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Having a good moisturiser that suits your skin is key when it comes to protecting and strengthening the all important skin barrier. Here’s my list of the best moisturisers for 2023 for all skin types and budgets.
Do you need a moisturiser?
A good moisturiser that suits your skin with help to prevent hydration loss and the associated potential inflammation, both of which compromise the skin barrier.
It is important to look after the moisture barrier because when it is weakened, it is less able to protect itself from environmental aggressors, stress, and the natural ageing process.
Your serums can provide targeted and concentrated treatment to the skin to work on specific concerns, (see Best Serums 2023), however, you also need a moisturiser to strengthen the skin and lock in surface hydration.
Best Moisturiser 2023 or Dry Skin
Dry skin is a skin type that lacks natural oils and lipids, and tends to need a richer texture moisturiser to ensure that all essential hydration is locked in.
Weleda Skin Food
If you have dry skin, and have never tried Skin Food, you absolutely must. It is gorgeous.
A little goes a long way and it creates a beautiful barrier on the skin to protect it from the elements and moisture loss. It has a blend of lanolin, beeswax and glycerin, plus sweet almond and sunflower oils to soften, smooth and repair the skin. And it smells amazing.
You can buy it at:
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
This is a great choice for dry or mature skin types if you want a good dose of hydration with a nourishing feel and a dewy glow.
The Dewy Skin Cream is formulated with Tatcha’s special blend of hyaluronic acid and Okinawa algae, plus antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice, which helps to protect skin against stress and pollution. It’s the perfect under makeup moisturiser for glow lovers.
Shop it at Space NK*.
Murad Intense Recovery Cream
This rich cream is formulated as an SOS cream for irritated skin but it is also the perfect remedy for dry skin, especially in winter.
I love it because not only is it super calming, it’s also very good at softening lines and wrinkles, so definitely great for mature skins. If you use a retinol serum and find that it can irritate your skin from time to time, then this is the perfect moisturiser to pair with it. It will protect the barrier and lock in hydration.
Read Murad Intense Recovery Cream Review.
Best Moisturisers 2023 for Dehydrated Skin
Whereas dry skin is a skin type, dehydration is a condition that can happen to all skin types. These moisturisers are great for adding an intense hit of hydration.
Sisley Paris Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream
This is one of my favourite moisturisers. It is super light in texture (it reminds me of raspberry yoghurt to look at!) yet it really does deeply hydrate and soothe the skin.
It contains Black Rose oil extract, May Rose water, Shea and Camelina oils to hydrate and moisturise the skin. It makes skin super soft, and delivers long lasting hydration and comfort.
Shop it at:
Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream
This is my favourite moisturiser from Korean skincare brand Curel because it has a lovely rich texture that deeply hydrates the skin.
It combines Curel’s Ceramide Care system with squalane and eucalyptus leaf extract for an extra hit of hydration. It is rich, but not heavy at all, so you can use it both day and night if you feel your skin needs it.
For extra hydration, Curel recommend Double Moisturising, you can read about in this blog post.
You can buy it at:
I love it because although it is the richer option, it is not at all heavy.
Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle Cream
This is a great hydrating cream from Beauty Pie and it contains three forms of Hylauronic Acid in a light and liquidy, super quenching formula.
It’s light yet really moisturising and hydrating making it great for day and night. And if you wanted, you could skip a hydrating serum thanks to its triple hyaluronic acid formula.
You can order it at Beauty Pie*. Use code REALLYREESENTME for £10 off your first month.
Read Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle Cream Review.
Best Moisturisers 2023 for Sensitive Skin
Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream
Anyone that loves a super nourishing, gentle cream that gives a major glow will fall in love with this.
If your skin is needing a bit of TLC or it is dry, this is for you. Kate created the DeliKate range for use in her clinic to calm post-peel skin or treat inflamed skin conditions. She says, “It’s a game changer for putting out the fire and calming irritation.”
There is nothing in this that could irritate any skin condition (except maybe cystic acne in which case I’d steer clear) and has the most stunning semi-balmy texture that makes skin look and feel calm and glossy in the best way imaginable. Even if you didn’t have sensitive skin, this cream would be up your street if you love a juicy-looking glow.
It is available at:
Check out the full Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream review.
Marie Reynolds Butter Balm
Although this has been formulated as a mask, this balm makes a beautiful night cream for sensitive skin.
It’s a gorgeously indulgent formula that feels instantly soothing, calming and quenching. You can use the tiniest amount spread over the skin for immediate relief from dryness and a calming effect.
It contains lots of repairing antioxidants and a blend of butters to deeply nourish the skin and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. If my skin is having a moment, I know that this won’t irritate it at all.
Read Marie Reynolds London Butter Balm Antioxidant Mask Review.
You can buy it at Marie Reynolds London*.
Best Moisturiser 2023 for Combination & Oily Skin
Murad Clarifying Oil Free Water Gel
This is an oil-free and non-comedogenic super lightweight moisturiser that deeply hydrates with Hylauronic Acid, while Salicylic Acid gently clears and decongests the skin.
It also contains Korean Red Pine extract known for its ability to balance and protect the skin’s delicate microbiome, meaning it’s great for sensitive skins too.
Buy it at:
La Mer Hydrating Infused Emulsion
This is one the newest incarnations of La Mer’s classic moisturiser and it’s really very lovely.
This is a super-hydrating featherlight formula that gives the skin a really beautiful glow. This product is actually designed to be a pre-moisturiser hydration step, and can be sealed in with a layer of cream, however, I think it works very well alone, over a serum, for combination and oily skin.
It has all of the La Mer soothing and antioxidant properties with a completely weightless finish on the skin.
Read La Mer Hydrating Infused Emulsion Review.
You can buy it at:
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
This one is nicely hydrating and barrier protecting, yet light enough not to aggravate oily or acne-prone skin types.
This light formula first launched in 2013 and was upgraded last year to a superior formula that is free from alcohol. It has also been enriched with Glacial Gycoproteins and Micronised Amino Acids.
It has a lovely cooling gel texture that feels quenching and comforting. My boyfriend absolutely loved this, so if you’re looking for a moisturiser for the lads, this is a great one.
Read Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream Review.
You can buy it at:
Paula’s Choice Water Infusing Electrolyte Moisturiser
This formula has Electrolytes which work to help cells generate energy and to channel the water to where it’s needed. This means it’s very balancing and perfect for combination skins.
It has a super light texture that transforms from a whipped gel to a watery consistency that instantly quenches the skin. So if you love something light yet effective, this will do the trick perfectly.
Read Paula’s Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer Review.
Best Moisturiser 2022 for Lines & Wrinkles
Bioeffect EGF Power Cream
This is a dream cream with its light and airy yet rich texture and its ability to work on all signs of ageing.
It uses Barley EGF, plus new ingredient Oridonin to trigger the skin to act younger, while Niacinamide works on pores. There’s also a nourishing blend of squalane, shea butter and much more to protect the skin barrier and prevent water loss. It’s fab.
Read Bioeffect EGF Power Cream Review.
You can buy it at:
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream
If you want to get into retinol, this is night cream an amazing way to start.
It is buttery and creamy and everything you want in a gentle night cream except it has Dr Murad’s incredible Tri-Active Retinol formula. This is a super effective trio of different types of retinols buffered by gentle hydrating ingredients that make sure you don’t get the dreaded retinol flake.
I remember the first time I ever used this cream, I noticed my skin looked better the very next day.
You can buy it at:
Read the full Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream review.
Best Moisturiser 2023 for Dull Skin
Dermalogica BioLumin-C Gel Moisturiser
This new gel moisturiser is perfect for addressing skin dullness and dehydration.
It is packed with boosted Vitamin C to brighten, Squalane to moisturise and five different types of Hyaluronic Acid to deeply hydrate the skin. Plus there are some enzymes for gentle exfoliation to renew the skin’s surface.
It is great for instant glow and brilliant under makeup.
Read Dermalogica BioLumin-C Gel Moisturizer Review.
Buy it from:
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream
If you are looking for a rich moisturiser that’s still fairly light on the skin and boosts your glow factor, then this could be the one. It’s so good.
The texture melts into the skin so beautifully and leaves it looking instantly smoother and more radiant. The formula is thick without being too heavy – it has almost a hint of a honey-like texture but isn’t sticky.
The brightening come from 5% high-potency, advanced vitamin C (THD ascorbate) which is the gold standard form of vitamin C and is very stable against oxygenation. It promises to stay stable even in a jar. I love this stuff.
You can buy it at:
Elemis Pro-Collagen Morning Matrix
This is a brand new launch from Elemis and it is absolutely fantastic!
It’s a brilliant day moisturiser that really improves the elasticity of your skin and makes it feel instantly smooth and plumped up. If I want my skin to look bright and glowy, I know that this will do the trick.
It’s packed with anti-ageing ingredients with the added bonus of blue light protection. Plus it’s amazing under makeup and created the smoothest base. Love it.
Shop at:
Best Moisturiser 2023 for Firming
Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting And Firming Cream Enriched
Shiseido has some absolutely amazing skincare and this Vital Perfection range is brilliant if you suffer with lack of volume, tone or firmness.
It is formulated with Shiseido’s ReNeura Technology++ and KURENAI-TruLift Complex which work together to reawaken the communication with the brain, and target loss of elasticity, wrinkles and dark spots.
When I use this cream at night, I always wake up with soft, bouncy skin in the morning. It has a fast acting result on the skin.
It has a very soft fragrance that is very soothing, calming and comforting on the mind. It really does up the ante on the therapeutic side of skin.
You can buy it at:
Allies of Skin Peptides and Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment
This daily mask-come-moisturiser is brilliant when it comes to working on the facial contours.
It is packed with peptides to boost collagen and redensify the skin, plus a powerful antioxidant blend to protect skin from environmental aggressors. It give the skin a really beautiful finish – it’s nicely dewy and glowy, which I love. It’s perfect for daytime under makeup.
It also has probiotics which are great for calming the skin, Niacinamide (great on pores, lines) pure Hyaluronic Acid to plump, and medical grade Manuka Honey which is antibacterial and great for cellular renewal.
It is pricey but it has so many brilliant ingredients that you can see why. I love the stuff.
You can buy it at:
Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Firming Cashmere Cream
This cream is lovely in every way – from the texture, to how it makes my skin look and feel and also the packaging.
This is a great one for putting the bounce back in your skin and boosting that youthful plumpness. The clinical trials Caudalie have done on this are seriously impressive, and the formula has been proven to double the skin’s Hyaluronic Acid and increase collagen production five times. That’s incredible! Plus it has 97% natural ingredients and new packaging that’s 100% recyclable, as well as really pretty.
It’s a brilliant day cream for anyone worrying about loss of firmness, and it gives a brilliant glow. In fact, the more you work it in, the more glowy it gets.
It is available at:
Best Moisturisers with SPF
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Anti-Dark Spots SPF50 Day Cream
This is a great all round high protection moisturiser designed to help correct pigmentation, and also work on wrinkle appearances of all types. It includes Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and LHA which work together to fade dark spots, while broad-spectrum SPF50 to helps prevent further hyperpigmentation.
It has a lovely light texture yet it feels really nourishing and moisturising. The finish is a soft and velvety, and it creates a lovely base for makeup.
Shop it at:
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF30
This product is one of the beauty industry’s true icons and Elemis are about to celebrate it’s 20th anniversary!
It uses a blends a powerful blend of ingredients, including Padina Pavonica and Ginkgo Biloba which works to address lines and wrinkles, super-boost hydration, and firm up the skin.
SPF30 protection comes courtesy of a next generation micronized sunscreen that leaves no white cast while delivering broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
Shop it at:
Best Luxury Moisturisers 2023
Sisley Paris Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-age
This moisturiser is pretty pricey but it is absolutely incredible, and how ever my skin is feeling, this always works for me. In fact, I reach for it when I need something that transforms without sensitising my skin even if it is feeling a bit sensitive or inflamed.
It has the most beautiful balmy texture that melts into the skin. It is so comforting and nourishing and is designed to work on wrinkles, firmness, radiance, density and hydration.
Phytostimulines and Ursolic Acid and Rhatany extract and Lady’s Mantle extract work to regenerate and smooth the skin. There’s a range of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acid plus White Willow leaf extract and Adenosine for anti-wrinkle and antioxidant protection. If I could use this always, I probably would!
Shop it at:
La Mer Creme de La Mer
I couldn’t write a post about moisturisers without mentioning the original Creme de La Mer because it has been one of my all time favourites for so long now.
If my skin is feeling dry, tight, or irritated, this is the cream I reach for. It is extremely thick and because of this, you only need the smallest amount. There’s a trick to getting the best out of it. You need to really warm it up between your fingers to allow the cream to transform and release all the soothing, healing ingredients.
After it is warmed up, you feel the texture loosen up between your fingers and then it glides over the skin, leaving a juicy and calm-looking complexion. I love it.
You can buy it at:
Best Budget Moisturisers 2022
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
No matter what you are looking for within the CeraVe brand, you will find a good value solution packed with barrier strengthening Ceramides.
The CeraVe Moisturising Cream is a a great moisturiser particularly well suited to dry skins. It has three essential ceramides plus Hyaluronic Acid in a non-greasy formula to lock In hydration all day long.
You can buy it at:
The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factor + HA
This is The Ordinary’s only moisturiser and it is designed to mimic the skin’s own Natural Moisturising Factors which are elements that keep the outer layer of the skin protected.
The formula contains 11 amino acids, phospholipids, alpha/beta/gamma fatty acids, triglycerides, sterols and sterol esters, glycerin, ceramide precursors, urea, saccharides, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid. There’s a whole lot going on for £4.90! It’s all about surface hydration which is just what a good moisturiser is meant to deliver.
You can buy it at:
I hope you found this round of of the Best Moisturisers for 2022 helpful. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
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Source by reallyree.com