Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

If you’re not familiar with this French heritage brand, RoC launched in the UK last year and it’s worth knowing about – after all, it was the first company to sell over-the-counter retinol. This first-class moisturizer with SPF is packed with hyaluronic acid and leaves skin silky soft on first application. It’s such a light-textured, gel-cream with UVA/UVB filters that it’s perfect for the spring/summer months ahead. We found it melts into the skin with zero white casts, and the brand promises it won’t show up on darker skin tones either. Skin feels fresh and comfortable in an instant, with plumping results after the two-week mark. Our tester is hooked!

Best: on the high street

Rating: 8/10

This bestselling high street day cream has just been reformulated to include broad-spectrum SPF50 – making it even better. It boasts a high concentration of skin-plumping hyaluronic acid in the form of multi-molecular weights, and also includes micro molecules that can penetrate even deeper into the skin and boost moisture levels. We found the new “whipped cream” texture glides onto skin, absorbing in an instant with zero chalkiness too. Skin is therefore left feeling smooth, plump and well-hydrated all day without any greasiness.

Best: For beauty dwellers

Rating: 8/10

Paula Begoun knows everything there is to know about skincare and skin-loving ingredients, so it’s only fitting that she has a whole line-up of top rate moisturizers with SPF to choose from to suit every skin type. This formula contains the all-import UV protection using gentle mineral filters, so it’s a great option for all – even sensitive and reactive skin types. These are teamed with targeted antioxidants that protect skin from pollution and blue light from our screens, as well as nourishing argan oil. Work it into the complexion for a beautiful dewy finish that leaves skin feeling soft and supple all day long.

Best: For signing

Rating: 9/10

A pot of iconic marine cream is sold every nine seconds globally and has been made even better with added SPF30 broad-spectrum protection that doesn’t compromise on its original performance. It’s proven addictive to everyone who tries it – including our tester who’s in the marine cream fan club too, and we’ve replenished this pot of radiance a time or two. Containing a blend of plant and marine actives, hence the name, to offer a cream rich in antioxidants to protect skin further from the day’s aggressors. It leaves the complexion instantly silky soft and plumper and firmer with continued use.

Best: For darker skin tones

Rating: 8.5/10

All skin tones will love how truly invisible (with zero white cast) this modern moisturizer is on the skin, and with zero flashback – so you’ll always be selfie-ready. Formulated with a blend of skin-protecting antioxidants, hero-ingredient niacinamide to even out skin tone and dark spots and hyaluronic acid and aloe to give the complexion’s moisture levels a boost. It instantly leaves skin soft and smooth and is a good base for make-up too. Plus, it gets extra green points for coming in a refillable option for just £28 when you’re ready to replenish.

Best: For normal to dry skin

Rating: 8.5/10

This SPF version of Kiehl’s bestselling day cream is like a drink for thirsty skin types with its unique glycoprotein that derives from Antarctic glaciers known to protect and hydrate dry skin. It differs slightly from the original as it doesn’t contain moisturizing squalane that there’s a real beauty buzz around at the moment, which is a shame. However, it still manages to feel a tad richer, making it well suited to skin on the dry side, as it packs a hydrating punch leaving skin comfortably soft throughout the day.

Best: For skin brightening

Rating: 9/10

Like a who’s who of superstar skincare ingredients, turn to this skin brightening moisturizer and watch a dull, lackluster complexion get its radiance back with continued use. Watch it glide onto the skin and melt in an instant – leaving a natural non-greasy glow. Just as its name suggests it uses a potent and stable form of vitamin C for antioxidant skin protection neutralizing free radicals, as well as getting to work repairing damage already done by the sun. Add to the mix hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to boost moisture levels and UV filters for both UVA and UVB and you’ve got a moisturizer with first-rate efficacy.

Best: Luxurious moisturizer

Rating: 9/10

Pricey, yes, but it’s worth every penny for its advanced science-led formulation. Developed by a renowned plastic surgeon who was inspired by Nobel Prize winning science used to heal burn victims, this uses a skin-identical protein for skin-rejuvenating results. Coupled with a cocktail of antioxidants and skincare ingredients to nourish and protect. It will instantly make skin feel soft and supple and offer zero-chalkiness protection. Skin-renewal results were already seen after one week’s use on our tester: dull skin looked more radiant already, and by two weeks skin looked more plump with fewer noticeable lines. Impressive.

Best: For high protection

Rating: 9/10

Sitting somewhere between a lotion and a cream, you won’t believe how lightweight and fast-absorbing this formula is for such a high SPF. A little goes a long way, and it virtually disappears on contact – leaving a clear dewiness to the skin that makes a smooth make-up base. Hydration is provided by the likes of glycerin, hyaluronic acid and squalane, so you’ll find skin stays comfortably moisturised until bedtime.

Best: budget formula

Rating: 8/10

The only budget thing about this formula is its price. Our affordable pick will keep even complexions on the dry side comfortably hydrated all day long, thanks to its slow-release technology and blend of moisture-boosting ingredients. These include hyaluronic acid to help the skin hold on to its natural moisture and ceramides that protect and strengthen the skin barrier. You’ll find the creamy texture blends easily too, leaving behind an invisible shield of protection and hydration. And we can’t wait to get our hands on the SPF50 launching in May.