Finding the best face moisturizer for you will depend on your skin type (is it dry, oily, or combination?), and your personal preference on things like consistency and price point.
For decades—maybe even centuries—the humble face moisturizer has been an important final step in our skincare routine. Sure, it might not be in the limelight when new ingredient and product trends come along (serums, mists, masks, we’re looking at you), but the great thing about moisturizer is that it’s consistently reliable.
Skin feeling dry? Use a moisturizer to replenish hydration. Reactive? Use a moisturizer to comfort it. Generally out of whack? Use a moisturizer to rebalance it. There’s not much that a hard-working, no-frills cream can't fix, so we've tested and reviewed the best face moisturizer options for each skin type and needs, as well as explaining how to find the perfect one for you.
How to choose the best face moisturizer for your skin
First, it’s important to understand what the main job of a moisturizer is. In short, they help maintain integrity of the skin barrier, but they also play an important part in ensuring skin stays healthy. Despite being a fairly simple product, not all moisturizers are made equal and there are a few things that you need to take into account before choosing a moisturizer.
- Budget—Consider how much you want to spend before perusing the options.
- For oily or blemish-prone skin—Look for a gel-like moisturizer with non-comedogenic ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane.
- For dry skin—Seek out richer, nourishing textures and ingredients like ceramides and shea butter.
- For sensitive skin—Avoid fragrance, essential oils, and alcohol as they could lead to more sensitivity. Moisturizers containing minimal ingredients will be better suited.
- For combination skin—Use different moisturizers to target different areas of your face, or choose a lightweight formula with anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide.
- Price ≠ quality—A product being expensive doesn’t automatically make it better.
- When you'll wear it—Thicker moisturizers work well at night, while thinner options can be worn under makeup (for example) during the day.
- Use a separate SPF—Always apply this as your last step after your daytime moisturizer.
The best face moisturizer buys as reviewed by a beauty expert
A dermatologist favorite, this lightweight moisturizer is as calming as it is hydrating. Loved by dermatologists, skin experts, and beauty editors alike, La Roche-Posay’s Toleraine Sensitive Creme is the perfect blend of hydrating ingredients that work to soothe the skin as well as moisturize.
Our tester found that it absorbs into the skin quickly, while the added ceramides and niacinamide protect the skin without being greasy, heavy, or sticky. Free of both fragrance and alcohol, it also targets skin sensitivity while reducing the signs of discomfort, like tightness or itching, within just four weeks of use. We can see why it's such a trusted household name.
If you like your skincare simple, no-nonsense, and gentle, CeraVe Moisturising Cream might be the right face moisturizer for you. It's no-frills, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't deliver in a big way. It's almost as natural as they come, with no perfume (and so no overpowering scents), and no color added—so it should be a great choice for most sensitive or problem skin types.
It contains three hydrating ingredients; ceramides (natural oils found in the skin), fatty acids, and phytosphingosine (a water-binding agent), all of which make it a good choice for dry, oily, or combination skin. Our tester did find that it is on the thicker side though, so you may want to use it at night, rather than in the day if you know your skin prefers a lighter formula during the day.
Rich, nourishing, and jam-packed with a blend of vegan milks, this is an underrated favorite of our tester's. While some skin types may find it too heavy, for anybody with skin that is on the drier side and who needs one of the best moisturizers for dry skin, this is an excellent choice. The luxurious formula blends a mix of fig, oat, and argan-derived milks that get to work to instantly quench thirsty skin. Incorporating clever micro-droplet technology, it sinks into the skin easily without feeling at all greasy.
The addition of grapeseed oil and olive-derived squalane work to balance the skin's oil levels while also protecting against environmental stressors. Consider this a kind of one-stop-shop formula that is suitable for both day and nighttime use.
Paula’s Choice is a well-loved, bestselling brand created by Paula Begoun, who’s worked in the beauty industry since 1975—so you know you can trust her. An oil-free night cream to moisturize acne-prone, oily skin without clogging pores, this weightless formula melts seamlessly into the skin and makes a great addition to your skincare routine, working to hydrate it without feeling heavy or sticky.
Also formulated with niacinamide to soothe flaky patches and reduce the appearance of large pores, it also contains ceramides to strengthen the skin’s barrier, and blueberry, an antioxidant that calms redness. We found that all this leaves skin soft, hydrated, and free of shine.
Originating from South Korea, Dr.Jart+’s suits-all Ceramidin range is a particularly good choice for combination skin types, especially if you find that the best foundations for oily skin tend to work better for you. The smooth, hydrating cream works to lock in moisture, providing skin with immediate hydration while also strengthening the delicate skin barrier. It’s formulated with a unique Ceramidin Complex, which infuses the skin with essential lipids to help maintain its natural moisture levels.
It’s suitable to use both during the day and at night, giving skin an effortlessly dewy glow while sitting well under makeup. Pair it with the best BB creams for a natural look, or have confidence that it'll give you a soft base for a more glam look.
The creamy, gel-like consistency on offer here is ticking all of our boxes when it comes to moisturizers for sensitive skin. A hypoallergenic, lightweight gel-cream that instantly soothes while adding intensive moisture, it’s formulated with a blend of prebiotic oat and calming feverfew, which work together to nourish skin and protect the barrier.
It's a great pairing for the best foundations for sensitive skin in particular as it helps to minimize the risk of any flare-ups. It absorbs quickly and is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores or cause any further sensitivity to the skin.
If you're on the hunt for a moisturizer that effortlessly hydrates your skin and leaves you with an ultra-dewy complexion, look no further than Clinique's Moisture Surge—the brand hasn't named it a "hydrator" for nothing.
Both refreshing and cooling when first applied, this is a fantastic option for dry skin in particular, making it a must-have in the cold winter months. That said, it can of course still be used in summer, too, when it'll give you almost a post-facial glow that our tester loved.
The secret behind this product's hydrating qualities is, per Clinique, the mix of activated Aloe Vera and caffeine, which team up to activate the skin's own "internal water source". This in turn allows the skin to really nourish and moisturize itself from the inside out.
From chic French brand Avéne, this face moisturizer is an incredibly hydrating option that feels really rich and luxurious. It's thick (enough that some users might find it slightly greasy), but that doesn't mean that it doesn't soak in effectively. During the testing process it left our tester with a lovely dewy look that lasted all day.
With its skin-friendly ingredients and the fact that it's recommended by many dermatologists, it's a good option for most people—though those with dry skin will likely reap the most benefits. Plus, we love the chic, French pharmacy-style packaging, which would look gorgeous on your nightstand or in your bathroom cabinet.
The Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Gel Moisturiser is the perfect option if you've got an early start and find your skin needs a bit of a boost. With a refreshing scent—made up of orange peel, grapefruit, and spearmint oil—it's enough to wake your face up and hydrate it at the same time. Win-win!
The brand claims that this moisturizer can provide skin with up to 72 hours of hydration thanks to its “Hydra-Hug” technology, and from our tester's experience of using it, this certainly seems to ring true.
It's got a pleasant, lightweight texture that feels both nourishing and smooth when first applied, and it leaves you feeling confident that it won't clog your pores or aggravate any existing skin conditions, such as rosacea or acne, for example. The formula is absorbed by skin quickly, and doesn't leave behind any sticky residue, making it ideal for when you need to apply and go.
Read our in-depth Origins GinZing Moisturizer review for a detailed look at this cult favorite buy
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