11 best multi-tasking moisturisers to hydrate, brighten and exfoliate your skin

At one time it was enough for a moisturiser to just, well, moisturise. But now a new raft of multi-tasking moisturisers has emerged, charged with multiple hard-working ingredients to tackle more than just hydration and give you an immediate glow-up with a single swipe. 

Since Covid lockdowns many of us have become skincare alchemists, playing matchmaker with different actives. Sometimes it’s been a success (hello niacinamide paired with hyaluronic acid); conversely, other combinations such as retinol and acids have triggered a tsunami of inflammation. Cue forward-thinking beauty brands that are capitalising on the multi-tasking movement and taking away the guesswork with time-saving, multi-hyphenate formulas.

At the crux of Marie Kondo-ing our moisturising habits is the idea of avoiding endless layers of product and to do things better with less. For this reason, multi-tasking moisturisers are also a nod to the skincare minimalism trend, which shows no sign of slowing down. While skincare regimes that balloon to excess with multiple serums and moisturisers make good viewing on social media, they don’t actually guarantee better skin. In fact, they’re more likely to present as breakouts, redness and dry skin. “I have patients who arrive at their initial consultation armed with five to eight different products they use all at once, morning and night,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto. “With so many different variables, they can’t tell which product is the problem and those that are actually working for them.”

Dr Mahto is a fan of multi-tasking products for two reasons: “They reduce waste and incorporate actives specifically formulated to work together safely,” she says. So rather than multiple potent ingredients jostling for space on your bathroom shelf, the beauty of multi-tasking moisturisers is that they streamline the process by incorporating one or two essential actives into a single pot to tune up your complexion and tackle your main concerns. 

The best multi-tasking moisturisers