I’m hooked on this £32 moisturiser that has transformed my mature skin
This cream is packed with powerful ingredients, feels like velvet on your skin and is affordable.
I’ve been writing about skincare for over 20 years and have applied so many lotions and potions in an attempt to find out what works (and is therefore worth its weight in gold) that I've lost count. As a mid-lifer, I also know all too well how saturated the market is when it comes to mature skincare, in particular. Whether you're searching for a product to help with menopausal dryness, age spots, or fine lines and wrinkles, it can be a minefield to navigate.
I’ve been fortunate to inherit my mother’s genes and suffer only with pigmentation, dry skin, and the odd wrinkle in my forties. Yet, for many of us, visible signs of ageing include uneven skin texture and tone, sensitivity and sun damage, and dark patches and inflammation.
As we age, our body becomes less hydrated due to cells turning over at a slower rate. The layers of the skin also become thinner and produce less sebum — the oil that keeps skin our soft and hydrated. Hence, the need to keep it moisturised is essential, something I had recently reached a sticking point with, unable to find the perfect moisturiser.
So, a few months ago, when I discovered Harley Street dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting's, Flawless Moisturiser, a product that not only helped hydrate my very dry skin, but that also left me with a glow, I was delighted. Plus, retailing for just £32, it has turned out to be far superior and cheaper than options I've tried that were almost triple the price.
🛍️ Product reviewed: Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Intense
⏰ Tested for: Two months
⭐ Rating: 5/5
💸 Reasons to buy: Lightweight, sinks into to the skin immediately and provides ultra hydration and a flawless base for make-up
✋ Reasons to avoid: Fairly thicker in consistency compared to other moisturisers
💰 Best deal we've found: There are currently no deals available, but you can by a smaller 50ml tube for £32 or a 100ml tube for £57
Available in two sizes, this non-comedogenic and fragrance free moisturiser is clinically proven to repair your skin barrier after just one use.
Dr Sam Bunting is passionate about making expert skincare advice more accessible. Her skincare range offers a simple, easy and affordable routine with effective results. You can even take a quick 60-second quiz on her website to receive a personalised skincare routine based on your concerns.
What initially drew me to the Flawless Moisturiser was its ability to restore the skin barrier, which is the skin's outermost layer. When damaged, it leaves your skin feeling dry, sensitive, and more prone to flare-ups. The cream worked like a dream in nourishing my face, which occasionally breaks out in acne due in no small part to the numerous creams I apply to it as part of my job.
💸 Reasons to buy
Perhaps the biggest highlight on why this product stands out against other moisturisers I have tested is that you feel it gets to work straight away. As someone with a lot of dry patches, when applied morning and night, the product instantly hydrates my skin. That tight feeling you often get with dry skin practically disappeared, leaving me with a velvet-like veil on the face.
The power list of science-backed ingredients in this moisturiser are also very impressive. The barrier repair cream is infused with protective ingredients like ectoin, squalane, ceramides and glycerine — all of which help maintain the skin's moisture.
It also includes 5% Niacinamide, a key ingredient needed to brighten the skin, it helps to make mine look less lack-lustre and dull and leaves it with a healthy glow.
However, it’s the addition of sunflower shoot extract, a rather new breakthrough ingredient, that made this product stand out to me. This formula has the ability to boost what's called NAD+, an energy molecule that declines as we get older, in turn helping rejuvenate old cells for a more youthful appearance. In fact, by the time you hit 40 your levels are at 50% or less.
The ingredients and what they do:
✨Sunflower Shoot Extract: Boosts cellular energy production which helps aid cell renewal
✨Niacinamide: Brightens skin and gives it a glow
✨Shea Butter: A ultra hydrator full of antioxidants
✨Sodium Hyaluronate: Attracts moisture and reduces inflammation
✨Centella Asiatica & Madecassoside: Fights UV damage and inflammation
✨Lactobacillus Ferment: Helps the skin's microbiome strengthen the natural barrier
✨Ectoin: Shields skin cells from environmental stressors and prevents moisture loss
✨Glycerin: Strengthen the skin's moisture barrier to maintain optimal hydration levels
✨Squalane: Effectively hydrate the skin without clogging pores to keep it soft and smooth
✨Panthenol: Helps hold moisture in the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties
✨Ceramides: Maintains moisture levels and helps strengthen the skin’s barrier
✨Aquaxyl: A super hydrator that prevents the skin from dehydration
While I may not look magically younger in the two months I have been using this product, it did make my skin feel and look a lot more flawless, refreshed and dewy.
As for the consistency of the cream, it's fairly rich. You only need to use a little for full coverage and because it sinks in immediately, there is no heavy feeling or greasiness. In fact, it actually leaves my face rather silky feeling.
I also believe a good moisturiser is one of the most effective products in helping to create a smooth base to apply make-up, and this worked brilliantly. Foundation glides on to the skin, and because it removes all my dry patches, it's like a magic cream that smooths out everything, leaving my face look flawless.
Then there's the affordability. At just £32, it's fairly priced and one of the more reasonable options on the market with such a power list of ingredients. Previous to trying Dr Sam's Intense Moisturiser, I dabbled with Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, and although I did like it, at £79 for a 50ml pot, it just wasn't cost-effective enough for me. I had also used Kate Somerville's Delikate Recovery Cream (£69) for a while, which did do a marvellous job at tackling my dry skin, but there was something about the thick texture that I didn’t love.
✋ Reasons to avoid
In all honesty, I find it hard to fault this moisturiser. Yes, some users may find the cream a little thicker than what they're used to, but that's an easy fix — simply use less on application.
There are of course even cheaper moisturisers out there without the sunflower shoot extract, so it's very much dependent on your skin type and what you're looking for in an everyday moisturiser.
💰 Best deal we've found
For now, the Flawless Moisturiser Intense Moisturiser is only available through Dr Sam's direct website, where you can purchase a 50ml tube for £32, or a 100ml tube for £57.
There are no deals at present, but we'll keep our eyes peeled.
