The best moisturisers for dry, dehydrated, oily and combination skin
Moisturisers play an important role in protecting your skin barrier and keeping your skin plump and hydrated.
Finding the perfect on very much depends on your skin type; if oiliness is your bugbear, try an oil-free gel or lightweight lotion, if it's dryness you want to tackle, look for richer, thicker creams.
Some products offer SPF as an added bonus, while others can deliver an immediate glow or act as a smoothing primer beneath makeup.
To help you find the best one, whatever your skin concern, we've compiled the 12 top-performing creams, gels and lotions into one handy shopping guide.
Starting from a budget-friendly £13.99 all the way up to a luxurious £115, have your shopping basket at the ready.
The best moisturisers for dry, oily and combination skin types
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturiser | £49 from Charlotte Tilbury
If you struggle with dryness, Charlotte Tilbury's luxurious magic cream is a must-have. It's a rich cream that sinks into the skin and leaves it feeling soft, soothed, and hydrated, thanks to a formula rich in peptides, aloe vera and vitamin A.
Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream | £69 from Feel Unique
Just because you have sensitive skin doesn't mean you can't indulge in a pricier cream like this one. It has a whipped texture that's surprisingly lightweight, so it won't irritate oily skin and is an instant soother for flare-ups of acne, rosacea or dry patches.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Rich Moisturiser For Sensitive Skin | £16.50 from Boots
This is our go-to for an everyday moisturiser that is temperamental and especially sensitive. It's a fragrance-free formula with a light, lotion texture that will rapidly reduce any discomfort from irritation such as tightness or redness.
Dr Sam Bunting Flawless Moisturiser | £25 from Dr Sam Bunting
Developed by dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting, this reasonably-priced moisturiser is a gel-cream texture that distributes the perfect amount with two pumps. It's fragrance-free and vegan, containing niacinimde for brightening and shea butter to tackle dryness.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 | £15 from Lookfantastic
CeraVe's much-loved moisturising lotion has had an upgrade, now coming with SPF50 for added sun protection. Full of ceramides, it's a great option for normal to dry skin types and will help protect and strengthen the skin barrier.
Tatcha The Silk Cream | £115 from Space NK
This is an indulgent splurge that's both luxurious and efficient. If you're looking for a glowy, radiant complexion Tactcha's The Silk Cream is unbeatable. While the decorative packaging and gold spatula is an added bonus, the non-comedogenic formula won't clog pores and absorbs in seconds.
Embryolisse Lait Creme Sensitive Moisturiser | £13 from Boots
This skin-softening cream doubles up as a hydrating primer beneath makeup. A little goes a long way so it's a product that will last you months of twice-daily use and the fragrance-free formula rich in fatty acids and vitamins will keep your skin soft and supple.
Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Cream | £30 from Cult Beauty
If you're prone to dryness and dehydration lines, this is a godsend. Packed with a blend of ceramides, hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts, it's instantly soothing and helps refine texture for smoother, more hydrated skin.
The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer | £14.99 from Boots
The Inkey List is a brilliant budget-friendly beauty brand and its peptide moisturizer is one to add to your basket ASAP. It's in a handy tube rather than a pot, and will hydrate while improving elasticity which can depreciate with age.
Clinique Moisture Surge | £39 from Boots
This cult moisturiser is well-loved for a reason. Its lighter-than-air gel texture is instantly soothing and is the perfect antidote to a dehydrated complexion. It's oil-free, and contains hyaluronic acid and an aloe bio-ferment, making a fast-acting daily treat for your skin.
Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect SPF30 | £57 from Space NK
For maturer skin, look to Medik8 and this lightweight cream which has added SPF30. It's not thick or heavy on the skin and delivers a quick boost of daily hydration while aiding the reduction in the appearance of fine lines.
Revolution X Sali Hughes Cream Drench Rich Moisturiser | £13.99 from Superdrug
If you're looking for a luxurious formula with a scent that transports you to a posh spa, all without spending a fortune, beauty journalist Sali Hughes has mastered the perfect product. It's rich and creamy but doesn't feel heavy or greasy on the skin and is a fantastic everyday essential for your beauty routine.
