9 Bestselling Illuminating Moisturizers Of 2023

Boost the radiance of your skin and keep it hydrated with these brightening moisturizers.

By Shiboli ChakrabortiShiboli Chakraborti, Certified Skin Care Coach  • 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

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.

Products
Check Price
Best Fast Absorbtion:GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer
Price on Amazon
Best Long-Lasting Effect:Glo Skin Beauty Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator
Price on Amazon
Best Blendable Coverage:City Color Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream
Price on Amazon
Best Premium Ingredients:AZURE 24K Gold & Collagen Firming Day Cream
Price on Amazon
Best For Skin Elasticity:Bliss Bright Idea Brightening Moisturizer
Price on Amazon
Best Organic Ingredients:KORA Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer
Price on Amazon
Best Anti-Aging Benefits:Darphin Lumiere Essentielle Oil Gel-Cream
Price on Amazon
Best For Dry Skin:Urban Skin Rx Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream
Price on Amazon
Best For Skin Exfoliation:M.A.D SKINCARE Brightening Illuminating Daily Moisturizer
Price on Amazon

9 Bestselling Illuminating Moisturizers Of 2023

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.
protip_icon 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 It’s Worth Buying: With over 1,622 Amazon acclaimed reviews, this product is sure to find a place in everyone’s shopping bag.
Price at the time of publication: $32.6

2. Best Long-Lasting Effect:Glo Skin Beauty Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator

4.4
Glo Skin Beauty Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator Image: Glo Skin Beauty

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 formula melts into the skin and offers long-lasting results. Vitamin C restores shine and radiance 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.

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

Price at the time of publication: $60

3. Best Blendable Coverage:City Color Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream

4
Glowing Complexion Illuminating Cream Image: City Color Cosmetics

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 moisturizer is infused with a mild rose scent, and it instantly moisturizes and hydrates the skin to give it a supple look. 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.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin and Squalene

Pros

  • Universal shade
  • Long-lasting
  • Blends easily
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Too glittery
protip_icon Pro Tip

Mix 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.
Price at the time of publication: $8.0

4. Best Premium Ingredients:AZURE 24K Gold & Collagen Firming Day Cream

4.4
AZURE 24K Gold & Collagen Firming Day Cream Image: Azure Kosmetics

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.

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

Price at the time of publication: $14.99

5. Best For Skin Elasticity:Bliss Bright Idea Brightening Moisturizer

4.3
Bliss Bright Idea Brightening Moisturizer Image: Bliss

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.

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

4.2

The KORA Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer nourishes and hydrates the skin while combatting hyperpigmentation, premature aging signs, and dullness. It 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 improve the skin’s natural texture and appearance. 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 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

Price at the time of publication: $62

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 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 reveal a vibrant, natural glow.

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
Price at the time of publication: $42.43

8. Best For Dry Skin:Urban Skin Rx Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream

4.3
Urban Skin Rx Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream Image: Urban Skin Rx

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.

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.
Price at the time of publication: $42.0

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
Price at the time of publication: $56.0

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. These listed moisturizers also enhance the skin tone and add a touch of glo to your skin. They give the skin a flawless finish that last 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.

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.

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 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.

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