Buried among the five-star one-liners in the recent reviews for Simple's Hydrating Light Moisturiser is a one-star warning from Molly: "Be careful, this now contains niacinamide! This used to be the best moisturiser for sensitive skin but now I can't use it." That is a striking thing to read about a cream whose entire identity is being the safe choice, the one your mum used, the one you buy when everything else stings.

So we read the 100 most recent UK reviews properly. The short version: the crowd still adores it. It carries a 4.6-star average across more than 19,000 Amazon ratings, and the 100 recent reviews average 4.62, with 83 of them awarding five stars. The texture praise is near-unanimous, the value praise close behind. But there is a small, consistent cluster of reactions that long-time fans link to the ingredient list, and if you have reactive skin you should know about it before you check today's price on Amazon. Here is what 100 buyers can tell you that the bottle cannot.

The Ingredient Long-Time Users Say Is New

Seven of the 100 reviews describe a physical reaction of some kind: stinging, burning, watery eyes or a mild allergic response. Three of those seven name the same suspect. Alongside Molly's warning above, Caitlin, a two-star reviewer who describes the cream as a staple from growing up, writes: "unfortunately this makes my skin burn and sting. I think this is because they have reformulated this with niacinamide". Lewis is blunter: "Awful, gives breakouts and burned my eyes with niacinamide". Dylan T reports something worse, "Burns and causes severe bubble or some sort of chemical burn to the skin", after years of using Simple creams without trouble.

Worth being precise about the source here: the listing never says the formula changed. The reformulation claim comes from long-time users, not from Simple. What the current bottle does state, printed on the front, is 1% niacinamide alongside pro-vitamin B5. Niacinamide is one of the most widely used ingredients in modern skincare and 1% is a low concentration, but a minority of people do react to it, and these reviews read exactly like that minority finding out the hard way.

Four of the five one-star reviews in the sample describe a reaction. The fifth gives one star while saying they "really enjoy putting it on twice a day", which looks like a mis-tapped star rating rather than a complaint. Keep the numbers in proportion, though: the remaining 93 reviews report no irritation at all, and Nazmin Trishna, who "Gave me watery eyes but worked well on skin", still went with four stars. The sensible move if your skin reacts to actives is a patch test on your jaw or inner arm before committing your whole face.

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What Simple Puts in the Bottle, and What It Leaves Out

The pitch is minimalism. No colour, no artificial perfume, and what Simple calls no harsh chemicals that can upset your skin. The formula leans on pro-vitamins B5 and E, that 1% niacinamide and bisabolol, which the listing says work together to help replenish and restore the skin's barrier. The cream promises instant lightweight hydration and up to 12 hours of moisturisation, and it is dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, meaning it is formulated not to clog pores. That last point matters for the acne-prone buyers we will get to shortly.

Two more listing details are worth knowing. The product is PETA-Approved Vegan, with Simple stating it does not test on animals anywhere in the world, a box many pricier creams still cannot tick. And the bottle is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, excluding the cap and label, and is fully recyclable once you are done with it.

The bottle holds 125ml, which is on the modest side for a daily face and neck cream. Lulu, a five-star fan, put it plainly: "I wish I bought loads now because the bottle is quite small." The consistency is thin, so it spreads further per application than a thick balm, but heavy users will still get through it in a couple of months.

Almost Watery, and That Is the Point

Ask the reviews what this cream actually feels like and the answers barely vary. Emma Robinson needs six words: "Non greasy, watery consistency. Gentle on skin". Ali Bakhakh, who relies on it daily through winter, describes the texture as "soft, almost watery" and means it as a compliment: "That means it goes on your face easily and settles quite fast." Tazz says it "leaves my face feeling very dewy and glowy rather than greasy". Simple's own listing claims 94% of users agree it feels light on skin, and for once the review section fully backs the marketing.

That fast absorption makes it a natural morning cream. Lynnie applies it as a makeup base: "I use this daily before my make up routine . Not greasy and doesn't irritate skin so perfect." Interestingly, Georgia takes the opposite view of the same texture, loving it for "my no make-up days" while noting "I don't tend to wear this under make-up." If you want a primer-like grip under foundation, this is not that; it is a disappear-and-forget layer.

As for the 12-hour moisturisation claim, the funniest data point comes from K Dawson, whose three-star review complains: "it's ok but the moisture doesn't really last for that long, maybe 12-15 hours or less". A criticism that concedes the product may outperform its own packaging is a criticism most brands would pay for.

Rosacea, Breakouts and One Bathroom With Three Skin Types

Eight of the 100 reviews name sensitive skin specifically as the reason this cream works for them, and the detail behind some of them is more persuasive than the star average. Two reviewers mention rosacea, and both are positive. Tazz finds most moisturisers "irriate and inflame my skin but this works so well". Another buyer layers it over prescribed treatment: "After I've applied rosacea gel and it has dried I apply the simple face cream and it's lovely and cool on skin and leaves my skin feels very soft."

The acne-prone camp reports the same relief. Lulu calls it "the perfect light moisturiser for acne prone skin. Lots of moisturisers break me out, but not this one!!!" and regrets the money spent on expensive creams that either caused breakouts or did nothing. Declan Bunt adds that it "helps with acne" and absorbs cleanly. That is the non-comedogenic claim doing its job.

Then there is the age range. Chris, 68, rates it "none greasy" and lightweight. Dr K M Johnson bought it for a teenager. A Kindle Customer's son uses it daily with "No allergic reaction." And Balderdash covers the whole spread in one household: "I'm 52, my daughter 31, my son 16, and we all use it. We all have differing skin types but it suits us all." For a shared bathroom shelf, one bottle that everyone tolerates is a quiet superpower. Simple's listing suggests using it as step three of its Kind to Skin routine, after the Moisturising Facial Wash and the Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin B5 Booster Serum, but every routine described in these reviews treats it as a standalone.

Too Light for Parched Skin, Too Rich for the Oiliest

A light texture cuts both ways, and three of the 100 reviews warn that it is not enough for properly dry skin. Maisy, a four-star sensitive skin regular, is direct: "I would recommend a heavier cream for really dry skin." Hannah still gave five stars while noting it is "Thin not very hydrating if you have dry skin feels like you need to keep applying". Maliha Samiha titled a five-star review "Not suitable for dry skin" and files it under "a summer friendly weather". Against that, Roshen RV, who has dry skin, reports "it leaves my skin soft, smooth and hydrated, it doesnt feel dry". The pattern across the set: fine for everyday dryness, thin for severe or deep-winter dryness.

At the other end of the spectrum, one three-star reviewer with oily skin pushed back on the branding: "It says light, but it's still too oily and on oily skin it just looks greasier", and after years of use has moved to an oil-control alternative. Mooncake disagrees entirely, calling it "Very good light moisturiser for oily skin." One vote each way, so treat oily skin as a maybe rather than a no.

The remaining complaints are about the container, not the cream. David Wrench, five stars: "it is difficult to get the last dregs from the bottle, which is best left upside-down." Paul & Katey add that "the packaging could be slightly sturdier for travel". Minor stuff, flagged by people who bought it again anyway.

The Verdict: 4.5 Stars, With One Caveat That Matters

Money comes up constantly in this review set: 22 of the 100 reviews mention price, value or affordability, and every one of those 22 is approving. The most telling version comes from a buyer who has shopped around: "Having tried many other comparable (but much more expensive) creams and lotions I constantly return to Simple products for their gentle and effective use." This is a cream people leave for something fancier and then come back to. You can check today's price on Amazon, and it will almost certainly cost less than the delivery charge on a department store moisturiser.

We score it 4.5 out of 5. The case for: an almost-watery, fast-absorbing texture that 83 of 100 recent buyers rated five stars, no added perfume or colour, vegan certification, a recycled bottle, and documented wins for rosacea, breakouts, teenagers and pensioners alike. The case against: it is too thin for severely dry skin, the last of the bottle takes some coaxing out, and a small group of reactive-skinned long-timers now find it stings, with several pointing at the 1% niacinamide on the label.

So the buying advice writes itself. If niacinamide has ever disagreed with you, this is no longer the automatic safe pick it once was; patch test first or choose something without it. For everyone else, this remains one of the easiest skincare recommendations on Amazon: a gentle, no-drama daily moisturiser at a corner-shop price, backed by 19,000 ratings and a household loyalty most brands would kill for.

Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser 125ml

Fast-absorbing 12-hour hydration with pro-vitamin B5, vitamin E and 1% niacinamide. No perfume, no colour, PETA-Approved Vegan, and loved by sensitive skin buyers of every age.

£2.29

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