The 9 Best Face Moisturizers To Hydrate And Nourish Your Skin (2024)

The best face moisturizers absorb quickly and hydrate skin without leaving behind a greasy finish or residue. Before choosing one, you’ll first want to consider your skin type. For most people, the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is an excellent option that feels moisturizing yet lightweight, absorbs instantly and boosts overall radiance thanks to its lipid-rich formula. If you’re prone to dryness or flakiness, opt for an intensely hydrating formula like the peptide- and ceramide-infused Dieux Instant Angel Moisturizer.

Dermatologist Dr. James Y. Wang notes that your environment can also play a crucial role in helping you determine the right facial moisturizer. For instance, you may need a more nourishing cream if you live in colder areas, while those in warmer climates could get away with a lightweight gel formula. After consulting with deputy editor Jane Sung and Wang, we’ve rounded the best face moisturizers for every skin type and budget.

Best Face Moisturizer Overall

A Lipid-Enriched Cream That Hydrates And Smooths Skin

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

Skin type:Dry, normal, mature | Key ingredients: Ceramides, natural cholesterol, fatty acids | Cruelty-free:No

What you’ll love:

  • Deeply hydrating
  • Fast-absorbing formula
  • Helps to even out skin tone

Keep in mind:

  • Contains essential oils, which can be irritating to some

No matter your skin type, it’s importantto moisturize it twice a day. SkinCeuticals’ Triple Lipid Restore—which earned the top spot in our roundup of thebest moisturizers for aging skin—is a versatile and lightweight formula with 2% pure ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol and 2% fatty acids, a ratio that’s designed to nourish the skin andhelp diminish signs of aging. What’s more, this fast-absorbingcream works to even out skin tone and improve overall radianceover time.

Best Value Face Moisturizer

An Affordable Option That Doesn't Clog Pores

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

Skin type:Normal, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Prebiotic thermal water, cermamide-3, niacinamide | Cruelty-free:No

What you’ll love:

  • Lightweight cream texture
  • Helps repair skin barrier
  • Provides up to 48 hours of hydration

Keep in mind:

  • Some say the product can pill

This pick comes out to be $7.10 per ounce, which makes it the best value face moisturizer on our list. Not only is it an affordable option, but it’s also a gentle one that won’t clog pores. Its key ingredients include La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal water (a soothing antioxidant), ceramide-3 (which helps retain moisture and maintain a healthy skin barrier) and niacinamide (a form of vitamin b3that targets skin discoloration).

Best Face Moisturizer For Dry Skin

A Peptide-Infused Cream For An Ethereal Glow

Dieux Instant Angel

Skin type:Dry, normal | Key ingredients: Meadowestolide, plant ceramides, peptides, lipids | Cruelty-free:Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Deeply moisturizing
  • Targets the appearance of wrinkle depth
  • Comes with a squeeze key to help dispense product

Keep in mind:

  • May feel on the heavier side for acne-prone skin

The Dieux Instant Angel creamintensely hydrates and leaves skin with a glow. This fragrance-freepick is infused with peptides, ceramides and barrier-supportive ingredients thatboost hydration and provide a dewy finish. Although the texture is on the richer side, it doesn’t feel thick or leave behind a layer of residue (read: no pilling). This is a favorite of Sung’s, who finds it just as ideal for prepping skin for makeup or sunscreen by day or applying in a heavier dose as a night cream.

Best Face Moisturizer For Aging Skin

A Rich Cream That’s Packed With Antioxidants

Augustinus Bader The Ultimate Soothing Cream

Skin type:Aging, normal, dry, sensitive | Key ingredients: Evening primrose oil, vitamin B3 and B5, black cumin oil | Cruelty-free:Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Heals seasonal dryness
  • Calms stressed-out skin

Keep in mind:

  • On the pricier side

Beloved by celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Aniston and Dakota Johnson, Augustinus Bader skincare is known for itshighly effective and luxurious formulas. This fast-absorbing cream contains ingredients that aid in cellular renewal—like vitamin B and niacinamide—to help revive your complexion. It’s also formulated using the brand’s Trigger Complex, which includes evening primrose oil and black cumin to calm and soothe irritated skinwhileit hydrates.

Best Moisturizer For Combination Skin

A Gel Moisturizer That Feels Light As A Feather

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Skin type:Combination| Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, olive extract | Cruelty-free:No

What you’ll love:

  • Oil-free hydration
  • Lightweight
  • Affordable

Keep in mind:

  • Some find the scent overpowering

This superstar gel cream (a winner in our roundup of the best moisturizers for oily skin) delivers oil-free, lightweight hydration thanks to key ingredients hyaluronic acid and olive extract. Ideal for those with combination or oily skin, its water base keeps oil-prone areas from feeling too greasy. In addition, it helps even out skin tone without clogging pores.

Best Face Moisturizer For Oily Skin

An Option That Practically Wicks Away Oil

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat

Skin type:Oily, normal, sensitive | Key ingredients: Thermal spring water, glycerin, lipo-hydroxy acid | Cruelty-free:No

What you’ll love:

  • Non-greasy
  • Hydrating
  • Doubles as a makeup primer

Keep in mind:

  • Leaves a matte finish

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat, which earned the top spot in our guide to the best moisturizers for oily skin, moisturizes while leaving skin a matte finish. Made with the brand’s own thermal spring water, the formula soothes skin while hydrating it thanks to the inclusion of glycerin. In addition, lipo-hydroxy acid, also known as LHA (a derivative of salicylic acid) helps with gentle exfoliation. This lightweight formula also reduces the appearance of enlarged pores and makes a great base for makeup.

Best Face Moisturizer For Acne-Prone Skin

Contains 1% Salicylic Acid To Help Prevent Breakouts

Origins Clear Improvement Moisturizer

Skin type:Combination, oily, acne-prone | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, bamboo charcoal | Cruelty-free:No

What you’ll love:

  • Oil-free
  • Helps prevent breakouts

Keep in mind:

  • May have a strong scent

If you have acne-prone skin, you’ll want to choose a formula that can treat flare-ups and hydrate the skin without further clogging pores. The Origins Clear Improvement Moisturizer is a great option with 1% salicylic acid to help prevent breakouts and blackheads while boosting hydration. Customers say it feels light on the skin and absorbs quickly, though it does have a faint smell.

Best Face Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin

A Gentle Formula That Soothes Even Eczema-Prone Skin

Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Barrier Recovery Cream

Skin type:Sensitive | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin | Cruelty-free:Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Lightweight
  • Non-greasy finish
  • Reduces redness

Keep in mind:

  • A little goes a long way

This pick is rated as our best moisturizer for sensitive skin for good reason. The formula contains hyaluronic acid, ceramides and allantoin, which instantly hydrates, soothes and replenishes the skin barrier. It’s also fragrance-free, redness-reducing and has a non-greasy finish. Another benefit? It has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

Best Face Moisturizer With SPF

A Hybrid Product You’ll Want To Keep Refilling

Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor

Skin type:Normal, dry, combination, oily | Key ingredients: Kalahari melon, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, aloe | Cruelty-free:Yes

What you’ll love:

  • Built-in sun protection
  • No white cast
  • Refillable

Keep in mind:

  • Strong fragrance
  • Pump applicator may not be consistent

Along with key ingredients for tackling dehydration and discoloration—niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, Kalahari melon—this moisturizer provides SPF 30 sun protection as well. The formula has a pink tint that allows it to blends well into all skin tones, and it also comes in a fragrance-free version for those who aren’t a fan of the melon scent. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, its minimalist packaging is refillable, too.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

At Forbes Vetted, we’ve published many expert-backed beauty stories. These include topics such as the best face sunscreens and the best anti-aging serums.

  • This article was written by contributors Wendy Sy and Stephanie Montes, who specialize in beauty and fashion coverage.
  • Deputy editor Jane Sung assigned and edited all iterations of this article and approved all product selections. She oversees the beauty and grooming category and has more than 15 years of experience as a lifestyle journalist.
  • We gathered key insights and tips on what to consider in a face moisturizer from Dr. James Y. Wang, owner of Metropolis Dermatology.
  • This article is regularly updated to ensure all of the above brands and products continue to meet our criteria for the best face moisturizers.

How We Chose The Best Face Moisturizers

To curate this list of best face moisturizers, we tested dozens of options and conducted in-depth research on products from leading brands, including SkinCeuticals, La Roche-Posay, Dieux and more. In addition, we consulted a board-certified dermatologist for additional insight.

  • To select the best face moisturizers, we evaluated each option’s formula and consistency and chose ones that cater to a variety of skin types.
  • We also included picks from related facial moisturizer roundups for specific skin types that were carefully researched and tested.
  • The selections were also made based on feedback found from combing through product reviews.
  • Our final list includes a variety of moisturizers for every skin type and budget.

What To Consider In A Face Moisturizer

Besides knowing your skin type, it’s ideal to keep your environment and surroundings in mind. For example, someone who lives in Reykjavik would need a much more nourishing cream than someone in Los Angeles, who could get away with a lightweight gel consistency. “Moisturizers do not exist in isolation, and your other skincare routine will also determine which one is right for you,” says Dr. Wang, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Metropolis Dermatology. Those on the drier side might consider using a serum or oil in tandem, and someone using retinol at night would benefit from an SPF-infused moisturizer during the day.

Ingredients

Like most beauty products, moisturizers are not one-size-fits-all—they can run the gamut in terms of the types of ingredients. Wang recommends looking for formulas that include ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which he describes as “the most scientifically proven ingredients. These help to repair the skin barrier while drawing water up from deeper skin layers to the surface.” Wang also adds that dry, flaky skin can repel water, but when your moisturizer is actually helping the barrier, your skin retains the water and sees long-term benefits.

Skin Type

Rather than purchase moisturizers with the cutest packaging or best photos on Instagram, allowing your skin type to guide your decision makes all the difference in efficacy. However, “it is often not easy to tell what [kind] you have because some products will induce dry or oily skin, which may not be your natural skin type,” says Wang. He recommends going on skincare fast or consulting a dermatologist before developing a long-term plan.

Once you’ve determined your skin type, keep in mind Wang’s suggestions. “Sensitive skin types should always avoid fragrance or oils in their moisturizer—even natural oils can cause irritation,” he says. “Oily skin types should avoid occlusive moisturizers (these sit on the surface of your skin) and use only light lotions after a gentle skin cleanser.” As for combination skin, Wang says “this is somewhat of a fabricated type because it is often caused by overdrying the skin with a harsh cleanser, which induces the skin to make excess oil. In this case, it’s best to use a gentle cleanser followed by a light moisturizer daily, even if the skin feels oily. Over time, the skin will rebalance and become less oily."

Consistency

When you think of a moisturizer, visions of face creams in a jar most often come time mind—but they can come in various formulations. “Lotions and creams are great for skin repair, as they often contain ceramides and healing properties,” says Wang. He only recommends balms and ointments for eczema and flare-ups to create a defensive skin barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is The Top-Rated Face Moisturizer?

The SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is our best overall pick and a top-rated moisturizer. This lipid-rich cream is made for those with dry, normal and mature skin. Infused with ceramides, natural cholesterol and fatty acids, the fast-absorbing formula deeply nourishes skin and helps diminish signs of aging.

What Is The Best Face Moisturizer Recommended By Dermatologists?

There’s no one face moisturizer that’s fitting for everyone. What works for your skin may not be the best option for your sister or best friend. Wang recommends consulting with a dermatologist to determine your specific skin type, which can make choosing the right products easier.

What Is The Best Thing To Moisturize Your Face With?

Using face moisturizers consistently is the best way to keep your skin hydrated. Wang notes that depending on your skin type, including other products such as serums and sunscreen is also important to use in your overall routine.

The 9 Best Face Moisturizers To Hydrate And Nourish Your Skin (2024)

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