The search for the perfect facial moisturizer is often a lifelong pursuit. Why? Formulas change (even the most coveted) as brands constantly update recipes and star “actives” to make them cleaner, better, faster, stronger. “New products are continually released onto the skin-care market, some of which contain more potent combinations of ingredients, and sometimes even entirely novel actives,” says Jessica Weiser, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University. She adds that rotating tried-and-true favorites intermittently helps “to ensure that your skin continues to respond to its source of hydration.”
Vogue’s Favorite Face Moisturizers:
- Best for Dry Skin: Augustinus Bader The Cream, $190
- Best Moisturizer Overall: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 242, $155
- Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin: Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer, $130
- Best Drugstore Moisturizer: Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre, $29
- Best Moisturizer for Wrinkles: Chanel N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Cream, $115
- Best Celebrity-Approved Moisturizers: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, $100
- Best Lightweight Moisturizer: Tatcha The Water Cream, $68
- Best Night Cream Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream, $53
In this Article:
- How often should you apply face moisturizer?
- How do you choose the right face moisturizer for you?
- Meet the Experts
On the other hand, changing seasons often cue a swap in your daily moisturizer. For example, in a heatwave, a lightweight gel (basically the halter top of summer hydration) might be preferred over an ultra-rich moisturizing cream that could end up feeling sticky or clammy.
Plus, with customers becoming more conscious of face cream formulations and asking for exactly what they want, from nontoxic, fragrance-free options to SPF 50-packed multitaskers, there’s a new wave of hydrating moisturizers on the shelves. “With endless innovative moisturizers, the hydration market is more abundant than ever, and there are products suitable to all skin concerns and types,” says Weiser.
To help narrow the search and edit the noise, we tapped experts for their recommendations on the best face moisturizers.
Best Face Moisturizer Overall: Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
- Why We Love It: SkinCeuticals’s formula relies on a balance of essential skin lipids to restore hydration cycles without a heavy feel. Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology, calls this a “smartly developed” moisturizer. “It mimics the ratio of different hydrators in the skin, which is where the ‘2:4:2’ comes from,” she says. “This is as close as a guaranteed drink for your skin when it s super dehydrated.” (However, she recommends that those with acne-prone skin stick with a more lightweight option.)
- Key Ingredients: Pure ceramide, natural cholesterol, fatty acids
- Texture: Thick and rich.
- Best For: Dry and/or dehydrated skin.
- SPF: No
- Size: 48ml
Best for Dry Skin: Augustinus Bader The Cream
- Why We Love It: Augustinus Bader’s The Cream is an investment, but “this isn t really just a moisturizer,” says Dr. Nazarian, who appreciates its multitasking nature. “It s an anti-aging cream with heavy-hitting moisturizing ingredients, including ceramides, squalane, and vitamin B5, among others.” The formula has become a cult-favorite thanks to its patented TFC8 technology—a complex blend of amino acids which is said to help promote faster healing, all while supporting the cell’s renewal process and the skin barrier. The result? Enhanced moisture levels, plus reduced lines and dark spots.
- Key Ingredients: TFC8, vitamin A, vitamin C
- Texture: Light, yet hydrating
- Best For: Dry and combination skin
- SPF: No
- Size: 30ml
Best for Combination Skin: Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: Tata Harper’s Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer uses chia seed water (famous on TikTok for its moisture-trapping skills), as one of its main ingredients for a weightless finish that will still leave skin feeling nourished. It pairs that “with hydrating hyaluronic acid—in two different forms—and squalane so skin feels calmer and more moisturized,” says Dr. Nazarian. “The quick absorption and lightweight feel make it work with or without makeup on top.” (That said, she recommends avoiding it if you have sensitivities, as it contains essential oils.)
- Key Ingredients: Chia seed water, tremella mushroom
- Texture: Weightless
- Best For: Oily and combination skin
- SPF: No
- Size: 1.7oz
Best for Winter: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
- Why We Love It: Embryolisse’s bestselling Lait Crème Concentré (one is said to be purchased every ten seconds) is the do-it-all natural moisturizer that can be found everywhere, from backstage at Paris shows to any French girls’ handbag. It’s also a travel essentials—and French pharmacy must—for our beauty editor, Kiana Murden, who uses it as both a moisturizer and face primer.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, aloe vera, beeswax
- Texture: Light and milky
- Best For: All skin types.
- SPF: No
- Size: 2.54 fl oz.
Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream
- Why We Love It: Recommended by New York board-certified dermatologist, Claire Chang, MD, K-beauty brand Sulwhasoo’s moisturizer is a “silky, luxurious cream that uses the anti-aging power of ginseng, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and skin brightening benefits,” she told Vogue previously. And it’s supposed to begin restoring collagen in as little as 48 hours.
- Key Ingredients: Ginseng saponins, ginseng root extract, squalane
- Texture: Silky-soft
- Best For: Fine lines and wrinkles
- SPF: No
- Size: 60ml
Best Lightweight: Tatcha The Water Cream
- Why We Love It: Makeup artist Daniel Martin says Tatcha’s Water Cream is “hands down my go-to for the summer or anywhere you’re dealing with humidity and heat.” As global director of artistry and education for the brand, safe to say, he’s tested it on many, many skin types.
- Key Ingredients: Japanese wild rose, Japanese leopard lily
- Texture: Lightweight
- Best For: Oily or combination sin
- SPF: No
- Size: 50ml
Best Non-Comedogenic: Shani Darden Skin Care Hydration Peptide Cream
- Why We Love It: Non-comedogenic basically means that a given formula nourishes skin without creating congestion. Shani Darden’s squalane-rich Hydration Peptide Cream is an oil-free moisturizer featuring hydrosella as well as squalane to protect the skin barrier, give you up to 72 hours of hydration, and seal in moisture—all without clogging pores.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, hydrosella, squalane
- Texture: Rich
- Best For: All skin types
- SPF: No
- Size: 75ml
Best for Dull Skin: Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Dark Spot Correcting Cream SPF 30
- Why We Love It: This lightweight moisturizer is what we call a one-and-done kind of product. It helps firm, lift, and even out skin tone, all while providing sun protection with SPF 30. Just make sure to apply at least 15 minutes before going out in the sun—then reapply every two hours after that.
- Key Ingredients: Linseed extract, glycerin
- Texture: Thick and creamy
- Best For: All skin types
- SPF: Yes
- Size: 2.6oz
Best with SPF: Cerave Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Yael Halaas, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City, likes CeraVe for its broad-spectrum SPF that “won’t clog pores or cause acne flare-ups.” With hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and SPF 30, rest assured this drugstore classic will keep skin in tip-top shape.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
- Texture: Light
- Best For: All skin types
- SPF: Yes
- Size: 50ml
Best for Compromised Skin: Topicals Like Butter Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: Topicals created a buttery mask for reactive and eczema-prone skin to soothe even the most sensitive faces thanks to calming ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and green tea in the formula.
- Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, madecassoside, green tea
- Texture: Rich cream
- Best For: Dry, irritated skin
- SPF: No
- Size: 50ml
Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid
- Why We Love It: This oil-free water gel, formulated with hyaluronic acid, is perfect for anyone with acne-prone skin. It helps your face stay hydrated, without clogging pores, and Ohio-based board-certified dermatologist Hope Mitchell, MD, especially likes “its lightweight, refreshing texture,” she says. “It’s packed with hyaluronic acid, which deeply hydrates the skin and locks in moisture.”
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin
- Texture: Gel-like
- Best For: Dry, acne-prone skin
- SPF: No
- Size: 1.7oz
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Balancing Gel Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: Dr. Weiser likes this “dewy” Biossance gel that “leaves skin radiant without causing occlusion that can lead to skin congestion and blemishes.” The probiotics within are thought to balance the skin s microbiome, thus reducing redness, shrinking pores, and minimizing breakouts.
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, aloe vera
- Texture: Gel
- Best For: Acne-prone skin
- SPF: No
- Size: 50ml
Best for Oily Skin: Avène Hydrance Light Emulsion
- Why We Love It: For those prone to shine, consider this French pharmacy brand’s weightless option. Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist Jessica Wu, MD, turns to this formula in her skin-care routine “to soothe any dry patches,” she says. “It’s a light emulsion, so it hydrates but won’t clog pores or make me shiny.” It’s infused with the brand’s soothing, mineral-rich thermal spring water as well as squalane and glycerin.
- Key Ingredients: Avène thermal spring water, squalane, glycerin
- Texture: Light and milky
- Best For: Oily or acne-prone skin types
- SPF: No
- Size: 1.35 fl oz.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Sisley Paris Sensitive Skin Soothing Care
- Why We Love It: A new arrival to the shelves, Sisley Sensitive Skin Soothing Care “helps strengthen the skin barrier and make skin hydrated and moisturized, while allowing it to tolerate the outside environment with more resilience,” says Dr. Nazarian, who considers this type of technology “the future of skin care.” She credits the ingredients like shea butter and rapeseed oil, which she calls one of her new favorite ingredients, with its ability to dial down sensitivity.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, rapeseed oil, seaweed extract, lilyturf extract
- Texture: Comforting and rich
- Best For: Sensitive or reactive skin types.
- SPF: No
- Size: 1.3 fl oz.
Best Fragrance-Free: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: While its fragrance-free nature makes La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer a safe bet for sensitive skin, that’s not the only reason dermatologists love it. The formula also “strengthens the skin’s barrier and provides long-lasting hydration,” says Dr. Mitchell. “The inclusion of ceramides and prebiotics helps to restore the skin’s natural balance, which is essential for a healthy complexion.”
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin
- Texture: Light and creamy
- Best For: All skin types
- SPF: No
- Size: 40 ml, 100 ml
Best for Redness: CosRx Snail 92 All in One Cream
- Why We Love It: This Korean moisturizer has broad appeal, thanks to its formula of “92% snail mucin, along with hyaluronic acid and allantoin to refresh and repair the skin,” Dr. Chang previously shared with Vogue. CosRx Snail 92 All in One Cream swaps the typical water or oil base for snail mucin, which is beloved for its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also fragrance-free, making it gentle enough for sensitive or redness-prone skin types.
- Key Ingredients: Snail mucin, hyaluronic acid, allantoin
- Texture: Creamy gel
- Best for: All skin types, but especially sensitive skin.
- SPF: No
- Size: 1.76 oz., 3.52 oz.
How often should you apply face moisturizer?
A good rule of thumb is to use a moisturizer after every time you wash your face, so typically twice a day—morning and night. “This helps ensure your skin s moisture content remains constant over a 24-hour period and you get the benefits of keeping your skin hydrated, such as softer, more elastic, and younger looking skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adam Mamelak. However, sometimes there are exceptions.
“Some people, like myself, tend to have oilier skin, so a single application can suffice,” explains Omer Ibrahim, MD, FAAD. “But if your skin is feeling ‘tight’ after cleansing or if you’re seeing dry flakes on your skin, then moisturizer should be applied at least twice daily.”
How do you choose the right face moisturizer for you?
The type of moisturizer(s) you use will vary based on your individual skin type and needs, the time of day, and the climate you’re in—factors that are all subject to change.
Generally speaking, Dr. Ibrahim suggests looking for moisture-boosting ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, both of which are beneficial for all skin types. “Ceramides are essential lipids found naturally in skin and maintain the skin barrier,” he explains. “Hyaluronic acid holds several times its weight in water making it an excellent hydrator.”
In terms of what you may want to avoid, Dr. Mamelak suggests being wary of any strong perfumes, as they can trigger conditions like eczema, or cause rashes. In addition, “synthetic dyes or coloring agents can similarly irritate the skin,” he shares.
Not all moisturizers are made with SPF (and it’s totally fine to layer an SPF on top—just remember to reapply throughout the day), but we still love a multitasker—especially when it’s formulated with adequate protection. “Sunscreen is extremely important, and should be applied daily,” says Dr. Ibrahim, who agrees SPF moisturizers (of at least SPF 30) are great for anyone who wants a quick, simple routine. “I believe that application of SPF should be as routine as brushing your teeth in the morning.”
Depending on your individual skin needs, you may want to switch up your moisturizer based on the season or climate you’re in. For instance, a gel-cream may be the better option if you’re somewhere humid, while a rich formula is ideal for dry or cold seasons.
“Our skin care needs to change with the weather and the season,” Dr. Mamelak confirms, who agrees heavier formulas are best saved for winter-like climates, while lightweight products are best for summer and facing humidity. He also suggests looking out for ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, aloe vera, and retinol while it’s warm—although they can be used year-round. “They can help soothe the skin and help combat the effects of sun damage,” he shares.
Oily Skin: Hyaluronic acid is great for those with oily skin as it’s “a humectant that can hydrate the skin without the use of a heavy or thick feeling emollient that can feel more like a residue on the skin,” says Dr. Mamelak. Additionally, you’ll want to “look for a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic and oil-free” to prevent clogging pores.
Mature Skin: According to Dr. Ibrahim, ingredients like retinol and peptides can help stimulate collagen production, while salicylic and glycolic acid help to exfoliate and reveal radiant skin.
Dry Skin: Rich, heavy moisturizers, packed with emollients are ideal for this skin type.
“Emollients like dimethicone help seal in moisture by creating a film over top of the stratum corneum that prevents the loss of water; lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum can also help lock in moisture,” explains Dr. Mamelak “Glycerin, propylene glycol, proteins, and urea are also effective in that they help attract water to your skin.
Combination Skin: Dr Mamelak suggests looking out for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, marula, jojoba and argan oils, vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, pomegranate, and ceramides to keep skin balanced.
Textured Skin: Exfoliating ingredients like lactic acid, salicylic acid, and urea can all help smooth out textured skin, says Dr. Ibrahim.
Acne-Prone Skin: Focus on nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, plus exfoliants like salicylic acid can help to clear pores. On the other hand, “avoid heavy emollients like petrolatum or coconut oil,” warns Dr. Mamelak.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Adam Mamelak is an Austin-based board-certified dermatologist practicing at the Georgetown and Cedar Park locations of Westlake Dermatology.
- Omer Ibrahim, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and co-director of the Chicago Cosmetic and Dermatologic Research team.
- Claire Chang, MD is a New York board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York, NY.
- Jessica Weiser, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at Columbia University.
- Yael Halaas, MD, is a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
- Hope Mitchell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Perrysburg, OH.