Creams & Oils

Facial creams such as the Light 72h Moisturizing Cream or the Intensive Gel Cream for very dry skin contain a water portion in addition to fat, providing both moisture and care, which makes them the most versatile choice for most skin types. Facial oils such as the Royale Essence Intensive Care Oil, by contrast, consist almost entirely of fat-soluble ingredients and are especially suited to dry, mature, or heavily stressed skin that needs an intensive, replenishing protective film. For oily or blemish-prone skin, light, water-based creams or gel creams are usually the better choice, since pure oils can additionally clog pores, even though non-comedogenic oils exist now too. Many customers combine both: a cream as a base and a few drops of oil on top for extra shine and additional care on especially dry days. If you're unsure, it's best to test a cream first, since it's generally the more straightforward and versatile option.

Day creams are usually formulated lighter, absorb faster, and often contain additional sun protection factor or a mattifying effect, so they work well with make-up and protect the skin from environmental factors during the day. Night creams such as the Royale Essence Restorative Cream are generally richer and often contain additional active ingredients for cell renewal, since the skin is in a natural recovery phase overnight and more receptive to intensive care. Whether you really need both creams depends on your skin type: for normal to dry skin, the distinction is usually noticeably worthwhile, while very uncomplicated, normal skin often gets by with a single, medium-weight cream around the clock. More important than strictly separating day and night, in any case, is that your day cream provides adequate sun protection, supplemented if necessary by an additional, separate SPF product. If you want to get started on a budget or with a simple routine, it's best to begin with a good day cream with SPF and add a richer night care product later if needed.

Yes, in a wide selection: avril offers the Bio First Wrinkle Cream and the Body Butter with Shea Butter, both with certified organic ingredients, and cmd Naturkosmetik additionally carries the Royale Essence Intensive Care Oil and the Royale Essence Restorative Cream. Puremetics rounds out the natural segment with the Precisioner spot blemish treatment as well as several Bodywhip body creams. GEODERM, Mossa, and Uoga Uoga further round out the natural cosmetics offering. Newwell is positioned as attractively priced and also vegan formulated, for example with the Whitening Cream SPF 15 or the Ice Therapy Roll-On for the eye area. These products are generally clearly labeled 'organic' or 'natural' and avoid animal-derived ingredients.

For oils, so-called comedogenicity is relevant, meaning how strongly an oil tends to clog pores: coconut oil is considered rather comedogenic and should be used with caution on blemish-prone skin, while jojoba oil or grapeseed oil are generally much better tolerated for combination skin. For creams, it's worth checking whether a product is specifically formulated for 'blemish-prone skin', 'sensitive skin', or 'very dry skin', such as the Moisturizing Cream for Blemish-Prone Skin or the Ultra-Nourishing Body Cream for dry skin from Bioderma, since the formulas are adjusted accordingly. Active ingredients such as ceramides, urea, or niacinamide indicate a formula specifically targeted at barrier protection or sebum regulation respectively. You'll always find the complete composition in the INCI list on the relevant product page. If you have known allergies or sensitive skin, you should generally check this list before buying and test new products on a small area of skin first.

For facial cream, a pea-sized amount is generally completely sufficient for the whole face; more product doesn't make the care more effective, but often just sits unused on the skin's surface. Distribute the cream with your fingertips in gentle, circular motions from inside to outside and from bottom to top, which corresponds to the natural direction of skin tension and slightly counteracts downward pull. For facial oil, two to three drops are usually enough, which you should first rub between your palms before gently patting them into your face rather than rubbing them in. You should only apply eye cream with your ring finger, since it exerts the least pressure, and work the cream in with light tapping motions rather than vigorous rubbing, to protect the thin eye area. Let cream or oil absorb briefly before applying additional make-up, so the care doesn't mix with the make-up and cause smudging.

For blemish-prone skin, the Moisturizing Cream for Blemish-Prone Skin from Bioderma or the Anti-Blemish Care against pimples and acne from La Roche-Posay works especially well, since both formulas regulate excess sebum without drying out the skin. For sensitive skin, it's worth looking at the Moisturizing Facial Cream for Sensitive Skin from La Roche-Posay or the Repairing Skincare for soothing and regeneration, both of which specifically avoid irritants. For very dry skin, richer formulas such as the Intensive Gel Cream for Very Dry Skin or the Ultra-Nourishing Body Cream from Bioderma are the right choice, since they form a stronger protective film against moisture loss. If you also want to rely on natural cosmetics, the Bio First Wrinkle Cream from avril is a mild, nourishing alternative. For persistent skin problems despite suitable care, we also recommend consulting a dermatologist.

A day cream with built-in sun protection factor, such as the Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50+ for Sensitive Skin from La Roche-Posay, combines care and UV protection in one step and is generally completely sufficient for the everyday commute to work or short times outdoors. For longer, intense sun contact, such as at the beach or exercising outdoors, a separate, higher-dosed sunscreen is usually the more reliable choice, since many day creams with SPF aren't designed for hours of direct sun exposure and are reapplied less often. Another difference: day cream with SPF is generally applied more thinly than a dedicated sunscreen, which means the actually achieved sun protection factor in everyday use is often lower than stated on the packaging. For your basic routine, a day cream with SPF 30 or 50 is completely sufficient; for planned longer sun exposure, you should additionally reapply or switch to a specialized sunscreen. Don't forget that UV protection is important year-round, not just in summer.

Dermocosmetic brands such as Bioderma and La Roche-Posay stand out with clinically tested formulas specifically tailored to skin problems such as blemishes or dryness, and are frequently recommended by dermatologists. Natural cosmetics brands such as avril, cmd Naturkosmetik, and Puremetics rely on plant-based oils, certified organic formulas, and transparency about ingredients. L'Oréal Paris sits between dermocosmetics and classic drugstore products in terms of price, with well-known BB cream formulas. Newwell covers a wide range of creams, vegan and at an attractive price. Which direction suits you best depends on whether you want to medically treat a specific skin problem or would rather rely on certified natural cosmetics or an attractively priced range.