The best day creams, according to over 200 women (2024)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (1)

While there’s an abundance of retinols and serums out there making all sorts of ambitious claims, don’t let the humble day cream get lost in the noise.

The best day creams can be the key to keeping skin nourished whatever your schedule – on the school run, on an actual run, or simply sitting at home on the sofa sifting through emails.

Besides the basics, your moisturiser should keep your complexion protected from environmental aggregators such as pollution and harsh weather, not to mention the dreaded office air conditioning.

However, as it’s a non-negotiable, staple product in every brand’s skincare line-up, there are endless options to choose from (we're not joking, there are thousands!), which is why we decided to take out the guesswork for you. The GHI recruited a panel of over 200 women to try some of the leading brands, to help us find the very best day creams on the market.

Have a sneak peek of the winners below but read on for our full reviews and tips on how to find the right one for your skin, including expert tips from dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto.

Best day creams

How do I choose the best day moisturiser?

The most effective moisturising day creams will include an humectant, an ingredient that hydrates the skin (usually hyaluronic acid or glycerine), paired with a barrier-protecting ingredient, such as ceramides, that helps shield the skin’s surface and retain that moisture for as long as possible.

Many will also contain other components to target specific skin concerns, such as peptides to reduce fine lines, or niacinamide to even skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation. The most effective one for you will depend on your skin type.

What’s the difference between a day cream and night cream?

The goal of both a day cream and night cream are to hydrate and nourish, but in different environments. A day cream moisturises and protects against aggressors such as pollution and sunlight (if it contains SPF), and is designed to work while you go about your to-do list in the waking hours.

"They typically contain lighter, fast-absorbing ingredients, often including antioxidants to guard against environmental damage." says Dr Anjali Mahto.

Night creams, on the other hand, "are formulated to support the skin’s natural repair and regeneration process that occurs while you sleep,” explains Dr Mahto. “They usually have a richer, thicker texture and are packed with ingredients such as retinoids, peptides and hyaluronic acid, which work to repair damage, boost collagen production and deeply hydrate the skin." In other words, beauty sleep is no myth!

What’s the best day cream for my skin type?

These are some of the factors to consider based on your skin type.

Dry skin

Dry skin occurs when the natural production of oils that work to keep things moisturised and protected is affected. There are many reasons skin can become dry – from over-washing and cold weather to harsh soaps and natural ageing. When you have dry skin, you’re likely to experience flaking and tightness, and fine lines and wrinkles can look more noticeable. An ultra-hydrating day cream can help provide the extra bit of moisture you need instead. Look out for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Oily or acne prone skin

If your skin is oily or acne-prone, the last thing you want to be doing is adding more oils and pore-clogging creams. So, it’s important to look out for non-comedogenic day creams, such as CeraVe's daily moisturiser, as they won’t block pores or cause any shiny-not-dewy foreheads.

Sensitive skin

When you have sensitive skin, anything can spark a flare-up. So, it’s important to look for day creams with minimal ingredients that are ideally free from fragrance, allergens and other irritants. The Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser was rated best in our tests for sensitive skin types.

Mature skin

At Good Housekeeping, we’re all about embracing and celebrating ageing. It’s not about looking younger; it’s about looking your best at every age. That's where ingredients such as collagen and peptides come in, working to smooth wrinkles and add bounce and elasticity to help skin look plumper and fresher.

"Look for a formula that contains antioxidants like vitamin C, which helps protect against environmental damage and brightens the skin,” says Dr Mahto. “Peptides are also excellent for boosting collagen production and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

How we test day creams

We put 14 market-leading hydrating day creams to the test over four weeks with the help of over 240 testers. We asked our panel to give feedback on ease of use, packaging, texture and how well each day cream hydrated their skin.

Back in the GHI beauty lab, we used our specialist hydration metre machine to measure the hydration of the skin immediately after application of each cream and again after four hours, to determine how effective they were at moisturising the skin.

These are the ones we’re making our skincare staples.

1

Best day cream

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 50ml

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (12)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (13)

Score: 87/100

This is a brilliant daytime protector, offering long-lasting moisture, broad-spectrum SPF50, and the antioxidant powers of white tea and polypeptides to help repair and nourish skin.

Although it’s thick in texture, our testers said it absorbed evenly, without leaving behind any white cast as some SPF products can. It also left skin feeling supple, soft and hydrated, according to panellists. Safer, smoother skin in one.

2

Best hydrating day cream

Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (14)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (15)

Now 25% Off

Score: 86/100

Start your day with this top-scoring cream, which works hard to tackle multiple skin concerns, from fine lines to fatigue – it really does the most. Powered by a combination of barrier-boosting and skin-smoothing niacinamide and sea holly extract, it works to smooth skin, improve texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and boost radiance.

It’s a luxurious formula – despite the fact it’s a blind test, our testers recognised that it had a premium feel. Thick, yet fast absorbing, it leaves skin looking “glowing and luminous,” according to one pleased panel member. There’s no denying it’s expensive, but if you want hydrated, healthy, and visibly improved skin, then consider it a solid investment.

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3

Best for plumping skin

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (16)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (17)

Score: 84/100

Let this day cream from Charlotte Tilbury work its magic on your skin “daaaarlings”. The peptide complex stimulates collagen production to help reduce fine lines and plump skin. It also works to even skin tone thanks to the inclusion of vitamin E and C. Not forgetting the key ingredient here – hyaluronic acid – which will keep skin hydrated for up to 24 hours, according to brand claims. And it impressed when it came to lasting hydration in our tests, scoring almost full marks for the level of moisture retained in our tester’s skin after four hours.

Our panel also gave it glowing reviews. “My skin felt smoother, plumper and appears brighter,” said one at-home tester. As a makeup artist herself, Charlotte Tilbury has also ensured the formulation is quick absorbing and good for layering. “It's thick and hydrating, and sits beautifully under makeup,” our panellists told us, so you can get your face on and get out the door in no time.

4

Best for sensitive skin

Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (18)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (19)

Score: 81/100

They’re good enough for our morning porridge, and it seems they’re good enough for lathering on our skin too – the invigorating power of oats shouldn’t be underestimated. However, the oats in this Aveeno moisturiser aren’t quite the same as the ones you have for breakfast; instead, these are prebiotic oats that help to restore the moisture barrier, soothing and strengthening the skin.

This day cream is also non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic, which means that it’s formulated to minimise the risk of allergies and is suitable for sensitive skin. Our testers prone to inflammation vouched for its gentle properties, saying they didn’t experience any irritation. “It caused no reaction, and instead calmed red skin down,” said one panel member with very sensitive skin.

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5

Best for long-lasting hydration

Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Day Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (20)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (21)

Now 39% Off

Score: 79/100

Loved by celebrities and civilians alike, Skin Food from Weleda became a viral hit a few years ago, thanks to its impressive ability to hydrate skin, despite its humble price tag.

The ultra-thick formula claims to deeply nourish dry patches and it was a hit with our testers. “It added a protective layer that I could feel all day,” said one. This will be down to the emolliating properties of the added olive squalane, which works to restore and maintain a strong skin barrier, helping complexions to retain all that precious moisture. One tester with rosacea said it didn’t irritate their skin either.

Weleda products do have a distinct herbal scent, which some testers found quite strong. Some loved it, some not so much, but that’s down to personal preference. This is a long-lasting and super hydrating day cream.

6

Best for firming

Origins Plantscription Lifting & Firming Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (22)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (23)

Score: 79/100

This day cream promises to smooth away any fine lines and leave your face looking more contoured and lifted, with the help of plumping peptides and rice extracts. The real star of this show, though, is Anogeissus – a powerful extract derived from African birch trees, which has been used in skincare for years for its ability to minimise the look of wrinkles.

Our testers were impressed, with the majority agreeing that their skin looked and felt smoother after use. “The look of my fine lines and wrinkles has diminished,” said one.

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7

Best for layering under makeup

Wishful Honey Whip Peptide Moisturizer

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (24)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (25)

Score: 78/100

Achieve immediate velvety hydration with this rich-but-lightweight whipped cream moisturiser. Developed by another makeup-artist-turned-skincare-saviour, Huda Kattan, our testers were pleased with how nicely it sat under makeup, without any piling or texture issues.

Manuka honey is also whipped into this mousse-like cream (why does this sound delicious?) for the ultimate dose of hydrating antioxidants, which help to moisturise, plump and even out the complexion. It’s hydrating without being greasy or sticky, with one tester going as far as to say, “It’s the best moisturiser for my combination skin.”

8

Best value day cream with SPF

CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (26)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (27)

Score: 76/100

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably familiar with the dermatologist-recommended brand CeraVe. It offers powerful skincare at an affordable price, and this facial moisturiser is no exception.

A versatile option that’s suitable for both dry and oily skin types, it hydrates but is also non-comedogenic, so there’s no chance of it clogging pores. It also contains SPF 50 to help protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays that cause sun damage (but we would always recommend applying a dedicated sunscreen as well). Testers loved how easy it was to use and how quickly it absorbed into the skin, without leaving any white cast.

The cream also contains ceramides, which support the skin barrier and help protect from other environmental aggregators such as pollution, making this a real hard worker.

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9

Best fast-absorbing day cream

You’re Looking Well Day Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (28)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (29)

Score: 75/100

Let your skin shine as bright as the eye-catching yellow packaging of this day cream. Formulated with nourishing ingredients including niacinamide and vitamin C, this formulation helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and dullness, to leave your complexion looking healthier and more even.

You don’t have to wait long before applying your SPF either, as testers found this cream lightweight and fast absorbing.

10

By Sarah Maven Daily Moisturiser

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (30)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (31)

Score: 75/100

There are only a few pumps of this moisturiser between you and plumped, smoother skin, according to the brand. Testers agreed, saying it gave them “healthier, hydrated skin.” That’s thanks to the formulation’s three key ingredients: Bisabolol (a skin-soothing active), vitamin C (to reduce blemishes and dark spots), and squalane (to hydrate and help skin retain moisture).

Some testers said it didn’t layer particularly well with makeup, so it may be better for those au naturel days.

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11

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing SPF50 Day Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (32)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (33)

Score: 73/100

We aren’t so keen on the term ‘anti-ageing’, but we are fans of preserving skin health for as long as possible, which is what this day cream from L’Oréal promises to do. It’s enriched with the oh-so-hydrating humectant, hyaluronic acid, to keep skin feeling moisturised and plump throughout the day. It also contains SPF 50 to help protect from sun damage.

Some testers found it took a while to absorb, so you may need to wait a while before applying makeup. But most of our panel said it left skin looking radiant and dewy, so we think it’s worth the wait.

12

Superdrug B. Intense Moisturising Day Cream

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (34)

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (35)

Score: 71/100

“Lightweight” and “long-lasting” were two words used by testers to describe this day cream, which is formulated specifically for dry and more mature skin. It provides long-lasting hydration without feeling sticky or greasy throughout the day.

It’s also infused with the dream team for reducing fine lines – plant collagen and peptides. Need we say more? “My skin drank it in,” said one pleased tester. Like an ice-cold glass of water.

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (36)

Madeleine Evans

Lifestyle Writer

Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.

When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (37)

Tested byDenny Daily

Beauty and Grooming Tester

Denny is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has an in-depth knowledge and background in beauty and PR. She has spoken on panels with Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) and has worked with many beauty brands as a commercial model. Since joining in October 2022, she has worked on numerous testing categories including over 18 different brands for vitamin C serums, scalp scrubs, shampoos for dry hair and many more. She has over 20k followers on TikTok where she shares beauty and fashion tips otherwise better known as Denny Daily.

The best day creams, according to over 200 women (2024)

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