23 Affordable Moisturisers That Feel So Expensive on the Skin

Best for: Oily and acne-prone skin

Thanks to plenty of hyaluronic acid and a balancing blend of prebioitcs and probiotics, this weightless moisturiser hydrates skin and helps to prevent both excess dryness and flare-ups of oiliness. Curious about how hyaluronic acid can further benefit your routine? Read about the best hyaluronic acid serums to shop, here.

Best for: Normal to combination skin

Like its more expensive equal, this affordable moisturiser is lightweight and perfect for skin prone to oiliness. (For more on eliminating shine, check out our guide to the best products for oily skin, here.) Expect hydration, minus the residue.

Best for: Normal to oily skin

Makeup artists regard the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base as one of the best moisturisers for prepping the skin before makeup. It really makes foundation glide on flawlessly and has a whole roster of vitamins (B, C and E) and hydrating hyaluronic acid to leave skin plump and hydrated. If you have the budget to buy this regularly and want something to prepare your skin for makeup, I highly recommend investing in this moisturiser.

Price shown is members' price.

Best for: All skin types

We've sung our praises about Beauty Pie, and this cheap moisturiser is one of the brand's best sellers. Not only does it have a similar consistency to Bobbi Brown's Vitamin Enriched Face Base, but the list of active ingredients is also pretty similar. Plus, if you're a member, it costs just a fraction of the price.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

This cult moisturiser with SPF has a legion of committed fans who rave about its lightweight, fluid texture, glowy finish, and ultra-hydrating formula. It also features SPF 50+, making it a great option to further shield your skin from ultraviolet radiation—the single biggest cause of premature ageing. If you use your moisturiser as a primer, be sure to check out our guide to the best sunscreens for under makeup, too.

Best for: All skin types

For just a fraction of the price, this is a great dupe. It has a similar lightweight texture and glow-boosting finish. It works brilliantly underneath makeup too.

Best for: Dry to very dry skin

La Mer is one of the best luxury skincare brands, and their classic moisturiser is a veritable beauty icon for good reason. But, it's definitely on the pricier end of the scale. Formulated with the brand's iconic Miracle Broth, it promises to smooth and soothe skin while delivering a stellar glow.

Best for: Dry to very dry skin

If it's a super-rich and comforting texture you're after, Nivea's Creme is widely considered an affordable alternative with the same luxurious texture. It might not have the same luxury packaging, but it does carry similar nourishing benefits. Incredibly gentle and seriously hydrating, it's one of the best skincare products for mature skin.

Best for: Dull skin

Vitamin C is the ultimate antioxidant for brightening and protecting from pollution. This Origins cream has a lovely light gel texture and is formulated without pore-clogging oils, making it great for oily skin types.

Best for: Dull skin

Given that experts recommend using vitamin C as part of your morning routine to maximise the antioxidising effects, this affordable moisturiser from The Ordinary is a great alternative and even comes in for under the price of an average Pret lunch. How’s that for brightening your day?

Best for: Normal to dry skin

Rose is a great ingredient for sensitive or dry skin, and Sisley's beloved gel-water cream is divine. In fact, it's considered to be one of the most popular moisturisers amongst celebrity facialists and makeup artists, thanks to its instantly plumping, glow-boosting finish. Once you've layered this on, head here to read more celebrity makeup tips.

Best for: Dry and dehydrated skin

Sure, Sisley's cream is great, but very few have the budget to blow £182 on a moisturiser. To reap the skin-loving benefits of Black Rose, try this Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream, which is very similar in texture and scent. 

Best for: Oily to combination skin

It may be a common misconception, but it's crucial to still moisturise even if you suffer from blemishes and breakouts. Finding a suitable formula, however, can be a challenge. Tatcha's The Water Cream is light as air with a gel formula that floods skin with hydration without a hint of oiliness, helping to control excess oil and moisturise without clogging pores, leaving skin velvetty matte.

Best for: Oily and acne-prone skin

For an affordable moisturiser that achieves these desired results just as well, La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo+ is also an iconic lightweight lotion for acne. In fact, this stuff is so good that dermatologists often recommend it for patients prone to aggressive breakouts.

Best for: Oily and combination skin

Despite it being an active ingredient, most, if not every, skincare routine can benefit from using a form of hyaluronic acid. This lightweight cream delivers a plumping glow without any greasiness.

Best for: Oily and combination skin

The truth is hyaluronic acid isn't an expensive skincare ingredient, so you shouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg to get cushiony-soft, hydrated skin. See, for example, Naturium's affordable moisturiser, which floods skin with moisture and has a similar lightweight gel texture.

Best for: Oily and combination skin

Another brilliant gel moisturiser for tackling oily skin, Kiehl's formula simultaneously hydrates while minimising shine and the appearance of enlarged pores.

Best for: Oily and combination skin

CeraVe is best known for its nourishing ceramide-boosted moisturisers, which are perfect for dry and sensitive skin types. But if you're more on the oily side, this lightweight gel cream will be a better option. Like the Kiehl's option, this affordable moisturiser helps to maintain and balance skin's hydration levels while preventing excess oil from shining through.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

Skin that needs a little TLC would benefit from a targeted moisturiser that repairs and protects. Tata Harper's Repairative Moisturiser contains a bunch of vitamins and antioxidants to protect skin from potentially damaging aggressors.

Best for: Dry and sensitive skin

Weleda's Skin Food Light offers the same cushiony, glowing results as the above moisturiser, just without the intense (and pricey) antioxidant protection. This is the lighter and more affordable version of the classic moisturiser, which is ideal for oilier skin types and is also adored by makeup artists for skin prep. Plus, it is one of Hailey Bieber's favourite moisturisers too. For a deep dive into the well-deserved cult following of Weleda Skin Food, head here.

Best for: Dry, sensitive, and redness-prone skin

There's nothing quite as efficient as a skincare product that doubles as a sleeping mask. This ultra-soothing overnight treatment (that can also be worn all day for dry, sensitive and easily irritated skin types) is packed with a blend of barrier healing oils – think olive, almond, borage and linseed – the only thing not to like is the price. And we hear you. At almost £22 for a small 15ml pot, it's not the most budget-friendly. Fortunately, we have a specific affordable moisturiser in mind that works as an adept alternative.

Best for: Dry, sensitive, mature, and combination skin

Build the strength and integrity of your skin barrier with this soothing cream balm. This cheap moisturiser is stuffed full of hydrating, calming ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, milk thistle and centella asiatica—an ingredient you might better recognise as 'cica'.

Best for: Oily, combination, and acne-prone skin

Oily skin still craves moisture but in the form of a super-lightweight texture. Opt for a gel moisturiser that will hydrate yet never feel heavy, such as Clinique's Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. It's a great moisturiser for oily skin that won't feel too slick on the skin or cause breakouts.

Best for: Normal to combination skin

It might not have the same luxurious packaging or texture of the Clinique Jelly, but Bioderma Hydrabio Gel Cream is a winner for oily skin that needs some hydration. It's so lightweight and melts into the skin leaving it feeling hydrated without feeling tacky.

Best for: Dry to very dry skin

Loved by the likes of Victoria Beckham for its antioxidant, skin-loving benefits, Augustinus Bader's The Rich Cream undoubtedly has been one of the most talked-about skincare products of the last few years. Yes, £240 is a lot of cash to part with for a moisturiser, but if you only need to read our Augustinus Bader review to be convinced why it's a worthwhile investment.

Price shown is members' price.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

While nothing can ever really compare to Augustinus Bader's technology, if you love super-rich, nourishing creams that also contain antioxidants, look no further than this more affordable moisturiser. It's jam-packed with ingredients such as peptides and niacinamide that encourage your skin to look plumper, bouncier and clearer.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

This moisturiser is a cult favourite amongst beauty editors and skincare buffs thanks to its lightweight but powerful antioxidant abilities. (You can read our full review of the Sunday Riley C.E.O Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream here.) It also boosts hydration and glow and isn't thought to cause irritation as seriously as many other vitamin C formulas might. If you can afford to part with the cash, this is a great moisturiser to try.

Best for: Normal to combination skin

However, if you're after a more affordable non-irritating vitamin C cream, this 99% natural, 100% vegan moisturiser makes for a great substitute.

Best for: Dry and sensitive skin

Rhode's Barrier Butter's luxurious texture provides irritated skin with relief by strengthening the skin's barrier, leaving your skin feeling soothed, plumped and hydrated. The balmy, buttery texture just melts into the skin and can be layered up when more nourishment is required.

Best for: All skin types

A more purse-friendly alternative is La Roche-Posay's iconic Cicaplast Balm. It's been designed as a multi-tasking cream that soothes and shields irritated skin as a moisturiser, but it can also be worn as a thick mask overnight to leave your skin looking glassy come morning.

Best for: Mature and dry skin

Givenchy's makeup offerings have no doubt become a fast favourite, along with them being one of the few trusted luxury brands to deliver skincare that is more than just pretty packaging—case and point this algae-rich moisturiser that has found its way into the hearts of the French skincare obsessives. 

Best for: Dry and ageing skin

If you just can't tear yourself away from the marine-powered skincare pool but want a more affordable fix, then try this ultra-nourishing option from Q+A.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

Although the brand is beloved for its refreshing face mask—a treatment that garners almost instant results—Summer Friday's moisturisers also work to improve radiance and support the skin barrier. At this price point, this uber-moisturising option is undoubtedly more of an investment.

Best for: All skin types, including sensitive

If you are in want of a more affordable moisturiser that is still equally nourishing, this is perfect for strengthening the skin barrier. Try this accessible option and be sure to thank me later.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

Based on the secret concoction that celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury created to give models her signature glow, Magic Cream is one of the best moisturisers for prepping skin ahead of makeup application. It's every bit as effective as it is luxurious.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

But for a more affordable moisturiser, try Lait-Crème Concentré. This cream hydrator is another backstage beauty favourite, beloved by models and makeup artists for its ability to soothe, calm, hydrate, and prep skin. It's a beloved French pharmacy skincare product and budget beauty essential, too.

Best for: Sensitive and dry skin

Famed for its ability to soothe and strengthen sensitive skin, this rich and nourishing moisturiser draws upon the benefits of ingredients like goat milk and avocado oils to do just that. Goat milk might sound like an unusual ingredient but it's beloved for its capacity to calm even the most irritated of skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.

Best for: Sensitive and combination skin

Oat-derived ingredients also have impressive benefits for sensitive skin conditions. The countless positive reviews for this cheap moisturiser proves just how effective it is when it comes to soothing irritation, as well.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

This lighter, fresher take on Charlotte Tilbury's cult Magic Cream is great for oily, combination, and breakout-prone skin types. It has a gel-cream texture which gives skin a radiant, dewy finish, making it equally ideal for the summer months when you want to switch out your heavier hydrator for something a little more satiny.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

This affordable moisturiser is also great for skin that sits slightly on the oily or combination side of the spectrum. It's lightweight in texture but still packs a punch of moisture thanks to glycerin, aloe, avocado oil, and shea butter.

Best for: Normal to combination skin

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again—hyaluronic acid is the ultimate unsung ingredient. In By Terry’s Hyaluronic Global Face Cream, a concentrated fusion of eight different types of actives is used to deeply penetrate the skin’s layer and provide long-standing hydration throughout the day.

Best for: All skin types

For a similar effect—and at less than a quarter of the price—look no further than this skin-friendly affordable moisturiser from The Ordinary. Given the inoffensive ingredients used in the lightweight formula, it’s perfect for a whole variety of skin types.

Best for: Normal to combination skin

It’s hard to look past a moisturiser that can visibly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, deeply hydrate your complexion and protect against UV radiation—let alone do it all at once. These solutions are rarely found in one product, which is why Medik8’s Advanced Day Ultimate Protect comes so highly regarded. It offers a comprehensive environmental shield and age-defying properties, making it a worthy contender for your morning routine essential.

Best for: Normal to dry skin

Of course, if you’re seeking to reduce the number of steps in your AM skincare ritual, removing sunscreen is out of the question. For a cheap moisturiser that doubles as sun protection, Ultra Violette’s creamy Supreme Screen is a base that can provide both. Suitable for dry, normal and combination skin types, slap on this SPF 50+ to prime and even tone.

Best for: Dry to mature skin

Yes, Tatcha’s products are some of the most elegant available, but their skincare technology is equally sophisticated, too. This Silk Cream uses a trio of Japanese superfoods, including silk extra and a floral alternative to retinol, for softer, smoother and visibly firmer skin.

Best for: Dry and sensitive skin

Looking a little further north, treat your skin to the secrets of Korean skincare with this moisturiser from Dr. Jart+. While it's a little more on the expensive side of affordable, in comparison to Tatcha's price tag this feels more reasonable. Truly a salve that saturates far beneath the skin's surface, this thick cream is made from hydrating ceramides—an ingredient that helps retain moisture and creates a natural skin barrier.