Skincare
Best Winter Moisturisers For Every SKIN Type
Protect your skin from the cold-weather, dehydration and other environmental aggressors with our expert approved list of moisturisers.
Best Winter Moisturisers For Every Skin Type
Before our bathroom shelves were crammed with bottles and jars of glycolic acids, serums, retinols and toners there was the humble moisturiser, the OG of skincare that is now often over-looked for the continuous new wave of beauty products. The importance of a good moisturiser however cannot be overstated especially during the winter months. “Moisturisers are important all year around, but especially in the winter months. They create a protective barrier for our skin,” says Pamela Marshall Clinical Aesthetician and Co-Founder of Mortar & Milk. “In the colder months we spend a lot of time indoors sitting near radiators/heaters, they deplete humidity out of the room, which can dry out our skin. Moisturisers protect the skin from that transepidermal water loss, and they also create a protective blanket over our more targeted serums”.
The beauty market is saturated with moisturisers all promising different results but if your goal is hydration and protecting your skin from environmental stressors then there are a few key ingredients to look out for. “For ultimate hydration and barrier protection, you’ll want to look for ingredients like PHA’s, neoglucosamine, ceramides, vitamin E, aveena sativa and antioxidants,” advises Pamela. “Combined, those ingredients work actively on the skin to increase hydration as well as reduce inflammation.” No matter what your skin type or budget, read on for Pamela’s expert tips on which key ingredients to search for and her recommendations of moisturisers that will cater to your individual needs and ensure that your face is hydrated, nourished and protected this winter.
Best for dry or mature skin
For dry or mature skin Pamela lists ‘PHA’, Neoglucosamine and antioxidants’ as important ingredients to have in your moisturiser and recommends Exuviance Total Correct Hydrate, a luxurious cream that replenishes skin to optimal hydration levels. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, NeoGlucosamine® and Matrixyl® Peptides to quench dryness, boosts and supports collagen production whilst the antioxidants help to protect from daily environmental stressors.
Eve Lom’s Moisture Cream is formulated with PrimalHyal™ Ultrafiller, an innovative form of hyaluronic acid that leaves skin hydrated, plumped and radiant for up to 72 hours whilst anti-oxidant rich ingredients such as white horehound and peach flower help to protect against the damaging effects of free radicals.
Lala Retro Whipped Cream is a velvety-rich cream is made with six African oils, along with moisture-retaining ceramides that support and nourish the skin’s natural barrier. While the fermented green tea offers antioxidant benefits protecting skin from environmental stress.
Best for combination skin
If you have combination or acne prone skin then Ceramides , Aveena Sativa, Vitamin E are key ingredients to search for. Skingredients’ Skin Good Fats is a rich moisturiser and night cream that locks in hydration, while reducing inflammation and irritation. This healing balm of ceramide NP, shea butter and grapeseed oil works by replenishing your skin’s essential fats, vitamins to bring equilibrium to your skin.
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion is a lightweight cream that helps to strengthen and restore the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. Utilising the three naturally occurring ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid to provide up to 24hrs of hydration and soothe and calm.
Harnessing the power of natural oils Epara’s Moisturising Face Cream contains nourishing moringa, neroli and geranium oil as well as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid all working together to leave skin hydrated and smooth.
Best for sensitive skin
Sensitive skin types should search for moisturisers which contain PHA’s and Vitamin E. Pamela recommends NeoStrata Ultra Moisturising Face Cream, a mild, fragrance-free formula containing 10% PHA, Vitamin E, Vitamin B Complex and other antioxidants to help protect complexions against damaging external aggressors.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra moisturiser is enriched with La Roche-Posay’s thermal spring water, neurosensine, glycerine and shea butter. It is perfume, paraben and alcohol free making it perfect for soothing sensitive skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra, £18.50
Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer is a lightweight cream that’s formulated to reduce the visible signs of stress, including dehydration and redness. Enriched with mannose and rosa gallica, which work to boost and support the skin’s natural protective barrier, promising to provide hydration and nourishment and leave your complexion rejuvenated and radiant.
Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer, £27
Best for oily or acne prone skin
“Oily skin tends to be dehydrated skin, so it’s important to hydrate but also treat. I would look for ingredients like PHA’s + Mandelic Acid” advises Pamela. Which can both be found in Exuviance Night Renewal Hydragel. A silky gel formulated with Alpha and Poly Hydroxy Acids that does all the hard work of repairing and hydrating oily skin whilst you sleep.
Ren’s Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream is a lightweight soothing gel-cream developed for blemish and breakout-prone skin. It’s calming formula of botanical extracts and seed oils leaves sensitive skin nourished whilst helping to reduce the over-production of sebum.
Paula’s Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser is a great night cream for acne-prone skin. It offers lightweight hydration without clogging pores. ‘Niacinamide soothes flaky skin and minimises pores, while ceramides strengthen the skin’s barrier and antioxidants pumpkin and blueberry work to calm redness. Skin is left feeling soft, hydrated and shine-free.’
Whilst looking for a winter moisturiser sun protection may not be at the forefront of your mind and although many moisturisers include SPF in their formulations, they may not provide adequate protection warns Pamela. “When it comes to SPF, we’ve got to be careful with moisturisers that contain SPF. I use an SPF 40 that adds a moisturiser (very different than the other way around) daily. But if I know that I’ll be outside a lot, I swap over to my moisturiser and add a physical protection of SPF 50. Making sure that we are protected from UV exposure is the most important thing we can do to prevent premature ageing, so resting on the laurels of a moisturiser that has an added SPF isn’t ideal.”
Follow @pamelanicolemarshall and @mortarandmilk