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The 16 Best Moisturisers For Glowing Skin
A beauty editor-approved guide to restoring radiance
We'd hazard a guess that you're suddenly feeling the back-to-work slump; you've seen little in the way of sunlight for what feels like an eternity and that your yearly seasonal hibernation is leaving you feeling sluggish... sound about right? And, well, if that wasn't enough this erratic weather (anything from sub-zero climes to mild, rainy days) is probably taking a toll on your complexion too.
Now is exactly the time when our skin, once glistening and radiant, suddenly turns on us, leaving dehydration and a lack of luminosity in its wake. The good news is that there are a slew of moisturisers made for this very reason. These glow-getters are all about bringing back your radiance from the inside out, with a cocktail of ingredients, from hyaluronic acid to ceramides, that boost the skin's barrier and feed the dermis from within.
'An effective skincare routine that’s based on powerful ingredient science, a balanced diet and anti-inflammatory pillars (such as sleep and stress) all play a pivotal role in helping you achieve a healthy, glowing complexion,' shares skincare expert and brand founder, Dr Barbara Sturm.
What causes dull skin?
'Skin loses its luminosity and glow due to factors like ageing, dehydration, environmental damage, and a build-up of dead skin cells, which reduce its natural reflectiveness and smoothness,' explains A-list facialist Natasha Clancy.
We have all probably experienced dull skin at some point of another but, luckily, there are a few simple tricks to enhance your radiance, whether it's adding antioxidants into your routine, limiting your screen time before bed to induce deeper slumber (and reduce those under-eye circles) or switching up your skincare regime for a new season.
Moisturisers for glowing skin: ELLE's Top Five
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How to get glowing skin
As Dr Sturm explains, restoring radiance needn't come with too much pricking and pummelling, nor slathering harsh ingredients onto your dermis. 'I always advise against an approach deploying aggressive acids like retinol, acid peels or glycolic acid because they destroy rather than repair the skin matrix and promote inflammation, weakening your skin and making it vulnerable to pathogens and other environmental aggressors,' she says. 'A healing approach is what’s needed to promote healthy, youthful, glowing skin.'
That means seeking out the most soothing, nourishing and hydrating moisturisers that help restore the skin barrier - and for that, I have tested the very best creams that deliver a glow to cater to your every need, from soft-focused formulas made with oily skin in mind to high-impact dewy finishes.
How we test
Suffice to say not all moisturisers are created equal. To find the crème de la crème, we've scoured the best new formulas sweeping the shelves and also holy grail of skincare the ELLE beauty team can't get enough of to ensure there's a glow-enhancing formula for everyone. We always test on a range of different skin types (sensitive? We've got you!) and will endeavour to test for a number of weeks. Below, you can find a formula ready to tackle your peak-winter skin for party season and beyond...
The best moisturisers for glowing skin, according to a beauty editor
Harnessing the power of nature and science, Chantecaille's glow-boosting moisturiser is both sensorial and efficacious, and comes enriched with peptides, white peony and thiamidol to help brighten up dull complexions and improve the appearance of dark spots.
If you want to feel like you're in the healing hands of a facialist, in the midst of an indulgent treatment every day, this best-selling Queen Cream by Hungarian-born Omorovicza is it. It's packed with nourishing oils to lend skin a post-facial glow, smells heavenly and is truly a treat for the senses.
| Skin type | Normal and dry |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Borage seed oil and evening primrose |
Paving a way for ultra luxurious, science-backed skincare, Evidens de Beauté's radiance-enhancing moisturiser is both a pure joy to use every day (think heavenly scented and a rich texture) and is also packed with skin-loving technology to help stimulate cell renewal and boost collagen.
| Skin type | Normal and mature |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Collagen |
You can always trust the science and expertise that go into any one of Dr Barbara Sturm's soothing yet efficacious formulas. And the German doctor's latest cream is no exception – expect a whole host of ingredients that will nourish the skin (namely triple hyaluronic acid which targets the deepest layers of the dermis) and, to take glow-enhancing matters even further, it even has light-reflecting pearl pigments - negating the need for your highlighter stick.
| Skin type | Dry, sensitive and normal |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Hyaluronic acid |
Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Energy Cream
Harnessing the power of one of the world's most treasured minerals, Black Diamond Truffle Extract, this luxury jar is a foolproof way to restore radiance in seconds, but the tech-powered formula also works double time to tackle fine lines and loss of collagen.
| Skin type | Dry and normal |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Black Diamond Truffle Extract |
Trust me when I say this dewy cream delivers the most natural lit-from-within look, and if you're a beauty minimalist, it's ideal paired simply with a dab of concealer and lip balm. So good is Tatcha's cult cream I'd say that you can probably blind-buy this if you're after a formula that's big on radiance (I'd steer clear of it if your skin veers on the more oily side though), packed with barrier-boosting ingredients.
| Skin type | Dry and normal |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Japanese purple rice and hyaluronic acid |
Though there are a ton of science-backed ingredients that really feed the skin in the long-term, what I love about Charlotte's Magic Cream is its instant effect. I can have had five hours of disturbed sleep, and then look instantly revived and glowing the second this formula has melted into my complexion. It actually is magic.
| Skin type | Dry and normal |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C and E |
If you're searching for a supremely hydrating moisturiser that's ideal for these in-between-season days, look no further than Chanel's chic crème. It's brimming with all the antioxidants you need to supercharge your skincare routine, and offers a hydrating veil of protection for your precious dermis.
| Skin type | Normal and dry |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Camellia extract |
If you're searching for a supremely hydrating moisturiser that's ideal for these in-between-season days, look no further than Chanel's chic crème. It's brimming with all the antioxidants you need to supercharge your skincare routine, and offers a hydrating veil of protection for your precious dermis.
Another failsafe favourite of mine, Fresh's deep hydration face cream might not be the most TikTok-friendly nor the newest, but I can guarantee it will revive parched skin (thanks to a clever time-release technology that delivers hydration throughout the day) leaving your complexion looking glow-y but never excessively shiny.
| Skin type | Dry |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Hyaluronic acid |
The hero ingredient in Sunday Riley's rich hydration cream, vitamin C helps target dehydration, minimised fine lines and protect against environmental damage. Though it's a little thicker in texture compared to other antioxidant formulas, you won't find this clogging your pores; instead it makes for a perfect base to sit under make-up and lends your skin a natural-looking sheen.
| Skin type | Dry, dull and normal |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Vitamin C |
Coming in at less than your daily commute, it would be easy to mistake Byoma's gel-creams as just another bog-standard staple moisturiser. But here's the thing: the science really stacks up and the ceramide-rich formula is hailed by dermatologist as a one-stop wonder to restore a damaged skin barrier.
| Skin type | Dry and sensitive |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Ceramides, antioxidants and niacinamide |
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
There's a reason why this moisturiser never goes under the radar, and despite newness infiltrating our feeds every day it's still one of the most loved in the skincare world with an unwavering and loyal fan base. While boosting collagen production is in the name of this long-loved favourite, it's also a surefire way to boost your skin's glow as we transition into Autumn.
| Skin type | Mature and normal skin |
|---|
Murad Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Cream
Come Autumn, I'll be switching out my Retinol Youth Renewal Serum for this more nourishing and soothing repair cream. If, like me, your skin suddenly turns paper dry and your once well-oiled routine just isn't cutting it, this kind of repair cream is ideal to help repair and support your stratum corneum (or skin barrier).
| Skin type | Normal and dry |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Fatty acids |
It's not just the sensorial experience we love about Nuxe's wellness-led skincare - the rich and creamy finish is equally alluring. Packed with high-tech ingredients and innovation, it still feels like a treat to apply; it sinks in seamlessly, smells delicious and works wonders when it comes to plumping the complexion.
| Skin type | Dry and mature |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Saffron and bougainvillea |
You might know Naturium for its minimalist bodycare heroes, well, this rich moisture cream takes a similar approach. Simple yet hardworking, it gets the job done thanks to a complex of ceramides which help deliver long-lasting hydration to the dermis - a saviour for this tricky in-between weather.
Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
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