I’m a Dermal Clinician, Here’s What’s in My Moisturiser Wardrobe
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
I recently admitted on the Adore Beauty podcast that I have a moisturiser wardrobe… and it seemed to raise a few questions. And no, I don’t think everyone needs a moisturiser wardrobe. But in the same way some people curate their jeans, as a dermal clinician, I curate my moisturisers.
Mostly because I have combination skin, and one moisturiser doesn’t always do it for me all the time. So I like having options. Plus, the moisturiser I might want on a 35-degree summer day, is very different to one I’m reaching for in the middle of winter, or when I’ve just had a skin treatment.
Which is why instead of searching for the perfect moisturiser. I tend to think about moisturisers based on the job I need them to do. And it’s not like I have 10. Just a few. Let me explain.
Moisturiser Wardrobe 101
You see, your moisturiser choice can change depending on so many things, the weather, how dry or oily your skin is feeling, the actives you’re using, whether your barrier is a little irritated, treatments you’ve had, or even if you suddenly just want something richer and more comforting.
And that’s really the idea behind a moisturiser wardrobe: having a few different options you can reach for depending on what your skin needs at that particular time.
And again, we don’t need too many. For most people, two or three well-chosen moisturisers can cover most situations.
Best Moisturisers To Consider
The Everyday One
Best Face Cream for daily use? This is the moisturiser to reach for when your skin is just… behaving.
Nothing particularly exciting is happening, it’s not dry or irritated, but you just want something that gives enough hydration without feeling heavy. In fact, I actually think this is where people can overcomplicate things.
Your everyday moisturiser doesn’t necessarily need to contain every active ingredient under the sun. Its main job is to help support your skin barrier, keep water in the skin and, importantly, be something you actually enjoy using every day.
Try: PCA Skin Collagen Hydrator - I love that this moisturiser is super hydrating, but never oily and a great option for combination skin.
The Lightweight One
Next is a summer moisturiser. Or a moisturiser to use when your skin feels a little oilier and you absolutely do not want a rich cream sitting on your face.
Having a combination or oily skin doesn’t mean you don’t need moisturiser, but you might prefer a lighter texture. I tend to look for lightweight lotions or gel-creams with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid that help draw water into the skin without leaving me feeling overly greasy.
Try:
- PCA Skin Overnight Hyaluronic Acid Mask - Seems counterintuitive to have a mask as a lightweight option but this one is so light, while pumping the skin full of hydration.
- Bioderma Hydrobio Light Moisturising Water Cream - This moisturiser is perfect for combination skin. It’s a lightweight water/gel texture and gives the skin the right amount of hydration in warmer climates or when you don’t want to be layering a lot of products or heavy creams.
The Rich One
Then we have the moisturiser equivalent of putting on a really good jumper. This is the moisturiser you want in the middle of winter, when you’ve been sitting in heating all day, or any time your skin is feeling a little drier and tighter than usual. You might want to look for one with more emollient and occlusive ingredients, so essentially, ingredients that help soften the skin and reduce water loss. Or even a hydrating overnight sleep mask.
Try:
- Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore ok, so it’s pricey yes. But is it worth it when your skin is extra dry? Also yes. One of the best rich moisturisers on Adore Beauty.
- Aspect Probiotic Mask is perfect for dry/sensitive skin and I have been recommending it for years. I’d either sleep in it overnight (when your skin feels extra thirsty), or as a 10 min mask to plump life back into your face after a bad night’s sleep.
The Barrier SOS One
Now a barrier supporting moisturiser is a must in any skincare lover's toolkit.
This is the one you want to reach for when perhaps you’ve been a little too enthusiastic with your skincare and your skin is letting you know. Ie. when skin feels irritated, tight, stingy etc. In this case, you always want to have a fairly boring, barrier-supportive moisturiser/barrier cream with ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol, glycerin to bring your skin back to life.
Try: Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Balm this is super thick, calming and perfect when skin is feeling irritated or even in combination with tretinoin!
The Post-Treatment One
And finally, obviously, as a dermal clinician, I have a post-treatment moisturiser because after certain treatments, my skincare priorities can completely change and I want gentle, uncomplicated and barrier-supportive products while my skin recovers.
Try: La-Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ a must in every skincare toolkit IMO. Great post treatment, but also when skin is throwing a tantrum. Bonus: can be used on both the face and body.
So, Do You Need a Moisturiser Wardrobe?
Probably not to the extent that I have one. Skincare is quite literally my job. But I also don’t think it’s unreasonable to have two or three moisturisers that serve different purposes. So maybe that’s a lightweight option and something richer for winter.
Or your everyday moisturiser plus a barrier cream you can pull out when your skin needs a little extra help. Just think of it like a capsule wardrobe… for your face.
Read more of Yad's expert advice below:
