Find The Best Moisturiser For Your Skin Type

A good moisturiser does one job above all others: it keeps water in your skin. The right formula depends on how your skin behaves, because dry skin needs richer support than oily skin, and sensitive skin does best with fewer ingredients that can bother it. This guide matches our face moisturisers to each skin type, covers body moisturisers too, and answers the questions we hear most often. Air conditioning, sun, and long stretches of dry weather all give Australian skin reasons to lose moisture, so the payoff for getting this choice right shows up every single day.

Key Takeaways

Short on time? Here is where to start.

• Dry skin does best with the Vitamin E Intense Barrier Cream, which pairs ceramides with natural hyaluronic acid.

• Sensitive skin suits the Aloe Soothing Day Cream, a gentle formula with 48hr hydration.

• Oily, blemish-prone, and combination skin should look at gel textures such as the Seaweed Oil-Control Gel Cream.

• Dull skin gets a lift from the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser, with vitamin C and 24hr hydration.

• For the body, the Shea Body Butter delivers 96hrs of nourishing moisture.

Best Moisturiser for Dry Skin

Dry skin loses moisture faster than it can hold onto it, so it needs a cream that both adds water and stops it escaping. The Vitamin E Intense Barrier Cream is our pick. Enriched with natural hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and ceramides, it boosts moisture levels after just one use and is made for dry and extra dry skin.

At night, swap to the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream, which is clinically proven to provide 72hr hydration while you sleep. And if dryness comes with a tired, flat look, the Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Cream has a nourishing texture that restores moisture and leaves skin looking soft and luminous. If you want to build out the rest of your routine, browse the full range for dry and dehydrated skin.

Best Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin reacts quickly, so the fewer surprises in a formula, the better. The Aloe Soothing Day Cream is a gentle option that leaves skin feeling soothed, calmed from dryness, and hydrated for 48hrs. Its overnight partner, the Aloe Soothing Night Cream, nourishes skin with moisture while you rest.

Both work well alongside a simple cleanser and toner, and there is more support in our sensitive skin collection.

Best Moisturiser for Combination Skin

Combination skin needs balance: hydration for drier areas without weighing down an oilier T-zone. The Vitamin E Moisture Gel Cream answers both. It is an ultra-lightweight gel cream made for combination skin and clinically proven to provide 48hr hydration. If you prefer a classic cream texture, the Edelweiss Smoothing Day Cream, covered further down, suits combination skin as well. You can compare more options for combination skin across the range.

Best Moisturiser for Oily or Blemish-Prone Skin

Oily skin still needs moisture, and skipping it can leave skin dehydrated and producing even more oil. Our one focused pick here is the Seaweed Oil-Control Gel Cream, a hydration boost for oily and combination skin that leaves it feeling balanced and hydrated for 48hrs. Pair it with the rest of our oily and blemish-prone skin range to keep shine in check.

Best Moisturiser for Normal Skin

If your skin is neither noticeably oily nor dry, you have room to choose on feel. The Vitamin E Moisture Day Cream is a sensible default. It works for all skin types and is clinically proven to boost skin hydration by 38% for 8hrs, so it holds up from your commute to the end of the workday. It layers easily under sunscreen and makeup, which makes it an easy everyday habit to keep.

Best Moisturiser for Dull Skin

Dull skin usually wants two things: water and glow. The Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser is a lightweight gel that hydrates for 24 hours and is infused with natural-origin vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and camu camu berry extract, plumping skin for a softer, more radiant look. If dark spots are the bigger concern, the Vitamin C Glow Boosting Intense Moisturiser is clinically proven to reduce their appearance over eight weeks. Explore more vitamin C skincare to build a brightening routine around either one.

Best Moisturiser for First Signs of Ageing

For early fine lines, look for a formula that smooths while supporting the skin barrier. The Edelweiss Smoothing Day Cream helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and supports the skin's natural moisture barrier. It is enriched with edelweiss extract and Community Fair Trade moringa seed oil, dermatologically tested, and suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

If you live in a city, the Edelweiss Intense Smoothing Day Cream adds protection from pollution with 48hr nourishing moisture for more resilient skin. Our fine lines and wrinkle skincare collection carries the rest of the routine.

Best Body Moisturiser

Skin below the neck deserves the same attention. The Shea Body Butter is an extra rich formula that leaves skin feeling seriously smooth with 96hrs of nourishing moisture. For dry, sensitive skin, the Almond Milk Body Butter soothes and nourishes with 95% natural-origin ingredients.

For ultra-dry areas such as elbows, knees, and heels, the Hemp Body Butter is made to protect and nourish. You can compare textures and scents across all our body butters and creams.

Moisturiser FAQs

How do I choose the best moisturiser for my skin type?

Match the texture to your skin. Richer creams suit dry skin, gel creams suit oily and combination skin, and gentle formulas suit sensitive skin. If you are not sure where you sit, start with a cream made for all skin types, such as the Vitamin E Moisture Day Cream, and adjust from there based on how your skin feels by mid-afternoon.

Should I use a different moisturiser for day and night?

You can use one cream around the clock, but night formulas tend to be richer because there is no sunscreen or makeup to layer over them. Our night creams are made to work with your skin overnight, so pairing one with a lighter day cream is an easy upgrade to your routine.

How often should I apply moisturiser?

Twice a day works for most people: once in the morning and once in the evening, always on cleansed skin. Body moisturiser is best applied after a shower while skin is still slightly damp, which helps seal in water. If your skin feels tight or looks flaky before the day is out, that is a sign to step up to a richer formula rather than to apply more often.

Can I use my face moisturiser on my body?

You can, but it is not the most practical choice. Face moisturisers come in small sizes and are formulated for facial skin, while body butters and body lotions are made to cover larger areas that have fewer oil glands. Keep a separate product for each and both will last longer.

Find Your Best Moisturiser

The best moisturiser is simply the one matched to your skin, whether that is a barrier cream for dryness, a gel for oil control, or a body butter for everything below the neck. Explore the full range of moisturisers and day creams at The Body Shop and settle on the one your skin keeps coming back to.