The best moisturiser for you, matched in 30 seconds
A good moisturiser is not one size fits all. The right one depends on your skin, not the fanciest jar. Answer three quick questions and we will point you to the one worth your money, then explain exactly why.
We get asked this every single day at the counter, so here is the honest version. Most skin does not need a shelf full of products. It needs the right moisturiser, used regularly. The trick is matching the formula to your skin type and how reactive it is. Below is our recommender, followed by a plain English guide to the ranges we actually trust and who each one suits.
Find your moisturiser
Three questions. No email required.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar
Rich, barrier-repairing moisture for skin that feels dry and tight, with shea butter and niacinamide. A pharmacy staple for a reason, and gentle enough for daily use on face and body.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane
Minimalist and fragrance free, made for skin that stings, flushes or reacts to everything. It calms while it hydrates, with nothing on the ingredient list to upset things.
Avène
Powered by Avène Thermal Spring Water, clinically shown to soothe intolerant, easily upset skin. If almost everything seems to irritate you, this is the gentlest place to start.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar
Oil free and non comedogenic, so it hydrates without clogging pores or triggering breakouts. The go-to range for oily and blemish prone skin.
Elave
Irish made, dermatologically tested and free from SLS and common irritants. Kind to eczema prone and reactive skin, and trusted by Irish parents for the whole family.
CeraVe
Three essential ceramides plus hyaluronic acid to keep a healthy skin barrier ticking over. Brilliant everyday value and hard to go wrong with.
Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler
Hyaluronic acid to plump and soften the look of fine lines while it deeply hydrates. Science led anti-ageing without the fuss.
The moisturisers we trust, and who each is for
Genuine favourites from behind the counter.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar
Best for: Dry, tight, uncomfortable skin
Deeply nourishing with niacinamide and shea. The AP+ version is a favourite for very dry, itch prone skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane
Best for: Sensitive, reactive, easily irritated skin
Pared back and fragrance free. Hydrates without giving reactive skin anything to react to.
CeraVe
Best for: Normal skin and everyday value
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid at a fair price. A no-nonsense barrier moisturiser you can use forever.
Avène
Best for: Very sensitive and intolerant skin
Thermal spring water soothes and calms. The gentlest option when everything seems to sting.
Eucerin
Best for: Ageing skin and targeted concerns
Science led ranges like Hyaluron-Filler for lines and AtoControl for very dry skin.
Bioderma
Best for: Sensitive skin that wants a light feel
The micellar pioneers. Atoderm for dryness, Sensibio for reactive skin, all beautifully light.
Elave
Best for: Eczema prone skin and families
Irish made and free from common irritants. Gentle enough for babies and sensitive grown ups alike.
Aveeno
Best for: Dry, itchy skin that likes oat
Colloidal oatmeal soothes and softens. A gentle, widely loved choice for dry and irritable skin.
A few honest tips
Apply to slightly damp skin. Moisturiser traps water, so patting it on within a minute of washing locks in far more hydration than applying to bone dry skin.
Fragrance is the usual culprit. If a product stings or leaves you red, the fragrance is often to blame. Fragrance free ranges like Toleriane and Elave take that risk off the table.
Consistency beats expense. A modest moisturiser used every day will do more than a luxury one used now and then. Pick something you will actually reach for.
Still stuck? That is what we are here for. Bring your current products in or send us a photo, and one of our pharmacists will help you build a simple routine that works. No pressure, no jargon.
General skincare information from Laois Pharmacy, Portlaoise. Individual results vary. Always patch test a new product and read the label.
