MOISTURISER - day

A great day cream is the Little Black Dress of your skincare wardrobe. Personally, what we want from a day cream is a lovely texture, ease of application, a sense of comfort throughout the day – and a good canvas for make-up. With these trials, we always pick testers whose complexions are ‘matched’ to the products – to give them the best possible chance of success. An incredibly high set of marks here for all the (many) products listed, with a stand-out Gold Award winner but every product below proving a fantastic sk’in-vestment! So do read right through because they’re truly all heroes.

One thing we notice is that some testers mention preferring moisturisers with an SPF and the Award winners for SPF Moisturisers are here. (We would just add our usual warning that those are not adequate for sunbathing protection; for that you need a dedicated broad spectrum SPF.)

GOLD AWARD and BEST NATURAL ishga Anti-oxidant Marine Cream

ishga is a Soil Association-certified brand, founded by a team from the Isle of Lewis: Malcolm is a scientist, Joanna a beauty therapist and Martin is a seaweed expert - and we would LOVE to visit their HQ… The name ‘ishga’ comes from the Gaelic word for water, and the products feature hand-harvested Hebridean seaweed, which boasts high levels of natural antioxidants. This organic, cruelty-free moisturiser promises to suit any skin type (our panel was a real mix), brightening, freshening and smoothing wrinkles while transforming any stubborn problems. It includes ishga’s unique seaweed extract and pure Scottish spring water, which together yield a bumper 86 vitamins and minerals. The slightly unusual but much liked scent is down to a bunch of botanicals including bergamot, aloe vera, cucumber extract and apricot kernel oil as well as the seaweed. Four testers gave this organic full marks and the average score was a very high 9.25 across the panel.

£85 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. This day cream feels light yet nourishing, immediately soaking into my normal but dehydrated skin leaving it f rehydrated, soft, dewy and comfortable. You only need a very small amount to cover the whole face and neck, making it a good buy. The fragrance is unusual but it definitely grows on you. In just one month of use my skin feels healthier, looks tauter and lines seem to have softened slightly. After leaving the product to absorb for five to ten minutes, make up goes on easily with no need for a primer. I would highly recommend this product and will be continuing to purchase when this jar runs out’ • ‘Does what it says on the jar regarding brightening and freshening skin, and stubborn wrinkles looking a bit plumper. My acne-prone combination skin looks dewy and hydrated; I’ve been told how dewy it looks when not wearing make-up. Great fragrance – spa in a jar’ • ‘My combination skin feels soft, and looks fresh and youthful and glowing so I am not embarrassed to go make-up free sometimes. Light in texture but very moisturising. Luxury item but suitable for everyone’ • ‘If a face cream is ever going to convince me to part with my hard earned cash then this one will do it. It's just glorious.  Smells amazing, feels amazing and actually does deliver excellent moisturisation over a very long period of time. Feels calming from the moment I put it on my menopausal combination skin, which can be quite dehydrated. I like the glass jar - great for recycling and the environment.  The fragrance is a bit different, very peppery but I really like it.  Wakes up the senses for sure’ • ‘Having used this cream for the last 3 months, I feel that it has positively affected the moisture levels within my skin, it feels much plumper and softer than before.  Fine lines are softened considerably’ • ‘ A colleague asked me how I get my skin to glow, so I'm taking that as a good thing!

£85 for 50ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD OSKIA Nutri-Active Day Cream

OSKIA founder Georgie Cleeve describes the range as nutritionally based and this multi-vitamin, lightweight, anti-ageing day cream contains an armoury of natural and naturally derived active ingredients with 99.83% natural or nature-derived ingredients. There are vitamins A from rosehip seed oil, B3 (Niacinamide) and E, and minerals including OSKIA’s signature MSM, manganese, magnesium, copper, zinc, selenium and calcium. Milk peptides are in there too (so it’s not suitable for vegans), plus prebiotics, omegas-3 and 6, Swiss Apple stem sells, and hyaluronic acid. It promises to brighten and lift complexion and support collagen production for stronger, more supple skin, as well as proving longlasting hydration and replenishing dehydrated skin, smoothing out the appearance of fine lines and protecting against pollutants. The whole shebang, really. And our panel loved it, scoring it only a few points behind the Gold winner.

£70 for 40ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

10/10. I have noticed a huge difference to my dry sensitive skin, which feels more hydrated, looks smoother and brighter, feels more toned. Fine lines have smoothed out and reduced. This moisturiser is really perfect - It’s very nourishing but doesn’t leave me greasy or breaks me out. It works well both in winter and in summer for me. I like the fresh gentle scent. I love that this is a multi-benefit product, combatting a lot of issues that I suffer from without having to use lots of other products.  What also makes this an effective moisturiser is its lightweight formula - which I have grown to love, after initially being doubtful; it hydrates the skin beautifully’ • ‘I have been very impressed at how amazing my skin is looking after continual use of this lightweight effective moisturiser’ • ‘It has made me realise that a face cream doesn't need to be thick to be effective and it also reduces the risk of other products piling on my skin too which is a great bonus’ • ‘

£70 for 40ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Amway Artistry Hydrating Gel Cream

From the US giant retailer, founded 1959, this Skin Nutrition moisturiser is specially formulated for normal to dry and dry skin types, although it should be suitable for all skin types including sensitive, they add. It promises to deliver 24 hours of supercharged hydration and help prevent visible signs of premature ageing, such as fine lines, dullness, poor texture and uneven skin tone. It will also, they promise, protect against irritation from pollution and keep skin looking supple and youthful, leaving it ‘looking glassy with a dewy glow’. The non-comedogenic formula also primes pre make-up. It’s vegan and no animal testing. A plant powered complex of acerola cherry plus Australian daisy and blackberry promises to boost your skin’s natural defence system by an amazing 350%. NB Yes Amway is primarily a direct marketing corp but you can also order online, which is why we include their products.

£36.75 for 50g - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. This high quality moisturiser is a great product for my combination skin, which also has dry patches. It’s easy to apply and my skin looks amazing, nourished and moisturised’ • ‘My skin is usually normal with the odd spot but since being pregnant I have dryness on my cheeks and forehead, and breakouts round my chin. This lightweight hydrating cream really stops the dry patches; gliding on to skin and leaving it feel very hydrated. My husband said he noticed my dry patches were reduced the first few days I started using it and now have completely cleared up after using this every day for a few weeks’ • ‘A light weight hydrating cream that really stops dryness, with a light fragrance which makes you feel like your at a spa but at the same time not too overpowering. It glides onto your skin with ease and leaves it feeling very hydrated’ • ‘This hydrating, light gel moisturiser sinks in well to my oily combination skin with pigmentation and fine lines. It moisturises all day and is a perfect make-up base. Foundation sits well all day’ • ‘This is dewy on application drying to a slightly mattified appearance. My skin is now more hydrated, balanced and radiant and feels hydrated and smooth’ • ‘It smells very fresh and light, I liked it very much. It feels very cooling as it goes on - would be lovely in summer. The finish is not too dewy but not completely matte - it definitely keeps shine at bay though. Very smoothly, works very nicely as a primer’ • ‘I loved this moisturiser, it's cooling and smoothing, and makes my skin look calm and even toned. It's great under make-up or alone as it's not too shiny.’

£36.75 for 50g - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Day Cream

We trialled this for a Special Report commissioned by Weleda before the launch of the Skin Food Face Care range at the end of April 2023. So - a few weeks before you’ll be able to buy it but it’s definitely worth waiting for, according to our 30 Beauty Bible testers. The on pack wording promises that it will Hydrate & Restore your skin and our results bore those out. After 28 days use 27/30 (90%) said skin was moisturised & hydrated; 26/30 (86.67%) said skin looked/felt healthier and in better condition; 26/30 (86.67%) would buy the product. The brand, which is now over a century old, is dedicated to producing certified natural and organic cosmetics sustainably and demonstrating its commitment to the environment in every way. This phyto-nutrient rich cream with olive leaf extract, squalane and gentle chamomile flower extract, promises luminous skin throughout the day. Our testers loved it and most found it a fab base for make-up.

£15 for 40ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘A day cream to help your skin look healthier and more radiant and smoother. Fabulous’ • ‘This is brilliant for anyone suffering with dry, dehydrated, sensitive skin. It lasts all day, performs well with other products. It’s a very good, all round, daily moisturiser’ • ‘My make-up lasted like I had applied it just beforehand, staying in place and looked flawless for much longer than usual. I had no issues with cakeyness, patchiness or make-up looking heavy and dull. Having my skin properly and well nourished made a massive difference to so many aspects of my look, including my make-up’ • ‘My skin looks like I have had a facial every day; I have received many compliments on how well it looks’ • ‘The lacklustre tone decreased and I feel I looked more rested and youthful. I also noticed improved skin density and plumpness. This really showed up when I wore make up. The make-up products looked smooth, even and stayed in place. I noticed that my skin reacted less, when I was outside - usually after eg Bootcamp on a cold day, I’d suffer from irritated and itchy face. I felt this product helped my skin barrier and general “immunity” to harsher weather condition. 100% comfort all the time, simply fantastic! ’ • ‘My skin has gone through a huge transformation, I normally suffer with winter dryness and dullness but my skin looks radiant and incredibly fresh’ • ‘I was really pleasantly surprised by this, as had found my foundation constantly slipping whilst using my previous moisturiser. Using the Weleda day cream, my foundation applied amazingly smoothly, had much better coverage and pretty much all-day staying power, which was incredible as I rely on it to improve my skin's appearance due to experiencing redness and flushes. The results were astonishing and something I hadn't expected!’

£15 for 40ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Erborian Ginseng Infusion Tensor Effect Day Cream

Now French-owned under the L’Occitane umbrella, Erborian was based on Korean skincare – now widely known as K-beauty. So not surprising that the key ingredients here are antioxidant-rich Korean Ginseng, to improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and tighten pores, plus traditional Korean herbs on a base of shea butter. Erborian also suggests working it into your favourite foundation to create your own BB cream. The formula features lots of plants and a few lab-made chemicals. The blurb promises a ‘tensor effect’, which helps skin feel firmer and plumper, looking more radiant. Testers loved it and pretty well everyone remarked on how great it made their make-up look, acting almost as a primer.

£60 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. I loved this amazing-smelling cream for my combination skin. It feels thick in the jar but not on skin. It absorbed quickly and left my skin looking normal, no particular finish – just really nice and healthy. This was my favourite from the whole tester package’ • ‘I looked forward to applying this cream in the mornings as it smelt lovely and was rich and hydrating and left my mature combination skin with greasy t-zone feeling very nice.   I applied to half my face so I could notice the difference I felt it absorbed faster than my usual moisturiser and left my skin feeling more nourished and replenished, dewy and make-up was easy to apply. A lovely face cream’ • ‘It's a very moisturising product, which sinks in nicely. It doesn't leave my skin fully matte - more of a silk effect? Make-up goes on really well after, my skin feels fresh and plump and base make up like foundation sits well; • ‘I noticed a difference in my skin in the time I've been using the cream - I've worn less foundation as my skin generally looks so good. The overall condition of my skin is excellent right now - longer-term benefits are using less make-up’ • ‘I love this face cream. It smells nice, it sinks in nicely, and it’s not too rich for my skin! It's not fancy and doesn't promise the earth but delivers as a very good face cream’ • ‘A friend commented that my skin looked really nice and smooth after application.  I have had compliments on how good my make-up looks’ • ‘ I don't tend to use day cream as I worry that it will make me look oily or greasy throughout the day, but I really liked this product and I think it has converted me!  The cream is pleasingly sensorial to use - the texture is thick, but doesn't feel heavy on the skin and the scent is calming and soothing. My skin felt and looked better after use - this will definitely be a repeat purchase!’

£60 for 50ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Swiss line Cell Shock Age Intelligence Youth-Inducing Cream

Switzerland has been legendary for centuries for its precision craftsmanship and that same DNA runs through these very luxurious products (at a very luxe price…). Swissline calls it ‘intelligent skincare that respects and works with the skin’. We’d say it’s a marriage of high tech science with skin-cherishing ingredients, including pure marine collagen, colloidal gold and silk protein, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and rose hip oil. British expert fans include facialist Abigail James. Designed for mature skin, this all-in-one face and neck moisturiser targets key ageing concerns - wrinkles, loss of firmness, enlarged pores and pigmentation. Part of the brand’s award-winning Age Intelligence collection, this formula combines natural actives and skin-identical ingredients with their signature Cell Shock Cellactel 2 Complex and Madecassoside® to help boost collagen production and encourage repair. (We do rather love the idea of shocking cells into action…)

£195 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. This is a wonder product. I have normal maturing skin with fine lines and occasional dryness/redness on cheeks. It was DIVINE from the first use: my skin texture seemed to visibly improve and felt soft and healthy. It gave my skin a lovely glow - slightly dewy, definitely youthful and wonderfully light reflecting. This provides a perfect base for make-up and my base was looking flawless over this. My pores were less obvious, fine lines looked softened and the light reflecting properties gave me a fabulous healthy glow. My husband commented on the softness of my skin and people have asked if I've lost weight (I haven't) but I definitely look healthier. My skin texture has definitely improved and my skin looks healthier, plumper and supple’ • ‘Gorgeous, velvety, luxurious moisturiser and perfect primer for make -up. A miracle in a jar’ • ‘AMAZING!!!! The hydration element is brilliant for my dry combination skin; it also has a cooling effect on the skin, which feels lovely. It feels very rich in your hands but is light and absorbed well. An excellent base for make-up.  My skin feels smoother and looks clearer so I need less make-up. It’s a fabulous product, feels amazing and gives radiant skin and confidence’ • ‘This is an incredible moisturiser! For something that is not very rich looking, you wouldn't think it could be so intensely hydrating. It left my skin incredibly soft and luminous and is the perfect base for make- up. My husband said that my cheeks felt really soft and plumptious! Now, that's saying something!’ • ‘My normal skin which has signs of ageing like fine lines and dark spots stayed hydrated for longer, no end of the day tightness and dryness after being in an air conditioned office all day. A friend said I looked brighter and fresher while using this.’

£195 for 50ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Avène Hydrance Aqua Gel

Think of this subtly fragrant gel-cream as a refreshing drink for dry, thirsty, sensitive skin (though our panel included a range of skin types, who all liked it). Benefits, say the much-respected French dermocosmetic brand, include 24-hr moisturising, mattifying and detoxing. Key ingredients in the 90% natural formulation are antioxidant provitamin E, brightening myrtle extract and cucurbito pepo to reduce shine and make pores less visible. It can be used as a day cream and also overnight mask and for eye contours, really cutting down on the number of different products you need. And yes, it takes sustainability and CSR (corporate social responsibility) very seriously. It’s very good value too – with lots of special offers, it really does become a Beauty Steal.

£25.25 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. My normal/dry skin is noticeably more moisturised, and looks plumper and healthier. I’ve had compliments on my skin since I started the trial. It soaks in quickly and is perfect for mornings, as it doesn’t “pill” over my serum. Make-up goes on perfectly. It does leave a light moist layer on the skin but not greasy or oily’ • ‘I normally have a few different moisturisers on the go for day and evening and reach for whatever I feel my skin needs the most. I feel like this moisturiser could replace them all for as a one stop go to that satisfies all my needs whether I'm wanting something nourishing or light. It feels nice and luxurious without being too heavy’ • ‘I would definitely repurchase, it is one of my favourite moisturisers that I have ever used at a brilliant affordable price point which is a bonus’ • ‘Longer term my skin feels hydrated and well balanced.  This gel-cream does not break me out, in fact I feel it probably helps detoxify the skin, providing an adequate amount of hydration so that the skin doesn't have to produce excess oil’ • ‘The water-gel felt soothing if skin felt particularly dehydrated or irritated; for example, after applying a retinoid the night before’ • ‘Really great, leaves the skin feeling hydrated and happy. Definitely a glowy finish, plenty of moisture and glides on very nicely…. A little goes a long way! It keeps skin much more hydrated than many creams do. A great addition to my skincare regime’ • ‘I had never used a gel moisturiser before and I was very surprised. It was light weight but very effective in lasting moisture for my face. People have said, "You look well". I do wear full make-up every day but this did make my make-up look fresher for longer.’

£25.25 for 50ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Katherine Daniels Dry Skin Rich Cream

This independently owned and operated brand was launched by beauty therapists Kirsti Shuba and Donna Tait (and named after children and godchildren), based on their decades of experience with clients in their salons. The duo (who still run the business and dream up new products) drew up a blueprint of what they wanted to offer consumers, worked with leading cosmetic scientists et voilà, Katherine Daniels Cosmetics was born. Testers loved this ultra-nourishing formula as a day cream – for dry skin, as it says on the tin! – and appreciated that it is suitable for night time use too, saving money and products. The formula promises to work on the surface and the skin barrier (dry skin often has a damaged barrier so water gets out and baddies get in), as well as the mid and base layers. So skin should start to be more balanced, firmer and stronger. Testers were very impressed by the product and also liked the pump dispenser (although one pump was faulty, the tester loved the product so much she still gave it full marks).

£53 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. Wonderful! I’ve spent lots of money in the past trying to find a cream for dry skin that doesn’t leave my skin greasy. I adore everything about this, texture, results … I could go on and on. I’m a very good advert for it; my skin is smooth, silky and radiant! ’ • ‘Very effective. It delivers the right balance to a parched skin of moisturised and soothed dry skin with no greasy or oily layer. This was like a comfort cushion on the skin; it left such a lovely feeling on the skin. This is like the equivalent of having a drink of water to quench a thirst, the product quenched my dryness and gave it a bit more bounce; also felt calmer and looked less dull’ • ‘I was worried this product may be too heavy for my normal skin, which has hormonal breakouts, as it feels very rich. But it's brilliant. Leaves skin feeling well moisturised without being greasy, supple and nourished. I’ve had no dry patches since using this. Left a natural look, no sheen once applied. Layered well with serums or oils’ • ‘This makes a brilliant base for make-up. I found the matte finish gave my foundation a base as if I'd used a primer so it's like a hybrid moisturiser/primer. My foundation looked smooth and even and lasted well throughout the day’ • ‘A really excellent moisturiser; I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and efficacy of this product for my mature sensitive skin.  I had never heard of the brand before and I was impressed how good it is.  I had to wait a few minutes before applying my make-up to give it time to sink in, as it is quite rich, however there were no issues with putting my make-up on afterwards and it didn’t affect makeup during the day, whereas some moisturisers make my foundation patchy. I prefer the pump dispenser to my usual jar product and it seems to go further’ • ‘A fantastic moisturiser for dry skin types. It absorbs well while leaving the skin looking and feeling renewed. This product is a real find and I want to keep it in my skincare routine, I feel it's a must-buy, especially for colder months.’

£53 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Arbonne DermResults Glow Cream with Vitamin C

This nourishing and revitalising moisturiser is formulated to suit pretty well all skin types: normal, oily, and dry with benefits for dullness, uneven tone and signs of ageing. It can be used at night as well. The brand promises it will promote glow, brightness, radiance - which all come under the same umbrella really – and promote smoothness and even tone, common concerns as we get older. Key ingredients are stabilised vitamin C (radiance and even tone), niacinamide (a type of vitamin B3) and white lupine lipopeptides to support the skin barrier so moisture stays in and pollutants stay out. Arbonne beauty products (they’re also involved in health and wellbeing) are vegan, cruelty free, gluten free, mainly using scientifically proven botanicals. Their ‘clean’ standard prohibit over 2,000 ingredients, including PEGs, parabens, phthalates and some common allergens. The brand is a member of the Direct Selling Association but you can also order direct.

£61 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. This brilliant moisturiser really suits my combination skin, with oily T-zone, enlarged pores on nose and lines around eyes and mouth. My skin felt instantly softened and hydrated. I loved the soft comforting clean scent. After using for weeks my skin looked great, more youthful, smooth and radiant, soft and stays moisturised all day even though I work in a dry clinical environment. Foundation goes on like a dream after this moisturiser. It just glides on with no need for a primer. My work colleagues asked me what moisturiser I am using, as I looked healthier. They also said my skin looked really good’ • ‘Best moisturiser I have ever used. Arbonne Glow is one of the few products that makes me look instantly better in a natural sun kissed back from holiday kind of way. No make up needed just beautiful glowing skin. It also lasts all day and make up goes on easily. Right now this will be my forever moisturiser it is that good. People say how well I look usually followed by have I just come back from holiday! ’ • ‘I noticed my dry/combination skin was hydrated, plump and dewy and slightly brighter, likely as a result of the vitamin C. I wear make up most days and found my usual make up went on really well after using this moisturiser so is fantastic as a base for make-up. I ‘ve had fewer flare ups of dry and flaky patches, which I sometimes get under my eye and on my cheeks.’

£61 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Liz Earle Skin Repair Rich Day Cream

Lovely to see this product from a brand we’ve known since its first day in 1995 among the Award winners. Founded by our friend Liz Earle and her business partner Kim Buckland who left the brand in 2010, the Liz Earle Beauty Co has been owned since 2015 by Walgreens Boots Alliance. Skin Repair Rich Cream is particularly recommended for dry stressed skin, but it is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. There’s a botanical bounty in there (not all natural ingredients though) including nourishing shea butter sustainably sourced, alongside a blend of moisturising borage oil, smoothing and softening avocado oil, soothing echinacea and toning hops. It promises 72 hours of intensive hydration, which always slightly confuses us since we operate on an am/pm basis – but hey! it’s got to be good. It’s suitable for night-time as well as day and Leaping Bunny certified as cruelty-free.

£26 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

 ‘10/10. This was a super moisturising cream for my dry skin, occasionally prone to blemishes. It was very easily absorbed and skin was dewy after and very smooth. I didn’t need as much make-up as usual. My mother who’s 75 with really good skin also tried this and thought it was the best cream ever’ • ‘Lovely product which I use anyway for my combination skin with a tendency to redness on cheeks. It does everything it says it will do, smoothing and softening, hydrating and caring for my complexion. The finish is dewy and for foundation, less is now more’ • ‘Great moisturiser for my normal to dry skin during colder months. It soaks beautifully in skin leaving it nourished and silky smooth. No dry patches even when in the cold. Highly recommended for those with very dry skin or those for extra need of moisture in colder months. Friends have said my skin looks great, well nourished, silky and smooth. It smells divine too’ • ‘I think my combination skin is firmer and brighter after using for almost two months. It looks dewy when I apply then goes back to matte. Make-up goes on very well and lasts all day’ • ‘Knowing the brand as an institution, I had high hopes and it is indeed a very good moisturiser and I would definitely rebuy.’

£26 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD S'ABLE Baobab Moisturiser

Suitable for all skin types, this vegan multi-action moisturiser comes from that glam couple Sabrina and Idris Elba, who started S’ABLE LABS in 2020 because ‘we’re passionate about partnerships and the relationships that make up our lives’. The aim is to give you a simple and effective skincare routine because, they say, it can dramatically shift how we feel, creating a small but intentional step towards positive change’. There’s a lot about coupledom on the website, too. All good but you might want to know about the product, which promises to be ultra-hydrating, fast-absorbing and radiance-boosting. As well as baobab seed (from the African ‘tree of life’), shea butter and squalane to look in moisture, the ‘highly active’ formula is infused with niacinamide (from vitamin B3), anti-inflammatory tranexamic acid and soothing licorice root to help with pigmentation and scars plus bakuchiol - an alternative to natural retinol. Oh, and it’s free from fragrance and parabens, non-comedogenic and cruelty free, unisex and ‘consciously developed’.

£50 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘This moisturiser is a real hero product.  My fairly dry skin has loved it and the benefits are really apparent to me.  My skin looks fresher, more youthful, less lined and less pigmented.  I have thoroughly enjoyed using this in the trial and would say a huge thank you to Mr & Mrs Elba! ’ • ‘Very good for my mature normal skin. The first mornings I used it I was recovering from dental surgery and was looking less than human.  However, after two pumps of this, I did notice my skin looking better and so did my husband. He noticed right away that my skin looked less washed out and quite plumped.  It did definitely look better. After two weeks I’ve been very impressed with how much better my skin looks. And a little update since finishing it: my skin doesn't look as fresh and plumped now. I really miss it so much! I tried another wellknown premium brand of day cream but it’s not a patch on this’ • ‘This is an excellent moisturiser. I have been testing it over the summer/autumn and it consistently leaves my skin feeling silky soft, hydrated and comfortable. It leaves my skin looking very natural and slightly dewy’ • ‘After using this cream for nearly three months, it has worked consistently well. My skin has remained comfortable and beautifully hydrated and looks radiant. The testing period has been over summer/autumn. This cream worked very well during the occasional summer heat wave; it never felt heavy or claggy. As the weather has cooled down, it is still performing perfectly. I am expecting it to be a great winter moisturiser too’ • ‘The best thing I noticed about this was the next morning I noticed my skin felt very soft and healthy after using it as my night cream, and I looked well rested. I found it very soothing and I think this would be fab used as a barrier repair cream when skin is under stress, it certainly calmed down the skin.’

£50 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Suqqu VIALUME the Smoothing Cream

Whoops, this is a bit confusing. The super-elegant, prestige Japanese brand submitted the tiny pot (very expensive) as a moisturiser for daytime and our testers trialled it as that and loved it (mostly). However, turns out it’s really a targeted product to smooth and reduce the look of wrinkles around eyes, lips and forehead. A teeny porcelain massage tool is included and there’s a recommended massage technique for the eyes, which should brighten the eye area.. The extensive ingredient list includes niacinamide (from vitamin B3) to reduce wrinkles, plus SUQQU’s own unique ‘VIALUME complex to hydrate and provide firmness.

£120 for 15g - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. This luxurious and efficacious product really delivers results in terms of improved tone for my normal to dry skin, which looked more even and clear since using this. It’s very easy to apply either using a massage tool (included) or fingers and you don't need much product to achieve comfortable, moisturised skin. It leaves a dewy (not shiny) healthy looking glow. Make-up goes on very well, and it doesn't pill at all’ • ‘It is AMAZING. You only need a tiny amount to really notice how effective the product is. My skin felt very moisturized, smooth and dewy after use. Even after the first use my skin felt softer and plumper. After using a few days in a row I could really see the difference in my skin; it was more hydrated and smooth’ • ‘It is a rich, luxurious cream with a lovely scent. It comes with a tool to help with the application and massaging your skin but I found fingertips for massaging the cream just as effective and to be honest a little easier! I liked using it at bedtime too, and waking up with super soft, smooth skin’ • ‘So moisturising. My dry mature sensitive skin loved it. My choice would be to use when my skin needed a real injection of moisture. So rich I had to wait a while before putting on make-up. Lovely fragrance, not overpowering but enough to know it’s a decadent cream!’

£120 for 15g - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

Promising hydration that soothes and plumps in seconds and last for hours (which our panel testifies to), this oil-free, fragrance-free gel-cream moisturiser is targeted at dry, very dry, oily and combination oily – oddly perhaps, not normal skin although our testers found it fine for that, too. No need to introduce Clinique, a longstanding hall of fame brand from the Estée Lauder empire, which has consistently maintained its position at the top of skincare. The advanced hydrator with auto-replenishing technology helps skin create it own internal water source to continually rehydrate itself, they explain. Then it locks in moisture for a plump, healthy-looking glow. Clinique scientists have combined two hydrating ingredients – hyaluronic acid and biofermented aloe vera into one ‘powerhouse complex’ to help attract and retain moisture. It’s a kind of skincare one-stop shop, designed to be used at night as well as day, and also as a dewy highlighter, 5-minute mask and cuticle treatment. And the glass jars are recyclable with recycled plastic lids.

£40 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. I really loved this lightweight gel moisturiser.  It is just the type of moisturiser I like.  Light weight but very affective for my dry mature skin. Skin felt moisturised, not matt or dewy. Make-up went on very well. Loved the colour and pot.  Very economical to use, little went a long way.  Great for dehydrated skin without overloading it’ • ‘I loved the pink gel like texture of the cream, it absorbed easily into my skin; light weight to apply but I was so surprised how much moisture is provided to my skin all day long. It really is moisture surge! My skin felt comfortable all day, not taught or tight, visibly glowing, I had no dry dehydration lines on my face that you could see. I’ve been told I look well since using this. Love this product!’ • ‘My partner mentioned how soft and smooth my skin has been looking. Hydrates instantly and lasts for ages. I sometimes get oily skin by the end of the day and I have noticed using this that I no longer do so it is clearly helpful at balancing oil. What does this moisturiser not do!!! I have already bought more’ • ‘instant softness and hydration, which lasted all day’ • ‘A lovely lightweight gel cream that is incredibly effective. It truly feels as though you are spreading a layer of hydration on the skin and a barrier to the outside world! I have had comments about the healthy glow of my skin.’

£40 for 50ml - click to buy