The 15 Best Face Moisturizers For Every Skin Type

Moisturizers are one of the most important and probably used skincare products to hydrate, nourish, and replenish the skin. The main skincare ingredients in a moisturizer that you may encounter are hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help to attract moisture to the skin, keeping it hydrated throughout the day. Ingredients like jojoba, coconut, argan oil, and shea butter are important too, to help soften and smooth the skin’s surface, reducing roughness and improving texture. When choosing the best face moisturizers, it’s important to consider your skin type whether it’s dry, oily, combination, or sensitive, and any specific concerns you may have such as acne, aging, or uneven skin tone.
Additionally, factors like seasonality and climate can influence your choice of moisturizer. Lighter formulas are often used in hot and humid conditions, while richer creams are favored during colder, drier months.
We’ve reviewed and tested a lot of moisturizers and chose the 15 best face moisturizers for any skin type, that will hydrate your skin.
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall:
Best Budget:
Best For Dry Skin:
Best For Oily Skin:
Best For Sensitive Skin:
Best For Mature Skin:
Best For Acne-Prone Skin:
Best For Eczema:
Best For Redness:
Best Anti-Wrinkle:
Best Overall
This might be one of the best face moisturizers on the list, competing with CeraVe and Cetaphil. The main ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which helps to hydrate the skin. It’s suitable for all skin types, as it is free from harsh chemicals, and after use it won’t leave any greasy residue, making it ideal for daily use.
Best Budget
CeraVe is the best skincare brand in 2024 (in our opinion), that makes effective, gentle, and balanced products. If you’re looking for a budget moisturizer that will last a while, this might be the one for you. This moisturizer has long-lasting hydration, and a unique blend of skincare ingredients like ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, that help to restore and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and provide hydration.
Best For All Skin Types
This lotion has optimal hydration and promotes skin health. Its gel-free, lightweight formula provides a superb solution for daily hydration, without leaving any greasy residue. Moreover, this lotion is fragrance-free and has hypoallergenic properties, making it suitable for people with even the most sensitive skin types.
Best For Dry Skin
This cream is made to replenish and rejuvenate your skin. Its advanced formula ensures profound hydration and imparts a soft, velvety skin texture without clogging pores. One reviewer says “This is an excellent moisturizer. I use this product daily and I love how lightweight it is and how smooth my skin feels afterwards. This is my go-to product!”
Best For Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, this moisturizer might be the choice to deal with that. It’s packed with retinol, hyaluronic acid, organic green tea, vitamin E, jojoba oil, and shea butter, which will help with aging, hydration, and overall skin texture. Overall, this product is great for oily and mature skin, it will not leave any greasy residues after use.
Best For Sensitive Skin
This is my go-to moisturizer that helps me to hydrate the skin without causing irritation or dryness. It’s free from harsh chemicals, like dyes, fragrances, and parabens, to suit any skin type, even the most sensitive ones. Even, dermatologists have tested and recommended this facial moisturizer.
Best For Normal Skin
This cream is highly effective face moisturizer, that provides your skin with ultimate hydration and nourishment, it’s specifically made to rejuvenate and revitalize your skin. It’s also suitable for all skin types, and could even be used as a night cream. Its lightweight and non-greasy formula swiftly absorbs into the skin, without leaving any greasy residue.
Best For Mature Skin
If you’re dealing with the signs of aging, and not afraid to spend a couple of bucks on a product that may help to hide fine lines and wrinkles, we have good news. This cream is suitable for all skin types, whether dry, oily, or combination, as it is free from silicone, gluten, fragrance, and paraben. It visibly enhances the texture and tone of your skin and helps to diminish the appearance of age spots and blemishes. The main ingredients are sea buckthorn oil, apple stem cells, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, to hydrate, repair, and promote skin cell regeneration.
Best For Acne-Prone Skin
The Aveeno Positively Radiant Clear Moisturizer is a highly effective facial moisturizer specifically made for acne-prone skin. This product has a unique formula, that works to nourish and hydrate the skin while diminishing the appearance of blemishes and dark spots.
Best For Eczema
This moisturizer is packed with a blend of powerful ingredients, like Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and allantoin to calm and relieve dry, irritated skin. It’s free from gluten, and artificial fragrances to suit any skin type. One reviewer says “This is my go-to moisturizer now. I have very sensitive skin and it’s hard to find products that don’t cause breakouts, rashes, or trigger my perioral dermatitis. This product however is very good with my skin.”
Best For Redness
Cetaphil Redness Relieving Cream is specifically made to target redness caused by various factors such as rosacea, sensitivity, or environment. This cream has a non-irritating formula suitable for all skin types. It’s Infused with ingredients such as glycerin and shea butter, to provide deep hydration and nourishment.
Best For Sunburn
If you’re looking for a moisturizer that protects the skin from UV rays and helps with sunburn, consider Paula’s Choice Skin Restoring Moisturizer. It might be one of the best face moisturizers out there that specifically deals with sunburns. It’s packed with shea butter, aloe & oat extracts, and niacinamide, which hydrates, brightens, soothes and restores the skin.
Best Anti-Wrinkle
This moisturizer is the most expensive on the list but for a good reason. It contains some special ingredients that even I haven’t heard about, the ones I’m talking about are mimosa, chlorella, and padina pavonica. The ingredients protect, hydrate, firm, and support the skin with anti-aging properties. Furthermore, it’s very light, so it easily absorbs into the skin, and has a pleasant floral scent. If you’re looking for more or cheaper options check our list of the best moisturizers for mature skin.
Best Gel Type
You’ve probably already heard about Glow Recipe, if not, the brand creates skincare products using fruit extracts to deliver healthy and glowing skin. This moisturizer is made with natural extracts and antioxidants, like watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, and licorice root to deliver deep hydration and soothe the skin. Its lightweight and non-greasy formula makes it suitable for all skin types, and honestly, it might be one of the best face moisturizers with an amazing scent.
Best Spray Type
This face moisturizer contains skincare ingredients, like collagen, curcumin, and glutathione, that nourish, firm, hydrate, and prevent skin inflammation. It’s extra light and fast-absorbing, the only downside is that you may not notice any change in the skin for a while.
When to apply moisturizer?
It depends on your skin and the moisturizer, but aim to apply moisturizer twice a day, once in the morning after cleansing, and once in the evening, just make sure that your skin is slightly wet before the application.
How to apply moisturizer?
First, take a small amount, warm it up between your palms, and gently massage it onto your face. If it’s not enough to cover your wanted area, repeat the process.
How often should you apply moisturizer?
For Dry Skin: You should apply moisturizer more than twice a day, or as much as your skin needs.
For Oily Skin: Applying a light oil-free moisturizer twice a day is more than enough, as over-moisturizing can lead to even more oily skin and more breakouts.
For Sensitive Skin: Apply a gentle, soothing moisturizer twice a day, and avoid layering, as it can lead to irritation.
Season can also play a role in how often you should apply moisturizer. Let’s say it’s winter, the air is drier, then you should apply moisturizer more than twice a day. In summer stick to moisturizing your skin twice a day with a light-based moisturizer.
What are the best ingredients in a moisturizer?
Hyaluronic Acid: Functions as a humectant and holds water molecules to keep your skin hydrated.
Shea Butter: Works like an emollient to soften and hydrate the skin.
Squalane: Works like a lightweight emollient that helps smooth, soften, and lock moisture into the skin.
Glycerin: Humectant that draws moisture from both the deeper layers of skin and the surrounding environment to the outer skin layer.
Niacinamide: Supports hydration in the skin by helping it produce keratin, a protein that strengthens and retains moisture in the outer layer.