In addition to the hydrating base, moisturisers may also include active ingredients such as vitamin E, known for its healing properties, or brightening vitamin C; antioxidants such as green tea or camomile extract to calm skin; alpha-hydroxy acids (or AHAs) that gently exfoliate the top layer of skin to reveal fresher skin beneath; and sunscreens that guard against ultraviolet light. Moisturisers designed for oilier skin may also include mattifying ingredients.
Apply moisturiser after cleansing, toning and serum, if you use one. In the morning, wait a few minutes before applying makeup so the moisturiser has time to sink into your skin.
Choosing the right moisturiser for your skin type
If you’re not sure of your skin type, it’s easy to check by pressing a clean tissue over your face. Oily skin will leave oily marks all over the tissue; combination skin will leave patches in the T-zone of the nose and forehead area only; and dry skin will leave little to no oil on the tissue. You can also figure out your skin type using a strip of sellotape: dry skins will leave little white flakes of skin on the tape, while oily skin will leave a slight sheen and no flakes.
You may find that your skin type changes over time: teenage skin is often oilier than more mature skin, for example. The makeup of your skin is also likely to change through the year. Cold weather and central heating can have drying effects, which will often mean you need a richer cream in winter, while most skins prefer a lighter lotion in the hot and humid weather conditions of summer. Check your skin from time to time to ensure you’re continuing to use the right products.
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What’s the difference between a day and night cream?
Typically, a day cream is lighter in texture, so it sinks in quickly and can be worn beneath makeup, and may also contain sun protection to guard against UV rays and antioxidants to fend off pollution. Night creams usually have a thicker consistency, sinking in more slowly; this makes them less suitable for daytime wear since the rich texture may cause your makeup to slide off. Night creams also contain ingredients designed to penetrate the skin as it regenerates during sleep.
Whether or not you invest in both is likely to depend on your budget and how you approach your skincare regime. Dry skins in particular may enjoy a thicker night cream or masque to help replenish skin overnight, but there’s nothing to stop you wearing your day cream at night as well – as long as it doesn’t contain an SPF.
How much do I need to spend?
There are no hard and fast rules here, with how much you spend likely to come down to whether you consider a skincare routine as an opportunity for luxurious pampering or a functional part of your day. More expensive moisturisers tend to contain higher concentrations of active ingredients (in some cases, clinically researched by the skincare company) with rarer, more luxurious oils in the base. However, there are also some very well-performing budget moisturisers that work just as efficiently. We’ve included some excellent moisturisers at all price brackets below.
How we test moisturisers
At Expert Reviews, we know that hands-on testing delivers the most complete information about a product. As such, we have personally tested all of the moisturisers that feature in the roundup below, following the directions for use found on the packaging.
We use the creams as directed for one week and examine the results on the skin, paying particular attention to promises made in terms of smoothing, plumping or brightening. If a product is made for a specific skin type then, where possible, we test on that skin type. We also note how the product feels and smells in use, and any issues such as heaviness, greasiness, stinging or residue. We observe how the skin feels immediately after using (or the following morning, in the case of products designed for overnight use), and the results with repeated use. Finally, we note the quantity of product needed for each application, the package design and ease of use, and gauge how many uses we’d expect to get from one bottle or jar.
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