The best face moisturisers in the UK for every budget, season and skin type, tested

Korean skincare has soared in popularity over the past few years, and the Haruharu Wonder black rice ceramide cream is a prime example of why. It has a medium-weight texture that repairs the skin barrier without feeling heavy or leaving a residue. It’s suitable for day and night use, sitting beautifully under makeup and locking in night serums so you see their magic the following day.

Why we love itThis cream has an incredibly smooth texture, with five encapsulated ceramides that melt into the skin, and probiotics to rebalance its microbiome. This helps repair and maintain the skin barrier, which is the skin’s top layer and its first line of defence.

The formula also contains vitamin E and fermented black rice, to help soothe, brighten and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Over time, the cream can help prevent moisture loss, giving it a plump, soft glow without irritation. I typically leave a day running around London feeling a little crusty, but this moisturiser kept my tantrum-prone skin calm and comfortable.

It’s gentle on sensitive skin and fragrance-free, but without the typical medicinal smell of such formulas. Note, too, that a little goes a long way – the formulation feels rich, hydrating and nourishing, without the greasiness you get from a heavy cream.

It’s a shame that … it isn’t as widely stocked as other moisturisers. It also takes a second to sink in, which is typical of barrier-repairing creams, but might prove inconvenient if you’re short on time.

Size: 50mlPrice per ml: from 27pVegan: yesCertified cruelty-free: yesKey ingredients: fermented black rice, bamboo shoot bark extract, five-ceramide complex, hyaluronic acid, safflower seed oil

Simple

Hydrating light moisturiser, 125ml

from £2.29

What we loveGentle, no frills formula and affordable price

What we don’t loveCan’t fix intense dryness

Every time I forget to pack a moisturiser for a trip, I buy the Simple hydrating light moisturiser. It’s super affordable, has a lightweight texture that sits well with makeup, won’t upset sensitive skin, and gives a decent dose of hydration without leaving a film. It’s the perfect, affordable, no-frills formula.

Why we love itThis lightweight cream comes packing panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and glycerine– two humectants that draw moisture into the skin. There’s also niacinamide (vitamin B3), calming starflower oil and antioxidant vitamin E working together to keep skin feeling healthy and regulated.

On application, the cream felt soothing, with an inoffensive, lightweight texture. It sank into the skin in less than a minute, without leaving any stickiness, making it a brilliant base for makeup. Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, Simple’s formula will probably be a reliable option for most people, even if their skin is incredibly sensitive.

Better still, you get 125ml for the price – that’s a huge amount of product for far less than a typical 50ml tub. It’s been a staple in my routine for years, and it’s even easier to recommend now that the bottle is made from recycled plastic.

It’s a shame that … its lightweight texture can’t tackle intense dryness, a damaged barrier or irritation. The bottle is also difficult to use when there’s less product left in it.

Size: 125mlPrice per ml: from 2pVegan: yesCertified cruelty-free: yes Key ingredients: panthenol, vitamin E, borage seed (starflower) oil, glycerine

Beauty of Joseon

Relief sun rice + probiotics SPF50+, 50ml

from £12.40

What we loveSilky smooth texture, plays well with makeup

What we don’t loveDry skin types may need to layer it

Day moisturisers need to protect your skin from the sun and environmental stressors. They also need to sit well under makeup and give enough hydration to leave skin nice and plump, but without looking shiny or greasy.

This affordable formula from Korean skincare brand Beauty of Joseon does just that. It’s suitable for all skin types and is my go-to SPF. I’ve yet to find a beauty journalist who doesn’t rave about it.

Why we love itUnlike some heavy sunscreens, this has a gorgeous silky texture that glides over skin and sinks in fast. It’s lightweight, doesn’t pill under makeup and, since it’s a chemical sunscreen, it doesn’t leave a white cast. I use it on its own in the summer, but it also works well on top of a moisturiser if you have dry skin.

Working alongside the SPF50 sunscreen is soothing rice water, hydrating glycerine and ceramides to protect the skin barrier. And with probiotics to support the skin’s microbiome, it will leave skin happier long term.

It also proved to be the perfect face moisturiser to take on a recent trip to Thailand. Despite being out in the baking sun all day, at no point did my skin burn or get upset in the heat. I also liked how easy it was to squeeze out of the tube – I was determined not to waste a drop of this stuff, and the packaging made that easy.

It’s a shame that … it’s too lightweight to work as a stand-alone moisturiser for dry skin. Thankfully, it can be layered over other moisturisers to provide lightweight protection.

Size: 50mlPrice per ml: 25pVegan: yesCertified cruelty-free: yesKey ingredients: 30% rice extract, grain fermented probiotics, niacinamide, vitamin E

Medik8

Avanced pro-collagen+ peptide cream, 50ml

from £79

What we loveGentle anti-ageing with a luxurious feel

What we don’t loveIt’s very expensive

Retinoids are the gold standard of anti-ageing ingredients, but my advice would be to steer clear of them in a daytime moisturiser. They work far better in a concentrated serum at night. Opt for the Medik8 advanced pro collagen cream instead, which uses anti-ageing peptides and NAD+ boosters to re-energise skin cells, leading to faster cell renewal and younger-looking skin.

Why we love itComparing the anti-ageing effects of retinoids and peptides is like comparing apples with oranges, but this cream goes a long way to boost the skin’s appearance without causing irritation. To do this, it uses the peptide growth factor miniprotein, which stimulates fibroblasts in the skin. This encourages collagen and elastin production, which are key components of youthful skin.

The cream also uses NAD+ boosters, which help to re-energise skin cells and further aid the absorption of peptides. This leads to plumper, firmer skin with reduced fine lines over time.

Whack in hydrating hyaluronic acid to plump the skin, with nourishing ceramides, squalane and prebiotics, and you’ve got a solid formula that works for both a day and night cream.

In my tests, the lightweight formula felt incredibly luxurious and softening on my skin. Unexpectedly, it had great slip, which meant it was perfect for use with a gua sha massager.

Suitable for all skin types, this formula sidesteps the irritation you’d expect from a retinol-packed anti-ageing cream – and if you’re under 40, this cream will do much of the anti-ageing heavy-lifting for you. If you’re on the other side of 40, pair it with a retinol serum for the best results.

It’s a shame that … it’s so expensive. I recommend trying the 12.5ml travel-size version before splurging. It doesn’t include an SPF, so you’ll need to add this on for daytime use.

Size: 50mlPrice per ml: £1.58Vegan: yesCertified cruelty-free: yesKey ingredients: NAD+ boosters, multi-peptide complex, ceramides, squalane, prebiotics

Illiyoon

Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream, 75ml

from £7.50

What we loveGentle on sensitivity; repairs very irritated skin

What we don’t loveIts packaging is a little clinical

If your skin is feeling stripped, dry or sensitive, you need a simple cream to gently rehydrate, repair and rebalance. This cream from Korean skincare brand Illiyoon is gentle on sensitive and eczema-prone skin, suitable for use on the whole body, and brilliant for nursing very dry, cracked or flaky skin back to health.

Why we love itThe ceramide ato concentrate cream features tiny capsules of ceramides – they melt at skin temperature when massaged in – to help rebuild the skin barrier. Combined with hydrating, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ginseng root water and softening shea butter, this moisturiser works to soothe, calm and reset stressed skin.

Despite its rich, thick texture, this moisturiser felt super comfortable on my face. It takes a second to sink in, so for daytime use you’ll have to pause for a few minutes before applying makeup. Used overnight, I woke with perfectly hydrated, calm skin. It’s a great choice if you’ve overdone it with the actives, too, since it’s calming and uncomplicated.

Better still, it’s a multitasker: you can use it to repair dry elbows, hands and flakiness elsewhere on the body, and Illiyoon says it’s mild enough to use on infants.

It’s a shame that … the squeezy packaging doesn’t have a luxe feel, but that’s expected at this price point.

Size: 75mlPrice per ml: from 10pVegan: yesCertified cruelty-free: yesKey ingredients: ceramide skin complex, ginseng root extract, shea butter, glycerine

UpCircle

Face moisturiser, 60ml

from £21.99

What we loveLight formula; sustainable credentials; and refill scheme

What we don’t loveDistinctive natural scent and heavier oils

UpCircle specialises in natural skincare that repurposes waste products from other industries, from caffeine-rich coffee grounds repurposed in an eye cream to soothing oat powder packed into a cleanser. This face cream repurposes argan shells from the food industry. It’s refillable, vegan, cruelty-free and natural – perfect for planet-conscious consumers.

Why we love itIt might seem strange to put shells in a face cream, but the ones here are rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps to protect the skin. The formula also includes soothing aloe vera and softening shea and cocoa butter to nourish dry skin. It certainly gave my skin a lasting hydration boost in my tests.

Its whipped texture was incredibly lightweight, absorbing into my skin quickly, and I found the cream gave a slightly matt finish, which was perfect under makeup. And considering I needed only a small amount to moisturise my whole face and neck area, this 60ml pot should last a long time.

Another major selling point for UpCircle is its sustainable packaging. It’s entirely plastic-free, and you can send the glass jar back to UpCircle to refill for a 20% discount.

It’s a shame that … the oils and butters in the cream might be too heavy for some, and the natural scent is very distinctive.

Size: 60mlPrice per ml: from 37pVegan: yesCertified cruelty-free: yesKey ingredients: recycled argan shells, cocoa butter, aloe vera

Glow Recipe

Plum plump hyaluronic moisturiser, 50ml

from £35

What we loveLightweight gel texture with plumping effect

What we don’t loveVery sweet scent

Best for: plumping, with a lightweight texture

This whipped gel cream from Glow Recipe is one of the most lightweight I tested. On application, it felt cooling and refreshing, with my skin drinking it up in less than a minute. The cream left my skin plump and smooth, with a glass-like finish that was a perfect base for makeup.

Inside, you’ll find antioxidant willowherb and five weights of hyaluronic acid, which penetrate and hydrate multiple layers of skin. The cream’s namesake ingredient is kakadu plum, which is rich in vitamin C. Typically, I haven’t got on with vitamin C creams, but over the weeks of testing, my skin felt hydrated and looked brighter. In fact, I’ve found it the perfect antidote on those days my skin looks a little lacklustre.

The pink glass jar is refillable. Simply pop out the plastic insert, put it in the recycling bin and buy a refill for £5 less than the usual cost.

It didn’t make the final cut because … it has a nauseatingly sweet smell that won’t be for everyone, and the natural fragrance could cause reactions in those with highly sensitive skin. Its gel formula might also prove lacking in moisture during the very cold winter months.

Size: 50ml; price per ml: from 70p; vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: yes; key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, kakadu plum, willowherb

What we loveCalming formula with minimal ingredients

What we don’t loveSelf-preserving formula performs differently

Best for: vegans, and moisturising sensitive skin

This is Lush’s most minimal, gentle moisturiser, specifically created for reactive skin. Super lightweight, with a milky texture, this cream felt comforting to apply – and it was immediately clear why this has been one of Lush’s bestsellers since 1996.

Formulated with softening organic cocoa butter to shield against pollutants, and vanilla water to help retain skin’s moisture levels, it also includes 15% almond oil and 5% almond milk to soothe the complexion and support barrier health without leaving a film on your face.

The cream feels luxurious despite its lack of scent, and just a small amount was enough to cover my whole face and neck. Since it’s so gentle, it’s suitable to use after treatments, too.

It didn’t make the final cut because … its simple formula won’t completely transform your skin, so don’t expect miracles. I tested the preserved formula, which isn’t completely natural and isn’t stocked in store. Those looking for 100% natural skincare will need to opt for the self-preserving formula, which has a lower water content and performs differently.

Size: 45g; price per g: 49p; vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: yes; key ingredients: vanilla water, almond oil, cocoa butter

Bubble

Slam Dunk hydrating moisturiser, 50ml

from £13

What we loveFun packaging; simple ingredients that won’t cause damage

What we don’t loveWon’t fix very dry skin

Best for: younger skin

I spent my tweenage years with my head buried in a Nintendo DS. Now a new generation is spending their youth experimenting with skincare. If your teen or tween wants to dip their toes into the skincare world, opt for something gentle, simple and hydrating, such as the Bubble Slam Dunk moisturiser.

The key to keeping young skin happy is sticking to the basics. With a simple set of ingredients, including aloe vera and vitamin E, this cream hydrates without irritation. Bubble also claims its formula offers blue-light protection to help mitigate screen-induced skin damage – although its effects are hard to notice in a few weeks of tests.

It has a creamy texture that feels light and non-greasy, so it won’t clog pores or aggravate breakouts. The hygienic pump dispenser helps keep bacteria at bay while displaying a fun design that will appeal to younger people.

It didn’t make the final cut because … for the price, it doesn’t do anything groundbreaking and isn’t hydrating enough for very dry skin types. Adults would do better with something more affordable, if skin isn’t easily irritated, or something similarly priced that offers more benefits.

Size: 50ml; Price per ml: from 26p; vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: yes; key ingredients: glycerine, aloe vera, vitamin E

Elemis

Pro-Collagen marine cream SPF30, 50ml

from £78.50

What we loveWeightless gel consistency, instant hydration

What we don’t loveIt’s expensive and fragranced

Best for: an anti-ageing SPF day cream

For an anti-ageing and SPF combo for daytime use, the Elemis Pro-Collagen marine cream with SPF30 is a great choice. It has a weightless gel consistency that slides on easily, sinks in quickly, and gives an instant hit of hydration to the skin. I also found it sat beautifully under makeup.

Like the rest of Elemis’s Marine range, the formula includes brown algae to hydrate, support the skin’s structure and boost firmness – plumping skin to minimise the appearance of fine lines. Ginkgo biloba protects the skin from environmental stressors that can exacerbate ageing.

The glass jar packaging, lightweight but nourishing consistency and clean, spa-like scent combine to form a luxury daily ritual you’ll want to stick to. If you’re looking for a non-greasy, smoothing anti-ageing cream with SPF protection, this is a great choice.

Its lightweight texture may not be rich enough to cater to very dry skin, however, and since it lacks very powerful anti-ageing retinoids which should only be used at night, it won’t be able to bust deeper-set wrinkles.

It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s so expensive, and there isn’t a fragrance-free option to cater to those with very sensitive skin.

Size: 50ml; price per ml: from £1.57; vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: no; key ingredients: glycerine, brown algae, ginkgo biloba 

Skin Rocks

The moisturiser, 50ml

from £63

What we loveGreat all-rounder

What we don’t loveExpensive, generic formulation

Best for: an everyday luxury cream

Luxury and everyday rarely go hand in hand, but aesthetician and skincare expert Caroline Hirons’ brand, Skin Rocks, aims to simplify skincare down to its essentials. The moisturiser perfectly balances hydration with barrier care, using vitamin D3, squalane and ceramides to support skin health and retain moisture. Mix in hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerine, and antioxidants to help protect the skin, and you’ve got a great all-rounder.

In my tests, I found the mid-weight cream texture left my skin feeling comfortably hydrated, and I liked the softening effect it had. It sank in relatively quickly, and it layered well with SPFs and makeup. The glass jar felt luxurious to use, and I liked that the brand offers both fragranced and fragrance-free formulas to cater to normal and sensitive skin.

It’s a good goldilocks formula, which is great if you have well-behaved skin, but it can’t fix very dry or flaky skin, and it would be far too rich for those with oily skin. Essentially, the generic formula won’t be good at fixing a specific problem, and you can get cheaper creams that do a similar job.

It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s expensive and the formula isn’t offering anything groundbreaking.

Size: 50ml; price per ml: from £1.26; vegan: no; certified cruelty-free: yes; key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerine, vitamin D3, squalane, ceramides