Believe me, I’ve been trying to figure it out for years. Some people seem to be born with skin that glows with health and beauty. I have tried almost every highlighter on the market in an effort to get this glow, but none of them have worked without giving away the secret. I have to admit defeat because I can’t put it on the most natural-looking places or because it has big chunks of glitter in it.
Since I can’t use highlighters, I’ve had to come up with new ways to make my skin glow. I have looked everywhere for a product that can give me a glowing glow that might fool people into thinking it’s real. I’ve tried the best moisturisers, primers, serums, cleansers, and foundations. And finally, after years of looking, I can say that I have found exactly what I was looking for. And that’s a moisturiser that makes your skin glow.
While cleansers that promised to give me a glow only made my skin break out and foundations that promised to make me look sweaty after a few minutes, one product has really shown that it can give me a glow in a way that no other product has been able to. A new kind of moisturiser has made its way into my skin care routine.
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“Glowing moisturisers” are mostly skincare products that make skin look brighter. For example, some may have a slight tint, while others have light-reflecting particles or brightening ingredients. Dermatologist Sonia Khorana says that in addition to vitamin C, which is an obvious brightening ingredient, you should also look for 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 says. “Hyaluronic acid is also a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture to itself and hydrates without clogging pores.” It’s also good for all kinds of skin.
Just put them on as part of or after your skincare routine, and you can leave your skin bare or put makeup on top of it. You’ll look great all day long with no effort. Keep reading for the moisturisers that will make you glow all day long.
The best moisturisers for a glow
Thanks to Jazzria Harris for the picture.
The Best Moisturisers for Shiny Skin
Tatcha The Dewy Cream is the best overall. It costs £67.
Dua By AB Renewal Cream is the best luxury moisturiser for £60.
L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Hydrating Cream SPF 50 with Niacinamide is the best drugstore moisturiser. It costs £30.
Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser is the best for dry skin and costs £48.
Origins Ginzing Glow Radiance-Boosting Gel Moisturiser, £34, is the best for oily skin.
1. The Dewy Skin Cream from Tatcha
Best overall: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
Hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane are the main ingredients.
This cream is a favourite among beauty editors and influencers. It helps skin hold on to moisture and fixes the skin barrier to stop water loss. It’s a great choice for the colder months, and the glow it gives lasts all day.
Pros
- Good for skin that is dry
- Helps keep pollution from getting to you
- Adds a lot of shine
No
- Too heavy for oily skin types
- Too much money
2. Dua by AB Renewal Cream
Renewal Cream is the best luxury moisturiser at 50ml.
Important parts: glycerin, peptides, and pre- and post-biotics
This moisturiser may cost a lot, but the price shows how powerful the ingredients are. Prebiotics, postbiotics, and peptides help make the skin brighter, firmer, and fuller.
Review from the editor: “Who knew that a moisturiser could be so light and still keep your skin hydrated? Grace Lindsay, a junior beauty editor, says, “This is a great choice for everyday use, and it works well under makeup.”
Good points
- Gives you a glow right away and for a long time.
- Formula that feels good
Cons
- Costly
3. Niacinamide L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Hydrating Cream SPF 50
L’Oréal Paris is the best drugstore moisturiser.
Niacinamide and Mexoryl 400 are two important ingredients.
We love moisturisers that give your skin an instant glow, but this one also helps your skin glow over time. It has niacinamide and SPF protection, which work together to brighten your skin and protect it from pigmentation, giving you a glow from within.
Pros
- Less expensive
- Makes dark spots look brighter
- Moisturising
Cons
- Has a light scent that some people might not like.
4. Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser by Elemis
The Elemis + Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser is best for dry skin.
Ginger, green tea, and kombucha are the main ingredients.
This priming moisturiser is one of the most glowing I’ve ever seen. It has kombucha and fermented ginger in it to make my skin look healthier. My skin is prone to breakouts, but this moisturiser doesn’t bother it at all. The minerals in it reflect light, so people always tell me how healthy my skin looks when I use it.
Pros
- A moisturiser, primer, and highlighter all in one
Cons
- For some people, when mixed with other products, it can cause pilling.
5. Origins Ginzing Glow Radiance-Boosting Gel Moisturiser
Origins + Ginzing Glow Radiance-Boosting Gel Moisturiser is best for oily skin.
This lightweight gel moisturiser feels amazing on the skin and instantly gives dull skin a glowing look. It also has a golden, pearly sheen that makes you look healthy and full of life.
Pros
- Gel texture that is light
- A hint of glow
Disadvantages
- It comes in an untinted version as well, so the tinted one may not work for everyone.
6. Instant Glow Moisturiser by Ole Henriksen Banana Bright
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Instant Glow Moisturiser With Vitamin C 50ml is the best for making skin look brighter.
The gel-cream texture is light and refreshing, and the very light peachy colour (it’s not coloured; it’s just the cream’s natural colour) brightens up any skin tone.
“This Ole Henriksen cream is one of my favourite moisturisers,” says the editor. Shannon Lawlor, beauty director at Who What Wear UK, says, “I highly recommend this radiance-boosting formula for people who think their skin is ‘normal.'”
Pros
- Keeps skin moist and glowing
- Keeps skin hydrated for a long time
Cons
- Vitamin C can make skin that is already sensitive feel worse.
7. Glossier Futuredew
Glossier + Futuredew is the best way to get a dewy look.
This rich oil-serum hybrid is perfect for days when you don’t want to wear makeup but still want your skin to look glowy and feel nourished.
“For days when I don’t want to wear makeup, this is what I reach for.” It has a lot of oils and fruit extracts in it to nourish your skin, but it doesn’t leave a sticky or greasy residue. “Nothing beats this for a super-glossy finish.” – Lawlor
Pros
- Hybrid of oil and serum
- Finish with dew
- Can be combined with foundation
Cons
- Could be too shiny and wet for oily skin
8. Glow Cream by Dr. Barbara Sturm
Best investment moisturiser
Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and sunflower seed oil are the most important ingredients.
This is a great moisturiser on its own because it has powerful hydrators like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and sunflower seed oil. It also has pearlescent shimmer to give it a beautiful, blurring sheen.
Lawlor says, “This is a little expensive, I know, but it’s also one of the best illuminating products out there.”
Pros
- Gives skin a pearl-like look
- Adding moisture
- Good for skin that is dry or older
Cons
- May be too heavy for skin that is oily or prone to acne
- Costly
9. Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser
Aveeno Face Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser 50ml is best for skin that is sensitive.
Important parts: Glycerin and oat
This stuff is really calming, and it’s also one of the cheaper options on this list. It has a lot of important oat extracts and hyaluronic acid, which give it light, refreshing moisture. If your skin is sensitive, reactive, or prone to redness, this is the one for you.
“Oat is a great ingredient for calming and healing skin, so it’s perfect for people with sensitive skin,” says the editor. If I’ve had a bad breakout or reacted badly to a product, I often reach for this. “It’s light and won’t irritate or clog pores.” – Day
Pros
- Formula for a very light gel
- Quickly absorbs
Cons
- Might not be rich enough for people with dry skin
10. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
Charlotte Tilbury + Magic Cream: The best base for makeup
Main ingredients: oat extract and shea butter
This award-winning face cream is known for making skin glow without makeup. It instantly brightens up tired faces.
“This is really as good as all the great reviews say it is, and I think it’s worth the price,” says the editor. “There’s nothing else like it.” – Day
Pros
- Perfect for a makeup base
- Finish that shines
- Getting water
Cons
- Costly
11. The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator by Victoria Beckham Beauty
The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator is the best mix of makeup and skin care.
Amino acids, TFC8, black tea, and papaya enzymes are some of the most important parts.
I’ve written a lot about this moisturiser that makes your skin glow. It’s one of the best skincare products I own for making your skin look brighter. It has Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 in it, which works wonders on renewing skin cells and makes your skin look bright.
“The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator has become a must-have in my daily routine,” says the editor. These subtly glowing illuminators give your skin a little bit of moisture, and the pearl formula blurs just enough so you can go without makeup if you want to. Pearlescent is a nice shade that gives my skin a little shine, but when I want to look like I’ve been in the sun, I wear Golden, which has a bronzed tint that makes my skin look healthy. Eleanor Vousden, beauty editor for Who What Wear UK, says, “Plus, the formula is made with Augustinus Bader’s highly praised TFC8 formula, so you get a glow that lasts.”
Pros
- Radiant finish with a tint
- It works as both a primer and a moisturiser.
- You can wear it by itself or under makeup to get a glow.
Disadvantages
- Costly
- There is only one colour, but there is an untinted version that doesn’t have any shimmer.
12. Vitamin C cream from Sunday Riley’s CEO Afterglow line
Sunday Riley + CEO Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Cream is the best for making skin look bright.
Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are two important ingredients.
Sunday Riley’s CEO is one of the best skincare lines for making skin look better. This cream is the newest addition to the line. At first, it feels light, but it gives your skin a lot of moisture without making it feel greasy. It also has a very light yellow tint that helps give skin a visible energy boost.
Pros
- Gives skin a glow right away
- Not heavy
Cons
- Costly
13. The Omega Water Cream from The Inkey List
The Inkey List Omega Water Cream Moisturiser 50ml is the best light moisturiser.
Omega fatty acids, ceramides, and niacinamide are the main ingredients.
This moisturiser is like a glass of water for dry skin because it is full of hydrating ingredients like omega fatty acids, ceramides, niacinamide, and betaine.
“This is the product I always recommend to people who want that ‘glass skin’ glow,” says the editor. Day said, “I love that it feels light and refreshing but still quenches the thirst of my dry skin.”
Pros
- Not heavy
- No oil
- Not too expensive
Cons
- It makes you look better, but it also makes you feel better.
14. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser
The best viral moisturiser is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser.
Main ingredients: amino acids and hyaluronic acid
The name says it all: Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser is light, hydrating, and gives skin an instant glow thanks to watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids that flood skin with moisture for a plumped, glass-skin effect. It’s no wonder TikTok likes it.
Pros
- No oil
- Good for skin that is both oily and dry
- Makes skin look dewy
Cons
- People who are sensitive to smells may find the smell of watermelon to be unpleasant.
15. Great Skin Priming Moisturiser from Merit
Merit Great Skin Moisturiser is the best moisturiser for priming.
Hyaluronic acid and oat extract are two important ingredients.
This moisturiser is meant to be worn under makeup, so you can be sure that it will go on smoothly and not leave any bumps. It’s thick and creamy, but it never feels too thick or greasy.
“As someone with oily skin, I can’t get enough of this non-comedogenic formula,” says the editor. I put it right on my face with my favourite foundation and mix the two with a brush. It keeps my base on all day and makes my skin look glowy and hydrated without making it feel heavy. “I also wear it on days when I don’t want to wear makeup but my skin still needs a boost.” – Mollie Burdell, beauty writer
Pros
- It’s light and soaks into the skin quickly.
- No smell, so it’s great for skin that is sensitive.
- The best base for makeup
Cons
- May not give enough moisture to skin that is already dry
16. Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser
Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturiser 50ml is the best way to get a dewy glow.
Squalane, niacinamide, peptides, and vitamin C are the main ingredients.
This moisturiser is one of the brand’s best-sellers. It promises to make skin glowier and softer by hydrating and smoothing it out. Peptides also help with elasticity. It’s a real multitasker.
Editor review: “I often tell people to use this moisturiser if they think their skin needs a creamy, nourishing formula (especially in the winter), but they don’t like anything that feels greasy or sticky on their skin.” “It melts right away, but it still gives you a really strong boost of moisture.” – Day
Pros
- Formula for doing more than one thing at once
Cons
- Could be too heavy for skin that is oily
How We Tried
To make this list, our team of beauty editors, each with different skin types, concerns, and routines, tested a lot of moisturisers over the course of several weeks. We looked at how well each formula absorbed, how hydrated it made skin, how it looked and felt throughout the day, and how well it worked under makeup. We also looked at the quality of the ingredients and whether they were safe for sensitive skin. Only the formulas that consistently gave testers healthy, glowing skin made the final cut.
Why You Should Believe Us
We at Who What Wear UK know that beauty isn’t the same for everyone. Over the years, our editors have tried thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair, and nails. They also work closely with trusted experts like dermatologists, makeup artists, and top industry insiders to make sure that every guide is well-researched, relevant to you, and includes everyone.
We only choose products that work, whether they are cheap favourites or high-end investments. Our choices are based on real results, knowledge of the ingredients, and what we would really recommend to a friend.
