Finding the best day cream for your skin’s needs is like finding your beauty soul mate. It’ll lock in all the nutrients of your skincare routine, keep your skin soft and supple all day long and put a smile on your face every morning.
So what’s more important in your beauty routine than a day cream? Not much, really. If our pick of the best doesn’t have a match for your skin goals, you can browse hundreds more moisturisers here.
How we choose the best day creams
On our hunt for the best day creams to tackle all your skin concerns, we grilled our beauty eds for their insider knowledge. Here’s what we found - there’s day creams for dry skin, one’s to be worn under makeup, anti-ageing formulas and even day creams to combat oily skin. The best formulas are dedicated to hydrating skin, relieving tightness and smoothing your complexion for the day ahead.
We then trawled through your reviews to find the gems your skin will really love and we checked the price tags too, so you can pick one up without breaking the bank or splurge to your heart's content. Either way, these day creams live up to their 5-star status.
Ultra Facial Cream SPF30
Best for: Very dry skin
Dip your fingers into this velvety cream and feel your complexion instantly ease and hydrate as you massage the product onto your skin. Providing 24 hour hydration, this the best day moisturiser you can get your hands on for an out-door lifestyle or if you have particularly dry skin, tightness is transformed to comfort and skin looks visibly smoother and more even. With SPF 30 and broad spectrum UVA and UVB sun protection ready to defend your skin from the (ageing) effects of sun damage, it’s a morning must.
The hype: “I’ve been struggling with dry skin and this has helped after just a few days of use and even works under makeup. It’s light and soaks into the skin easily, but it’s also thick enough to feel nicely moisturised, my skin feels really smooth afterwards.” - Emma, customer review
Arctic Hydra Care [Arktis] Moisture & Relief Rich Day Cream
Best for: Sensitive skin Apply 30 minutes before you step outdoors and the elements will not be drying out your skin this time. Combating heat, cold, wind or pollution, this face cream wards off dry, irritated skin all year round and rids your complexion of any uncomfortable tightness. Dryness-induced redness, rough patches? Not with this day cream. A healthy glow is a given too - with moisture-locking Nordic Bilberry, Oat and Canola oils in the mix it’s radiant, dewy skin only. The hype: “After a recent breakout of red, dry, itchy skin this cream entered my world! It is thick and soothing when it goes on but not greasy or clogging, and my skin is smoother and more even since using it. A seriously good investment for dry, sensitive skin.” - Cassie, customer review
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Best for: Plumping and firming
A big hit of moisture that absorbs in seconds and contains ingredients that help to boost your collagen levels and soften skin. Lightweight yet intensely hydrating, the gel-cream texture sinks into skin to firm texture and protect from ageing free radical damage. Ideal for those keen to tackle fine lines, dullness and lack of tone. TIP: Dab a little on top of makeup over cheekbones for a subtle glow-up.
The hype: “I like to call this gem of a product Pro-Collagen Marine Dream. It's one of the products in my beauty repertoire that I keep going back to no matter how much I am trialing and testing new products. It's really stood the test of time and I think the key is the texture. It's a light gel-cream (perfect for oilier skin), ridiculously moisturising and with lots of anti-ageing powers that I don't have space here to list... but they are extensive.” - Jessica Diner, Vogue
Intense Recovery Cream
Best for: Stressed skin
Dry, stressed or severely dehydrated skin? Enter: Murad’s most luxurious moisturiser to date. Enriched with soothing Shea Butter and Macadamia Oil, their Intense Recovery Cream deeply soothes visible signs of skin stress. Plus, with science-Backed Microalgae Extract, this clever formula helps reduce fine lines, redness and calms irritation. Use morning and night to restore skin resilience and uncover a radiant, balanced glow.
The hype: “This cream has been a lifesaver for my 42-year-old combination skin which was red, dehydrated and flaky because of using retinol. This is a lovely thick cream with a buttery texture, which just melts on the skin and a little goes a long way. I find the pastel green colour and the light minty/menthol aroma very calming and soothing. In two weeks my skin was back to normal, all redness and flaking gone.” - Customer review