Cold wind outside, dry radiators inside, and skin that feels like it’s been starched. The promise of a fix usually sounds expensive. Not this time.
I clocked it on the Northern line, Monday 8:07am. A woman in a giant scarf dabbed a pea-sized blob from a plain white tube onto her knuckles, then her cheeks. No scent, no sheen, just… calm. She caught me looking and shrugged as if to say, it’s the only thing that works when the weather turns on us.
Later, in the office kitchen, I tried the same trick after washing up a mug. Same tube, borrowed from a colleague’s desk. The skin on my hands didn’t sting. By lunchtime the tightness along my jaw had eased. No tingling, no immediate shine. Just a soft, quiet comfort that stayed put through emails and a walk to Pret.
Here’s the kicker: it costs £4. Four quid.
The £4 cream dermatologists actually rate
The moisturiser is the unshowy E45 Cream — the £4 tube you’ll spot in Boots or shoved at the back of your aunt’s bathroom cabinet. Dermatologists like it for the exact reason influencers don’t always rave about it: it’s basic in the best way. No perfume, no dye, no sparkly promise.
It’s built on occlusive emollients that trap water in the skin’s top layer, giving your barrier the breathing space it needs to settle. That means fewer flaky patches, less post-shower tightness, and a face that doesn’t feel like paper under makeup.
Mia, a nurse from Leeds, told me she switched to E45 after her winter night shifts left her knuckles cracked from constant sanitiser. Within a week, the angry redness had dialled down to a faint pink and her hands stopped catching on her coat lining. Her routine was simple: cleanse, pat-dry, a thin layer of E45, then gloves on the commute.
It mirrors what I’ve seen over and over: the cheapest tube in the pharmacy aisle often does the heavy lifting. We’ve all lived that moment when your face drinks in a moisturiser and instantly looks less annoyed. E45 isn’t trying to be cool. It’s trying to be kind.
Here’s why it works. Moisture loss accelerates in winter — cold air outside, hot air inside — and your skin’s barrier gets leaky. E45 Cream leans on occlusives like white soft paraffin and light liquid paraffin, with a touch of lanolin to smooth micro-cracks. Occlusives can reduce water loss from skin by an astonishing margin, locking in the hydration you already have.
Think of it as cling film for your moisture, not a tap. It doesn’t flood your face with water; it keeps the water you’ve just added from evaporating into the air the moment you step outside. Simple. Effective.
How to use a £4 moisturiser like a pro
Start with lukewarm water, not hot. Cleanse gently, then leave your face slightly damp — not dripping. Warm a pea-to-almond amount of E45 between fingers and press it in: cheeks, then forehead, chin, nose. If your skin is very thirsty, layer a light hyaluronic or glycerin serum first, then seal with the cream. At night, smooth a thin final veil over the areas that get ruddy or flaky.
Don’t rub like you’re polishing silver. Press and glide. In the morning, a tiny amount under foundation stops the midday crackle. On hands, sandwich it after your sanitiser has dried. On lips, it’s not glamorous, but the edge of the tube will save you when the wind bites along the river. Let’s be honest: no one does this every single day. Good habits most days beat perfect habits never.
“Your moisturiser doesn’t pour water into your skin; it keeps the water you’ve already given it from escaping,” as one Harley Street derm once told me. “That’s barrier care, and it’s boring — until you need it.”
When you’re tired and your face says so, a tidy set of rules helps.
- Apply on damp skin. It turns a good moisturiser into a great one.
- Keep it fragrance-free on sore days; add your lovely scented stuff when the barrier is calm.
- If you’re lanolin-sensitive, patch-test on the inner forearm first.
- Pair morning use with SPF, even when the sky is pewter.
- Try a once-a-week “slug” on the driest patches before bed, not all over.
Why cheap can beat chic in winter skincare
There’s a quiet relief in finding something that just works when the weather leans mean. E45 Cream has that old-fashioned pharmacy vibe that feels trustworthy because it’s not trying to seduce you. In my bag, it has replaced three other tubes I kept around “just in case.”
When a moisturiser is this simple, it plays well with others. Vitamin C in the morning? Fine — layer it underneath and let E45 lock it in. Retinoid at night? Wait 20 minutes after your retinoid, then seal it. If you love actives, this cream is the steady partner who keeps the bills paid on time.
*There’s comfort in knowing a fiver can buy you a month of calm skin.* It’s not a miracle. It’s a lever. Pull it when the heating roars on, when your cheeks sting after a windy dog walk, when your hands snag on your scarf. Keep the tube by the sink. Share it with your flatmate. Watch how skin softens when you feed it predictability.
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| Formula built on occlusives | White soft paraffin, light liquid paraffin, touch of lanolin | Locks in water fast, calms tightness after cleansing |
| Best applied on damp skin | Press in after cleansing or misting | Boosts hydration without extra products or cost |
| Plays nicely with actives | Layer under SPF, over humectants, after retinoids | Maintains routines while preventing winter irritation |
FAQ :
- What exactly is the £4 moisturiser everyone’s talking about?E45 Cream in the small tube — a classic, fragrance-free emollient you’ll find in most UK pharmacies.
- Will it clog my pores?It’s rich and occlusive, so go light on oilier T‑zones and heavier on drier cheeks; many combination skins do well with spot application.
- Can I use it with retinol or acids?Yes. Use your actives first, let them settle, then seal with a thin layer of E45 to reduce dryness and flaking.
- Is it safe for sensitive skin?It’s designed for dryness and sensitivity, but it does contain lanolin. If you’re reactive, test a small patch on the inner forearm first.
- Is it just for hands and body, or can I use it on my face?It’s fine on the face for most people, especially in winter. Start with a small amount and build if your skin drinks it up.
