With all its serums, creams and other bits and bobs, formulating a skincare regimen can be complicated. In reality, there are only three products in your routine that are *really* non-negotiable: a good cleanser, SPF and moisturiser. While all are hard to pin down, the latter is potentially the most difficult.
Finding the best facial moisturiser for you takes time. You need to consider your skin type, your preferred finish and even the climate you live in when searching for the perfect product.
To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the Cosmopolitan Australia team’s top picks for the best face moisturisers to buy in Australia, with options to suit every skin type and budget.
Best facial moisturisers for all needs...
At a glance, the best facial moisturisers to shop in Australia in 2025 are:
- Best moisturiser for dry skin: Byoma Moisturizing Rich Cream
- Best moisturiser for oily skin: Go-To Very Lightweight Moisturiser
- Best moisturiser for acne-prone skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + M
- Best natural moisturiser: Supernatural Face Crème Riche
- Best moisturiser for ageing skin: Trinny London Bounce Back
- Best moisturiser for sensitive skin: Esmi Skin Minerals Sensitive Moisturiser
- Best hydrating facial moisturiser: Alpha H High Tide Water Cream
- Best facial moisturiser for teens: CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion
- Best budget facial moisturiser: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 100ml
- Best moisturiser for pore reduction: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream
Scroll on for more information (and your bounciest, glowiest skin yet).
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1.
Best moisturiser for dry skin
Byoma Moisturising Rich Cream
$28
Key ingredients: ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids
Texture: Cream
Byoma’s Moisturising Rich Cream is a reliable pick for those whose skin needs a little something extra. The rich, deeply moisturising cream is enriched with ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids, as well as restorative bakuchiol and shea extracts, and melts into the skin. Not only is it designed for max hydration and soothing, but to protect the skin barrier, too.
2.
Best moisturiser for oily skin
Go-To Very Lightweight Moisturiser
$55
Key ingredients: ceramides, clover flower extract, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera
Texture: Gel-cream
Just like its founder, Zoe Foster Blake, Go-To skincare is a national treasure. This moisturiser is fast-absorbing, incredibly lightweight and oil-free, offering intense hydration without leaving that feeling of *stuff* being on your skin.
3.
Best moisturiser for acne-prone skin
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + M
$37.95
Key ingredients: phylobioma, niacinamide, salicylic acid, LHA and zinc PCA
Texture: Gel-cream
From French-born brand La Roche-Posey comes an advanced anti-blemish moisturiser that is specifically designed for oily and acne-prone skin. Its soothing, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic formula is specifically crafted to tackle skin concerns including blackheads, blemishes, and post-blemish marks.
4.
Best natural moisturiser
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Crème Riche
$148
Key ingredients: shea butter, jojoba oil, glycerin
Texture: Cream
New Zealand-born natural skincare brand, Emma Lewisham is a long-time beauty editor fave for a reason. The Supernatural Face Crème Riche is their richest, most advanced facial moisturiser, packed with high-performing ingredients and scientifically proven to regenerate collagen at a cellular level.
5.
Best moisturiser for ageing skin
Trinny London Bounce Back
$102
Key ingredients: peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane and oat lipids
Texture: Gel-cream
Trinny London’s intense peptide moisturiser is a youth-boosting hydrator that works to visibly smooth wrinkles and boost vibrancy. It’s formulated to increase elasticity and firmness, while ensuring the skin is nourished and hydrated.
6.
Best moisturiser for sensitive skin
Esmi Skin Minerals Sensitive Moisturiser
$79
Key ingredients: probiotic lysates, green tea extract, argan oil
Texture: Cream
This is the one of the best facial moisturisers for those with sensitive skin or concerns such as eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and damaged or compromised skin. The lightweight cream is restorative, gentle and fragrance-free, and helps to strengthen and repair compromised barriers.
7.
Best hydrating moisturiser
Alpha-H High Tide Water Cream
$80
Key ingredients: water, glycerin, squalane, river mint
Texture: Gel
Alpha-H’s lightweight, ultra-hydrating water cream is a gateway to bouncy, silky-smooth skin. The water-rich formula helps battle signs of ageing, dryness and dullness, and boosts firmness and elasticity. The cooling river mint also helps sooth skin and leaves the face feeling fresh—no greasiness here!—which is a plus for this editor’s combination skin.
8.
Best moisturiser for teens
CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion
$25.99
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B3
Texture: Gel-cream
A light, basic moisturiser that is a perfect first step into skincare for those with normal to dry skin. The cream is lightweight, fast-absorbing and packed with ingredients that hydrate and nourish the skin whilst maintaining its barrier.
9.
Best cheap facial moisturiser
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 100ml
$22.30
Key ingredients: urea, amino acids, PCA, fatty acids, hyaluronic acid
Texture: Gel-cream
This affordable vegan moisturiser is sure to quench your skin’s thirst with a hydration boost that’ll leave it soft, smooth, and glowing. It’s non-Comedogenic and suitable for all skin types.
10.
Best facial moisturiser for pore reduction
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream
$149
Key ingredients: bionymph peptide, Vitamins C & E, frangipani flower extract, rosehip oil, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, shea butter
Texture: Cream
You’ve probably seen the moisturiser floating around on TikTok and we’re here to confirm that yes, it *does* live up to the hype. The famous formula is infused with a matrix of oils and supercharged skincare ingredients to flood your skin with moisture and reduce the appearance of pores. It was originally formulated by the brand’s founder to be used on models backstage at runway shows so if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us!
Should I Moisturise My Face Every Day?
Yes, you should moisturise your face every day in the morning after cleansing, and also at night if you have normal to dry skin.
You should apply moisturiser after your serums—it is the final step that locks in the goodness of all your other products and acts as a barrier between your skin and the harsh pollutants in the air.
What Is the Best Thing for Extremely Dry Skin?
If your skin is super dry, the best facial moisturisers for you will include the uber-hydrating ingredient hyaluronic acid. You should also look for products that include glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide and natural oils.
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