The 30 best face moisturizers for every skin type, tested by our team of experts

The best face moisturizers for dry skin

If your skin is naturally dry or dry because of the weather, you'll want to look for thicker creams to get maximum hydration. Cream moisturizers are made of half water and half oil, while lotions and gels are more water-based, which gives them their thinner textures. For a complete roundup of the best face moisturizers for dry skin, you can read our guide here.

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream

The Ceramidin Cream is meant for normal, dry, and extra dry skin, and even for seasonal roughness and irritation during the winter. Credit goes to the 5-Cera Complex that repairs and strengthens the skin barrier, while hyaluronic acid is the star ingredient for moisturizing the skin. If you're looking for a cream that heals and restores, this heavy goop is one to check out.

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

There's a lot going on in this moisturizer, but it all works together to rejuvenate your skin, enhance elasticity, and bring radiance. Your skin will thank you for all of the nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that are packed into this jar. Pure ceramides, fatty acids, vitamin E, and essential oils give a more youthful glow and texture to the skin, and they also shield you from environmental damage. It's additionally recommended by an expert in one of our moisturizer guides.

Clinique Moisture Surge 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

This moisturizer targets dryness, oiliness, and dullness, and achieves all of this through its Auto-Replenishing technology, which helps the skin to rehydrate itself and retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is a main contributor, as it draws water to the top layer of the skin, while aloe aids the skin in soaking up more moisture. Even though it has a gel-cream consistency, the Moisture Surge 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is great for dry skin. Insider Intelligence senior chart editor Magenta Ranero vouches for it in our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin, and says it's so good that she reaches for it all year round.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream with Hyaluronic Acid for Extra-Dry Skin

The Hydro Boost Gel-Cream is known for providing a blast of hydration to the skin, as it's enriched with humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, as well as emollients like olive extract. It's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores, and leaves your skin plump, smooth, and ultra hydrated. It's also fragrance-free and takes on a lightweight gel-cream texture, which still delivers a great deal of moisture to the skin, as Insider Reviews fellow Katie Decker-Jacoby notes in our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer

When a moisturizer has water drench in the name, that's when you know to pay attention. This is definitely the case with Peter Thomas Roth's moisturizer, as three sizes of hyaluronic acid permeate the skin and deeply hydrate. In our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin, Insider Review deputy editor Sally Kaplan says it's the only moisturizer that truly works and lasts all day long, without leaving behind a sticky residue. Her skin feels soft and plump after application, and she can't stop beating the drum for this moisturizer.

The best face moisturizers for sensitive skin

Those with sensitive skin should keep it simple with short ingredient lists. Be sure to avoid fussy ingredients that could irritate your skin — fragrance and alcohol are common culprits.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

CeraVe folds ceramides into every single product it carries, which is precisely how the Moisturizing Cream came to live in our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin. Although this white goop walks on the heavier side, three members of the Insider team can attest to its ability to moisturize without leaving any residue or grease. Their skin feels soft and dewy rather than irritated thanks to the non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula. It's gentle enough for those with super sensitive skin — even the National Eczema Association approves of it.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

For those who are prone to skin sensitivity, eczema, or rashes, the Ultra Repair Cream soothes with the help of colloidal oatmeal and allantoin. The product also moisturizes with shea butter, an emollient that's rich in vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals — all the good stuff for your skin. This cream lends nourishment and hydration to your skin, without any irritation. Insider Reviews fellow Victoria Giardina swears by this moisturizer for her sensitive skin, in our guide, especially appreciating it's creamy, fragrance-free formula.  

Clinique Moisture Surge 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

Though we call out this product above for those with dry skin, it also suits the sensitive skin type. Insider Intelligence senior chart editor Magenta Ranero sings its praises in our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin, and says it has saved her dry, sensitive, rosacea-prone skin with its oil- and fragrance-free composition. Plus, it still offers up to 100 hours of hydration, according to the brand, which is certainly hard to pass up for any skin type.

Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion

The Moisturizing Lotion is specially formulated for sensitive skin, as it excludes dyes, formaldehyde, lanolin, fragrance, and parabens. A dermatologist backs this lotion for those with easily irritated skin, in our moisturizer guide — the National Eczema Association also backs it. The thinner consistency still hydrates with emollient ingredient white petrolatum at the front of the ingredient list. 

Simple Kind to Skin Face Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

This moisturizer hydrates the skin for up to 12 hours and without irritating the skin or creating greasy residue. Its formula is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, dye-free, and ideal for sensitive and dry skin types. The ingredients in this moisturizer that are kind to the skin are vitamin B5, glycerin, bisabolol, and allantoin. Insider Reviews deputy editor Malarie Gokey says her sensitive skin is calmer, less red, and clearer when she uses this product, which you can read up on in our list of the best skincare brands.

The best face moisturizers for oily skin

Folks who are inclined to extra shine on their faces should stick to oil-free, water-based, non-comedogenic formulas. The consistency of your moisturizer should be lightweight and preferably a gel or gel-cream. You can find our full list of face moisturizers for oily skin here.

Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb

For mattifying the skin and minimizing the appearance of your pores, this thin, water-based cream can do the trick. It's packed with willowherb to soothe, glycerin to moisturize, and silica to absorb oil on the skin's surface. The product gives a natural matte finish, but also a softer and smoother one. It's also marked as Clean at Sephora, meaning it lacks parabens, sulfates SLS and SLES, phthalates, mineral oils, formaldehyde, and more.

Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30

This moisturizer, approved by a dermatologist in our guide to the best face moisturizers for oily skin, is oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic. While it's ideal for oily and combination skin types, it also suits those with sensitive skin. The product contains sunscreen ingredients to protect from harmful UV rays, which is always a bonus for any moisturizer. Cetaphil's Oleosome technology, which is less concentrated sunscreen, ensures the product won't pack more grease onto your face and further clog your pores. Meanwhile, micropearl technology soaks up oil and leaves a matte finish.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Mattifying Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Also recommended by a dermatologist in our guide to the best face moisturizers for oily skin, the mattifying in the name holds true. Its Sebulyse technology minimizes shine and the appearance of pores. Even more, lipohydroxy acid gently exfoliates, while La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water soothes. The formula is oil-free and non-comedogenic, so you know it won't block your pores, which is something to always watch out for if you have oily skin.

Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cream

Sometimes creams can be too heavy for those with oily skin, but this one is light enough to sink into the skin quickly and without leaving a greasy finish. It's also fragrance-free, which is always a plus, and hydrates with olive-derived squalane. Insider fellow Grace O'Connell-Joshua seconds these effects, and notes that a little goes a long way with this cream. In our guide to the best face moisturizers for oily skin, she also describes the product as a glass of water to her face and a solid base for her primer.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Weightless gels tend to best match combination and oily skin types, and this one certainly fits the bill, with oiliness as its sole skin concern. Unlike some of the other moisturizers in the Dramatically Different line, this one's formula is completely free of oil, plus it provides oil-control hydration. Hyaluronic acid steps in to deliver that key hydration to the skin, but without packing on more greasiness.

The best face moisturizers for acne-prone skin

Those who struggle with acne often have similar skin needs as those with oily skin, though the two are not completely interchangeable. You'll want to look for formulas that are non-comedogenic and lightweight so that you don't congest your pores even further. And like sensitive skin, it's best to sidestep moisturizers that contain irritants that could potentially aggravate your acne.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream with Hyaluronic Acid for Extra-Dry Skin

The Hydro Boost Gel-Cream can work well with multiple skin types, including the oily skin category. While it is great for those with dry skin, what makes it also compatible with acne-prone skin is it's lightweight, non-comedogenic formula. It's also fragrance-free, which avoids potential skin irritants, as Insider Reviews fellow Katie Decker-Jacoby notes in our guide to the best face moisturizers for oily skin.

Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream

Similar to the Neutrogena recommendation, this Hado Labo moisturizer is a gel-cream hybrid that gives the benefits of a light texture but also deep hydration. The formulation also doesn't block pores or include any fragrance. It differs, though, in that it additionally focuses on minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles — that's where the collagen comes in.

Simple Kind to Skin Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15

Finding a moisturizer that doesn't make your skin oilier — and therefore more vulnerable to clogged pores and breakouts — can be challenging. This one from Simple's Kind To Skin line is a dependable option for those who want hydration and SPF all in one product. Insider Reviews deputy editor Malarie Gokey can attest to this one's ability to protect her fair skin from the sun, without leaving behind any oil or residue. It's also ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin types because it excludes common skin irritants like artificial fragrances, harsh chemicals, and dyes.

Lotus Moon Vitamin B Hydrating Gel

The Vitamin B Hydrating Gel has all of the usual characteristics of a face moisturizer that's ideal for acne-prone skin, but it incorporates standout ingredients like niacinamide and aloe. The former is great for managing oil production, while the latter soothes the skin. It's a true gel consistency, rather than a gel-cream, which blends well with acne-prone skin. It's packed with numerous essential oils, though, if your skin can handle them. Insider Reviews senior personal finance editor Stephanie Hallett raves about how this product keeps her dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin at ease, in our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

Serving as a notable drugstore moisturizer, two of our team members consistently turn to this product for preventing breakouts, which you can read more about here. It's oil-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic, which ticks off all the boxes for a face moisturizer for those who regularly experience breakouts. The broad spectrum sun protection is certainly a benefit, but the radiance in the product name also holds up, as Insider Reviews senior reporter Mara Leighton notes that it's added visible luminosity to her skin.

The best face moisturizers for mature skin

As you age, you'll likely experience a loss of elasticity and reduced oil production. Plus, dry skin wrinkles prematurely and more easily. That's why it's important to reach for a moisturizer that targets fine lines and wrinkles, but also deeply hydrates. Ones that emphasize radiance are also worth taking a look at, since mature skin can tend to appear dull.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

Labeling a moisturizer as "magic" is a tall order, but Insider Reviews editor Ashley Phillips says the magic of this moisturizer is in its ability to even out skin tone and reduce redness. Even more, it targets fine lines and wrinkles, keeping your skin firm. The cream also brightens and smooths with the help of vitamins C and E. It brings radiance and elasticity back to the skin, all the while hydrating with hyaluronic acid.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter

The goal of this moisturizer is in the name — it's an anti-aging wrinkle cream that can be applied daily on the face, neck, and chest. This moisturizer infuses your skin with antioxidants, herbal extracts, and hydrators to tackle common mature skin issues head on. One of our dermatologist experts verifies this product's effectiveness in combating visible signs of aging, in our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

This cream is one of the top anti-aging moisturizers you can buy at drugstores. It helps with minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, increasing firmness, hydrating, and improving skin cell turnover. Olay Regenerist's fragrance-free formula provides these benefits because of its blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol, glycerin, and more.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer

The three sizes of hyaluronic acid in this moisturizer enable it to deliver deep hydration, but the hydrolyzed silk is what leaves the skin ultra smooth. These two ingredients join forces to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and give off a more youthful complexion. In our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin, Insider Review deputy editor Sally Kaplan says it's the only moisturizer that makes her skin feel soft and plump all day long.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Hyaluronic Acid & Retinol Cream

Collagen production slows down as you age, which is why retinol is a key anti-aging ingredient — it stimulates collagen production. And this face and neck cream doesn't just use any retinol. Accelerated Retinol SA combines retinol, glucose complex, and hyaluronic acid to renew the skin and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can learn more about this product in our guide to the best retinol creams.

The best face moisturizers for nighttime

Everyone's skin needs vary, with some benefitting from a moisturizer used exclusively in the evening. The night is a prime time for your skin to rejuvenate, so you'll want to check out products with ingredients that are known for restoring the skin barrier, promoting cell turnover, and replenishing the skin with hydration.

fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream

Dryness strikes most often in the wintertime, which means your skin could really benefit from deep moisture throughout the night. This antioxidant-rich cream helps your skin achieve a more youthful glow, but also hydrates. Insider Reviews executive editor Ellen Hoffman says she turns to this cream during the winter months and for getting that dewy look after applying makeup. Our guide to the best face moisturizers for dry skin mentions more about this product.

No B.S. Retinol Night Cream

As mentioned, retinol plays a huge part in overall skin renewal, and this night cream makes sure of it. The ingredients that add even more benefits to this product are hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and aloe vera. They hydrate, protect, and soothe for a more supple, refreshed, and even complexion the next morning. Retinol is also great for acne-prone skin, since it fades scars and reduces breakouts. In our best skincare brands list, Insider Reviews deputy editor Sally Kaplan says this product helped her acne almost immediately.

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

The secret to this nighttime lotion is its patented emulsion technology, which gradually releases ingredients to the skin, providing more thorough nourishment. It's key to repairing and renewing the skin's natural barrier, too. The all-star moisturizing ingredients that slowly treat the skin are hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and the brand's iconic mix of ceramides. Those with normal to oily skin would benefit most from this cream, as it's oil-free, non-comedogenic, lightweight, and fragrance-free. Former Insider Reviews reporter Remi Rosmarin claims it as her face moisturizer mainstay, in one of our skincare roundups.

StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer

This intensive moisturizer serves as another retinol cream that combats loss of elasticity, fine lines, and wrinkles. A point to note is the patented technology that helps your skin adjust to common retinol sensitivity. It still delivers all of the same results, though, and hydrates with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and shea butter. The inclusion of shea butter means it's best for drier skin types rather than oilier ones. This night moisturizer earns a spot in our guide to the best retinol creams, too.

Burt's Bees Skin Nourishment Night Cream

Burt's Bees is most known for their iconic lip balms, but the brand also offers effective skincare, like this night cream. Formulated for normal to combination skin, this cream lessens the look of fine lines and wrinkles overnight. It's rich in vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and more. The gentle, lightweight formula also helps with its anti-aging properties. Insider Reviews deputy editor Malarie Gokey says this cream cools her skin, in our roundup of our favorite skincare brands.