How to Choose the Best Moisturiser for Your Skin Type
Last updated 28 June 2026 · 8 min read
The best moisturiser for your skin type is mostly a question of texture and ingredients: lighter formulas for oily skin, richer ones for dry skin, and gentle, barrier-supporting creams for sensitive skin. This guide walks through each skin type, what to look for, and a clean Australian-made pick to match. Browse the full moisturisers collection any time.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The best moisturiser for your skin type is mostly about texture: lighter for oily skin, richer for dry skin.
- Oily and combination skin suit lightweight creams; dry and mature skin suit richer, more nourishing ones.
- Sensitive, redness-prone skin does best with fragrance-considered, barrier-supporting formulas.
- Whatever your skin type, finish the morning with SPF.
In this article
QUICK ANSWER
To choose the best moisturiser for your skin type, match the texture to how your skin behaves: lightweight creams for oily and combination skin, richer creams for dry and mature skin, and fragrance-considered, barrier-supporting formulas for sensitive, redness-prone skin. Apply to slightly damp skin, and always finish the morning with SPF.
First, How to Know Your Skin Type
If you are not sure where you sit, try the bare-skin test: cleanse, then wait an hour with nothing on your face and see how it feels.
- Oily: shine across the whole face, often with visible pores.
- Dry: tight, flaky or rough.
- Combination: an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with normal or dry cheeks.
- Sensitive: reddens, itches or stings easily.
- Normal: comfortable and balanced.
Skin type can also shift with the seasons and over time, so it is worth re-checking now and then.
Above: Infographic on How to Know Your Skin Type
Oily & Combination Skin
Oily and combination skin do best with lightweight textures that hydrate without sitting heavily, a light cream, gel-cream or lotion. Avoid very rich, occlusive formulas, which can feel greasy by midday.
Dry & Dehydrated Skin
Dry skin lacks oil and dehydrated skin lacks water, and many of us are both, especially in winter. Look for a richer cream that pairs a humectant like hyaluronic acid with nourishing oils, and apply it to slightly damp skin. For a deeper dive, see the best face moisturiser for dry skin.
Sensitive & Redness-Prone Skin
Sensitive, redness-prone skin does best with simple, fragrance-considered formulas that support the barrier and keep skin feeling comfortable. The Hyaluronic Moisture Cream above suits sensitive skin well, with soothing Bisabolol and aloe, and a fragrance-free SPF (below) is a gentle choice by day. If redness is your main concern, our guide on how to calm red, irritated skin goes further.
Mature Skin
Mature skin tends to be drier and benefits from richer, replenishing textures, especially at night, when skin does most of its renewing. Look for nourishing oils, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants.
Dull or Uneven-Looking Skin
If your main concern is a tired, uneven-looking complexion rather than a skin type as such, a brightening day cream with antioxidants is a lovely daily choice, and it layers happily over your other steps.
Don't Skip SPF
Whatever your skin type, daily sun protection is the step that does the most for how your skin looks over time. A hydrating SPF crème keeps things simple by combining moisture and broad-spectrum protection, just top up with a separate sunscreen if your moisturiser's SPF is low or absent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know my skin type?
Cleanse, then wait an hour with nothing on your face. Shine all over suggests oily skin; tightness or flaking suggests dry; an oily T-zone with normal cheeks is combination; easy redness or stinging points to sensitive skin.
What moisturiser is best for oily skin?
A lightweight cream, gel-cream or lotion that hydrates without feeling heavy. Avoid very rich, occlusive formulas, which can feel greasy on oily skin by midday.
What moisturiser is best for dry skin?
A richer cream that combines hyaluronic acid with nourishing oils, applied to slightly damp skin. Dry, mature skin often benefits from a lighter day cream and a richer night cream.
Can sensitive skin use any moisturiser?
It is best to choose simple, fragrance-considered, barrier-supporting formulas. Patch test anything new, and keep your routine short while skin is reactive.
Do you need a different moisturiser in winter?
Often, yes. Many people move to a richer cream in the cooler months and a lighter one in summer, since skin tends to feel drier in winter and oilier in heat.
Explore more: Shop moisturisers and Australian skincare at VAMS Beauty.
Read more on The VAMS Edit: Day Cream vs Night Cream: The Complete Moisturiser Guide, Best Face Moisturiser for Dry Skin and How to Layer Skincare Products.
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