9 Bestselling Illuminating Moisturizers Of 2024
Boost the radiance of your skin and keep it hydrated with these brightening moisturizers.
Andrea Hall is an advanced beauty and esthetic practitioner and an image and style consultant with over three decades of experience. She is also a commercial advertising model, a former beauty queen, and a trained presenter. Andrea specializes in vampire facials, anti-wrinkle treatments, skin boosters, PRP, bio plasma, vitamin wellness therapy, microneedling, HydroFacials, laser hair removal, and IPL SHR hair removal.
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Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
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Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Experience: 8 yearsArshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
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If you are someone who loves getting a dewy, glowing look on your skin, it’s time for you to grab the best illuminating moisturizers. These moisturizers smooth and nourish your skin, hydrate it, and boost the radiance, improving the skin tone. While some moisturizers are tinted, others contain light-reflecting particles that bring out your natural glow. If you are already dreaming of the luminous glow, scroll down to find the 9 best illuminating moisturizers.
In This Article
9 Bestselling Illuminating Moisturizers Of 2024
1. Best Fast Absorbtion:GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer
The Glamglow Mega Illuminating Moisturizer is crafted with pearl particles that impart instant radiance to your skin. Powerful natural ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter restore the skin’s moisture balance and provide instant hydration. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid lock the moisture in and protect the skin from environmental stress. This versatile moisturizer enhances the skin tone while doubling as a highlighter and making your skin makeup ready by creating a light-reflecting base. The GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer works wonders on your skin. For more information, click here.
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, Shea butter, Ceramides, Hyaluronic acid, Green tea extracts, and Pearl particles
Pros
- Quickly absorbed
- Smells good
- Available in three shades
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- May pill up on the skin.
Did You Know?Shannon and Glenn Dellimore, both Hollywood make-up artists, started GlamGlow with just $80 in the middle of an economic crisis and turned it into one of the most globally celebrated beauty brands surprisingly fast.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has garnered over 1,622 positive reviews on Amazon, and the number continues to grow.
2. Best Long-Lasting Effect:Glo Skin Beauty Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator
The Glo Skin Beauty Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator is enriched with vitamin C, mineral luminosity complex, and lactic acid, that illuminate, hydrate, and rejuvenate the skin. The lightweight and clinically-proven formula melts into the skin and offers long-lasting results. Vitamin C, known for its antioxidant benefits, restores shine and helps in radiance-boosting while diminishing the effects of pollution and blue light. It also brightens the skin while the mica-infused complex enhances skin clarity and offers an illuminating, “lit-from-within” look. The mineral luminosity complex offers a glass skin-like glow, while the lactic acid gently exfoliates the skin and reduces the appearance of premature aging signs. The formula enhances the skin’s elasticity and suppleness while offering a plump effect. The product has garnered rave reviews online, with users praising its ability to provide a dewy glow and a rejuvenated complexion.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Lactic acid, and Mineral luminosity complex
Pros
- Lightweight formula
- Glass skin-like glow
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
- Gluten-free
Cons
- None
3. Best Blendable Coverage:City Color Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream
The City Color Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream has a shimmer-flecked formula to give skin a smooth pearly luster. The light-diffusing, long-lasting formula reduces the appearance of blemishes and renders a natural glow to the face. This illuminating facial moisturizer with subtle shimmer is infused with a mild rose scent, and it instantly moisturizes and hydrates the skin to give it a supple look. Offering light coverage, you can blend with foundation or use it solo to achieve a radiant effect. To get a better understanding of the City Color Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream, you can check out this video for the tester’s experience.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin and Squalene
Pros
- Universal shade
- Long-lasting
- Blends easily
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Too glittery
Pro TipMix a bit of setting powder into the cream and use it for a less glittery effect. This will mattify the formula and offer a long-lasting effect.
GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer Best Fast Absorbtion | Glo Skin Beauty Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator Best Long-Lasting Effect | City Color Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream Best Blendable Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2.8 x 2.8 x 2.3 inches | 1.32 x 1.32 x 6 inches | 3 x 2 x 2 inches |
| Weight | 0.01 Ounces | 3.17 Ounces. | 0.81 Ounces |
| Color | - | - | Ivory |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 1,622 | - | 182 |
| Price | $32.6 | $60 | $8.0 |
4. Best Premium Ingredients:AZURE 24K Gold & Collagen Firming Day Cream
The AZURE 24K Gold & Collagen Firming Day Cream offers long-lasting hydration. The exfoliating formula is made of high-quality ingredients that moisturize, lift, and tighten the skin. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making your skin appear youthful and radiant. The non-comedogenic formula includes collagen that adds a healthy glow to the skin. The other ingredients, including gold, hyaluronic acid, beta glucan, grapefruit seed oil, aloe vera, argan oil, vitamin E, olive fruit oil, squalane, and vitamin B5, hydrate, renew, and add a healthy glow to the skin.
The 24K gold helps the other ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin while accentuating their effects. It also promotes elasticity and firmness, making your skin more youthful. The hyaluronic acid in the formula helps reduce premature aging signs while aloe vera fights acne and reduces blemishes. Vitamins B3 and B5 soften and smoothen the skin, while vitamin E nourishes and protects the skin. It is ideal for all types of skin, sensitive, oily, combination, dry, or normal.
Key Ingredients: 24K gold, Collagen, and Hyaluronic acid
Pros
- Organic ingredients
- Non-comedogenic
- Anti-aging benefits
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- GMO-free
Cons
- None
5. Best For Skin Elasticity:Bliss Bright Idea Brightening Moisturizer
The Bliss Bright Idea Brightening Moisturizer comes with vitamin C, tri-peptide, and green tea. The formula boosts collagen production and enhances skin elasticity. The antioxidant properties of green tea defend your skin against free radicals. The non-irritating formula improves your skin’s texture and offers long-lasting results. The product brightens your skin and offers visible results after just 4 weeks of continued use.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Tri-peptide, and Green tea
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- SLS-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
Cons
- None
6. Best Organic Ingredients:KORA Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer
The KORA Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer nourishes and hydrates the skin while combatting hyperpigmentation, premature aging signs, and dullness. This clinically-proven, glow-enhancing moisturizer has a potent blend of organic ingredients that smooth out the skin, offering long-lasting radiance and hydration. It consists of liposome, which is a blend of turmeric, noni, and licorice. This blend nourishes and conditions the skin. The marine microalgae in the formula are a source of essential fatty acids and carotenoids. They help improve the skin’s natural texture and appearance, offering visible results after 28 days of using it twice daily. The desert date oil boosts moisture and effectively plumps the skin. Rosehip and maracuja oils firm and illuminate the skin while locking in moisture. The formula is super hydrating and also makes a great base for your makeup products.
Key Ingredients: Turmeric, Noni, Licorice, Rosehip oil, Maracuja oil, and Marine micro algae
Pros
- Organic formula
- Long-lasting radiance
- Antioxidant properties
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
Cons
- None
7. Best Anti-Aging Benefits:Darphin Lumiere Essentielle Oil Gel-Cream
The Darphin Lumiere Essentielle Gel-Cream is fortified with essential oils and plant sugars to restore moisture, strengthen the natural barrier, and revitalize skin. This clinically-tested blend also contains hyaluronic acid, which seals in hydration to make the skin supple and soft. The anti-aging ingredients smooth fine lines and brighten the skin tone to offer visible results and reveal a vibrant, natural hydrating glow, making the product perfect for mature skin.
Key Ingredients: Sodium benzoate, Tangerine, Orange, Neroli, Rose and Ylang-Ylang essential oils, Cedarwood and Ginger extracts, and Shea butter
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Phthalate-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Mineral oil-free
Cons
- Expensive
- Strong fragrance
8. Best For Dry Skin:Urban Skin Rx Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream
The Urban Skin Rx Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream is formulated with green tea and shea butter to provide intense hydration to dry and dull skin. Ingredients like probiotics and vitamin E balance the moisture levels in the skin while preventing premature aging. This illuminating moisturizer also helps fight against the effect of everyday pollutants. The rich cream provides deep moisturization to brighten the skin tone and reveal radiant, glowing skin. Many reviewers have recommended this product for an overnight treatment.
Key Ingredients: Probiotics, Vitamin E, Green tea, and Shea butter
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Gluten-free
- Fragrance-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive skin.
9. Best For Skin Exfoliation:M.A.D SKINCARE Brightening Illuminating Daily Moisturizer
The Brightening Illuminating Daily Moisturizer from M.A.D SKINCARE is a versatile product. It not only delivers a youthful radiance to the skin but also combats acne outbreaks and inflammation. The powerful ingredients like fruit extracts, vitamin C, and kojic acid exfoliate and repair the skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This illuminating moisturizer is infused with plant derivatives that brighten the skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Key Ingredients: Multi-Vitamin C complex, Kojic acid, Emblica fruit extract, Mulberry extract, Bearberry fruit extract, Apricot kernel oil, BVOS-C, Licorice extract, and Niacinamide
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Chemical colorant-free
- Easy application
Cons
- Expensive
- Medicinal odor
Infographic: 6 Key Ingredients To Look For In Illuminating Moisturizers
Our skin ends up paying the price for our busy schedules that lead to skin care negligence. Illuminating moisturizers are a great way to perk up your stressed and dull skin. These moisturizers contain amazing ingredients that lift your appearance and boost your confidence to tackle the busy day ahead. Check out the infographic below to know more about these amazing ingredients that make your illuminating moisturizers worth the bucks.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Moisturizers are the best way to keep the skin hydrated. But some moisturizers turn your skin greasy, making the skin look dull. The best illuminating moisturizers nourish, hydrate, and boost overall skin health. The GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer provides optimal moisture balance and instant hydration, the KORA Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer enhances skin texture and appearance, and for those seeking a non-comedogenic product suitable for mature skin, the Darphin Lumiere Essentielle Oil Gel-Cream is an excellent choice. These listed moisturizers also enhance the skin tone and add a touch of glow to your skin. They give the skin a flawless finish that lasts for longer hours. Always invest in moisturizers that are formulated free from harmful chemicals. And if you are allergic to strong fragrances, stay away from moisturizers that have an overpowering fragrance. Also, look for products that offer 24-hour hydration to ensure your skin stays moisturized throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I put the illuminator on my face?
Apply the illuminator on the upper lip, chin, forehead, nose bridge, and cheeks like a highlighter to enhance your facial features.
Is illuminating moisturizer and highlighter the same thing?
No. An illuminating moisturizer adds an extra glow to your natural skin and brightens the entire face. On the other hand, a highlighter is applied to draw attention to the defining features of your face.
Is illuminating moisturizer good for daily use?
Yes, it is safe to use an illuminating moisturizer every day. You can even add it to your foundation for an even-toned dewy finish and glow.
Can I use illuminating moisturizer as a primer?
Yes, you can use illuminating moisturizer as a primer since it provides an overall freshness and a radiant look to your skin.
What is the best fragrance-free illuminating moisturizer?
The Urban Skin Rx Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream is a fragrance-free formula that is formulated with green tea and shea butter extracts to fight everyday pollution.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Shiboli Chakraborti, the author of this article, is a certified skin care coach who loves experimenting with different skincare products. She believes that the perfect moisturizer hydrates the skin and gives it a smooth appearance. She has tried several illuminating moisturizers and compiled a list for her readers. These products nourish and moisturize the skin, giving you a soft and luminescent glow.
Read full bio of Andrea Hall
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Read full bio of Arshiya Syeda
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