Found: the Best Face Moisturizer for Your Exact Skin Type
Found: the Best Face Moisturizer for Your Exact Skin Type
I feel like I’ve said this, like, IDK, a million times, but I’m gonna say it again: Moisturizer is one of the most important things you can put on your face (aside from sunscreen, of course). Why? Face moisturizers trap in water and hydration and hold it to the skin (hellooo, dewy glow), but more important, they also help maintain a healthy skin barrier, aka your skin’s outermost protective layer that (1) prevents bacteria and irritants from entering your skin and (2) prevents moisture and nutrients from escaping. So please, do your skin a favor and try one of these 15 best face moisturizers, below. There’s one for every single skin type, so you officially have no excuse not to be slathering on some moisture every day.
1) Tatcha The Indigo Cream
Tatcha
sephora.com
$85.00
Sensitive skin types will love the calming and soothing effects of this creamy face moisturizer. The magic ingredients? Colloidal oatmeal (a natural skin protectant that relieves irritation and itchiness) and redness-reducing indigo extract.
2) Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid Peptide Cream
Skinfix
sephora.com
$50.00
The combo of lipids, fatty acids, peptides, and nourishing plant extracts in this creamy face moisturizer are ideal for dry, flaky skin. They work together to support a healthy skin barrier, which you already know is a must for keeping dry skin smooth and hydrated.
3) Boscia Cactus Water Moisturizer
boscia
ulta.com
$38.00
If your skin isn't normally dry, but feels tight and looks dull, it's likely dehydrated—a temporary condition where the skin lacks water (it can happen to any skin type, even oily). The fix? A water-rich face moisturizer, like this one from Boscia. It's made with three super hydrators: hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and succulent extract.
4) Skinbetter Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment
skinbetter.com
$135.00
I know this face moisturizer is on the pricey side, but it's honestly worth every penny—especially if you have combination skin. The lightweight lotion doesn't clog pores, hydrates without feeling heavy, and contains ceramides and antioxidants to boost the health of your skin barrier.
5) La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Mattifying Moisturizer
Effaclar
laroche-posay.us
$31.99
PS, oily skin needs moisture (without it, oil glands go into overdrive and end up producing more oil). Which brings us to this lightweight moisturizer from La Roche-Posay. It's specifically designed for greasy skin and contains hydrating thermal spring water, plus mattifying minerals, to absorb oil and shine throughout the day.
6) Differin Soothing Moisturizer
Differin
amazon.com
$8.77
This Differin lotion checks all the right boxes when it comes to a great face moisturizer for acne-prone skin. The soothing formula reduces inflammation (a precursor to acne), is oil-free and non-comedogenic, and is deeply hydrating (v important, since most acne products have drying side effects).
7) Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Calming Gel Cream
Dr. Jart+
sephora.com
$48.00
This ultra-calming face moisturizer reduces redness on contact, thanks to its cooling gel texture, anti-inflammatory tiger grass, and sheer, green tint that works like a color corrector to neutralize ruddy tones.
8) Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Face Lotion
Cetaphil
amazon.com
$12.43
Obviously all skin is ~normal~, but for the purposes of this breakdown, I'm going to call skin that's chill/easy-going/doesn't give you a hard time "normal skin." If you're blessed with this low-maintenance skin type, then Cetaphil's daily face moisturizer is for you. The lightweight, hydrating formula is basic (in a good way) and probably costs less than whatever you ate for lunch.
9) Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm
10) Ren Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream
REN Clean Skincare
sephora.com
$48.00
If you're dealing with hyperpigmenation, go ahead and give this face moisturizer with vitamin C a try. The antioxidant suppresses melanocytes (aka pigment making cells) to fade existing dark spots, prevent new ones from forming, and brighten your skin tone.
11) StriVectin Advanced Retinol Day Lotion SPF 30
StriVectin
ulta.com
$99.00
The hero ingredient in this daytime face moisturizer for lines and wrinkles? Retinol. It speeds up cell turnover and prompts collagen and elastin production (the two proteins found in skin that keep in plump and firm) to give you super-smooth, dewy looking skin.
12) Renée Rouleau Glow Enhancing Creme
reneerouleau.com
$69.50
I use this face moisturizer from facialist Renée Rouleau to keep my skin bright and glowy when I can't see her for one of her magical facials. It's loaded with ascorbyl palmitate (a potent form of skin-brightening vitamin C), nourishing rosehip seed oil, and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
13) EltaMD UV Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40
ELTA MD
amazon.com
$28.50
I use this multitasking face moisturizer with sunscreen every morning. It keeps my a.m. routine nice and easy and my skin nice and dewy. The sheer lotion contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, plus SPF 40 to protect my skin and melasma from damaging UV rays.
14) Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream
Neutrogena
amazon.com
$16.97
Proof that you can get an excellent face moisturizer at the drugstore: this gel-cream for all skin types from Neutrogena. It's loaded with hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to your skin, but won't clog your pores or feel heavy or greasy under makeup.
15) Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream
Josh Rosebrook
follain.com
$45.00
Made with all-natural and certified organic skincare ingredients, this face moisturizer is perfect for anyone who is into the green-beauty scene. It's infused with soothing aloe vera and Indian senna seed (a plant extract that functions similar to hyaluronic acid) to make your skin look super plump and dewy.
Oily? Dry? Sensitive? Acne-prone? I gotchu.