A good does-what-it-says-on-the-tin moisturiser should be in everyone’s beauty kit. Whether you’re tackling the signs of ageing, fighting pigmentation, calming reactive skin or just keeping your complexion hydrated, it’s an essential step and probably one of the first beauty products many of us buy.
With so many options available what’s the best choice for your skin? Here are some of the best and why they stand out from the crowd...
Dull skin We’re not the only ones who need a coffee to get started and skin actually responds very well to caffeine, which is why it’s a part of the stimulating formula behind Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser, £25. It won’t tingle or feel as though it’s revving up your cell turnover, but trust that it is, while Ginseng supercharges skin function for skin that looks instantly brighter. Alternatively, Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream, £39, is a zingy little number that uses citrus oils and extracts to promote glowing, energised skin plus a power-packed combination of vitamins to support the natural skin function. If you tend to look tired mid week then this is one for the beauty cabinet as it’s a like a shot of wheatgrass for the complexion.
Dehydrated skinThe name 'Cloud Cream' tells you a lot and it isn’t an exaggeration. This has a very unique and pleasing texture, which has been created by using hydrogen, the smallest molecule, to ensure maximum penetration. If you’re not a fan of heavy creams, but you do need long-lasting hydration, Perricone MD H2 Elemental Energy Hydrating Cloud Cream, £55.20, delivers.
Blemish-prone skin If you tend to have breakouts from time to time or find yourself constantly battling blemishes, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, £5.50, totally combats the bacteria that leads to them forming. The lightweight cream-gel formula sinks into the skin and within a few minutes. Murad Blemish Control Skin Perfecting Lotion, £28, delivers oil-free hydration without clogging your pores, leaving skin nourished, clear and fresh.
Aging skin Sunday Riley C.E.O. + E antiOXIDANT Protect + Repair Moisturiser, £60, delivers hydration while also mobilising a five-pronged attack on the damage the environment and pollution can wreak on skin, which makes it great for city-dweller. Vitamin C supports collagen formation, repairs and brightens while Lime Pearl Extract and Bisabolol soothes and exfoliates. Dr Dennis Gross Skincare C + Collagen Deep Cream, £70, is a daily moisturiser that gives your complexion a boost in vitamin C to help deter signs of aging, from dark spots to wrinkles. What's more, the nourishing oils it contains help maintain the health of your skin's barrier function.
Oily skin If you have oily or combination skin and struggle with shine then Caudalie Moisturising Mattifying Fluid, £23, contains a cocktail of ingredients that’ll knock out the glare while also balancing skin. The combination of organic grape seed water and flax seed powder soothe and mattify while encouraging the skin to a more even balance, all with a subtle matte finish that acts as a great base for makeup.
Dry skin Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser, £16, a classic and trusty moisturiser with a lightweight, but hydrating, texture and vitamins A and E to nourish and soothe skin. It’s a use-it-every-day basic or the kind of moisturiser you could take with you on holiday knowing it’ll deliver the kind of hydration you need. Or if it’s an experience as well as performance that you want then the rose-tinted fragrance of Eve Lom TLC cream, £55, is the one for you. Its silky texture make you feel ever so glamorous while you’re applying it, while the blend of calming and soothing ingredients restores skin balance and is especially kind to dry or mature skin.
Sensitive skin If you prefer your skincare to be ‘free-from’ then Aurelia Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser, £52, ticks all the boxes. Also in the mix are Omega 3, 6 and 9s, baobab extract, and hibiscus to fight free radicals and peptides to create smooth, lit-from-within skin. You may also grow slightly addicted to the scents of tuberose, mandarin and jasmine that make using this cream a really sensory pleasure.
For a boost in plumpness... If it’s plumping and hydration you’re after then Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream, £128, is it in a jar. The black rose at the core of this cream focuses on increasing skin’s hydration for that natural ‘bouncy’ skin look while shea and camelina oils leave skin feeling soft and smooth. We're also big fans of Alpha H Liquid Gold 24 Hour Moisture Repair Cream, £51. At the heart of this cream lies the glycolic acid that made the original Liquid Gold, the overnight treatment, an iconic beauty buy. This cream moves the story on by adding 24 carat gold flakes and argan stem cells to rejuvenate, stimulate and add density to thinning skin.
