The best facial moisturisers are a must-have for anyone’s daily skincare routine, whether you’re a beauty mogul or a quick-wash-and-out-the-door kinda person.
Of course, one person’s favourite face cream can be someone else’s worst nightmare. It all depends on your skin type; for example, dry complexions need thicker formulas with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, whereas if your face is quite oily you’ll want to opt for oil-free, water-based and non-comedogenic ointments.
The main purpose of face cream is to keep your face hydrated and give you a fresh base for applying makeup, although there are lots of creams that promise even more.
From anti-ageing gems to brightening best-sellers, we’ve reviewed some of the most popular, best face creams to shop now. Time for a face off.
Best face creams at a glance:
- Best lightweight face cream: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, from £28.50 from Kiehl’s
- Best face cream with vitamin C: NIVEA Q10 Energy Healthy Glow Face Day Cream, £6.25 from Amazon
- Best face cream with hyaluronic acid: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream, £45 from Beauty Bay
- Best cult classic face cream: Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay – buy here
- Best anti-ageing face cream: Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich Day Face Cream, £16.99 from Amazon
- Best lifting face cream: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler [+ Hyaluronic Acid] Eye Cream For Face 30ml, £19.99 from LookFantastic
- Best face cream for dry skin: CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion No SPF 52ml, £13 from LookFantastic
- Best face cream for sensitive skin: Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream for Dry Sensitive Skin, £19.50 from FeelUnique
- Best face cream with vitamin E: Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream, £13 from Cult Beauty
- Best cooling face cream: Sand&Sky Tasmanian Water Hydration Boost Cream, £44.90 from CultBeauty
- Best budget-friendly face cream: Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser 88ml, £12.99 from Boots
- Best smelling face cream: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Rich Moisturiser, £16.50 from LookFantastic
- Best lightweight face cream: Florena Fermented Skincare 24H Hydrating Day Cream, £14.99 from Boots
- Best thick face cream: Florena Fermented Skincare 24H Hydrating Day Cream, £14.99 from Boots
- Best vegan face cream: Environmental Moisture Light, £45 from Harborist
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, from £28.50 from Kiehl’s
The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is a skincare classic. It’s won 70 international awards and averages 4.7 stars on the brand’s website. In short, it’s got a pretty good reputation.
Touted as a ‘super hydrator’, it uses glacial glycoprotein and olive-derived squalane to ensure moisturised skin all day.
The cream looks very thick in the pot but once it’s rubbed in, it feels lightweight and, crucially, non-greasy.
This moisturiser only uses natural ingredients so you know your skin isn’t being subjected to harsh chemicals – a real bonus for sensitive skin.
Don’t expect a strong scent from this one because that’s not where this product’s strengths lie, but do expect to only need a small amount. A little goes a very long way, which is great because this is priced on the higher end of mid-range at £28.50 for 50ml, or if you want to size up, £49.50 for 125ml.
Offering you a fresh face for less than £7, Nivea’s Q10 Energy Healthy Glow Face Day Cream is an absolute steal.
The mix of vitamin C and E aims to rejuvenate tired-looking skin, whilst the SPF 15 looks after any sun damage too. What more could you want from a day cream?
Scent always has a big impact on our first impressions, and Nivea’s cream simply smells of summer, creating a wonderful fusion of citrus and sun cream.
Applying this straight after cleansing leaves you feeling refreshed as it’s a deeply hydrating cream that’s quite thick – a small amount goes a long way.
We love that it has SPF 15 as even on cloudy days in winter, SPF can help fight the impacts of anti-ageing.
In terms of brightening, it was a refreshing cream that left our skin feeling soft and revitalised. So yes, it works. Our only advice is that this might not be best for particularly oily skin.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream, £45 from Beauty Bay
As a fan of Peter Thomas Roth’s Hyaluronic Cloud mask, I was really excited to try out the cream that’s in the same range.
At £45, it’s a concentrated formula that apparently holds up to 1000 times its own weight in water, providing hydration for 72 hours.
First of all, it’s really lightweight, taking the form of a soft wet layer of moisture over your skin.
I think this is one for those with more oily or combination skin, as I needed something heavier for my dry complexion.
However, when used in tandem with the eye patches and cream from the Cloud range, it’s amazing.
Got the cash to splash? Peter Thomas Roth has my vote as an incredibly light base for your make-up.
Egyptian Magic Cream, from £4.25 at Beauty Bay
Egyptian Magic Cream has something of a cult following, especially since A-Lister Rihanna used the product to create her look for the “B**** Better Have My Money” music video.
Although it’s called a cream, this multi-tasking pot is very much a balm and does, quite literally everything.
Need to lay your edges? Egyptian Magic Cream. Suffering from scarring? Egyptian Magic Cream. Dry skin? Egyptian Magic Cream. You get the point.
When applied, it feels like a film over skin, locking in hydration while also acting as a barrier against external aggressors like pollution and the weather.
It doesn’t smell of anything at all, but a little goes a very long way and once it’s on, that film-like consistency leaves skin glowing immediately.
It’s not vegan, but it is cruelty-free and really does leave skin feeling intensely hydrated and soothed, making it perfect for all skin types.
Featuring in Olay’s Regenerist range, the Ultra Rich Day Face Cream claims to intensely hydrate your skin for 24 hours while firming and reinvigorating your complexion.
The formula is a combination of vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), peptides and shea butter, made to be used as a day cream prior to applying makeup.
We found the cream’s texture instantly surprising as it’s butter-like, with a thickness that means you apply it as you would Vaseline.
With a slightly fragranced smell, this moisturiser feels like the perfect base for make-up – one dab on each cheek and our forehead was enough to give deep hydration with a smoothing finish.
As our skin is typically dry, we fell in love with the thickness of this Olay cream as it feels as though it gives you a deep moisturise without being greasy at all.
This is a must-have for our fellow dry and sensitive skin sufferers out there, we’ll be getting more when it runs out — that’s for sure.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler [+ Hyaluronic Acid] Eye Cream
L’Oréal Paris has created a formula that apparently reduces the fine lines on your face, plumping and hydrating your skin for a youthful look.
Blended with Hyaluronic Acid, the Revitalift Filler Eye Cream for Face can be applied all the way down to your neck, and apparently, in a matter of weeks, you can already see the lifting effects.
We sampled it to see if it’s worth almost 20 quid.
One pump is enough to cover your face, so although the tube is only 30ml, we can see it lasting a while (well, long enough to see if there are actually any results).
The cream feels fresh as there’s no fragrance and it’s not too thick, moisturising our dry skin perfectly without leaving it greasy at all.
Within a week of use, our skin definitely felt more hydrated and even firmer, having used it religiously both day and night.
The results were so minor that we’re not sure if we were imagining them, but apparently, the best results arrive in around eight weeks when your under eye, forehead, crow’s feet, glabellar and nasolabial are all smoothed out. Let’s hope we have that to look forward to.
Skincare brand CeraVe develops all of its products with dermatologists – the Facial Moisturising Lotion is a no-nonsense, natural cream acting as a glass of water for your skin.
At £13, this cream, comprising of naturally-occurring ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid, says it will offer 24-hour hydration for your face, soothing sensitivity and leaving your complexion feeling calm.
We received the 52ml tube in the post and were surprised at how small and compact it is, with the pump only letting out a little squirt each time.
You only really need a small amount though, as the ultra-light, wet formula spreads easily around your skin, suggesting this small bottle will last a while as part of your daily routine.
CeraVe’s Facial Moisturising Lotion has no scent and felt gentle on our sensitive skin, but it definitely feels more like a light hydrating cream than one that would leave our skin deeply moisturised.
It’s perfect for wearing with primer and make-up though, as it’s not greasy and absorbs quickly. This one’s probably our recommendation for daily use if your skin is sensitive to other creams.
Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream for Dry Sensitive Skin
Sensitive and dry skin sisters listen up. The Curél Intensive moisturiser is made for you.
A best-seller over in Japan, this lightweight cream stops your face from drying out without harming it with alcohol or fragrances.
We love how light this feels as you apply it, unlike a lot of heavy-duty creams which are made for people who suffer from dry skin.
From the first time we used it, this moisturiser made our face feel refreshed and softer for longer.
It feels really natural and gentle which is always a benefit for products that you use every day. We’re honestly surprised that it’s less than £20 — it’s an absolute bargain because a tiny pea-sized amount is enough to see results.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream
Fresh is known for incorporating unique, natural ingredients into its products, from soy and sake to sugar, and its Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream has become a cult favourite.
For just £13 you get 15ml of Fresh’s blend of rose water, rose flower oil, angelica leaf extract and vitamin E, promising to nourish and moisturise your face.
We tested out the 50ml tub, which comes in a sturdy rose-tinted glass pot, doubling as a decoration in the bathroom.
Our opinion upon first opening? It smells like a fresh rose garden, giving you a wonderful start to the day or calming scent to wind down in the evening.
It’s not thick at all but a small amount goes a long way and leaves your skin feeling gently refreshed and reinvigorated. We recommend massaging it into your neck after your face for a rose scent that’ll follow you throughout the day.
Sand&Sky Tasmanian Water Hydration Boost Cream
The Sand&Sky clay mask might have gone viral, but it’s time people got to know the brand’s Tasmanian Water Hydration Boost Cream.
Apparently Tasmanian water is one of the most mineral-rich in the world. In a gel texture, this moisturiser is equipped with Hyaluronic Acid, red algae and Tasmanian water which holds essential minerals, calcium and magnesium.
Unlike most creams, this one’s more like a wet jelly. It glides onto your face with a cooling effect, making you feel really refreshed as you start or end the day.
Is it worth £44.90? Well, a combination of Hyaluronic Acid and a good, basic moisturiser would probably do a similar thing. We prefer this, though.
We would recommend forking out for it if you have particularly dry skin because it’s so hydrating. However, if your skin is oily then you might prefer to spend your money on firming serums and face masks.
Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser 88ml
Cetaphil is the dermatologist-recommended skincare brand known for gentle, fragrance-free moisturisers and cleansers.
Boasting that it’s light and quick-absorbing, the Daily Hydrating Moisturiser sounds like a staple for everyone’s day and night routines at under £13.
Our review? First things first, the cream is extremely lightweight, with an almost gel-like consistency that makes it really gentle to wear. You can definitely sense the Hyaluronic Acid on your skin.
Compared to others, it feels as though it simply complements your complexion rather than intensely hydrating or firming it, making it ideal for people with sensitive skin.
Although our skin is sensitive, it is also ridiculously dry, especially, when we tried this out, when the weather was freezing in London.
It’s too lightweight for a deep moisturise, although it does wear well underneath makeup so we think it’s probably best for those with oily skin looking for something to complement the serums they already use.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Rich Moisturiser
With La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Sensitive Rich moisturiser, it’s all in the name.
Combining glycerin, shea butter, vitamin B3 and La Roche-Posay Thermal Water, this is a face cream made for sensitive skin types that need an extra rich moisturise or just a little TLC.
When we received the 40ml tube, we were thinking that it won’t even last the month but once you squirt a bit out, you realise it’s a really thick formula which means you only want a small amount to avoid greasy-ness.
It. Smells. Amazing. The hints of shea butter sure seep through, with this face cream giving you a full coverage moisturise, one that is a little too much for someone with oily skin.
Luckily (kind of), our skin is dry so this worked wonders to deeply hydrate our face for a full day and we even woke up the next day with a smoother complexion.
At under £17, if you struggle with dry skin then this has got to be on your radar.
Florena Fermented Skincare 24H Hydrating Day Cream
The Florena Fermented Skincare 24H Hydrating Day Cream does what it says on the tin, leaving your skin moisturised all day long.
Blending fermented olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil, this is a vegan day cream that is also packaged from recycled plastic – we love any step towards greener living.
We’d never been introduced to Florena prior to trying out this cream, and the 50ml tub felt quite small but as it’s quite a wet texture, a small amount gets you quite far.
The rose petal print on the box hints to the scent that lays inside, it smells floral but natural all at once, and gives you a firm, hydrated complexion.
Perhaps due to the olive oil, it’s very slightly greasy, ensuring that your skin stays well moisturised throughout the day.
As we suffer with dry skin, we found this as a perfect light cream to apply with hyaluronic acid serum. Plus, the packaging is really lightweight, ideal for taking with you everywhere you go.
Harborist Environmental Moisture Light
One of the more expensive finds on our list, Harborist’s Environmental Moisture Light had a lot to live up to, priced at £45 for 50ml.
Perfect for normal to combination skin, this vegan face cream combines lots of natural ingredients like raspberry, aloe, leaf extract, radish root ferment and coconut.
For that reason, we were expecting it to smell fruity but it’s unscented, smelling more like e45 cream than other fragranced moisturisers.
Using a pea-sized amount as recommended, we massaged it into our face and our sensitive, dry skin felt immediately nourished.
It might be a small bottle, but the lightweight texture sure packs a hydrating punch that soaks right into your pores, creating an amazing base for primer and foundation.
Compared to other fancier-looking or smelling formulas on the market, this feels like a no-nonsense gift to your skin.
Can you use E45 cream on your face?
You can use E45 cream on your face and body although there are lots of products out there that are formulated specifically for your face which might be more appropriate.
Listen to your skin and use whatever works for you.
Can you use hand cream on your face?
With so many sophisticated face creams available, we would recommend against using hand cream on your face.
Because it’s so thick, it can clog up pores and lead to breakouts which is not the outcome any of us want.
How to make face creams
There are lots of tutorials and recipes for making face creams at home, but our advice is to stick with the professionals.
There are face creams at a whole range of price points that have been researched and tested so you know that what you are putting on your skin is safe.
