How to Choose a Face Moisturiser?

What Is a Moisturiser?

A moisturiser is generally an emulsion combining an aqueous phase and an oily phase. Its formulation may therefore include moisturising ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerine, and lipid components, such as oils, plant butters, or certain biomimetic lipids.

This combination allows the product to act on several levels. Humectants help retain water in the stratum corneum, while the oil-phase components support skin barrier comfort and protection. Depending on its formulation, a cream may also contain targeted active ingredients to address a specific need.

A cream’s texture depends on the balance between its aqueous and oil phases. It can therefore take the form of a light fluid, a more enveloping emulsion or a rich cream.

What Are the Benefits of a Moisturiser?

A moisturiser provides hydration, comfort and suppleness to the skin. Depending on its formulation, it can also address specific skin needs thanks to the active ingredients it contains.

It can therefore be chosen to:

• Maintain hydration and reduce feelings of tightness in dehydrated skin

• Provide comfort to dry or sensitive skin 

• Mattify combination to oily skin

• Target blemishes with suitable active ingredients 

• Restore radiance to a dull complexion 

• Address the signs of ageing with anti-ageing active ingredients 

• Target the appearance of pigmentation spots and even out the complexion

A moisturiser can therefore serve a dual purpose: deliver the expected benefits of a moisturising treatment while also targeting a specific skin concern. 

You can choose a moisturiser based on both your skin type and your specific skin concern. For example, someone may have oily skin and want a product that targets blemishes, or dry skin that lacks radiance and shows signs of ageing. The choice of moisturiser must therefore consider both skin type and specific needs.

Skin type refers to a characteristic of the skin, primarily determined by the amount of sebum it produces, but also influenced by the environment, age, hormones, etc. While relatively stable, it can nevertheless change over the course of a person’s life, particularly with age or depending on the seasons.

The texture of a cream can therefore be chosen according to skin type. A light emulsion can provide comfort and hydration for combination to oily skin without leaving a feeling of a heavy film, while a richer, more nourishing formula will be appreciated by those with dry skin.

As well as your skin type, you can choose a face cream based on your specific skin concerns. Wrinkles and fine lines, loss of firmness, blemishes, excess oil, dark spots or a lack of radiance: each formula combines active ingredients and a texture tailored to specific needs.

The Aroma-Zone range offers several facial moisturisers, with different textures and combinations of active ingredients. Discover their specific features to find the product that best suits your needs.

Vitamin C & Astaxanthin Cream

Who Is It For? All skin types, particularly dull, tired skin or skin exposed to environmental stressors.

Why Choose It? This cream moisturises the skin and gives it an instant healthy glow. Its formula combines Optimised Vitamin C, astaxanthin, maté extract, and hyaluronic acid to help protect the skin from oxidative stress, revitalise the complexion’s radiance and address the first signs of ageing.

Texture: Light and velvety, with an instant glow.

Key Benefit: Antioxidant and radiance-boosting action that is also suitable for sensitive skin and all skin tones.

Discover the Vitamin C & Astaxanthin Cream

Rich Vegan Collagen & Spilanthes Cream

Who Is It For? Mature and dry skin, including sensitive skin.

Why Choose It? This rich cream combines Vegan collagen, Spilanthes, and hyaluronic acid for a comprehensive approach to the signs of ageing. It helps to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, firm the skin and redefine the facial contours, while providing intense hydration and comfort.

Texture: Rich and creamy, with a non-greasy finish.

Key Benefit: Clinically proven efficacy against 8 signs of ageing.

Discover the Vegan Collagen & Spilanthes Rich Cream

Lightweight Cream With Zinc Hyaluronate & Plant-Based Salicylic Acid

Who Is It For? Oily, blemish-prone or acne-prone skin.

Why Choose It? This lightweight cream moisturises the skin whilst targeting blemishes. Its formula combines zinc hyaluronate, plant-based salicylic acid and seaweed extract to help regulate excess sebum, reduce spots and blackheads, improve the appearance of pores and soothe the skin.

Texture: Fluid, light and non-greasy, with a matt, velvety finish.

Key Benefit: A comprehensive action that is purifying, moisturising, and mattifying, in a fragrance-free formula containing no essential oils.

Precautions: Avoid contact with the eyes; in case of contact, rinse immediately and thoroughly with clean water.

Discover the Zinc Hyaluronate & Plant-Based Salicylic Acid Fluid Cream.

Hyaluronic Acid & Polyglutamic Acid Cream

Who Is It For? All skin types, particularly dehydrated or mature skin. It is also suitable for sensitive skin.

Why Choose It? This cream combines several molecular weights of Hyaluronic acid with Polyglutamic acid to provide the skin with intense, long-lasting hydration. It helps to reduce feelings of discomfort associated with dehydration, smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, and preserve the skin’s barrier function.

Texture: Rich yet non-greasy, with a velvety feel.

Key Benefit: 48 hours of hydration* and skin that is immediately more supple, soft and plump.

Precautions: Avoid contact with the eyes; in case of contact, rinse immediately and thoroughly with clean water.

*Corneometry test carried out on 11 people after a single application

Discover the Hyaluronic Acid & Polyglutamic Acid Cream

Hordatine & Exosomes Anti-Dark Spot Face Cream

Who Is It For? All skin types, from the age of 40, where dark spots are present or to prevent the appearance of dark spots. It is suitable for sensitive skin and all skin tones.

Why Choose It? This face cream combines Hordatine, Floridoside, and Marine exosomes to target various mechanisms involved in the development of dark spots and signs of ageing. It helps to reduce their appearance, even out the complexion, enhance radiance, and smooth out wrinkles and fine lines.

Texture: Silky and quickly absorbed, without leaving a greasy residue.

Key Benefit: A dual anti-dark spot and anti-ageing action, with efficacy proven by an independent laboratory.

Precautions: Avoid contact with the eyes; in case of contact, rinse immediately and thoroughly with clean water.

Discover the Hordatine & Exosomes Anti-Dark Spot Face Cream.

Organic Hydrating Face and Body Cream

Who Is It For? All skin types, particularly normal, combination and oily skin. Also suitable for sensitive skin.

Why Choose It? This certified organic cream, made from 100% natural ingredients, provides long-lasting hydration for up to 8 hours after application*. Enriched with organic aloe vera, organic peppermint hydrosol, vegetable glycerine, and organic apricot oil, it helps to leave the skin feeling soft, supple, and comfortable.

*Test carried out in a laboratory using the corneometry method

Texture: Light, fluid and non-greasy; it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film.

Key benefit: A neutral cream that can be used as it is or customised with active ingredients and essential oils.

Precautions: Not suitable for children under 3 years of age.

Discover the Hydrating Face and Body Cream

Organic Youth-Boosting Face and Body Cream

Who Is It For? All skin types, particularly normal, dry, or sensitive skin. It is also suitable for pregnant women.

Why Choose It? This certified organic cream, made from 100% natural ingredients, combines rosehip oil, and hyaluronic acid to moisturise, plump, and smooth the skin. It targets the first signs of ageing, including wrinkles, loss of firmness, and sagging skin.

Texture: Rich and melt-in, it absorbs easily without leaving a greasy or sticky film.

Key Benefit: A formula that combines hydration with targeted active ingredients to address the first signs of ageing, and which can be used as is or personalised.

Precautions: Not suitable for children under 3 years of age. Customisation is recommended for adults only.

Discover the Youthful Face and Body Cream

Organic All-Purpose Cream

Who Is It For? The whole family, particularly those with dry and dehydrated skin. It is also suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Why Choose It? This certified organic and 100% natural cream combines organic aloe vera, Jojoba and Organic Calendula and Organic Cocoa Butter to nourish, moisturise, protect, and soften the skin. It can be used on the face, body, hands, and feet.

Texture: Melt-in and creamy, it absorbs easily without leaving a greasy feeling and leaves the skin supple and soft.

Key Benefit: A multi-purpose treatment that can be used on its own or customised.

Precautions: Customisation is recommended for adults only.

Discover the All-Purpose Cream

And What About the Eye Area?

The skin around the eyes is particularly thin and delicate. It may have specific needs, particularly in terms of hydration, signs of tiredness, dark circles, puffiness, or fine lines and wrinkles. A dedicated skincare product allows you to target these concerns with a formula tailored to this area.

Theine & Hyaluronic Acid Eye Contour Cream

Who Is It For? All skin types, particularly dry and dehydrated skin. It is also suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers.

Why Choose It? This certified organic eye contour cream combines six active ingredients to tackle the main concerns in this area: dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles and fine lines, drooping eyelids, lack of radiance and signs of dehydration. Theine, Helichrysum, Liquorice, and Wild Ginger help to visibly reduce dark circles and puffiness, while a patented hyaluronic acid ensures hydration.

Texture: A comfortable, velvety cream with a non-sticky finish, suitable as a make-up base.

Key Benefit: Comprehensive action on the eye contour area with 24-hour hydration and an immediate firming effect.

Precautions: In case of contact, rinse immediately and thoroughly with clean water.

Discover the Theine & Hyaluronic Acid Eye Contour Cream

A suitable moisturiser should be pleasant to use, feel comfortable throughout the day, and meet your skin’s needs. The texture, how it feels after application, how your skin looks as the day goes on, and the results you achieve are all factors to consider.

A good moisturiser is one you forget you’re wearing during the day: it provides sufficient comfort without feeling too rich and leaves the skin feeling pleasant to the touch.

Signs That a Moisturiser Is Right for Your Skin

There are several signs that a cream is right for you:

• The texture is pleasant and suits your preferences: light, fluid, creamy, or richer 

• Your skin remains comfortable throughout the day, without any tightness or dryness 

• The cream doesn’t leave a greasy film or feel too rich if that doesn’t suit your skin type 

• The skin shows no redness, and there is no itching, burning or unusual tingling sensation after application 

• The cream does not appear to encourage the appearance of new blemishes 

• The skin appears more supple, comfortable, and pleasant to the touch with repeated use 

• The desired results are achieved, with a visible improvement in the targeted skin concern

Signs That It’s Time to Change Your Face Cream

There are several situations that may indicate a cream is no longer suitable for your skin or your needs:

• Your skin feels tight or uncomfortable throughout the day, despite applying the cream 

• The texture is too rich and leaves a greasy film or excessive shine 

• The texture is too light and does not provide sufficient comfort for your skin 

• The cream seems to encourage the appearance of new blemishes or an unusual feeling of discomfort 

• Redness, itching, a burning sensation, or stinging occur after application 

• The expected results are not achieved after regular use and the skin remains dehydrated or dull, or the targeted issue does not seem to be improving 

• The skin’s needs have changed, for example due to a change of season, age, or a change in its condition

In the event of a severe or persistent skin reaction, it is best to stop using the product and seek advice from a healthcare professional.

A moisturiser can be used in combination with other skincare products. Consider each product's function, texture, and your skin's needs.

Should You Apply a Serum Before or After Your Face Cream?

Serum and face cream are two complementary skincare products. Serum has a lighter texture and a high concentration of targeted active ingredients, while cream provides hydration, comfort, and protection for the skin barrier to meet the skin’s fundamental needs.

The serum is applied before the cream, onto clean skin. The cream then complements its action and provides a more enveloping texture. This order ensures the textures are applied in the correct progression, from the lightest to the richest.

Can You Use More Than One Face Cream?

Generally, you don't need to layer several moisturisers. A single suitable face cream should be sufficient to provide the desired hydration and comfort. Applying several creams one after another can also make the textures feel heavy and leave a less pleasant finish.

However, you can use two different creams at different times of day if they address distinct needs. For example, a light cream might be preferred in the morning and a richer formula in the evening.

Should You Use an Oil Before or After Your Face Cream?

For dry skin, combining a cream with an oil can provide both hydration and lipids. However, an oil isn’t essential if your cream already provides enough comfort and nourishment.

When you use an oil to complement a moisturiser and enhance comfort for dry skin, apply it after the cream. The oil-based formula then forms a protective layer on the skin’s surface to lock in moisture.

Should You Use Sun Protection With Your Moisturiser?

During the day, when UV exposure warrants it, a suitable sun cream can complement your moisturiser. It should be applied as the final step, before make-up.

Sun protection is especially important when skincare products target pigmentation spots or signs of ageing, as UV exposure contributes to photoageing and can promote the appearance or reappearance of certain forms of hyperpigmentation.

Need help combining your skincare products? Discover the Aroma-Zone routines tailored to each skin type to explore possible combinations and the order in which to apply the products.

Follow the instructions for use specific to each product.

If you have sensitive, reactive, or compromised skin, introduce any new product gradually. You can carry out a patch test on a small area of skin when introducing a new skincare product. If you experience a skin reaction, stop using the product. If symptoms persist, seek advice from a healthcare professional.

Aroma-Zone moisturisers already combine several active ingredients selected for their complementary properties.

When using the moisturiser alongside other skincare products, it is best to prioritise the synergy between active ingredients rather than using multiple products containing the same active ingredient. This applies in particular to exfoliating active ingredients, such as salicylic acid, azelaic acid, glycolic acid, or retinol. Layering several skincare products containing these types of active ingredients can increase the risk of discomfort, particularly for sensitive or reactive skin. It is therefore best to avoid using them together.

The skincare routines recommended by Aroma-Zone are approved by our expert toxicologists, who assess the composition and safety of the various formulations. This ensures you can benefit from combinations of products specifically designed to be used together.

Hélène Betoux is a French beauty journalist specialising in digital media. She writes practical tips, advice and guides to help readers choose the right beauty products. Passionate about natural, organic and clean beauty, she explores the latest trends and innovations in the industry.