Whether you subscribe to the most meticulous multi-process skincare routine, or you stick to the basics (good ol’ soap will do the job, right?), moisturiser is still universally viewed as an essential step. But it becomes even more important for those prone to dryness and dehydration.
Layering complexions with supercharged hydration combats the moisture-stripping effects of pollution, sun exposure, central heating or changing temperatures. The only problem? Choose the wrong one and it may do more harm than good - especially for sensitive skin types.
Some moisturisers are far too rich for those with sensitivities and are packed with active ingredients that can cause redness, irritation and inflammation – not ideal when you are applying to soothe, calm and replenish the complexion. So, what can you do?
We have consulted Natalie Enslöw, founder of fjör skincare to find out.
What causes sensitive skin?
“Sensitive skin can be caused by a variety of factors including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices including food”, she explains. “Common triggers include harsh weather conditions, pollution, stress and the use of irritating/allergen ingredients in skincare products”.
To combat the aforementioned, according to Enslöw, “Recognising the importance of skin health when it comes to managing sensitive skin is vital. This includes looking at ways to improve your skin barrier, balance the microbiome of the skin and renew your cells gently”. Enter moisturiser.
Is moisturiser important for sensitive skin?
While all skin types can benefit from moisturiser, the skin expert stresses that “Moisturising is crucial for sensitive skin”. She reveals “It helps restore the skin's barrier function, preventing irritants from penetrating the skin and reducing the likelihood of reactions”.
It is important to “Look for moisturizers that are fragrance-free and formulated specifically for sensitive skin with the fewest amount of ingredients. The simpler and less complicated the formulas are the better!”, she stresses.
What ingredients should you look out for?
“For sensitive skin, seek out ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin as humectants. These ingredients help to hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier and exfoliate without irritating the skin”.
What ingredients should you avoid?
So as not to irritate the complexion, Enslöw advises to “Avoid ingredients that can aggravate sensitive skin, such as alcohol, fragrances, and harsh exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs)”.
She continues “Other common irritants include sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and certain essential oils. When in doubt, use apps such as Yuka to scan the barcodes to check for the ingredient safety rating and to learn about the different tiers of ingredients in your skincare”.
Shop the best moisturisers for sensitive skin below
Bubble Slam Dunk Hydrating Cream Moisturiser
Soon after landing on UK soil, Bubble became one of the most popular skincare labels at Boots. That has as much to do with the affordable price tag as it has with the efficacious formulations. A case in point? The Slam Dunk Hydrating Cream Moisturiser, which leaves a steady stream of five-star reviews in its wake.
It calls on natural ingredients; aloe leaf juice and hoya lacosuna flower extract, to be specific, that are brimming with skin-loving nutrients to soothe, hydrate and protect the complexion. There is also antioxidant-rich vitamin E to shield against external aggressors and avocado oil to calm redness. Use one pump of the satisfying push-down dispenser each morning, even on sensitive skin.
Buy now £16.00, Boots
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors & HA
Within this moisturiser from The Ordinary, there are two main ingredients. HA - or hyaluronic acid - is an ingredient you will no doubt recognise as it is renowned for its ultra-hydrating properties. Natural Moisturizing Factors are lesser known, but as you likely will guess have been selected with the sole purpose of bringing conditioning to the complexion.
It is made up of amino acids, fatty acids, triglycerides, urea, ceramides, phospholipids, glycerin, saccharides and sodium PCA - aka elements naturally present in the skin and responsible for replenishing. Together, they combine to create a hydration powerhouse that offers long-lasting results and can applied on all skin types, even and especially those with sensitivities.
Buy now £12.80, Boots
Fjor Hydrolytic Moisturizer
Fjor is one of the leaders of the enzyme revolution taking over the beauty space. The brand uses its own proprietary Hydrolytic Enzyme in both this moisturiser and its beloved serum. The premium skincare label selects it for its nourishing effect on the skin, leaving the complexion glowy and even - no need for makeup.
The star ingredient is paired with Japanese Bloodgrass root extract and Xylitol which work in tandem to fortify and balance the skin’s barrier. It works especially well for dry skin, but also those with sensitive. So confident is the brand that it has a 100 per cent money-back guarantee on your first order. You have nothing to lose.
Buy now £45.00, Fjor
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 for Normal to Dry Skin 52ml
Every dermatologist you will ever speak to will stress the importance of wearing SPF daily. This doesn’t need to be a chore, in fact, CeraVe has created this moisturiser to be used every day to protect your skin from the sun with SPF50 coverage. It provides a broad spectrum shield to limit exposure to ageing UVA and burning UVB, while remaining lightweight.
The sun’s rays can negatively impact the skin barrier, leading to fine lines, pigmentation, uneven skin texture and loss of elasticity. SPF is the first defence to repair and protect and prevent sensitivity, inflammation and peeling.
Buy now £16.50, lookfantastic
Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF50+
For daily use, Cetaphil has you covered with its skin-soothing formula. The brand is designed specifically for sensitive and easily irritated skin and thus takes a simple approach to its formulas that could work wonders to avoid blemishes. It is non-comedogenic and fragrance free but forms an effective barrier to protect the skin all year round.
Buy now £6.50, Amazon
Byoma SPF 30 Gel Moisturiser 50ml
This is a daily moisturiser that provides a shielding layer for the skin barrier. First and foremost, there’s SPF30 with broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. While doing so, it is part of the new guard of sun creams that aren’t laborious to rub in, won’t dry out your skin and don’t leave a white cast in their wake.
Instead, your complexion glows and feels hydrated, the latter due to the combination of hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan that are moisturising and plumping. These work in tandem with the brand’s proprietary Tri-Ceramide Complex which is the component responsible for barrier support. One to be worn on makeup-free days as you may find it pills.
Buy now £14.99, Boots
Dermatica Nourishing Ceramide + Peptide Moisturiser
You may have heard the term peptides being discussed among the beauty community and the ingredient is one of the latest buzzwords with the tag #peptidemoisturizer reaching over 4.9 million views on TikTok.
But it’s not just our friends across the pond that are getting in on the skin barrier-protecting ingredient. Dermatica is making it more accessible than ever (products with this component tend to be quite pricey) with this formula that was created in order to support the external layer, while also reducing wrinkles, calming inflammation and counteracting dryness. Providing quick relief, the star ingredient is set alongside ceramides to double down on helping the skin barrier, and niacinamide to tackle the appearance of dark spots.
Buy now £15.95, Dermatica
rhode Barrier Restore Cream
The Barrier Restore Cream is described as a “rich” moisturiser, which is not at all the word I would use to describe it. The opposite is in fact true: it’s incredibly lightweight.
I have very dry skin and this product did provide a hydrating layer but would not be sufficient in winter. For the warmer weather, however, it works wonders as the featherweight texture would see you through elevated temperatures and it is understandable why LA-based Bieber created a product of this nature. This also ensures that it won't cause breakouts for the blemish-prone like myself.
The formula has the label’s signature peptides at its heart, chosen for its plumping effect on fine lines. This ingredient is combined with nourishing shea butter to strengthen the skin’s barrier, squalane for hydration and calming, niacinamide for balancing and the antioxidant acai - a unique component that shields the skin from free radicals.
The packaging explains that half a finger length is all you need to cover the entire face. It’s true; a little goes a long way. Like rhode’s serum, it’s easily blended, quickly absorbed and has the same plain scent. It’s cooling - but strangely not calming - where a bout of irritation remained as red and inflamed post-application as it was pre.
Where this product excels is in the dewy, light-reflecting radiance that is your complexion once you have layered it up. It’s glowy, not greasy - a very important distinction that’s worth noting. That said, I will be following it up with an additional, more nourishing product for my skin type.
Buy now £30.00, rhode
Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream
Dry skin has met its match with this Recovery Cream from Kate Somerville. The thick, nourishing balm texture is just what weather-worn complexions have been missing to calm the effects of excessive sunlight or ever-changing temperatures.
While it is rich, it is designed for those with sensitive skin - much like the entire DeliKate range. It soothes redness and irritation, while also shielding against future stressors like pollution.
Buy now £69.00, Kate Somerville
Paula's Choice Rescue &Repair Intensive Moisturiser
As part of Paula's Choice Calm range which is dedicated to high-performance products for sensitive skin types, you will find this Rescue and Repair Intensive Moisturiser.
The powerhouse of nourishment calls on the brand’s Hexapeptide-8 complex, made up of peptides that encourage the skin barrier to lock in moisture. This leaves the complexion silky soft but most importantly, hydrated. Layer onto the skin in the PM so you wake up with a fresh appearance.
Buy now £34.00, Cult Beauty
Skin Rocks by Caroline Hirons The Rich Moisturiser
With each new launch, Caroline Hirons has broken the internet. This was especially true for The Moisturiser, a hugely popular product. But now the skin expert has given the people what they wanted with an even more nourishing product to tackle dryness once and for all.
The Rich Moisturiser contains more ceramides than its counterpart to shield and enrich the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. As the name suggests, it’s thicker and thus better suited for the evening and can be used by all skin types, especially those with dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin.
It joins the line-up that includes the fragrance-free moisturiser (£58).
Buy now £65.00, Space NK
Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream for Sensitive Skin
Suited to use around even the delicate eye contour area (perfect if you’ve had line-smoothing microneedling there), this cream feels lightweight but has the oomph of a formula that’s much richer. Renowned for their skincare aimed at the most intolerant, super-sensitive skins, Avène has created a cream proven to calm in just 60 seconds and restore the protective barrier in two days, making it both fast and effective.
Using a patented post-biotic ingredient, it tackles tightness, tingling, redness and discomfort but still keeps the complexion hydrated and soft. The pump dispenser and ‘sterile’ tube design ensure it’s protected from air and bacteria that could compromise the formula too.
Buy now £21.00, Boots
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Soothing Cream
La Roche-Posay has long been a go-to label for those suffering from sensitivities and its soothing cream is a demonstration of the brand’s prowess. Often in the arsenal of those concerned about perioral dermatitis as well as any form of dryness, irritation or that dreaded tight feeling, it has an ultra-hydrating formula that offers calming relief.
The Toleriane Dermallergo Cream is renowned for its long-lasting moisturisation that supports the skin barrier and uses probiotics and the French pharmacy brand’s signature Thermal Spring Water to achieve this. It has been approved by Allergy UK and is so gentle that it can be used by those undergoing cancer treatment.
Buy now £23.00, Boots
