Finally, A Lightweight Natural Moisturizer Every Skin Type Will Love

Last Updated on February 2, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

We have a saying in Italy, “The small barrel preserves the best wine”. The same’s true for moisturizers. Mad Hippie Face Cream is TINY. As you take the bottle out of the box, you’ll be like, “Is this all there is?!” It’s kinda disappointing… until you slather the cream all over your face. The juice inside is SO good, its performance more than makes up for its small size. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including what it does and what skin type it’s best for:

What’s In Mad Hippie Face Cream?

ALOE VERA TO HYDRATE SKIN

Mad Hippie Face Cream contains its fair share of oils – like safflower and coconut – to create a protective barrier on the skin that seals moisture in. But where does that moisture come from? Aloe Vera. A 2016 study shows that Aloe Vera is a humectant. That’s a fancy way of saying it draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin.

If you’ve ever suffered from a sunburn, you’ll know how soothing Aloe Vera is. It calms down irritations and reduces redness. The catch? 99.5% of Aloe Vera is just water. Only the remaining 0.5% contains the “combination of mucopolysaccharides, choline and choline salicylate“ that gives it its superpowers. You know what that means? You need A LOT of Aloe Vera for it to work. It’s the second ingredient here, so we’re all good.

Related: 9 Ingredients To Soothe Irritated And Sensitive Skin

PEPTIDES TO FIRM SKIN

Peptides have gone mainstream. In the past year, they’ve sneaked their way into every skincare product you can think of. Mad Hippie Face Cream contains 2:

• Matrixyl Synthe ‘6: This peptide boosts the production of 3 types of collagen + hyaluronic acid to keep skin firm and hydrated. So far, the only studies supporting these claims come from the manufacturer, so take them with a pinch of salt.
• Syn-Tacks: Another peptide that boosts 3 types of collagen. According to the manufacturer, it increases the production of type IV collagen by 190%. That’s promising, but I’m still waiting for independent studies to confirm it.

I’m not saying peptides don’t work. But without independent studies, we can’t say how well they work. Until then, I don’t recommend you buy a moisturiser just because it contains peptides. But if it contains prove to work goodies like niacinamide and antioxidants + peptides? Go for it. That’s the case here. Phew!

Related: The Truth About Peptides In Skincare: Do They Really Work?

NIACINAMIDE, THE MOST VERSATILE SKINCARE INGREDIENT EVER

Mad Hippie Face Cream contains one of my fave ingredients: niacinamide. This form of Vitamin B3 is a do-it-all. I’m not kidding. Studies show that niacinamide:

• Hydrates skin: It’s more effective than petrolatum at preventing water loss
• Soothes skin: It alleviates the symptoms of rosacea and irritations
• Lightens skin: It reduces dark spots, blotchiness (redness) and sallowness (yellowing)
• Helps treat wrinkles: Preliminary research shows it can boost the production of skin-firming collagen
• Treats acne: Its effects are similar to those of 1% clindamycin gel

You name it, niacinamide does it.

Related: The Complete Guide To Niacinamide: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It

ANTIOXIDANTS TO PREVENT WRINKLES

Mad Hippie Face Cream is loaded with antioxidants. It has resveratrol, green tea, white tea and coenzyme Q10, to name just a few. Antioxidants work because they destroy free radicals. It goes something like this: UV rays (or pollutants/inflammation/other nasties) damage molecules so they lose one electron.

These little molecules want to be whole again, so they travel trough your skin, looking for a healthy molecule to rob. It’s the start of a chain reaction that damages collagen, elastin and everything else they find in their track.

Antioxidants can stop it. They patrol your skin looking for free radicals. When they spot one, they neutralise it before they can wreak further havoc. FYI, it’s pretty rare to find resveratrol and white tea in a skincare product, let alone in the same moisturizer. This one is a keeper!

Related: The Most Common Antioxidants Used In Skincare

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Deionized Water (Aqua): This is just purified water with all the minerals stripped out so nothing interferes with the other ingredients. It’s the base that dissolves everything and helps the product spread on your skin.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Don’t freak out about the alcohol part, this is a fatty alcohol that’s actually good for you. It softens your skin and helps the oil and water parts mix together without separating.
• Safflower Seed Oil (Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil): This is a light plant oil that’s high in linoleic acid, which moisturizes without being heavy and can actually help balance oily skin. It won’t clog pores for most people and has antioxidants to protect from environmental crap. It adds moisture without that greasy feeling.
• Glycerin: One of the best moisturizing ingredients period, it pulls water from the air into your skin and helps you hold onto it.
• Caprylic Capric Triglycerides: This is a lightweight version of coconut oil that makes products feel silky without being greasy. It helps other stuff sink in better and creates a protective layer without clogging pores. Think of it as coconut oil but way less heavy and annoying.
• Glyceryl Stearate: This is an emulsifier that keeps the oil and water mixed so your cream doesn’t separate into weird layers.
• Isopropyl Palmitate: This makes the product spread easily and feel silky on your skin. If you’re acne-prone, watch out because this can clog pores for some people.
• Phenethyl Alcohol: A preservative that kills bacteria and mold so your product doesn’t go nasty.
• Caprylyl Glycol: This moisturizes your skin and helps other preservatives work better so they don’t need to use as much.
• Ethylhexylglycerin: Another preservative helper that also makes the product feel nicer on your skin. It has some deodorizing properties too.
• Sodium PCA: This is actually part of your skin’s natural moisture system, so it’s like giving your skin more of what it already makes. It pulls water into your skin and keeps it hydrated really effectively.
• Sorbic Acid: A preservative that stops mold and yeast from growing in your product.
• C10-18 Triglycerides: These are medium-chain fatty acids that soften and smooth your skin without feeling heavy. They help create a protective barrier and are usually well-tolerated.
• Xanthan Gum: This thickens the product and keeps everything mixed together evenly so you don’t get weird separation.
• Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa Oil): This oil is full of fatty acids and vitamin E that moisturize and protect your skin from damage.
• Potassium Sorbate: Another preservative working with the others to keep bacteria and fungus away.
• Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil): This is really moisturizing but can clog pores if you’re acne-prone.
• Citric Acid: This is an AHA but at this concentration it’s just adjusting the pH to keep the formula at the right acidity level.
• AQUACACTEEN (Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract-Glycerin-Aqua): This is prickly pear cactus extract marketed as super hydrating for stressed or dry skin.
• Pomegranate Seed (Punica Granatum Seed Extract): This has antioxidants and punicic acid that might be anti-inflammatory and protective.
• Vitamin E (Tocotrienol): A less common form of vitamin E that protects against free radicals and might have anti-aging benefits.
• Steam Distilled Lime Extract (Citrus Aurantifolia Extract): Probably here for scent and maybe some antioxidants from the citrus compounds. Citrus can sometimes irritate or make you sun-sensitive but steam distillation usually takes out the worst stuff.

Texture

This cream is lightweight, yet it packs a hydrating punch. It glides on smoothly without that heavy, greasy feeling some creams have, and it absorbs pretty quickly too so you’re not sitting around waiting for it to sink in before you can do the rest of your routine or put makeup on.

Fragrance

There’s a light herbal scent going on. It’s not artificial, it’s the natural smell of the ingredients like the green tea, aloe, and plant oils coming through. It’s not my cup of tea, but it doesn’t linger around long. Within a minute or two it fades completely, so even if scents bug you, this one won’t follow you around all day.

How To Use It

In the AM, slap it on in between serum and sunscreen. The lightweight texture layers easily without pilling or feeling gross under SPF, which is always a win when you’re trying to get ready in the morning. At night, it’s the last step of your skincare routine. You’d use it after any serums or treatments you’re applying because the occlusive ingredients like oils and cetearyl alcohol help seal everything in while you sleep.

Packaging

The packaging has changed since I took the pictures, but the juice inside is still the same, so the review still stands. The moisturiser comes in a white and green tube with a pump applicator. It’s small, but cute and practical.

Performance & Personal Opinion

Mad Hippie Face Cream is one of those rare moisturizers that work for all skin types. Its texture is rich enough to moisturize dry patches, yet lightweight enough to sink in quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind. My skin has become drier since I’ve moved to London (or maybe I’m just getting older), but now the weather is getting warmer, the sebaceous glands on my t-zone are going into overdrive again.

This moisturizer works well all over. It keeps my skin soft and supple for the entire day, makes the fine lines around my eyes look temporarily smaller, and makes a wonderful base for makeup. It doesn’t dry matte, but it’s not dewy either. I wouldn’t say it gives me a healthy glow – more like it gives me healthy skin and that has a natural glow of its own. Know what I mean? The best part? It didn’t make me breakout or irritate my skin.

What I Like About Mad Hippie Face Cream

• It works for my weird combo skin – keeps my dry patches moisturized without making my oily t-zone greasy
• The texture sinks in fast so I’m not waiting around before I can put makeup on
• It’s loaded with actually good anti-aging ingredients like peptides and niacinamide, not just marketing fluff
• The fine lines around my eyes look temporarily smaller when I use it
• It didn’t break me out or irritate my skin, which is huge

What I DON’T Like About Mad Hippie Face Cream

• The herbal scent isn’t great – it’s natural but not pleasant, even though it fades quickly
• It has isopropyl palmitate which can be comedogenic if you’re really acne-prone
• It doesn’t give you that dewy, glowy finish if that’s what you’re after – it’s more natural-looking

Who Should Use This? 

• This is great if you’ve got combo skin that can’t decide what it wants to be, or if your skin changes with the seasons like mine does.
• It’s also good if you want anti-aging benefits without a heavy cream that sits on your face all day.
• If you’re looking for something that moisturizes without breaking you out and plays nice under makeup, this is worth trying.
• Just maybe skip it if you’re super sensitive to herbal scents or if your skin freaks out at any hint of coconut oil.

Does Mad Hippie Face Cream Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

$25.99/£24.00 at Mad Hippie and Ulta

Do You Need It?

If you’re looking for an anti-aging moisturiser, this is an excellent option to consider.