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When the weather turns cold, a lot of people switch to a richer moisturizer. Celebrities do too, and several have named the exact cream they reach for. Some of the most-mentioned are surprisingly cheap. Here are the rich creams and balms stars have named in interviews, what each one is, and drugstore alternatives where the celebrity pick is expensive.
Quick answer
The rich moisturizers celebrities name most often are drugstore classics: Weleda Skin Food, Nivea Creme and Aquaphor. The luxury pick that comes up is Crème de la Mer.
- Most-named: Weleda Skin Food (Bella Hadid, Julia Roberts)
- Classic tin: Nivea Creme (Helen Mirren)
- Balm: Aquaphor Healing Ointment (Lucy Liu)
- Luxury pick, with a drugstore alternative: Crème de la Mer (Charlize Theron); try CeraVe Moisturizing Cream first
How we researched this
This guide is researched, not a hands-on review. A product made the list only if a reputable outlet quoted a celebrity naming it, or reported them naming it in an interview or video. Several sources are years old, so we flag that; routines change. We found no brand deals between these celebrities and the products in the sources we checked, but we can’t rule them out. We did not include prices, and we make no claims about what any product does for skin beyond what the celebrity said.
1. Weleda Skin Food
Who’s named it: Bella Hadid used it in a Vogue beauty video. The Handbook quotes her: “I go through like eight of these a month.”
Julia Roberts has named it too. PureWow quotes what she told InStyle: “I put it on my hands after I wash the dishes, and wind up putting it on my elbows and feet.”
What it is: A thick, rich cream in a tube. Retailer listings such as Well.ca highlight lanolin as a key ingredient, so skip it if you avoid lanolin, and check the label for the full ingredient list. A small amount goes a long way.
Cheaper alternative: It’s already a drugstore price.
Search Weleda Skin Food on Amazon
2. Nivea Creme
Who’s named it: Helen Mirren. Asked by NewBeauty about products she has used for more than ten years, she named “good old Nivea for dry skin,” as reported by Parade (via AOL). We found no Nivea deal for Mirren in the sources we checked.
What it is: The thick white cream in the blue tin, used on face, hands and body.
Cheaper alternative: It’s already one of the cheapest rich creams you can buy.
3. Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Who’s named it: Lucy Liu. Woman & Home reports that she calls it “Aqua-for-everything,” a line she gave New York Magazine.
What it is: A petrolatum-based ointment, not a cream. People use a thin layer as the last step at night, or on dry patches. It feels heavy, so it suits some skin types better than others.
Cheaper alternative: At drugstore pricing, you don’t need one.
4. Crème de la Mer (the luxury pick)
Who’s named it: Charlize Theron. An older Harper’s Bazaar Malaysia feature reports that she relies on The Moisturizing Cream by Crème de la Mer in winter and when she travels to dry climates. The piece is several years old, so treat it as a snapshot.
What it is: A rich, luxury face cream in a jar, and one of the most expensive moisturizers on this list by a wide margin.
Drugstore alternative: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is a rich tub cream sold almost everywhere. It’s a completely different formula, not a dupe; it’s simply a much cheaper rich cream to try first.
Search Crème de la Mer on Amazon
Worth it?
Only if you already know you love it. Three of the four celebrity picks here are drugstore products, which says a lot. Try a drugstore rich cream first and splurge only if it doesn’t suit you.
The comparison table
| Product | Who’s named it (source) | Texture | Cheaper alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weleda Skin Food | Bella Hadid (Vogue video, via The Handbook); Julia Roberts (InStyle, via PureWow) | Thick cream | Already the budget pick |
| Nivea Creme | Helen Mirren (NewBeauty, via Parade) | Thick cream | Already the budget pick |
| Aquaphor Healing Ointment | Lucy Liu (New York Magazine, via Woman & Home) | Ointment | Already the budget pick |
| Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream | Charlize Theron (Harper’s Bazaar Malaysia, older) | Rich cream | CeraVe Moisturizing Cream |
How to choose a winter moisturizer
- Match the texture to your skin. Ointments and very thick creams feel heavy; if your skin gets shiny or congested, use them only on dry patches.
- Check the ingredient list. Weleda Skin Food contains lanolin; if you avoid it, pick something else.
- Patch test anything new. Try a small area for a few days before using it all over your face.
Not medical advice. This article reports what celebrities have said about products they use. If your skin is cracked, painful, very itchy or not improving, or you react to a product, see a doctor or dermatologist.
FAQ
What moisturizer do celebrities use in winter?
The ones named most often in interviews are drugstore staples: Weleda Skin Food, Nivea Creme and Aquaphor. Crème de la Mer is the luxury cream that comes up.
Is Weleda Skin Food good for the face?
Bella Hadid has talked about using it in a Vogue beauty video, and Julia Roberts has described using it on her hands, elbows and feet. It’s very rich, so many people use a small amount or only on dry areas.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Crème de la Mer?
There’s no exact dupe. If you want a rich cream for less, a drugstore option like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is a sensible place to start.
Are these celebrities paid to mention these products?
We found no brand deals for these specific products in the sources we checked, but we can’t rule them out.
Sources
- The Handbook: Bella Hadid and Weleda Skin Food
- PureWow: Julia Roberts and Weleda Skin Food
- Parade via AOL: Helen Mirren loves these 5 beauty products under $15
- Woman & Home: Lucy Liu’s skincare routine
- Harper’s Bazaar Malaysia: Charlize Theron and Crème de la Mer
- Well.ca: Weleda Skin Food listing
Last updated: November 1, 2026. Products and availability change; check the retailer before you buy.