We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best moisturisers for glowing skin
Everyone is seemingly obsessed with the idea of a skin ‘glow’ - but what does this beauty buzzword actually mean?
In the past few years, many beauty buzzwords have come and gone, from the sensical to the surreal, but none have persisted quite as much as that elusive skin ‘glow’. Scan the shelves and you’ll see countless products that promise to help you achieve glowing skin, an aesthetic status symbol that we are all seemingly in search of, yet don’t quite know how to quantify.
So, what does it actually mean to have glowing skin? It’s not as if we’re all walking around with visible phosphorescence emanating from our faces (well, not unless we've really caught highlighter blindness). The honest truth is that the concept of ‘glowing skin’ is mostly marketing fluff, something concocted to lure us into countless product purchases in the hope one will deliver our best-looking skin yet.
If, to you, the idea of glowing skin translates to a uniform complexion, you could try an antioxidant-based product, such as a vitamin C serum. For clarified breakouts, salicylic acid is good for spot-treating, while a retinol serum will give you all-over improvements. If your idea of glow is a year-round tan, consider a gradual tanning product (Clarins’ cult Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster is the can’t-go-wrong choice), while if what you’re really after is a dewy, supremely hydrated complexion, layer a hyaluronic-acid serum with an emollient-rich moisturiser, and you’ll be there in no time.
So, my advice is to take most products that promise to deliver glowing skin with a pinch of salt: unless, however, you do want to interpret the concept literally. The moisturisers below all contain clever pigment complexes that brighten, unify and add a pearly sheen to skin that’ll make any partied-out December complexion look ready for another round in no time. Sometimes, the short-cuts really are the most satisfying solution.
The best moisturisers for glowing skin (in seconds)
Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturser
This is the one I use almost every day: it's simply a fantastic complexion enhancer that offers both visible radiance and long-term skin improvements.
Stem-cell scientist Augustinus Bader has provided the regenerating, deep-moisturising cocktail of nutrients and proteins, while Victoria Beckham – queen of the year-round glow – has concocted the two perfect pearly pigments: one a pale iridescent cream, and the other a deeper bronze. Trust me: there is no trace of glitter or frosting here.
Wear it in place of your morning moisturiser, switching foundation for targeted swipes of concealer to keep the glow shining through.
Building on the success of her cult Glow Drops face serum, Dr. Barbara Sturm has launched Glow Cream: a lightweight yet deeply restorative day cream that works to decrease inflammation and increase hydration. The pink-tinged cream offers the most subtle 'glow' of them all, but does a brilliant job of blurring dark circles and after-party dullness.
There’s a fairly high level of peachy, pearly pigment in this one, making it ideal for those who want their glow to really be noticed. The texture is rich and cosseting: good news for dryness-prone winter skin.
Inspired by the bizarre-sounding concept of ‘banana powder’ (essentially, a pale yellow-tinted face powder that colour-corrects sallow skin), this vitamin C based moisturiser uses a discrete lemony tint to brighten without adding shimmer or shine. The result is skin that looks luminous in a satiny, super-believable way.
Here’s one that ticks every box in one fell swoop. A cult product in the states, Supergoop’s Glowscreen is your SPF, primer and glow-enhancer all in one. The tint is more golden than champagne-y, which makes for an altogether more flattering result on every skin type, and the texture is light enough to be layered over a traditional moisturiser without feeling claggy.
Charlotte Tilbury’s glow moisturiser uses encapsulated tan-toned pigments that burst on contact with the skin, delivering a sheer wash of bronze colour that makes you look wide-awake, not soaked in glitter.
From Caudalie’s much-loved Vinoperfect line, this radiance-boosting moisturiser works on two levels. Instant satisfaction comes from the modest dose of pearl-white pigment that brightens tired skin, while longer-term benefits are delivered via niacinamide that works to strengthen the skin barrier and unify the skin surface.
With a lighter, gel-like texture, this clever recent launch from Origins contains a light-reflecting bronze pigment that really lights skin up. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin, and is ideal for wearing on low-key days as an alternative to a full face of foundation.
This shapewear helped me embrace my mid-size body
7 ways to style a slip dress
The best concealers for all skin concerns
Jimmy Choo teams up with golf apparel brand Malbon
