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Complete Guide to Moisturisers for Every Skin Type - How to Choose Your Perfect Match
Finding the right moisturiser can feel overwhelming when you're staring at hundreds of options promising miracle results. Should you go for a lightweight gel or a rich cream? Do you need SPF in your day cream? And what's the difference between a night cream and a day cream anyway?
I've spent years testing moisturisers across every price point and formulation, from lightweight K-beauty gels to luxurious anti-ageing creams, and I'm here to help you navigate the confusion. Whether you're dealing with dry patches, oily shine, sensitive reactions, or just want that plump, hydrated glow, there's a moisturiser out there with your name on it.
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What Does a Moisturiser Actually Do?
Think of your moisturiser as the protective seal of your skincare routine. Whilst serums deliver active ingredients deep into your skin, moisturisers create a barrier on the surface that locks in all that goodness and prevents water loss throughout the day.
A good moisturiser does three main jobs:
Hydration: Delivers water to your skin cells (usually through humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin).
Occlusion: Creates a barrier to prevent water from evaporating (through ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, or squalane).
Nourishment: Provides beneficial ingredients like vitamins, peptides, or antioxidants that improve your skin over time.
The trick is finding the right balance of these elements for your specific skin type and concerns.
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Understanding Your Skin Type
Before we dive into specific products, let's work out what your skin actually needs.
Dry Skin
Your skin feels tight, especially after cleansing. You might notice flaky patches, fine lines look more prominent, and your skin drinks up moisturiser within minutes. You need rich, nourishing formulas that really seal in hydration.
Oily Skin
Your T-zone gets shiny by midday, your pores look enlarged, and heavy creams make you feel greasy. You're not imagining it, oily skin still needs moisture. The key is finding lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas that hydrate without adding oil.
Combination Skin
Welcome to the club where your forehead is an oil slick but your cheeks are parched. You need a balanced approach, sometimes using different products on different areas of your face.
Sensitive Skin
Your skin reacts to everything. Redness, stinging, itching, you know the drill. You need gentle, fragrance-free formulas with soothing ingredients that repair your skin barrier rather than irritate it further.
Mature Skin
Fine lines, loss of firmness, and dryness are your main concerns. You need moisturisers packed with anti-ageing ingredients like peptides, retinol, or growth factors alongside serious hydration.
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Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin
Dry skin needs rich, deeply nourishing creams that provide intense hydration and repair your moisture barrier.
Omorovicza Queen Cream is absolutely stunning for very dry skin. It's incredibly rich without being heavy, and the Hungarian thermal water base gives it this luxurious, silky texture. I use this when my skin is feeling particularly parched, and it genuinely transforms dry, uncomfortable skin overnight.
For nighttime repair, Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream is my go-to when I want to wake up with plump, glowing skin. It's richer than the Queen Cream and works whilst you sleep to repair and renew.
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Cream is brilliant if your dry skin is also sensitive. The ceramides rebuild your skin barrier, which is often why dry skin feels so uncomfortable. I tested this extensively, and it genuinely makes skin feel stronger and more resilient.
If you want serious luxury, Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme Rich Texture Cream is everything its name promises. It's incredibly nourishing and perfect for very dry or mature skin that needs intense moisture.
For an affordable option that actually works, Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturiser is gorgeously creamy and soothing. The goat milk is surprisingly effective at calming and hydrating irritated, dry skin.
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Best Moisturisers for Oily Skin
Oily skin needs lightweight hydration that won't clog pores or add to the shine situation. Gel creams and water-based formulas are your friends here.
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide has a unique texture that's between a toner and a light cream. It provides hydration without any heaviness, and it's brilliant for oily skin that still needs moisture. I've tested this multiple times and it never makes my T-zone greasy.
this jelly cream has this bouncy, jelly like texture that oily skin absolutely loves. It absorbs instantly, feels refreshing, and provides hydration without any greasiness whatsoever.
If you have oily skin but still want some anti-ageing benefits, Drunk Elephant Protini Moisturiser strikes a perfect balance. It's protein rich and gives you firming benefits without the heavy texture that makes oily skin worse.
For daytime with built in sun protection, Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. UVMune SPF50 Cream is lightweight enough for oily skin but still provides proper hydration alongside excellent sun protection. It doesn't feel like traditional SPF at all.
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Best Moisturisers for Combination Skin
Combination skin needs balance, hydrating the dry areas without making the oily zones worse.
this lightweight Laneige formula is absolutely perfect for combination skin. Its unique hybrid formula adjusts to what your skin needs, providing moisture where it's dry and staying light where it's oily.
Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Sheer Cream has this incredibly light, whipped texture that melts into skin. It's hydrating enough for dry cheeks but won't overwhelm an oily T-zone. The name "sheer" is spot on.
For something more affordable, L'Oréal Paradise Lumi Glotion gives you hydration plus a subtle glow. It's light enough for combination skin and gives that dewy look without being greasy.
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Best Moisturisers for Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin needs gentle, barrier repairing formulas without irritating fragrances or harsh actives.
this ceramide cream is my number one recommendation for sensitive skin. I put it through a proper barrier test, and it genuinely rebuilds compromised skin. If your skin stings or reacts to everything, start here.
the goat milk formula is incredibly soothing for reactive skin. Goat milk has natural calming properties, and this formula is gentle enough for even the most sensitive complexions.
Grown Alchemist Detox Night Cream uses natural botanical ingredients that won't irritate sensitive skin. It's rich but clean, perfect if you want natural skincare that actually works.
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Best Anti-Ageing Moisturisers
Mature skin needs more than just hydration. Look for creams packed with peptides, retinol, antioxidants, and firming ingredients.
this Omorovicza moisturiser isn't just hydrating, it's genuinely anti-ageing. The Hungarian thermal water complex helps with firmness whilst deeply nourishing mature skin.
For serious anti-ageing investment, Dr. LEVY Switzerland Booster Cream is Swiss luxury skincare at its finest. It's formulated by a cosmetic surgeon and delivers visible improvements in skin quality and firmness.
Shiseido Vital Perfection Day Cream SPF30 combines anti-ageing benefits with crucial sun protection. It lifts, firms, and protects all in one elegant formula.
Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme Rich Texture Cream is extraordinary for mature skin that's also dry. It tackles lines, loss of firmness, and dehydration simultaneously.
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Day Cream vs Night Cream: Do You Need Both?
The short answer is yes, ideally. Here's why:
Day creams typically:
Night creams typically:
For daytime with SPF protection, Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. UVMune SPF50 Cream or Shiseido Vital Perfection Day Cream SPF30 are excellent choices.
For nighttime repair, Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream or Grown Alchemist Detox Night Cream work whilst you sleep to renew your skin.
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Don't Forget Your Eye Area
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face. It needs its own dedicated treatment.
Kate Somerville Lifting Eye Cream genuinely lifts and firms. I did a 7-day challenge with this, and the before and after difference in my eye area was noticeable.
Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream is a cult classic for good reason. It's incredibly nourishing for dry under-eyes and helps prevent that crepey texture that makes concealer look awful.
For luxury results, Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Eye Cream tackles puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines. It's expensive, but the results are worth it if you struggle with tired looking eyes.
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Specialist Moisturisers for Specific Needs
For Body
Don't neglect your body skin. Joonbyrd Little Love Body Lotion is gorgeously hydrating and smells divine. Your body deserves the same care as your face.
For Hands
L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream literally saved my hands during winter. It's intensely nourishing without being greasy, and it genuinely repairs dry, cracked hands.
For Makeup Base
If you want a moisturiser that doubles as a glowy makeup base, L'Oréal Paradise Lumi Glotion gives you hydration plus that lit from within radiance under foundation.
For Under Makeup
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer isn't technically a moisturiser, but it's worth mentioning because it provides coverage whilst hydrating under eyes. If you struggle with dry concealer, this one's a game changer.
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How to Layer Moisturiser in Your Routine
Getting the order right makes a massive difference to how well your products work.
Morning routine:
Evening routine:
The key is working from thinnest to thickest consistency, allowing each layer to absorb before applying the next.
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Common Moisturiser Mistakes to Avoid
Using too much: A pea sized amount for your face is usually plenty. More doesn't mean better results, it just means pilling under makeup and potentially clogged pores.
Skipping because you have oily skin: Oily skin still needs hydration. Skipping moisturiser often makes oil production worse as your skin overcompensates.
Using the same cream morning and night: Day and night creams serve different purposes. Use lighter, protective formulas during the day and richer, treatment-focused ones at night.
Applying to dry skin: Always apply moisturiser to slightly damp skin. It seals in that extra hydration and helps products absorb better.
Forgetting your neck and chest: These areas age as quickly as your face. Bring your moisturiser (and SPF!) down to your chest.
Expecting overnight miracles: Even the best moisturisers need time to work. Give a new product at least 4 weeks before deciding if it's working for you.
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Texture Guide: What Type of Moisturiser Is Right for You?
Gel creams (like Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream):
Lightweight creams (like Drunk Elephant Protini):
Rich creams (like Omorovicza Queen Cream):
Sheer creams (like Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Sheer):
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Budget vs Luxury: Do Expensive Moisturisers Work Better?
I've tested moisturisers at every price point, and honestly, the answer is nuanced.
Budget heroes that genuinely work:
Mid-range investments:
Luxury worth considering:
The truth? Expensive moisturisers often use higher quality ingredients, more elegant textures, and better preservation systems. But a well formulated affordable cream can absolutely deliver excellent hydration. It depends on what else you need (anti-ageing actives, specific textures, luxury experience).
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Seasonal Switching: Adjusting Your Moisturiser
Your skin's needs change with the seasons, and your moisturiser should too.
Spring/Summer:
Autumn/Winter:
You don't necessarily need completely different products, but you might use richer ones at night in winter and lighter ones in summer.
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My Personal Moisturiser Wardrobe
I rotate through moisturisers based on what my skin needs that day:
Daily staple: this Korean toner-cream hybrid - It just works consistently.
When my skin needs extra care: the Queen Cream - Pure comfort in a jar.
Summer or under makeup: the Medicube jelly formula - Lightweight perfection.
Anti-ageing investment: Dr. LEVY Switzerland Booster Cream - When I want visible results.
Emergency hand rescue: L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - Saves my hands every winter.
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How to Know If Your Moisturiser Is Working
Good signs:
Warning signs:
If you're experiencing warning signs, your moisturiser isn't right for you, regardless of how expensive it was or how well it works for someone else.
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Finding Your Perfect Moisturiser Match
The "best" moisturiser is the one that works for YOUR skin, not the one that works for your friend or a beauty editor or an influencer. It's the one you'll actually use consistently, that feels good on your skin, and that delivers results you can see.
Start with your skin type and main concern. Is it dryness? Oiliness? Sensitivity? Ageing? Pick one moisturiser that targets that concern and give it a proper 4 week trial.
If you have dry skin, something like Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Cream or Omorovicza Queen will transform your skin.
If you're oily or combination, Laneige Cream Skin or Medicube Collagen Jelly will give you hydration without greasiness.
For anti-ageing, invest in something like Shiseido Vital Perfection Day Cream or Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme that delivers real results.
Your skin will tell you what it needs. Listen to it, give products time to work, and don't be afraid to switch things up seasonally or as your skin changes.
Remember, moisturiser isn't the sexy part of skincare, but it's absolutely essential. Get this step right, and everything else in your routine works better.
At the end of the day, the best moisturiser is the one you'll actually use consistently. Start simple, listen to your skin, and enjoy the process.
Whenever you're browsing for your next one, Don't forget to use my exclusive discount codes to save on your favourites!: Lookfantastic savings, Sephora current offers, and Elemis discounts.
Here's to glowing, comfortable skin in the days (and seasons) to come. Take care!
Kisses, Nicola xxx
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If you have found yourself peeking at my page, then like me, you must love all things beauty right? Some people like cars, shoes or diamonds, well me, I love beauty products of every kind! Here I shall share it all with you beauts!
February 1, 2026
February 1, 2026
