SOOTHE AND SMOOTH

Olivia Petter tries out the top moisturisers for sensitive skin

Having sensitive skin can make skincare even more of a minefield than it already is. Often, it’s a case of testing out various products and waiting to see which of them don’t irritate your skin, cause any unexpected flare-ups, or lead to redness. It can be incredibly stressful, which, in turn, only makes your skin worse.

Hence why it’s so important to find the right things for you – and, as an integral part of anyone’s regime, moisturiser is surely one of the products we should all be prioritising. With so many variations on the market now, offering copious benefits and boasting intricate ingredients, it can be difficult to read between the marketing lines and identify what you’re actually buying.

There seems to be a current vogue for skincare brands touting all sorts of complex ingredients you’ve never heard of on their packaging, making you think this is the magic solution to all your skincare problems. As a result, we can wind up spending a fortune on things that aren’t right for our skin type, and end up going in the bin.

Not only can things go to waste, though, they can also wind up exacerbating underlying skin issues, particularly if you’re using a product loaded with niche acids and extracts that are only going to irritate sensitive skin further.

But fear not, because, here, we’ve identified the best moisturisers for sensitive skin, encompassing all of their properties and price ranges. There is a mix of items here to suit all budgets, skin types and personal preferences. Enjoy.

How we tested

We applied each of the creams repeatedly for a period of two weeks and then judged the short and long-term effects they had, in terms of brightening, hydrating and, of course, sensitivity, which is based on our own reviewer’s sensitive skin. We also examined other factors in terms of product quality and versatility, such as scent, texture and packaging.

Liz Earle skin repair light cream: £26, Liz Earle

This is a great option for those who favour natural skincare. Comprising avocado oil, borage oil, and echinacea, this cream is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a simple moisturiser that makes a difference to hydration, while also soothing any redness. It’s light to the touch and dries fast, but locks in 72 hours’ worth of moisture that can even be felt the following morning. It’s great value, considering this product feels and looks like it’s of the utmost luxury, but its more modest price makes it more accessible. Plus, it’s suitable for all skincare types.

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Aesop perfect facial hydrating cream: £87, Aesop

We love the scent of every Aesop product – and this one is no different. Thanks to a combination of botanical butters and citrus smells, this moisturiser is a total delight to apply, and it feels more indulgent every time. It feels firm on the skin and has an instant brightening effect. Packed with vitamins C and E, it’s also a great option for winter, when our skin is in need of a little extra care, thanks to the colder conditions. An all-round good product suitable for every skin type.

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Aveeno face calm and restore oat gel moisturiser: £11, Morrisons

Due to how light they are, gel moisturisers are always a suitable option for those with sensitive skin. This one from Aveeno is particularly light and gentle, leaving your skin feeling nourished and hydrated with just a small amount. It doesn’t have the same floral scents or indulgent textures as some of the other products listed here but it does what it says on the tin, and has an instant soothing effect. Its very reasonable price makes it hard to resist.

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Odylique avocado 24-hour replenishing cream: £26, Odylique

The beauty of this product is that it doubles up as a morning and night cream. Hence the “24-hour” part of its name. We used it in the morning, so it could be compared with the other products here, as a daytime moisturiser. It’s definitely thicker than some of the other options here, as night creams often are, but it’s still suitable for a morning cream, as it dries fairly quickly and doesn’t leave the skin feeling sticky or overly hydrated. Given its blend of essential oils – lavender, frankincense, bergamot and ylang ylang – this one is suitable for those with sensitive and dry skin.

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Dr Barbara Sturm brightening face cream: £150, Selfridges

Those familiar with Dr Sturm’s products will already know they’re adored by A-list stars – and for good reason. With molecular formulations, they put science (and good skin) first. This moisturiser encompasses both of these things, containing hyaluronic acid to provide extra hydration and cress sprouts extract to brighten the skin. It feels very light to apply but somehow simultaneously very rich and thick. But it still feels gentle on the skin and shouldn’t cause any flare-ups. This is down to the quality of the product. It’s one of the most expensive moisturisers on the market – but buying Dr Sturm’s products is always an investment worth making if you can.

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Sunday Riley ice ceramide moisturising cream: £60, Space NK

This is definitely on the pricier end of the scale – as are all of Sunday Riley’s products – but it’s worth your money to invest in this deeply rich, coconut-scented moisturiser that works wonders on skin that is sensitive and dry. It also doubles up as a night cream, meaning you’re saving some money here, and it contains pomegranate sterols, which help to act as a barrier against dehydration. You can feel and see the difference when you apply it, almost instantly, with an immediately firmer and brighter complexion. Our skin felt soft and hydrated all day with this one, even during the cold snap.

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Sisley velvet nourishing cream: £158, Sisley

You know this is a luxury product just from looking at it. With its heavy-set, optic-white jar and silver orning, it’s already a sight to behold. Then you open it – and the smell is like a spa. With soothing saffron flower extract, shea butter, and buckwheat seed extracts, there’s a lot going on in this cream, which could put off those with sensitive skin. Don’t let it – somehow, all of these ingredients combine to provide an instantly satisfying moisturiser that visibly changes the skin’s texture after just a few uses. That said, it’s one of the most expensive skincare products around and doesn’t double up as a night cream like some of the other options here. You don’t need to use a lot, though, in order to feel the moisture all over your face. So perhaps it’s a worthwhile investment, so long as you use it sparingly.

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No7 protect & perfect intense advanced day cream: £24.95, Boots

It’s rare to find a moisturiser that ticks every box, particularly when you have sensitive skin, but this one almost does. Not only does its texture feel just right – not too light but not too rich that it makes your skin look sweaty all day – it also contains SPF 15, making it an ideal cream to use if you’re spending time outside. Unlike some SPF creams, though, this one doesn’t leave your skin looking pasty, or smelling like a poolside cabinet. In fact, you’d hardly notice the SPF at all, other than the fact it’s a slightly whiter cream than some of the others listed here. Its anti-ageing properties also come as an added bonus – although, we didn’t notice a significant difference after a few uses.

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The verdict

In terms of price, versatility and quality, it’s got to be Liz Earle’s light moisturiser. This is a very straightforward, no-frills product with the benefits of something far more expensive. It comes in small, slim packaging too that makes it very easy to carry around with you in a handbag, if you are someone who likes to regularly top up your moisturiser, or take it to the gym. If you can stretch your coins slightly more, though, we’d recommend Aesop’s

cream – it just smells so lovely and feels very indulgent to apply, as if you’ve just stepped out of a spa.

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