Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
This thick cream-style moisturizer is easy to spread on skin and delivers exactly what it promises: intense hydration. Read More
This more budget-friendly pick matches our best overall pick in just about every way, except for one small drawback—it’s ever-so-slightly more oily. Read More
If you can get past the medicinal smell, this is a great drugstore buy that leaves skin hydrated and silky soft. Read More
Though you may need to apply a bit more product, this is an effective moisturizer that spreads well and leaves skin moisturized and smooth. Read More
If you have sensitive skin or particular concerns like eczema, this is a great moisturizer—it hydrates well, but is free from potential irritants. Read More
A good face moisturizer is an essential part of a daily skincare routine. It locks in moisture while creating a barrier that protects your face from pollutants and irritants that cause damage. Choosing a face moisturizer can be difficult because of all the options and a slew of claims.
Like face washes, the best face creams and face moisturizers for you will depend on your skin type and individual beauty needs. However, whether you have normal, dry, oily, or even combination skin, there is a quality, everyday face moisturizer out there for you.
We tested top-rated face creams, lotions, and gels to find the best face moisturizer. We found a clear winner: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (available at Amazon) . This smooth, thick face moisturizer is infused with shea butter for soft skin but also contains colloidal oatmeal and allantoin for soothing benefits.
We also like The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (available at Target). Containing hyaluronic acid, it does a great job moisturizing and is available for a value price.
The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream won our Best Overall spot for face moisturizers for the hydrating, soft feel it gives the skin.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA face moisturizer took our Best Value spot, as it provides similar moisturizing benefits at a more affordable price.
L'Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler is a face moisturizer that feels smooth and hydrating.
Our face moisturizer testing found that there’s hardly anything to complain about E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Face Cream.
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer does not contain potential irritants, such as dyes, fragrance, lanolin, and parabens, making it a great face moisturizer for sensitive skin.
Spreads easily
Provides an instant boost of hydration
Overpowering scent
Leaves a tacky residue
Hydration doesn’t last as long as other options
Spreads easily
Long-lasting moisture
Greasy upon application
Absorbs slowly
Spreads easily
A little formula goes a long way
Greasy
Not as long-lasting as other options
Easy to spread
Greasy
Absorbs slowly
Not as hydrating as other options
Silky texture
Fragrance-free
Absorbs slowly
Strong unpleasant smell
Very lightweight
Runny consistency is hard to work with
Not as hydrating as other options
Absorbs quickly
Strong smell
Sticky and greasy
Not as hydrating as other options
We tested more than a dozen face moisturizers to find the best.
Our tester researched which face moisturizers are the best and then eliminated products that exceeded $10 per ounce, focusing on non-specialized face moisturizers for “normal” skin—neither dry nor oily.
Once top-rated face moisturizers were selected, the testing process was straightforward: Each face moisturizer was evaluated for bottle functionality before our tester used it on her skin. As she used each product, she assessed how easily the face moisturizer spread and how hydrated and comfortable her skin felt a few minutes and hours after application. When she finished testing all the products, she teamed up with Reviewed’s in-house experts to score and weigh the results on a scientifically calibrated rubric to find the best face moisturizer.
When it comes to face moisturizers, we've outlined a few considerations that may influence your purchasing decision.
It’s important to note that, though many use the terms interchangeably, there is a difference between creams, lotions, and gels.
Creams are the thickest and contain the most oil. Lotions are thinner and contain more water and less oil than creams. Gel-based face moisturizers are the thinnest; they may contain little oil or be oil-free. All can offer great hydrating benefits, but creams are usually the most moisturizing.
Typically, someone with normal to dry skin may want to consider a cream, while those with oily or combination skin may prefer a lotion or gel—but it’s as much a personal preference as anything else.
We focused only on face moisturizers for all skin types that offer the basic necessity: moisture. And yes, oily skin needs face moisturizer, too.
As with skin types, there’s a face moisturizer to address just about any skincare concern, from wrinkles to acne to dark spots.
Face moisturizers will include specialized ingredients to target skin concerns. People with acne-prone skin want to look for a face moisturizer with salicylic acid. (They should also look for a lightweight face moisturizer that won’t clog pores.) Meanwhile, people with fine lines or mature skin should look for face moisturizers with collagen and/or retinols, among other anti-aging ingredients.
Like other beauty products, there are vast differences in cost. Pricier face moisturizers, such as Creme de La Mer (available at Amazon) and the Water Cream from Tatcha (available at Amazon) are acclaimed by some board-certified dermatologists, but for the purpose of our tests, we focused on readily available (meaning you can find them online or in local stores) and relatively affordable face moisturizers priced at less than $10 per ounce.
You should use face moisturizer after cleansing your face and applying toners or serums. Serums tend to be water-based, while face moisturizers usually contain oil. Applying the serum first ensures the skin absorbs its ingredients before applying an oily face moisturizer. This helps heighten the effect of the serum because the face moisturizer locks in the ingredients, providing more benefits to the skin.
Applying face moisturizer before and after flying is also a great idea since prolonged periods in a plane tend to dry out the skin. Make sure to use face moisturizer before putting on any sunscreen or makeup.
You should use face moisturizer twice a day, both in the morning and at night before bed. This ensures that your face stays moisturized throughout the day and overnight, which is key to maintaining healthy and hydrated skin.
The best face moisturizer brands include some that we've tested like First Aid Beauty, Vanicream, La Roche-Posay, The Ordinary, Clinque, and CeraVe. Other popular face moisturizer brands include Drunk Elephant (available at Amazon), Paula's Choice (available at Amazon), and SkinCeuticals (available at Dermstore).
Some of the best places to buy face moisturizers include Amazon, Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta Beauty, Target, and Walmart. You can also buy face moisturizers directly from brand sites.
Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor based in NJ. Her work has appeared in a number of lifestyle publications, including Real Simple and Apartment Therapy. She’s a new mom, runs an Instagram account full of the most delicious food she can find, and loves to hate a good barre class.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email
