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Aside from trial and error, there are a few different ways to go about finding the best face moisturizers. For starters, it's important to take stock of what your skin needs and which ingredients will help you achieve those results. Though they may be part of the same family, certain skin care products — creams and moisturizers, specifically — serve different functions so you have to make sure you're choosing the one that's right for both your skin type and your lifestyle.
The hunt for the best face moisturizer begins by understanding your skin type. People who are prone to flaking and redness likely have dry skin that will require added moisture. There's a good chance that those with oily skin deal with excess shine, whether they're wearing makeup or not, which means you should likely stick to water-based moisturizers that won't add any extra oils.
Your surroundings also affect your skin.
Living in woody areas means you'll have a different set of requirements for a moisturizer than my fellow city-dwellers. People residing in heavily-populated regions, where gas emissions are much higher, need an anti-pollutant formula to protect their precious skin. For those that spend a lot of time in extreme climates (I'm looking at you Michigan, Nevada — and every city in between), ultra-hydration is of top priority.
Lucky for you, regardless of where you live or what type of skin you have, there are more than enough products on the market to give you all the moisture and hydration your face may be missing and we've rounded them up.
Best Clean Moisturizer
Boscia's no-fuss moisturizer is the type of product you want in your skin care arsenal at all times. Millennial-pink packaging aside, its rich creamy formula contains chia seed oil and a cocktail of clean ingredients that include (but are not limited to) jojoba oil, shea butter, and elderberry extracts — known for their anti-inflammatory properties. This will come in handy to treat any irritation and redness while adding moisture.
Best Drugstore Moisturizer
If your skin care routine is made up of an assortment of fan-favorites from the drugstore beauty aisle, then you'll absolutely want to add Olay's new Regenerist moisturizers to the mix. The brand's latest collection is designed with anti-aging in mind, but the thick and whipped formula is on par with a luxury department store find, for a fourth of the price. For those with sensitive skin, the fragrance-free moisturizer will become your new go-to.
Best Moisturizer For Glowing Skin
Leave it to Queen Rih to come up with a moisturizer that will literally make your skin sparkle in the light while offering protection. The Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor has SPF 30 in it to protect your skin from harsh rays, even when you forget to put on sunscreen. Wearing this results in a subtle yet eye-catching glow that will give Twilight's Edward Cullen a run for his money.
Best Tinted Moisturizer
Some occasions are more special than others. Those call for a little extra oomph but maybe not an all-out make-up look. Glossier's perfecting Skin Tint gives your face a subtle veil of coverage that, when paired with cream blush and highlight, creates the no-makeup-makeup look you've been longing for. Effortless and straight to the point, the fool-proof combo ensures your skin is equal parts hydrated and radiant, whether you plan to put on foundation and concealer on top or not.
Best Moisturizer For Oily Skin
Generations before us have used Clinique as their lives depended on it — and with good reason. The water-based formula has a gel-like consistency that sinks into the pores and leaves the skin looking dewy, but not at all oily. Especially if you're prone to a little (or a lot of) shine, this will make for a great summer moisturizer, regardless of your skin type. Given its affordable price-tag, it makes sense to add it to your routine.
Best Moisturizer With Vitamin C
Just as the name suggests, Good Jane's H2OMyGod is the hydrating moisturizer that you never saw coming, but in the best possible way. Some of the natural ingredients featured include daisy (yes, as in the flower) and rose extract, both of which are meant to help with hyperpigmentation and minimize darkness. However, it's the Vitamin C that truly makes this product a star, as it will work to condition your skin and keep it looking fresh in the process.
Best Hydrating Moisturizer
There are a few types of moisturizers on the market, the most popular being oil-based and water-based. One of the first steps is deciding which of the two you prefer. Neutrogena's Hydro Boost moisturizer is the ultimate example of a water-based formula, with its gel-like consistency and subtle-yet-cooling effects that aren't at all irritating. In other words, if you have sensitive, oily skin this will be your liquid gold. The kicker? It's infused with a hyaluronic serum that's hydrating enough to be worn as a sans primer under makeup. No cake, no flake.
Best TikTok-Approved Moisturizer
The TikTok community is a gem for discovering the best of the best when it comes to skin care and beauty. So when users all started gravitating towards the dermatologist-approved brand CeraVe, it all felt very on-brand. Available at your local Walmart, it has a light-yet-substantial formula that is meant to sink into the skin and create a hydrating barrier using three different ceramides and everyone's favorite, hyaluronic acid. You also have the choice between 'AM' and 'PM', depending on your skin's needs.
Best K-Beauty Moisturizer
If you have yet to embrace K-Beauty's penchant for snail secretion (yes, you read that right), then this All-In-One Moisturizer is a great way to dip your toes into the skin care phenomenon. The satin-like consistency of this moisturizer is infused with hyaluronic acid, which only adds to the snail mucin's restorative benefits. Translation: It helps retain your skin's elasticity to keep you looking fresh.
Best Mask + Moisturizer Duo
Pretty much everyone that has ever tried Summer Friday's Jet Lag Mask would say that it does, in fact, double as a moisturizer. Much like any moisturizer, the product is meant to be soaked into the skin upon application, but the result gives your face a freshly-misted appearance — akin to that of a glazed donut — that's hard to reserve for your bi-weekly masks. Plus, the powder-blue tube is compact enough to fit in your bag just in case you need it while you're out and about.
Best Moisturizer For Combination Skin
One of the gifts of having combination skin is that you have a lot more options when it comes to moisturizers. But if you find yourself feeling like the fluctuation between flaky and greasy has left your pores feeling clogged or congested, Shani's Darden's weightless moisturizer will be your new best friend. It has red algae extract and collagen, which help soften the skin and restore suppleness after dry spells and flare-ups.
Best Moisturizer For Anti-Aging
The 3D Face-Lift Cream does exactly what it says it does and the proof is in customers' before and after pictures. Try using the thick and creamy formula on your face, décolletage, and chin every morning after cleansing and watch how it restores the elasticity of your skin, seemingly, overnight.
Best Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Dupe
Cult products like Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream can get a little pricey, especially if you use it a couple of times a day. To save a little bit of money in between re-ups, Pacifica's face cream is an affordable dupe that will work well into both your day and nighttime routines. Like the Magic Cream, it has plumping capabilities that preserve the elasticity of your skin, while also being free from parabens, phthalates, and mineral oils that could irritate those with sensitivities.
Best Anti-Pollution Moisturizer
Living in a big city can expose your skin to harmful air pollutants without even realizing it. Luckily, there is a slew of products on the market that will create a shield around your face. Sabon's anti-pollution facial cream has a substantial, gel-like texture that sinks into and protects the skin upon application. For days that you plan to run errands around the city — even if that means going to the bodega and back — you'll be protected.
Best Cruelty-Free Moisturizer
Everyone loves Farmacy and, honestly, we get it. Between the cheeky branding and the cruelty-free ethos, the brand has become a fixture in the routines of beauty editors and influencers alike. The hydrating Honey moisturizer is definitely the brand's standout. The intense formula is great for those with normal to dry skin and filled with antioxidants and Vitamin E, which when combined can help smooth out fine lines while locking in moisture for hours after application.
Best Exfoliating Moisturizer
If you live in a drier climate or recognize that your skin is simply in need of a bit of routine exfoliating, Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Beta moisturizer is an easy-to-use alternative. It's made to be used both in the morning and in the evening and combats dark spots, hyperpigmentation, as well as fine lines.
Best Splurge-Worthy Moisturizer
It wouldn't be a roundup of the best moisturizers on the market without throwing the holy grail that is Creme de La Mer into the mix. Priced at a steep $190 per ounce, it's worth every single drop. Unlike other products on the list, it has a velvet-like texture due to the luxury skin care label's signature Miracle Broth healing elixir, which runs through the brand's DNA and restores hydration to even the driest skin with a translucent glow.
Best Fragrance-Free Moisturizer
From the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Baldwin to Jennifer Lopez, your favorite celebrities have nothing but good things to say about SkinCeuticals' dermatologist-approved products. Along with the C E Ferulic Serum, the fragrance-free daily moisturizer is one of the brand's best-selling products. Customers with normal and/or oily skin will love the lightweight formula that also minimizes the look of your pores. Notable ingredients include ginger, algae extracts, thyme, and antioxidants, all of which create a non-greasy finish.
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