Experimentation is part of the process when you’re on the hunt for your holy grail moisturizer. Not only are there countless creams, lotions, and gels for the job, but you also have to consider your skin type, any concerns you may be hoping to address, and the price tag.
So, where do you begin? We rounded up 20 of the best face moisturizers for all kinds of skin types and budgets so you can zero in on what will work best for you.
How we chose the best face moisturizers
To create our list of the best face moisturizers, we looked for products designed for specific skin types, like oily,dry,and sensitive. We also looked for moisturizers designed for particular skin concerns, like acne.
We narrowed down our list further by checking out the quality of ingredients in each product and scouring feedback from online reviewers. Then, we tested some of the products ourselves so we could provide hands-on insights.
1.e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream
Skin type: all
Key ingredients: squalane, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptide complex
SPF: none
Made for all skin types, this affordable moisturizer is packed with powerhouse ingredients. Hyaluronic acid and squalane hydrate your skin while vitamins B3 (niacinamide) and B5 help to soothe, even, and brighten. Peptides help promote collagen for a more youthful appearance.
This lightweight face cream moisturizes without feeling greasy.
Plus, at less than $15 for a 1.7-ounce jar, it’s a budget-friendly pick. It’s also easy to find at national retailers, like Ulta, Target, and Amazon.
2.Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Skin type: all
Key ingredients: aloe vera, beeswax, shea butter
SPF: none
The light, milky texture of this moisturizer but caution that a little can still go a long way.
Made by a French cosmetic line, it’s enriched with vitamins and antioxidants and formulated for dry skin.
Shea butter hydrates and boosts collagen to improve elasticity, while soy proteins firm and tone.
Some preliminary research suggests that the isoflavones found in soy may help reduce the appearance of fine lines.
3.Osmia Purely Simple Face Cream
Skin type: sensitive or normal
Key ingredients: aloe leaf juice, plant-based oils, vitamin E, glycerin
SPF: none
This no-nonsense face cream is made with plant-sourced ingredients like organic aloe juice and vegetable-derived glycerin for hydration. With minimal amounts of oil-based ingredients, it gently moisturizes even the most sensitive, allergy-prone skin.
However, it does contain small amounts of essential oils, which some people may find irritating.
4.Weleda Sensitive Care Facial Cream
Skin type: sensitive or reactive
Key ingredients: almond oil, glycerin
SPF: none
Nourishing for sensitive skin, this fragrance-free option is made with sweet almond oil and is dermatologically tested to calm and moisturize.
It’s made without synthetic preservatives, fragrances, dyes, and mineral oil, earning it a great score on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep scale.
Sensitive skin say it absorbs quickly, and that it doesn’t sting or cause breakouts.
5.Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer
Skin type: oily
Key ingredients: red marine algae
SPF: none
Lightweight, fragrance-free, and nongreasy, this moisturizer is specifically designed for oily skin. Ingredients include red marine algae, which a 2018 research review shows may have a number of pro-aging benefits for skin.
It’s oil-free and say it “works like a charm” and provides moisture without greasiness.
6.Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream
Skin type: oily or dry
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerin
SPF: none
This bestseller is a gel formula made with hyaluronic acid and glycerin that can leave skin feeling hydrated, supple, and smooth. Reviewers say the cool blue gel feels like liquid to the touch and absorbs on contact.
Gel moisturizers are particularly well-suited for oily skin, but this formula can work well for dry and sensitive skin too.
7.Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
Skin type: combination or oily
Key ingredients: superfoods blend, vitamins C, E, and K, hyaluronic acid
SPF: none
Kale, spinach, and green tea pair with hyaluronic acid to give your skin a boost of vitamins, antioxidants, and some major moisture retention. This lightweight cream can be used on all skin types, though it’s particularly great for oily and combination skin. It’s also vegan and not tested on animals.
It works well with oily skin and can also help reduce and prevent some acne breakouts.
8.Hanacure Nano Emulsion Moisturizer
Skin type: all
Free of: parabens, sulfates, alcohol, fragrance
SPF: none
This pH-neutral moisturizer features a high concentration of peptides and mushroom extract to help improve your skin’s tone and texture.
It’s been tested and approved by dermatologists and is made without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. It’s also free from colorants, fragrances, and alcohol.
More than 2,600 5-star reviews report a soft, nongreasy finish.
9.CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Skin type: dry
Free of: fragrance, oil
Key ingredients: ceramides; hyaluronic acid
This cream is made with glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. It’s made to be gentle and is particularly well suited to the needs of mature skin.
It’s free of both fragrance and oil, and reviewers found it soothing and moisturizing on the driest, most sensitive skin. It can also be used as a hand cream.
10.Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Skin type: dry
Key ingredients: amino peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
SPF: none
This pro-aging fan favorite is for dry, normal, or combination skin. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, amino peptides, and niacinamide. These ingredients can offer a boost of plumping hydration and a softening effect on wrinkles and fine lines.
This moisturizer for its effectiveness, especially when comparing it with other products at more than triple the price.
11.Tula Skincare 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream
Skin type: all
SPF: none
Key ingredients: apple extracts; prebiotics; squalane; probiotic extracts; watermelon extracts; peptides
Despite the small size of the product, even a small amount of the cream can go a long way and lasts for a while.
This moisturizer pulls double duty, working as a hydrating cream for both day and night. It’s made without formaldehyde, triclosan, retinol, or gluten, and is suitable for all skin types. Probiotics, watermelon extract, and squalane work to hydrate your skin, while rice nutripeptides nourish and diminish the look of fine lines.
12.Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30
Skin type: all
SPF: 30
Key ingredient: squalane
This daily moisturizer is formulated with SPF 30 sunscreen, making it ideal for daytime use. Lightweight and nongreasy, it’s designed to deliver 24-hour hydration for all skin types, so you can apply it first thing in the morning for all-day coverage.
13.Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer
Skin type: oily, combination, dry
SPF: none
Key ingredients: squalane; bisabolol; encapsulated probiotics
This hydrating gel moisturizer has an ultra-lightweight feel, and ingredients like squalane and probiotics help soothe and support the natural skin barrier.
Gel moisturizers work particularly well on oily skin, but this Biossance product is a good choice for dry and combination skin types too.
One of the biggest praises for this product, is how well it adapts to different skin types.
14.Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin
Skin type: all
SPF: 50
Key ingredients: vitamin C; zinc oxide; niacinamide; vitamin E; German chamomile, jojoba esters, and allantoin
Weekend Skin is skin care and SPF in one, and it gives skin a dewy, balmy finish. Vitamin C and niacinamide keep skin bright and hydrated, while zinc blocks UVA/UVB rays and leaves behind zero white cast.
This clean, vegan formula comes in two shades: Universal, which is designed to complement all skin tones, and Warm Glow, which is more pigmented.
15.Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream
Skin type: combination, dry, sensitive
SPF: none
Key ingredients: aloe vera leaf juice; mango seed butter; avocado oil; jojoba seed oil; shea butter; Indian senna seed extract, and more
Vital Balm Cream has a whipped, mousse-like texture that feels light on the skin and absorbs quickly, which makes it ideal for combination skin. Hero ingredients like phytonutrients, antioxidants, and herbal actives combine to hydrate and soothe for calm, balanced skin.
Reviewers with combination skin say it’s nourishing and soothing like a balm should be, without feeling greasy or heavy.
16.Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream
Skin type: dry, sensitive, reactive
Key ingredients: squalane, omega fatty acids, ceramides
SPF: no
This rich moisturizer is designed to strengthen and repair the skin’s moisture barrier, thanks to lipids like squalane, omega fatty acids, and ceramides. It’s deeply moisturizing without feeling heavy or greasy and absorbs quickly without adding shine. Because it’s noncomedogenic, it won’t clog pores.
