A moisturiser has one core job: keep your skin hydrated and its barrier comfortable. It does that through three types of ingredient — and once you can recognise them on a label, you'll notice that a £10 cream and a £60 one are very often built the same way.
The three jobs a moisturiser does
- Humectants (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) — draw water into the skin.
- Emollients (squalane, fatty acids) — smooth and soften the surface.
- Occlusives (such as petrolatum or shea butter) — seal moisture in so it doesn't evaporate.
A good moisturiser combines all three. You'll find these terms explained in our ingredient glossary.
Match the texture to your skin
Texture matters more than price. A light gel or lotion suits oily and combination skin; a richer cream suits dry skin. If you're sensitive or eczema-prone, a fragrance-free formula is usually the safer choice. The "best" texture is simply the one that feels good enough that you'll use it daily.
Barrier support is the useful upgrade
If you want a feature that genuinely earns its place, look for ceramides and glycerin — they help support a compromised skin barrier. That's a far more meaningful thing to pay attention to than most of the claims on the front of the jar.
The anti-ageing work is done by sunscreen and actives — the moisturiser's job is comfort and hydration.
Where the price myth lives
"Anti-ageing" moisturiser claims often run well ahead of the evidence. The heavy lifting on ageing comes from daily sunscreen and, if you choose to use them, actives like retinol — not the moisturiser itself. Plenty of affordable moisturisers have genuinely excellent formulas, so a high price is no guarantee of a better one.
A fragrance-free moisturiser with humectants and barrier ingredients
Look for a humectant (glycerin or hyaluronic acid) plus barrier support (ceramides), in a texture that matches your skin type. You don't need luxury pricing to get all of that — and the money you save is better spent on a good daily SPF.
FAQ
Does oily skin need a moisturiser?
Yes — a lightweight, non-greasy one. Skipping moisturiser doesn't reduce oil, and can sometimes make the skin produce more.
Do I need separate day and night creams?
Rarely. One good moisturiser is usually plenty. A daily sunscreen in the morning matters far more than a dedicated "day cream".
Is "dermatologically tested" meaningful?
It's a vague marketing phrase with no fixed standard. Judge a moisturiser by its ingredients and how your skin responds, not the label slogans.