10 best face moisturisers for every skin type and budget

This soothing cream is designed for sensitive skin prone to irritation, dryness and itchiness. Its gel-cream texture is fast absorbing and just a couple pumps is enough to apply across the whole face. We found this worked wonders on soothing rosacea flare-ups on our cheeks and calmed hormonal acne on our chin. It’s a brilliant fuss-free moisturiser that does exactly what it promises, quickly absorbs and doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy – we’d argue it’s a skincare staple.

Weleda’s original skin food is a rich cream that layers beautifully beneath make-up and is well loved by MUAs and celebrities like Hailey Bieber for red carpets. Its thick consistency makes it fantastic for very dry skin, but if you want to enjoy its moisturising benefits with a lighter texture, the Weleda skin food light is an underrated gem. It’s a lovely lightweight creamy texture for dry skin, infused with organic sunflower oil, wild pansy, chamomile and calendula to help clear up dry patches fostered by cold weather. It can also be used on the body too and is particularly great for dry hands and elbows.

Naturium is a newer brand in the UK, having entered the beauty scene in late 2022. It’s the brainchild of influencer and skincare expert Susan Yara and driven by the belief that skincare should be effective and affordable. For just over £20, its multi-peptide moisturizer is not the cheapest, but for a mid-range moisturiser, it’s a worthwhile investment. We loved the creamy, smoothing consistency of this immediately and it was quick to improve texture and add plumpness back to sallow skin.

If you’re battling rosacea, this green coloured cream is fantastic as a daily treatment to reduce redness. The creamy texture is hydrating but not heavy, and is made with lactobacillus extract, a probiotic that calms irritated skin. Upon application, there’s an immediate reduction in redness, especially on our cheeks which always flare up when the weather gets cold. It’s great for oily skin types too, with no greasy residue, thanks to the oil-free formula. A little goes a long way, so while this is an investment, it will last you ages and is fast-acting on redness-prone skin.

This perfectly toes the line between a luxury rich cream and a soothing balm for irritated skin. Despite its thick texture, it’s not greasy in the slightest and worked well even on our oily skinned reviewer. It leaves skin immediately softer and smoother, and sat well beneath make-up, however we loved applying a generous layer before bed to wake up to a soothed complexion in the morning. It’s particularly useful during winter, when dryness on the nose and cheeks are common.

Charlotte Tilbury’s magic cream has long been a cult favourite among make-up lovers, for its skin-smoothing properties which make your application easier and last longer. However if you’re prone to dryness and are in need of something richer, this balmy night cream does just the job. As it’s a thicker cream, it’s designed only for use in the evening and will help wake you up with a luminous, softer complexion. It’s not a fast-absorbing formula, but take your time to apply it and your skin will thank you for it. It’s functional and luxurious all in one.

Read our full round-up of the best moisturisers for dry skin

This multi-tasking moisturiser is both a hydrating cream and gradual self-tanner, and manages to do both very well. It’s a cocktail of lipids, squalane, antioxidants and amino acids which combined, add and retain moisture, along with plumpness and suppleness too.

Packaged in a chic aluminium tube, it’s fast absorbing, doesn’t have the classic overpowering fake tan scent, nor does it transfer colour onto your pillowcase or pyjama collar. Best of all, it’s a gentle gradual tanner which adds an overnight glow and is customisable – the more you apply, the deeper your tan will be. However, it won’t leave your skin looking orange or patchy, and a pea-sized amount evens out skin tone beautifully.

This cooling gel moisturiser has a bouncy texture that’s instantly refreshing on skin in need of a hydration boost. It’s lightweight and a mix of hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, two humectants which attract and retain moisture, along with niacinamide to combat excess oiliness and a shiny T-zone. It’s a lovely texture beneath make-up too. Lastly, it’s also fragrance-free, which is a common skin irritant, so is ideal for sensitive skin types too.

Read our full round-up of the best moisturisers for oily skin

Luxury bodycare brand Aesop may be best known for its chic hand washes, but its skincare is well worth your money too, if you’re shopping with a bigger budget. This lightweight botanical-based lotion is fast-absorbing, housed in an apothecary-style glass jar. Designed with sensitive skin in mind prone to irritation and redness, we think this is a lovely option for combination skin, when you need intense moisture without feeling greasy. While its blend of squalane, ginger root and bisabol are effective, the added touch of its signature woody aroma only amplifies its luxury appeal.

Read our full round-up of the best moisturisers for combination skin

For lacklustre skin, try this brightening cream for size. Founded by Indie Lee, her eponymous skincare line is made with plant-derived ingredients with many of its products – including this moisturiser – featuring squalane, a lightweight, non-greasy oil that helps reduce water loss and maintain suppleness. This cream is also packed with strawberry leaf extract, safflower oil, mango seed butter and centella asiatica, which boosts radiance. It’s a lightweight texture that glides onto skin without feeling greasy or heavy, and after a week of use, we saw a brighter, glowy complexion.