Best Drugstore Moisturisers for the Beauty Pro on a Budget
There’s a common belief that price equals performance when it comes to skincare and makeup, but that’s not always true. If you’re on the hunt for the best drugstore moisturisers that hydrate, smooth, and strengthen your skin barrier without breaking the bank, you’re in the right place.
As a skin expert, I love discovering affordable skincare that truly performs. Drawing on my experience working with scientists, formulators, and years spent teaching professionals about the skin, I’ve curated a list of budget-friendly moisturisers under £25 that perform.
In this guide, you’ll find expert-approved, affordable moisturisers for every skin type, from dry and sensitive to oily and combination, all tested and all expert-approved.
Best Under £10
Simple Repairing Rich Face Cream – Budget-Friendly Comfort for Dry, Dehydrated Skin
If you’re looking for an ultra-affordable moisturiser that truly delivers, the Simple Repairing Rich Face Cream is a standout, especially for under £10. With a beautiful, rich gel-cream texture, it instantly comforts and cushions the skin, providing intense hydration without feeling greasy or heavy. While it may not fully repair a severely compromised skin barrier on its own, it does an excellent job of supporting and strengthening the skin, helping to prevent further moisture loss and calm visible signs of dryness and dehydration.
The formula features cica (centella asiatica), a beloved ingredient known for its soothing and skin-repairing properties. It brings immediate relief to tight, parched skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and nourished with a velvety finish. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and versatile to be used as a day or night cream, making it a brilliant, low-cost staple for any skincare routine.
Suitable for normal to dry skin, including sensitive, fragrance-free. Dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic, this moisturiser is non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and suitable for vegans.
Simple Soothing Water Cream – Lightweight Hydration That Feels Instantly Refreshing
If you prefer a lighter moisturiser that still packs a hydrating punch, Simple Soothing Water Cream is an absolute gem, especially considering it is so budget-friendly. With a cooling gel-cream texture, it glides effortlessly onto the skin and gives that immediate feeling of hydration, almost like a drink of water for your face.
Despite its feather-light feel, this formula offers impressive hydration and skin barrier support, making it perfect for normal, combination, or dehydrated skin. It’s also fragrance-free and infused with aloe vera, making it ideal for sensitive or easily irritated skin, delivering both instant comfort and long-lasting moisture.
At under £10, this is an effective everyday moisturiser that leaves the skin feeling fresh, calm, and hydrated, without ever feeling heavy or greasy.
Suitable for normal to combination skin. Dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and suitable for vegans.
Best under £15
The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA – A No-Fuss Moisturiser That Just Works
At first glance, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA might not grab your attention, especially with a name that sounds confusing. This is one of the most effective, no-frills moisturisers I’ve ever used, and it deserves a spot in your routine.
Formulated to mimic the skin’s natural hydration system, this moisturiser delivers everything your skin needs to stay balanced and healthy. It’s packed with amino acids, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, urea, and fatty acids, a powerful combination that deeply hydrates, softens, and supports the skin barrier.
It’s lightweight yet nourishing, making it a perfect everyday moisturiser that layers beautifully under sunscreen and makeup. Skin feels instantly replenished, and with consistent use, you’ll notice a stronger, more resilient barrier.
Proof that great skincare doesn’t need fancy packaging or a high price tag, just smart, skin-compatible ingredients.
Suitable for all skin types including sensitive. Silicone-free, non‑comedogenic, fragrance-free, and suitable for vegans.
E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Face Cream – Affordable Luxury with Serious Skin Benefits
Don’t be fooled by the low price tag, E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Face Cream delivers a high-end feel with a formula packed full of hydration heroes. This beautifully lightweight cream melts into the skin, leaving it instantly plump, dewy, and refreshed.
Formulated with hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, squalane to lock in moisture, and Vitamin B5 to soothe and support the skin barrier, it ticks every box for daily hydration. It also includes two peptides, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, that help support collagen production and the skin's natural production of hyaluronic acid, making this a brilliant choice for anyone wanting hydration with a side of skin-firming benefits.
It’s a great all-rounder that leaves the skin looking bouncy, radiant, and beautifully balanced.
Suitable for all skin types. Includes fragrance, is suitable for vegans, and is cruelty-free
Best £20 and under
Caudalie VinoHydra – Affordable, Expert-Approved Hydration for Every Skin Type
When it comes to affordable hydrating skincare that doesn’t compromise on quality, Caudalie’s VinoHydra range has truly impressed me. As a skincare expert, I was genuinely blown away by the performance of these moisturisers, especially given their lower price point. They deliver beautiful, skin-quenching results with clean, effective ingredients and luxurious textures.
The hero product, VinoHydra Sorbet Cream Moisturiser, is a lightweight gel-cream hybrid that melts seamlessly into the skin. It’s ideal for normal to dehydrated skin, offering long-lasting hydration without heaviness. Formulated with hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, organic grape water to soothe and strengthen the skin barrier, and chamomile for calming sensitivity, this moisturiser delivers instant relief and a soft, plump finish. Prebiotics and antioxidants offer added protection—perfect for stressed or tired skin.
Non-comedogenic, suitable for vegans, includes fragrance.
The VinoHydra line also includes two additional textures to suit different skin types. Each formula melts beautifully into the skin, leaving it soft, replenished, and glowing.
Dry skin type with dehydration - VinoHydra Deep Hydration Moisturiser
VinoHydra Deep Hydration Moisturiser is enriched with shea butter, this creamy version provides rich, comforting hydration, making it an excellent choice for dry or sensitised skin.
Combination skin type with dehydration - VinoHydra Gel Moisturiser
VinoHydra Gel Moisturiser is a weightless, cooling gel that includes aloe vera to soothe and refresh, ideal for combination or oilier skin types needing hydration without heaviness.
Best under £25
The Body Shop Vitamin E Barrier Boost Cream
This cream is a saviour for dry, thirsty, and taut skin. The perfect ratio and balance of the three skin hydration and moisture heroes has been included to ensure long-lasting results. With humectants (hydrators), emollients (softeners), and occlusives (barrier strengtheners), this cream delivers multi-layer hydration and lasting moisture.
The emollients, including shea butter, smooth and soften the skin while forming a protective layer. The inclusion of ceramides helps strengthen the lipid barrier and reduce TEWL (transepidermal water loss). The texture feels rich and comforting yet non-greasy, leaving the skin noticeably more supple and hydrated after just one application, and that feeling lasts all day.
Vichy Mineral 89 72Hr Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Boosting Cream – Deep Hydration for Thirsty Skin
If your skin feels dry, tight, or in desperate need of a hydration boost, the Vichy Mineral 89 72Hr Moisture Boosting Cream is a fantastic choice, especially at this budget-friendly price point. With a slightly richer texture, it delivers immediate comfort, making it ideal for dehydrated or compromised skin in need of a long-lasting moisture hit.
Formulated with hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to strengthen the skin barrier, squalane for added nourishment, and Vichy’s signature mineral-rich volcanic water, this cream works hard to leave the skin feeling plump, smooth, and radiant.
Despite its richer feel, it absorbs beautifully without feeling heavy, making it a brilliant daily moisturiser for those who need that extra layer of care. Your skin will feel soothed, supple, and glowing with hydration that lasts well beyond the first application.
Suitable for all skin types including sensitive. Fragrance-free, Hypoallergenic, silicone-free, not suitable for vegans.
Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream – Japanese Hydration Magic in a Jar
When it comes to intense hydration, Hada Labo Tokyo is a brand I adore, and their Skin Plumping Gel Cream is a perfect example of why. This beautifully moisture-quenching, plumping cream is a joy to use, whether you apply it as a day or night moisturiser.
Thanks to an exclusive blend of four types of hyaluronic acid (HA) and amino acids, this gel-cream deeply hydrates multiple layers of the skin, delivering an instant radiance that lasts throughout the day. The Japanese expertise in textures shines here, with a formula that absorbs quickly, leaving the skin feeling plump, smooth, and never sticky.
This cream combines the best of both worlds: it's an absolute treat for the skin while being incredibly effective, offering a boost of hydration you’ll feel immediately.
Thank You For Reading
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Happy shopping, and thank you again for being here!
Fiona x
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