The 21 Best Moisturisers for Glowing, Radiant Skin, According to Experts
We've tried all the best moisturisers for glowing skin to find out which ones are truly worth the money.
Trying to achieve natural-looking, glowing skin is certainly no mean feat. Trust me: I’ve been trying to suss it out for years. It seems some people are just born with a radiant complexion that oozes luminosity and health. In a bid to replicate this glow, I have tried virtually every single highlighter under the sun, and I am yet to find a formula that doesn’t give the game away somehow. Whether it’s chunky bits of glitter or my lack of ability to apply it to the most natural-looking places, I have been forced to admit defeat.
So with highlighters out of the question, I have had to think outside of the box when it comes to upping my glow game. From the best moisturisers, primers, serums, cleansers and foundations, I have searched high and low for any product that can deliver a glowing radiance that might trick people into thinking it’s actually real. And finally, after many years of searching, I can say that I have found exactly what I have been looking for. And that's a glow-boosting moisturiser.
Whilst glow-promising cleansers only seemed to cause breakouts and illuminating foundations left me looking sweaty after just a few minutes, one product has really proved its glow-giving abilities in a way no other has been able to. A new kind of moisturiser has found its way into my skincare routine.
We've tested some of the best glow-boosting moisturisers on the market.
What I call "glowing moisturisers” are predominantly skincare products that possess radiance-boosting properties. For example, some might be slightly tinted whilst others contain light-reflecting particles or brightening ingredients. As well as obvious brightening ingredients like vitamin C, dermatologist Sonia Khorana recommends looking out for the likes of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which will give skin a fresh, dewy finish. "Glycerin is a humectant, so it holds moisture and plays a role in skin barrier repair and preventing moisture loss," she explains. "Whilst hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture to itself and hydrates without pore clogging. It's also great for all skin types."
Simply slap them on either as part of or after your skincare routine, leave skin bare or apply makeup over the top, and you’ll be glowing all day long with absolutely zero fuss. Keep scrolling for the glow-inducing moisturisers that guarantee luminosity all day long.
The Best Moisturisers for Glowing Skin
- Best Overall: Tatcha The Dewy Cream, £67
- Best Luxury Moisturiser: Dua By AB Renewal Cream, £60
- Best Drugstore Moisturiser: L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Hydrating Cream SPF 50 with Niacinamide, £30
- Best for Dry Skin: Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser, £48
- Best for Oily Skin: Origins Ginzing Glow Radiance-Boosting Gel Moisturiser, £34
1. Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, red algae, squalane
A favourite amongst beauty editors and influencers, this much-loved cream improves skin's ability to retain moisture and repairs the skin barrier to prevent water loss. A great pick for the colder months, and the glow it gives lasts all day.
Pros
- Great for dry skin
- Helps protect against pollution
- Adds serious glow
Cons
- Heavy for oilier skin types
- Expensive
2. Dua By AB Renewal Cream
Key ingredients: Pre- and post-biotic, glycerin, peptides
This moisturiser may be expensive, but the price is indicative of its incredibly potent ingredient list. Prebiotics, postbiotics and peptides help to brighten, boost and plump the skin.
Editor review: "Who knew that a moisturiser could feel so light yet so hydrating all at the same time? This is a great option for everyday, and it sits well under makeup." Grace Lindsay, junior beauty editor
Pros
- Gives an immediate and long-term glow
- Luxurious formula
Cons
- Expensive
3. L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Hydrating Cream SPF 50 with Niacinamide
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, Mexoryl 400
We're all for the moisturisers that provide an instant glow, but this one helps to give your skin that long-term glow too. Created with niacinamide and SPF protection, they work in tandem to brighten and shield your skin from pigmentation for an even-toned glow from within.
Pros
- More affordable
- Brightens dark spots
- Hydrating
Cons
- Has a slight fragrance which might bother some
4. Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Kombucha, ginger, green tea
Formulated with kombucha and fermented ginger to boost radiance, this priming moisturiser is by far one of the glowiest I have come across. Plus, my breakout-prone skin has absolutely no trouble with it. Thanks to its light-reflecting minerals, whenever I use it, I get compliments on how healthy my complexion looks.
Pros
- Multi-functional moisturiser, primer and illuminator
Cons
- Can cause pilling when combined with other products for some
5. Origins Ginzing Glow Radiance-Boosting Gel Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Caffeine, ginseng
This lightweight gel moisturiser is impossibly refreshing on the skin, so it breathes a bit of glowing life into lacklustre complexions straight away. On top of that, it also has a golden, pearly sheen that just radiates health and vitality.
Pros
- Lightweight gel texture
- Subtle glowy tint
Cons
- The tinted version might not work for all skin tones, but it does come in an untinted version too
6. Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Instant Glow Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Vitamin C
The gel-cream texture is lightweight and refreshing, but also has a very sheer peachy colour (it doesn't have any pigment; it's just the natural colour of the cream) that livens up any complexion.
Editor review: "This Ole Henriksen cream is one of my favourite moisturisers. For those who consider their skin type 'normal,' I highly recommend this radiance-boosting formula."
Shannon Lawlor,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing
UK beauty director
Pros
- Leaves skin hydrated and glowy
- Provides long-lasting hydration
Cons
- Vitamin C can irritate sensitive skin
7. Glossier Futuredew
Key ingredients: Jojoba, grapeseed, squalane
If you don't like thick creams but still prefer skin to look glowy and feel nourished, this rich oil-serum hybrid ticks all of the boxes. It's also perfect for no-makeup days.
Editor review: "For no-makeup days, this stuff has become my reach-for. It's jam-packed with oils and fruit extracts for optimum nourishment, but it doesn't leave a sticky or greasy residue. If you're into a super-glossy finish, nothing compares." Lawlor
Pros
- Oil-serum hybrid
- Dewy finish
- Can be mixed with foundation
Cons
- May be too shiny and dewy for oily skin
8. Dr. Barbara Sturm Glow Cream
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, sunflower seed oil
With powerhouse hydrators such as hyaluronic acid alongside shea butter and sunflower seed oil, this is a wonderful moisturiser on its own merit. However, it also contains pearlescent shimmer to give the most beautifully blurring (and radiant) sheen.
Editor review: "Whilst this is a little pricey, I know, if you ask me, it's also one of the best illuminating products around."
Lawlor
Pros
- Leaves skin with a pearl finish
- Hydrating
- Ideal for dry and mature skin types
Cons
- Can be too heavy for oily or acne-prone skin
- Expensive
9. The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow-Boosting Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, camu camu, hyaluronic acid
Newly reformulated, but from a lifelong-favourite range, this glowing moisturiser champions vitamin C and therefore has glow-giving antioxidant properties. The light, gel-like texture is also wonderfully cooling and invigorating.
Pros
- Affordable
- Hydrating
Cons
- Contains fragrance, which may upset sensitive skin
10. Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Oat, glycerin
This stuff is seriously soothing, and what's more, it's one of the more affordable options on this list. Full of essential oat extracts and hyaluronic acid, it offers up lightweight, refreshing moisture. If you have sensitive, reactive or redness-prone skin, this one is for you.
Editor review: "Oat is a brilliant ingredient for calming and healing skin, so it's ideal for anyone who experiences sensitivity. I often reach for this if I've reacted to a product or had a bad breakout. It's light and won't cause any irritation or clog pores." Day
Pros
- Very light gel formula
- Absorbs quickly
Cons
- May not be rich enough for dry skin types
11. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
Key ingredients: Shea butter, oat extract
Famed for giving skin a glow that transcends makeup, this award-winning face cream works to brighten up tired faces in an instant.
Editor review: "This really is every bit as good as the rave reviews say it is, and (in my opinion) worth the price tag. There's nothing else quite like it."
Day
Pros
- Ideal as a makeup primer
- Radiant finish
- Hydrating
Cons
- Expensive
12. Erborian Glow Crème Illuminating Face Cream
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, squalane
Sitting somewhere between skincare and a makeup product, this stuff is a really worthwhile add-on. If you don't like the dewy finish that often comes with illuminating moisturisers, listen up. It contains vitamin E and squalane for a super-hydrating punch, but it also has a pearly finish that works to reflect light and boost luminosity. Plus, it's soft and more matte than many others on the list.
Pros
- Radiant finish
- Hydrating
- Lightweight
Cons
- May not be hydrating enough for very dry skin
13. Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer
Key ingredients: Aloe, glycerin, rosehip oil, turmeric
Another rich formula, with essential fatty acids, rosehip oil and antioxidant maracuja oil, this stuff means business. Ideal for dry skin, it also has a yellow tint (thanks to turmeric) that doesn't just deliver an out-of-this-world glow, but also helps even out areas of hyperpigmentation.
Pros
- Hydrating
- Provides a healthy glow
Cons
- Some may not like the turmeric scent
- May be too heavy for oily skin
14. Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Balm
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter
Sitting somewhere between a rich moisturiser and a primer, for days when you don't want to apply a full base, this perfecting balm is ideal (but it also works as a makeup base, too). Reflective pearls illuminate whilst lychee extract revitalises the skin.
Pros
- Great for dry skin
- Hydrating
- Moisturiser-primer hybrid
- Works well under makeup or worn alone
Cons
- May be too heavy for oily skin
- Limited shades may not work for all skin tones
15. Victoria Beckham Beauty The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator
Key ingredients: TFC8, amino acids, black tea, papaya enzymes
I've waxed lyrical about this glow-giving moisturiser before. It's one of the most radiance-boosting skincare products I own. It contains Augustinus Bader's TFC8, which works miracles on the renewal of skin cells and leaves your complexion looking luminous.
Editor's review: "The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator has become a daily staple in my routine. These subtly radiant illuminators add a light touch of hydration, whilst the pearl formula adds just enough blurring so you can go without makeup if you want to. I like the shade Pearlescent, which adds a subtle gleam, but when I want to look sun-kissed, I wear Golden, which has a bronzed tint to add a healthy glow. Plus, the formula is created in tandem with Augustinus Bader's highly acclaimed TFC8 formula, so you benefit from a glow in the long-term too." Eleanor Vousden,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK beauty editor
Pros
- Tinted radiant finish
- Functions as a moisturiser and primer
- Can be worn alone or underneath makeup for a glowy look
Cons
- Expensive
- Only one shade, but it does come in an untinted version that is free of shimmer
16. Sunday Riley CEO Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Cream
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid
Few skincare ranges are as glow-boosting as Sunday Riley's CEO. Wholesale Replica Bag
addition to the range, this cream feels lightweight at first but delivers intense hydration without feeling greasy. On top of generally being a great moisturiser, it is also jam-packed with glow-boosting vitamin C for antioxidant protection and has a very subtle shimmering yellow tint to help give skin a visible energy boost.
Pros
- Gives skin an immediate glow
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
17. Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, cacao extract, rice extract
Thanks to its high vitamin C content, this moisturiser leaves skin glowing both in the long term and the short term. In addition, the likes of peptides and polyglutamic acid help to improve firmness and strengthen the skin barrier.
Pros
- Plumps the skin
- Suitable for acne-prone complexions
Cons
- High concentration of vitamin C may irritate sensitive skin
18. The Inkey List Omega Water Cream
Key ingredients: Omega fatty acids, ceramides, niacinamide
Packed with hydrating ingredients like omega fatty acids, ceramides, niacinamide, and betaine, this thirst-quenching moisturiser is like a glass of water for dehydrated skin.
Editor review: "This is my go-to recommendation for people who want that 'glass skin' glow. I love that it feels light and refreshing but still manages to quench the thirst of my dehydrated skin." Day
Pros
- Lightweight
- Oil-free
- Affordable
Cons
- More hydrating than glow-inducing
19. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, amino acids
The clue is in the name with this one. Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer is lightweight, hydrating and gives skin instant glow thanks to watermelon extract, moisture-quenching hyaluronic acid and amino acids that flood skin with hydration for a plumped, glass-skin effect. No wonder TikTok approves.
Pros
- Oil-free
- Ideal for combination skin
- Leaves skin dewy
Cons
- Watermelon scent might irritate those sensitive to fragrance
20. Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, oat extract
This glow-boosting moisturiser is specifically designed to be worn under makeup, so you can guarantee a smooth application and no pilling. It's rich and creamy, but never feels too thick or greasy.
Editor review: "As someone with oilier skin, I can't get enough of this non-comedogenic formula. I apply it directly to my face alongside my favourite foundation and mix the two with a brush. It helps my base to last all day, as well as look glowy and hydrated without it feeling weighed down. I also wear it on the days where I want to go makeup-free, but my skin still needs a bit of a pick-me-up." Mollie Burdell, beauty contributor
Pros
- Lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin
- Unscented so great for sensitive skin
- Perfect base for makeup
Cons
- May not offer enough hydration for dryer skin types
21. Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser
Key ingredients: Squalane, niacinamide, peptides, vitamin C
This moisturiser is one of the brand's best-selling products. It promises to hydrate and smooth texture for glowier, softer skin, whilst peptides work to address concerns with elasticity. A true multitasker.
Editor review: "I frequently recommend this moisturiser to people who feel like their skin needs a nourishing, creamy formula (especially in winter), but don't like anything that feels greasy or sticky on their skin. It melts in instantly, but still delivers a really potent moisture boost." Day
Pros
- Multi-tasking formula
Cons
- May be too heavy for oily skin
How We Tested
To compile this list, our team of beauty editors—each with different skin types, concerns, and routines—tested a wide range of moisturisers over several weeks. Each formula was assessed for texture, absorption, hydration levels, glow, and how skin looked and felt throughout the day. We also considered ingredient quality, suitability for sensitive skin, and how well each moisturiser performed under makeup. Only the formulas that consistently delivered healthy, luminous-looking skin across multiple testers made the final edit.
Why Trust Us
AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
