dry skin.
• Key ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E, niacinamide.

Why we love it: Developed by dermatologists with sensitive skin in mind, this day cream will address all of your skin needs. The affordable face moisturiser contains three essential ceramides that help restore your natural skin barrier. Beyond that, the stripped-back formula keeps things simple to avoid irritating sensitive skin. It has over 70% of 5 star ratings on Amazon for a reason.

Tester: Shaunelle Harrydass-Clark, GLAMOUR's Intern.
Tester's skin type: sensitive.
Testing time: 4 weeks.

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Simple Repairing Rich Cream

• Consistency: Medium weight cream.
• Skin type: Dry and sensitive skin.
• Key ingredients: Pro-ceramides, cica.

I first used this moisturiser in the middle of winter when icy temperatures outside and central heating inside had sapped my skin of moisture, leaving it feeling seriously battle worn. Nearly a quarter of the ingredients in the pot are known as ceramide boosters - in other words, ingredients that work with your skin's biology to produce natural ceramides and repair its outer layer. The formula also includes cica to dial down sensitivity. I loved how my skin felt immediately softer, more hydrated and soothed – all without a hint of greasiness. The price point is the icing on the cake. – Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's associate beauty director.

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Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Peptides, amino acids, glycerin, soybean folic acid ferment extract.

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 freelance contributor.

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Glossier Priming Moisturiser

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe leaf juice, an anti-redness complex.

Why we love it: We're big fans of anything that can help simplify our morning routines, so naturally, this primer/moisturiser hybrid makes the cut. Specially formulated to create an even base for your makeup, its nourishing blend of ingredients helps reduce redness, blemishes, hyperpigmentation and even enlarged pores. Lightweight, buildable, cruelty-free and so, so easy to bring with you everywhere you go.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Breakout Corrective Gel Moisturiser

• Consistency: Lightweight gel-cream.
• Skin type: Acne-prone and oily skin types.
• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, zinc PCA, glycerin.
• Pros: Non-comedogenic, delivers 24-hour hydration, can also be used on the chest and back.
• Cons: Some reviews mention that you have to use it for a while to see a difference.

Why we love it: Bid a cheery farewell to pesky breakouts and post-acne pigmentation with this soothing gel-cream formula, brimming with kind-to-skin ingredients. Salicylic acid gently exfoliates to unblock congested pores and boost skin cell turnover, while zinc PCA works to control excess oil levels. But it's certainly not stripping, thanks to the addition of glycerin, which keeps your complexion hydrated for up to 24 hours.

Weleda Skin Food Cream

• Consistency: Rich cream.
• Skin type: Dry and very dry skin.
• Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax, glycerin.

Why we love it: If you're prone to seasonal damage, whether it's caused by the heat or the cold, this face cream can help keep your skin from getting too cracked and chapped. Powered by extracts of calendula, chamomile and viola tricolour, as well as a base of oils and beeswax, this affordable product also doubles as a body cream and can be used on areas that are especially prone to dryness, including your hands, feet and elbows.

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Trinny London See The Light SPF50 Moisturiser

• Consistency: Silky and lightweight.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: White tea leaf extract, raspberry leaf extract, glycerin, SPF.

Why we love it: Looking to prevent signs of premature skin ageing? Say no more – this broad-spectrum moisturiser protects you against both UVA and UVB rays, helping stop the unwanted formation of sun damage, dryness, fine lines, pigmentation, blemishes, dark circles and dark spots dead in their tracks. Silky in texture and totally weightless, it absorbs instantly, and will sit beneath your make-up completely undetected.

Medik8 Intelligent Retinol Smoothing Night Cream

• Consistency: Rich and nourishing.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: 0.2% retinol, vitamin E, dragon fruit extract.

Why we love it: Given that a moisturiser's job is to nourish skin and boost skin barriers, it can feel counterintuitive to include retinol when the potent ingredient is associated with weakening skin barriers. This formula however delicately balances an slow-release encapsulated 0.2% retinol to smooth and brighten skin, alongside nourishing and barrier-restoring antioxidants, including vitamin E.

Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream

• Consistency: Rich but comfortable
• Skin type: Sensitive and sensitised skin
• Key ingredients: Ceramides, shea butter, glycerin, peptides.
• Pros: Ultra soothing and cocooning
• Cons: Pretty expensive.

Why we love it: This was specifically developed (and clinically tested) with sensitive and sensitised skin in mind. Ceramides and peptides calm and soften irritable skin and help to rebuild compromised skin barriers. "This is ultra-nourishing but it doesn’t feel claustrophobic and it’s my go-to if my face is having a proper mare, feels extra sensitive, or when I get dry patches that refuse to budge," – Elle Turner, GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturiser

• Consistency: Nourishing cream.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, a botanical blurring complex.

Why we love it: If you're after a fool-proof daily moisturiser, look no further than the iconic Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting formula by Elizabeth Arden. Not only does it do an outstanding job at retaining moisture throughout the day, but it also helps visibly brighten your complexion, control sebum production and refine pores if used consistently. Infused with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane and the brand's signature botanical blurring complex, this cream is also non-comedogenic, vegan and is suitable for all skin types. An absolute must.

Farmacy Beauty Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser

• Consistency: Rich cream.
• Skin type: All skin types, particularly dry and sensitive skin.
• Key ingredients: Buckwheat honey, vitamin E, ceramides, shea butter.

Why we love it: This rich cream features soothing properties, thanks to the included buckwheat honey blend – ideal for dry, sensitive and dehydrated 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 freelance contributor.

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Sisleya L'Integral Anti-Age Fresh Gel Cream

• Consistency: Lightweight but deeply quenching.
• Skin type: All skin types.
• Key ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, white willow leaf extract, a soy protein complex, a blend of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acids.

Why we love it: "I love the texture of this cream. It's instantly cooling in summer but also really leaves my skin feeling hydrated in winter – something I was surprised about as I normally switch from water to richer oil-based creams in winter. It never feels cloying or greasy and plays brilliantly under makeup," – Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director.

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The INKEY List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser

• Consistency: Lightweight cream.
• Skin type: All skin types, particularly dry skin.
• Key ingredients: Bio-active ceramides, shea butter, gransil blur.

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 skin. 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. – Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's freelance contributor.