I tried Caroline Hirons' new Skin Rocks moisturiser, is it worth the splurge?
⏰ Tested for: Three weeks.
⭐ Our rating: 3/5.
🛍️ Reasons to buy: It's a rich, creamy formula that soothes dry skin and smells incredible.
✋ Reasons to avoid: At £58, it's pretty expensive.
💰 Best deal we've found: Space NK is offering 15% for new customers when you enter the code FIRST15 at checkout.
Finding a good moisturiser is like finding the perfect pair of jeans – it's the staple of every healthy skincare routine.
One of the newest launches comes from Skin Rocks, the beauty brand and platform founded by one of the industry's most notable voices, Caroline Hirons.
With over 20 years of experience in the industry working with brands, and a hugely successful eponymous blog and Instagram page sharing her coveted advice and recommendations, she is extremely knowledgable on what your skin needs and which products are a waste of money.
Hirons' no-nonsense style has earned her a legion of loyal fans, so when she launched Skin Rocks as a skincare information and shopping app in September 2022, it was an immediate hit. Fast forward to November and the first product, a retinoid in two different strengths was unveiled to rave reviews.
Then, earlier this year, The Moisturiser landed on my desk. It's one of two new creams, one is fragranced, the other fragrance-free – I tried the former.
The green pot of beauty magic costs £58, so doesn't come cheap, but after hearing some rave reviews from fellow beauty journalists, I wanted to see if it measured up to the hyper.
Hirons herself describes it as "my go-to staple moisturiser for all year round and is suitable for all skins" – but is it worth your money?
🛍️ Reasons to buy
Over the course of three weeks, I used this twice daily on cleansed skin. On first impressions, it smells amazing and the packaging is high quality – what I would expect from a luxury product.
It's clear Hirons has poured her industry expertise into this product, with attention paid to the packaging as well as the formula – on the top of the lid, there's a small circle which marks the recommended portion size per application.
This small feature is extremely helpful if you find it confusing how much product you should be applying.
When it comes to the formula, it's packed with a cocktail of hydrating and skin conditioning ingredients including pro-vitamin D3, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane and antioxidants.
The texture is rich, creamy and undoubtedly luxurious and it smoothes onto skin with easy. It creates a nice base beneath make-up, especially for dry patches around my nose, cheeks and eyebrows.
✋ Reasons to avoid
Firstly, it's expensive. Nearly £60 on a moisturiser is a lot of money, especially when there's many more budget-friendly options on the market from the likes of CeraVe, Olay, No7 and more.
Secondly, it's a lovely cream, but I would describe it simply as a basic moisturiser that hydrates. Personally, I didn't see much difference to my skin over the three weeks of testing that justifies parting with £58.
I think given Hirons' fame and credentials, I may have been guilty of having high expectations from this cream. But just because I wouldn't re-purchase it once I've used it up, doesn't mean it won't work for you.
While reviews from shoppers who have tried the moisturiser are very mixed, some have been very positive about their results, rating the product a full five stars: "It’s really hydrating and makes my skin feel soft. I can’t understand these negative reviews at all."
If you have the budget for a luxury face cream, then this is a nice option. However, if like me, you want something that will 'work' harder (I'd like to reduce redness in my cheeks and calm hormonal acne while also feel hydrated), this cream doesn't quite do it all for me.
💰 Best deal we've found
Skin Rocks The Moisturiser is available to buy from Space NK and directly from the Skin Rocks website.
If you're a new customer at Space NK, you can enjoy 15% off your first order when you enter the code FIRST15 at checkout.
Purchasing this moisturiser will also guarantee you free standard delivery, which comes with every order over £25.
