21 best water-based moisturisers to keep your skin flake-free and dewy
It's rare for a skincare formula to command so much attention, but water-based moisturisers are currently enjoying a moment in the spotlight. No doubt the reworking of Charlotte Tilbury's cult Magic Cream has helped. But in an age where juicy, glass skin has a particular appeal, it's no wonder that many of us are making the swap to watery hydrators that dampen shine in favour of a dewy glow.
So what exactly are water-based moisturisers? As the name implies, “they are moisturisers that employ water as the main ingredient into which other water-attracting humectants (such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid ) are mixed,” says GP and dermatology expert Dr Sonia Khorana.
Despite feeling weightless on the skin, they hydrate as well as their richer, oil-based cousins but the mechanics are different. Rather than seal in hydration with a heavy, occlusive blanket of cream, humectants draw water to the top layers. So they still quench thirsty skin – but they do so from within and without feeling sticky or greasy.
In terms of texture, “a water-based moisturiser can be a gel, or a gel-cream," says cosmetic chemist Ginger King, the only proviso is that "the water content is higher than other ingredients.” Many water creams are oil-free but it's not the blanket rule; some “may still include oil to lock in moisture,” Dr Sonia notes.
However, what all water-based moisturisers do have in common is a sensorially pleasing, cooling sensation as soon as they hit the skin and a lack of fatty ingredients that make cocooning face creams, well, creamy.
Why the omission? Put simply, water creams meet the needs of dehydrated skin, which may look and feel similar to dry skin, but is in fact due to a lack of water. Dry skin, on the other hand, results from too little oil, in which case, a "rich, oil-based moisturiser that is white in appearance can address its concerns," adds Ginger.
Spot the difference.
A water-based moisturiser is also particularly beneficial if you have oily or acne-prone skin and prefer lighter textures. "Oily skin still needs hydration,” says Ginger, especially if you've been using more aggressive products to wither away a spot or strip the skin of excess sebum. “But oil-based moisturisers that sit on the skin's surface may feel quite greasy and, depending on the ingredients and formulations, may clog pores,” Dr Sonia adds.
Another bonus is that water is an effective vehicle for transporting actives such as vitamin C and niacinamide into the skin. “Many active ingredients are water-soluble so it's important to incorporate water into skincare products in order to enjoy their skin brightening and firming results,” Ginger notes.
Ahead, 21 of the best water-based moisturisers that feel like nothing but leave skin plumper than a hotel pillow…
Best overall water-based moisturiser
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When Victoria Tsai, the founder of Tatcha, described The Water Cream as a “sprinkler for your skin,” she was alluding to how it lightly and continuously hydrates rather than flooding skin with one giant, overwhelming wave of moisture. The formula, which is infused with 23-karat gold for luminosity, also boasts skin-smoothing Japanese wild rose, oil-controlling leopard lily and Tatcha's signature superfood trio of green tea, rice and algae. No wonder it is one of Sephora's best-selling moisturisers in the US.
Best water-based moisturiser for all skin types
Designed for all skin types that are dehydrated, this gel-based version of the OG cream encourages the skin barrier to retain more moisture thanks to two powerful ingredients. The first, says Jonathan Reynolds, director of scientific development at the brand, is glyceryl glucoside. It increases the number of water-transporting aquaporins on the surface of skin cells, "while also boosting the hydrating properties of glycerin,” he notes. The second is beta-glucan, which “supports the skin barrier function and reduces the appearance of redness" over time.
Best water-based moisture to replenish skin overnight
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A glow-boosting blend of vitamin C, skin-sloughing AHAs and multi-tasking niacinamide (a do-it-all ingredient that makes enlarged pores look tighter, improves uneven skin tone and strengthens a weakened skin barrier) ensure you wake up to skin that looks smoother and brighter. Proof, if any were needed, that night creams don't have to feel suffocating or claggy on the skin.
Best K-beauty water-based moisturiser
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K-Beauty is serious about plumper, smoother skin. Laneige is the perfect example of this, having nailed intense yet weightless hydration with a formula that locks in moisture for up to 100 hours. The star ingredient here is fermented deep sea algae, which has a low molecular weight of hyaluronic acid, meaning it is able to sail into the deeper layers of skin where it strengthens and reduces redness.
Best water-based moisturiser for on a flight
The perfect complement to the brand's bestselling Jet Lag Mask, this whipped gel cream hits the sweet spot between feeling fresh and still managing to hydrate without the need for overburdening the skin. It harnesses the power of three weights of hyaluronic acid to simultaneously hydrate multiple skin layers and seals in hydration with ceramides and amino acids. Better still, pineapple enzymes nibble away at dead cells for a silky-smooth afterglow.
Best water-based moisturiser for rose water fans
Whind founder Hind Sebti's mission when creating this water cream was simple: “I imagined a splash of rose water that refreshes and hydrates but also lasts all day. It is a more modern, science-led reinvention of a timeless beauty ritual,” she says of the blend of hyaluronic acid, glycerin and rose water that draws moisture deep into the skin's surface.
Best water-based moisturiser for dry skin
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Dry skin calls for extra back up – in this case, time-release technology to drip-feed the different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid into the skin for continuous hydration, as well as damask rose extract to nourish and fortify the skin barrier.
Best water-based moisturiser for all-day hydration
Don't be fooled by its weightless finish – there's a lot packed into this day cream. Alongside time-released spheres of hyaluronic acid for all-day dewiness, it has additional tricks up its sleeve. Namely, the inclusion of Japanese marine algae, which is especially rich in amino acids and B vitamins to boost elasticity; glycolic acid to soften the appearance of fine lines and collagen for firming.
Best water-based moisturiser under £10
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A quadruple threat of glycerin and omegas 3, 6 and 9 work in tandem to first draw hydration in and then prevent it from escaping through microscopic cracks in the skin barrier. The addition of niacinamide regulates oil production and dials down redness, making this purse-friendly buy ideal for sensitive and acne prone skin, too – impressive given its lightweight gel formula.
Best water-based moisturiser for combination skin
Light-as-air and oil-free, this moisturiser won't leave a sticky, greasy residue on your T-Zone. Instead, it bathes skin in hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract, a star ingredient hailed by Korean beauty buffs as deliciously cooling on sensitive areas, while restorative vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids tend to dry, flaky cheeks. Wear neat or mix a few pumps in with your foundation to capitalise on the glow.
Best water-based moisturiser for city skin
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City air throws a lot at our skin. Research has shown that pollution particles break down the lipids in the skin's outermost layer, which, in turn, damages the skin barrier so it is no longer able to hold onto moisture. Enter Peter Thomas Roth's hero water cream, which is powered by a 30% concentration of hyaluronic acid, with each molecule attracting up to 1,000 times its weight in water. There's also antioxidant-rich elderberry to protect skin's DNA, while ceramides seal in hydration and leave skin supple.
Best water-based moisturiser for redness-prone skin
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Certain factors such as over-cleansing and an overzealous use of acids and other skincare actives can leave skin stressed, parched and sensitised. 100% plant-derived squalane locks in moisture, while the combination of a probiotic, red seaweed and ginger extract offers solace to angry red skin.
Best water-based moisturiser for winter skin
Central heating inside and sub-zero temperatures outside are serious moisture-sappers. But a thin layer of this serum-in-water-cream delivers a high concentration of calendula flower extract to sooth away the discomfort of tight-feeling skin while glycerin leaves battle-worn skin feeling petal-soft.
Best water-based moisturiser for balanced skin
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Dr Jart's water cream shuttles lost moisture back into the skin almost immediately with three forms of hyaluronic acid and fermented prebiotics that maintain the moisture barrier and a balance of good bacteria. 30 hours of hydration, that continues even after your nightly cleanse, isn't something to be sniffed at.
Best water-based moisturiser for retinol fans
Not many skincare brands can add Nobel Prize-inspired technology to their bragging rights. But Hollywood facialist Kate Somerville has done precisely that by elevating her water cream with ‘AquaPort Technology’. Put simply, it mimics her signature microchanelling treatment during which, microneedling opens up tiny ‘channels’ for ingredients to deep-dive into the skin. But in this case, aquaporin channels in the skin are stimulated minus needles, so that cells are better able to absorb hyaluronic acid. Your buffer against the drying effects of retinol just became more fool-proof.
Best water-based moisturiser for banishing dullness
Mineral electrolytes including calcium, potassium, and magnesium re-boot dull, parched skin. But that's not all. You can always rely on skincare expert Paula Begoun to go above and beyond so of course she's turbo-charged these effects with ceramides and glycerin to draw moisture into skin and hold it there. It doesn't hurt that the cooling liquid also leaves dull, deflated skin looking more luminous.
Best water-based moisturiser for underneath makeup
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In the wild, white camellia flowers are prized for their resistance to winter frost. According to Nicola Fuzzati, director of innovation and development of cosmetic ingredients at Chanel, this is because they are a rich source of plant polyphenols. "These help to restore and maintain water reserves by targeting a key skin mechanism that continuously activates natural hydration,” he says. Hence the bloom has been a prized active in the brand's Hydra Beauty line, including the Water Cream, which imparts a well-rested, light-reflecting glow and plays nicely with foundation. You'll mourn the bottom of this bottle.
Best water-based moisturiser for oily or spot-prone skin
Delivering the right amount of hydration without exacerbating oily skin is no mean feat. But Dermalogica's thoughtfully assembled ingredient's list seems to have achieved just that courtesy of aloe leaf juice to combat the redness that often accompanies breakouts and hyaluronic acid to form a weightless, non-greasy barrier on the skin.
Best water-based moisturiser post gym
From a science point of view, this cream, which is formulated with hyaluronic acid, mallow and yeast extracts, keeps skin's natural hydration cycle healthy. But the feeling when it hits the skin is never to be underestimated – the texture is literally like smearing your hot, flushed post-workout face in ice-cold sorbet.
Best water-based moisturiser for sensitive skin
As expected from French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay, this fast-absorbing, oil-free moisturiser is formulated with a minimum number of ingredients to reduce the risk of flare ups in delicate skin. Mineral and antioxidant-rich Thermal Spring Water is the star of the show here, renowned for both its soothing and barrier-fortifying benefits.
Best water-based moisturiser for a matte finish
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Good news if your skin is both dry and dehydrated: Sisley has combined essential oils (marjoram, lavender and sage) with hydrating padina pavonica algae and the mineral malachite for its copper content (an antioxidant that is also excellent for calming and clarifying skin) – and wrapped them all up in a matte gel formula. So moisture and balance is restored without a super-shiny, pore-clogging finish.
Best high street water-based moisturiser
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The pleasing price point is matched only by the credible science underpinning this gel moisturiser. Hyaluronic acid, amino acid and electrolytes join forces to deliver six times more hydration than skin that is left untreated, creating a dewy layer of comfort to skin.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
