Best moisturiser with SPF.
All skin types
From sensitivity to anti-ageing, we’ve found the best face creams for the job
Whether you’re new to the world of skincare or are still looking for the ‘one’, a hard-working moisturiser Best lightweight moisturiser.
You might not have the time for a 12-step skincare routine involving serums and mists, but finding the face cream that works for you is essential and can treat an array of skin issues.
Finding the most suitable moisturiser for your skin type can feel overwhelming, which is where we come in. The Runner’s World Lab team has tried and tested the best face creams on the market to help you narrow down your options.
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- Best moisturiser for sensitive skin: Mature, dry skin
- Best overnight mask: Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream
- Dr Hannah Dennison: Best moisturiser for repairing the skin barrier
- Sensitive, dry skin: Eau Thermale Avène Skin Recovery Cream
- The pros and cons of running a mile a day: Dry, mature, oily, normal, acne-prone
- How an 87-year-old triathlete stays consistent: Urban Veda Radiance Replenishing Night Cream
- Best moisturiser for repairing the skin barrier: Knee pain after running: How to spot and fix it
- Best moisturiser for sensitive skin: Urban Veda Radiance Replenishing Night Cream
- Best overnight mask: The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
- Best moisturiser for tackling redness: Pai Skincare Salvation Jane Echium and Hyaluronic Acid Omega Rich Moisturiser
Is face moisturiser necessary?
The Organic Pharmacy Rose Plus Age Renewal Face Cream.
from our list of winners below, GP and aesthetic doctor, explains: “The skin has its own natural moisturising factors such as lipids and amino acids. However, the addition of moisturisers improves skin repair and helps to maintain the integrity of our skin. Moisturisers can help prevent water loss as well as adding more water and more moisture to the epidermis.”
If your skin feels inflamed or you’re breaking out a bit, it could be because your skin barrier is damaged. Luckily, a moisturiser jam-packed with hydrating ingredients can help to rectify this problem.
“Our skin acts as a barrier to protect our underlying tissues from infection and mechanical and chemical damage from the outside world,” explains Dr Dennison. “Hydration is key to maintaining the skin barrier. The most superficial layer of our skin, the stratum corneum, is very important for preventing water loss. If this layer becomes dehydrated, the skin cells start to peel, which gives the appearance of dry, flaky skin that can then be prone to inflammation and further trans-epidermal water loss. Dry skin can, therefore, compromise the function of our skin as a barrier”
When should you apply moisturiser?
As a general rule, you should apply your moisturiser twice daily – once when you wake up and again before you go to bed. However, if you’ve worked up a sweat, be sure to properly cleanse your skin and reapply your moisturiser to avoid spots and blemishes.
“We have up to four million sweat glands in our skin," says Dr Dennison. “When the temperature rises during exercise, our eccrine sweat glands secrete sweat to the surface of the skin where it helps to cool the body through evaporation. Sweat, whilst cooling, can become problematic if left on the skin for too long as it can clog your pores, along with bacteria and oils, and lead to breakouts. This is why it is important to cleanse your skin as soon as possible following a workout.”
Once you’ve removed all that sweat and bacteria, reapply your moisturiser to seal all the goodness in. If you’ve gone on a morning run, make sure to apply SPF before and after you get back, or purchase one of the 2-in-1 moisturisers and sunscreen Best budget night cream.
How we test
We recruited 872 testers with a range of skin types to try a variety of face moisturisers over a three or four-week period. They assessed the formulation, texture and packaging of each cream, as well as overall performance. They studied how well each moisturiser improved key skin concerns, such as redness, fine lines, texture, dullness, irritation, itchiness, dryness and tightness.
In the Runner’s World Lab, we measured any hydration improvements using our Skin Test Centre’s Corneometer – a smart tool that probes the skin’s surface to detect moisture. Hydration was measured both immediately and six hours after application.
You'll find the 10 moisturisers that most impressed our lab team and testers below:
Dermalogica Calm Water Gel
If it takes a while for your skin's redness to die down after a run, try this tube of gel that turns to liquid on application. It felt weightless on our testers' skin and absorbed quickly, meaning you won’t end up looking sweaty.
It came out on top in the lab for immediate hydration and 93% of our panel said their skin felt smoother and healthier after using it. It helped soothe any irritation and sensitivity and has a pleasant natural lavender scent.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Fragrance free: Yes
Designed for: Sensitive, dry skin
Claiming to feel as light as air on skin, this face cream is packed with ceramides that help strengthen and repair your skin's natural barrier.
Our testers said it reduced redness and helped nourish any flaky, dry patches. They loved its consistency and found it a breeze to apply, with instant relief from any sensitivity. As a bonus, some noticed added radiance and a reduction in the appearance of their pores and wrinkles.
Key specifications
Size: 40g
Fragrance free: Yes
Designed for: Sensitive, dry skin
Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30
A morning run isn’t complete without some sun protection, and it couldn’t be more easy to apply than with this hydrating face cream with SPF 30.
It stands out from traditional sunscreen due to its lightweight, vegan-friendly formula that didn’t leave any white residue. Our testers found it a perfect primer for make-up, too, meaning there’s no excuse for skipping the SPF step.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Fragrance free: No
Designed for: most common running-related foot injuries
Eau Thermale Avène Skin Recovery Cream
Excessive sweating and rubbing with a towel post-workout can leave your skin parched and irritated. This 'recovery' moisturiser promises to relieve you of any tightness and lessen sensitivity over time.
Though not rich enough for some testers with drier or more mature skin, it helped clear up itchy patches and would be a smart pick for combination types. It's small enough to pop into your gym bag but squeeze it gently as a lot comes out at once.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Fragrance free: Yes
Designed for: Normal, combination skin
Dry, mature, oily, normal, acne-prone
Featuring hydrating hyaluronic acid and ceramides, this handy pump serum calms and strengthens skin to leave you looking healthier and more radiant.
Our panel loved its “silky” texture that was quick and fuss-free to apply. It felt immediately soothing against dry skin and left testers with an enviable glow. Note that it's unscented, should you struggle with sensitivity to fragrance.
Key specifications
Size: 52ml
Fragrance free: Yes
Designed for: Normal, dry skin
Urban Veda Radiance Replenishing Night Cream
The beauty of a night cream is that it gets to work as you slumber, meaning you wake up to wonderfully hydrated skin after zero effort on your part. Our testers loved that this replenishing formula helped to improve their fine lines and wrinkles, as well as leaving skin smoother – and all without causing any irritation.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Fragrance free: No
Designed for: Dry, dehydrated skin
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If wrinkles are starting to creep in where you don’t want them to, pick up this jar to help stop them in their tracks. Our testers were pleasantly surprised by how well it improved the appearance of any fine lines and added a firmness to their skin.
If that wasn’t enough, it helped banish any bumps to smooth out their skin’s texture and proved an excellent base for make-up. The one glaring downside is its astronomic price tag.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Fragrance free: No
Designed for: Mature skin
Urban Veda Radiance Replenishing Night Cream
Despite the budget-friendly price tag, this night cream delivered first-class results when it came to reducing the signs of ageing. It gently exfoliates to improve your skin's texture overnight, which left our panel looking well-rested come morning. By the end of the trial, their skin felt firmer and any fine lines appeared less prominent.
Key specifications
Size: 75ml
Fragrance free: No
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The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
This mask-moisturiser hybrid aims to refresh skin overnight to leave it brighter and more even in tone. Our testers were pleased to report that it delivered on hydration, without leaving their skin feeling at all sticky or greasy. Rough patches cleared up to leave skin clearer and more radiant. Use it whenever you're feeling stressed and run-down for a revitalising boost.
Key specifications
Size: 75ml
Fragrance free: No
Designed for: Mature skin
Pai Skincare Salvation Jane Echium and Hyaluronic Acid Omega Rich Moisturiser
Whether it be redness caused by breakouts or sensitivity, this gentle moisturiser will act like a comfort blanket to calm any inflammation. The lightweight texture stopped our testers from looking sweaty after applying it. They liked that it absorbed quickly, without causing any irritation, and most said that it helped reduce ruddiness.
Key specifications
Size: 50ml
Fragrance free: Yes
Designed for: Best moisturiser for combination skin
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Best moisturiser for repairing the skin barrier
