Our 21 Favorite Moisturizers for Every Skin Concern
September 27, 2024
Whether you follow a 10-step skincare regimen every night or you’re more of a minimalist, moisturizer should always hold a spot in your skincare routine. However, finding the best face moisturizer for your skin can feel tricky when there are so many different types to choose from. Lightweight facial lotions can be a great pick for those with oily skin, while richer cream formulas that provide deep hydration are ideal for those with dry or sensitive skin types. If you’re having trouble discerning which type of moisturizer is best for your needs, keep scrolling. Ahead, we’re sharing some of our favorite moisturizers for every skin type, from budget-friendly drugstore buys to luxe options we’ve deemed worth the splurge.
How To Determine Your Skin Type
The first step to finding the best face moisturizer for you is to identify your skin type. Generally, skin can be classified as either oily, dry, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, or “normal” (which simply means your skin is well balanced). Each skin type has its own characteristics and needs. Here’s how to determine which category your skin falls into:
Oily: Oily skin is characterized by a higher-than-average production of sebum, your skin’s natural oil. It may appear shiny or greasy—particularly around the T-zone—and may coexist with skin concerns such as large pores, blackheads, or breakouts. If you have oily skin, you’ll typically fare best with lightweight water-based moisturizers that absorb quickly.
Dry: If your skin often looks parched, dull, or flaky, you likely have dry skin. Those with this skin type should reach for richer cream moisturizers that contain emollient ingredients, such as squalane, and humectants like glycerin.
Combination: Having both dry and oily areas on different parts of your face simultaneously is typically indicative of combination skin. Finding the best face moisturizer for combination skin is a bit of a balancing act—you want something lightweight enough to not weigh down your oilier areas, but moisturizing enough to nourish those drier patches. We suggest opting for nourishing yet lightweight moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin without leaving it feeling greasy.
Sensitive: Skin that’s reactive or easily irritated is typically described as sensitive. Often, sensitivity is an indication that your skin barrier could use some extra TLC. To help hydrate your skin and support your skin barrier, we suggest looking for gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers that contain soothing ingredients such as aloe vera or colloidal oatmeal.
Acne-prone: Acne-prone skin can be oily, dry, or sensitive—its main characteristic is that it’s prone to breakouts. The best moisturizers for acne-prone skin tend to be non-comedogenic formulas that won’t clog your pores or worsen breakouts. Moisturizers that contain salicylic acid can also be beneficial, particularly if you’re looking for something that can help address existing breakouts.
Normal: Well-balanced skin that’s neither too oily nor too dry likely falls into the normal category. This skin type doesn’t frequently experience breakouts or irritation. Most gentle moisturizers will work well for normal skin—just steer clear of anything with strong acids or oils, which could potentially throw your skin off-balance.
Our Favorite Moisturizers for Oily Skin
You still have to moisturize if you have oily skin—in fact, skipping moisturizer could make your skin more oily, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Here are some of our top picks for hydrating oily skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin
This oil-free gel moisturizer sinks in quickly and provides all-day hydration with a comfortable, lightweight feel. Over time, it also helps improve the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores—the latter of which is a common concern for those with oily skin.
Skin Better Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Regular exfoliation can help improve skin texture and tone and help prevent clogged pores. If you’re new to exfoliating, we suggest starting with an exfoliating moisturizer. This pick, which contains a retinoid/alpha-hydroxy acid compound, helps improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and unevenness without irritating the skin.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30
This SPF-infused moisturizer boasts an ultra-light, non-greasy feel and helps protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. It’s also oil-free, non-comedogenic, and boasts a matte finish—a major boon for those prone to mid-day shine.
Our Favorite Moisturizers for Dry Skin
As you can probably guess, moisturizing consistently is a must if you have dry skin. Ahead, we’re sharing some of our favorite formulas for quenching parched skin.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturizer
This beloved face cream is among our top picks for dry skin, as the squalane-infused formula provides up to 48 hours of deep hydration. It also helps firm and brighten the skin after two weeks of use and helps strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier over time.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Night Cream
This nourishing night cream works for all skin types, but the combination of nourishing omega-rich fatty acids and emollient squalane makes it particularly well-suited for dry skin. Apply the lightweight moisturizer to your face and neck before bed and wake up to skin that appears plumper and more youthful by morning.
Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
For intense, long-lasting moisture, this rich cream is hard to beat. It’s formulated with a blend of squalane, peptides, shea butter, and jojoba butter, and helps lock in moisture without clogging pores or irritating the skin.
Our Favorite Moisturizers for Combination Skin
Balance is key when it comes to finding the best face moisturizer for combination skin. Here are some of our favorite formulas that strike that balance perfectly.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream
As mentioned earlier, combination skin typically exhibits both oiliness and dryness in different areas simultaneously. To address both concerns, we suggest opting for a facial lotion or cream that neither feels overly heavy nor too light. This refreshing formula is a great pick—it’s rich but refreshing and provides up to 48 hours of hydration for naturally glowing skin.
L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line Plumping Water Cream
Plump your skin and help banish dry patches with this water-based moisturizer. The non-greasy gel-cream formula has the perfect texture for combination skin. We also love that it’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores or exacerbate breakouts.
Best Moisturizers for Aging
Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
Give your combo skin the boost of hydration it deserves with this air-whipped moisturizer. The non-comedogenic cream boasts a blend of superfood ingredients, including kale, spinach, and green tea, and delivers up to 48 hours of hydration without a heavy or greasy feel.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Gel Cream Oil-Free Moisturizer
This innovative moisturizer is designed specifically for combination skin. The hyaluronic acid-infused formula gives dry areas the hydration they need, while oil-control technology helps banish excess shine for a hydrated, balanced complexion.
Our Favorite Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive or reactive skin, it’s important to choose a moisturizer that won’t leave your skin feeling tight, itchy, or irritated. These are some of our top picks.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Prioritizing your skin barrier is a must if you’re prone to redness and irritation. This cult-classic moisturizer is a great way to show it the care it deserves. The squalane-infused formula is uniquely designed to help strengthen the skin barrier, and it provides up to 72 hours of non-greasy hydration for soft, smooth, healthy-looking skin.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50
If you have sensitive skin, you know that one wrong product can throw your complexion into a cycle of redness and irritation. Play it safe with this fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and allergy-tested lotion. It contains broad-spectrum SPF 50 mineral sunscreen to help shield your skin from the sun’s damaging rays and provides continuous hydration for healthier-looking skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Help repair your skin barrier in as little as one hour with this lightweight face cream, which contains a trifecta of ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin. The unique formula immediately comforts the skin and delivers a dose of long-lasting moisture to help promote a healthier-looking complexion.
Our Favorite Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin
If you’re prone to blemishes, you’ll want to opt for a non-comedogenic moisturizer that won’t clog your pores or worsen existing breakouts. These three options fit the bill.
Vichy Normaderm Phytoaction Acne Control Daily Moisturizer
Many moisturizers are designed simply to hydrate the skin—this one hydrates and helps address breakouts. The lightweight formula with 2% salicylic acid works to help clear existing acne and prevent future breakouts. Plus, it helps minimize the appearance of large pores, improves skin texture, and visibly improves skin tone with continued use.
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment
There is nothing quite as frustrating as finally getting a pimple to clear only to be left with a persistent dark spot on your face once it does. This daily moisturizer helps target those pesky post-blemish marks while reducing excess oil, minimizing redness, and reducing the appearance of enlarged pores. Plus, it provides lightweight hydration to help soothe and balance the skin.
Kiehl’s Expertly Clear Moisturizer for Acne-Prone Skin
Give your skin the hydration it needs to look and feel its best with this lightweight daily moisturizer. The unique formula contains salicylic acid and niacinamide and helps target breakouts without drying out the skin. It’s also a great pick for those prone to post-blemish marks, as the brightening moisturizer helps fade the look of discolorations over time.
Our Favorite Moisturizers for Mature Skin
Mature skin isn’t a skin type, per se, but it does require special care to look and feel its best. Whether you’re dealing with age-related concerns like wrinkles or simply want a moisturizer designed for your changing skin, these picks deliver.
L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Pressed Night Cream with Retinol and Niacinamide
Retinol (vitamin A) is one of the top anti-aging ingredients dermatologists recommend to patients looking to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. But if you’re new to retinoids—or have more sensitive skin—it can be a bit drying. This moisturizer is a great way to get started with the ingredient, as the hyaluronic acid and glycerin-infused formula provides deep hydration and helps counteract the potential drying effects of retinol.
Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream SPF 30
Target multiple signs of aging with this five-in-one formula, which helps to lift, firm, smooth, and even skin’s texture while moisturizing the skin. The addition of broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen makes it the perfect anti-aging choice for daytime.
L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream
If you’re looking for a night cream to add to your anti-aging skincare routine, let this luxurious-feeling formula be it. It’s loaded with patented antioxidants and helps repair the skin barrier at night when it’s most susceptible to recovery. Use it nightly to reveal smoother, firmer, and more radiant-looking skin over time.
Skinceuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Cream
This potent moisturizer is backed by more than 15 years of research into glycation, a natural process that contributes to visible skin aging. The powerful formula helps reverse visible signs of aging—including laxity, dullness, and wrinkling—while delivering deep, long-lasting moisture to help keep the skin looking and feeling its best.
Lancôme Absolue Soft Cream Moisturizer
If you’re feeling indulgent, consider picking up this ultra-luxurious face cream. The beloved formula contains Grand Rose extract, shea butter, meadowfoam seed oil, and Pro-Xylane and helps revitalize the skin to reveal a smoother, suppler appearance over time. While it provides intense hydration, the moisturizer feels incredibly lightweight on the skin, which makes it a great pick for those who tend to steer clear of thicker creams.
Read more
