21 Dermatologist-Approved Face Moisturizers for Every Skin Type (2024)

Many skincare products can help you get healthy, glowing skin, but one of the most simple and overlooked options out there is face moisturizer. Moisturizing your face can have a miraculous effect, but the key is to search for a formula that works with, not against, your skin type, say experts.

“Choosing the correct moisturizer for your skin type is critical to maintaining a healthy and well-balanced skin barrier,” says Lindsay Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “If you're using a product that doesn't work well for your skin type, it can lead to potentially worsening skin problems such as acne or oiliness.”

How to find a moisturizer for your skin type

But with so many options, where do you start in your quest to find the face moisturizer that best suits your complexion type? Board-certified dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD, suggests letting the ingredient label be your guide. “You should always start by scanning the ingredients,” she says. “If you have oily skin, moisturizers with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide will help reduce excess oil production. If you have dry skin, look for face moisturizers with lactic acid or shea butter to nourish the skin. For sensitive skin, look for a moisturizer with ceramides or hyaluronic acid.”

If you need a little guidance in choosing a face moisturizer, you can consult our comprehensive list of options for every skin type and concern right here. Our experts helped us narrow down the products that will nourish the skin on all ends of the spectrum, from oily to dry to sensitive and acne-prone, available at all price points.

The experts:

• Lindsay Zubritsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist
• Marina Peredo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist
• Sonia Batra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cohost of The Doctors
• Brittany Carter-Snell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Detroit Medical Center
• Melanie Palm, MD, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in San Diego
• Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles
• Margo Weishar, MD, board-certified dermatologist of Springhouse Dermaesthetics

For a gentle but effective moisturizer tolerated well by even the most sensitive skin types, try this wallet-friendly pick. It's formulated with glycerin and ceramide-3, a protein necessary for rebuilding skin's protective barrier, says Palm. It also contains anti-inflammatories, like niacinamide and tocopherol, to help calm skin and protect against oxidative damage.

Though the CeraVe PM formula offers lightweight moisture, it doesn't skimp on the hydrating benefits. According to Carter-Snell, this face moisturizing lotion contains humectant compounds and ceramides that work wonders for the skin. "Humectant compounds attract water from the second layer of the skin and maintain water in the first layer of the skin, working from the inside out," she says. "Ceramides are naturally present in the skin and improve the skin barrier by preventing water loss."

If your skin is super sensitive, it may be time to switch things up in your beauty routine and incorporate this inexpensive French brand. "The Toleriane line is a lightweight moisturizer that is formulated without any of the ingredients that may cause irritation or allergy," advises Weishar. "It also works well under makeup, and is recommended for anyone with redness or flaking, rosacea, and eczema."

This product is considered magic in a jar for many women—partly because of how affordable it is, and partly because of the benefits it boasts, many of which can be credited to the botanical extracts that make up the formula. "The apple and grapefruit extracts fight off the signs of aging caused by ultraviolet exposure," Carter-Snell explains, adding that the therapeutic herbs in the ingredient list contain "anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties."

If you're looking for the perfect sunscreen to layer under a full face of makeup, you've found your match. It's lightweight and absorbs quickly, making it a great primer, says Shainhouse. It also contains peptides to rebuild collagen and an oxybenzone-free sunscreen to help prevent UV-induced damage.

The non-greasy formula pulls double duty, hydrating dry skin while controlling shine in oily-prone areas. Weishar attributes the effects to the product's hyaluronic acid. "Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring component of skin that holds onto water molecules and hydrates," she explains. "This lightweight serum provides even oily acne-prone skin the moisture it needs when facing the winter weather."

This silky moisturizer is packed with peptides, proteins, and ceramides to firm and hydrate the skin. Over time, you'll notice a reduction in the look of wrinkles and fine lines. It's suitable for all skin types, especially dry and mature skin.

You can use this handy moisturizer in one of many ways—as a hydrating makeup primer, effective makeup remover, a nourishing facial lotion, or an overnight moisturizing mask. Whatever you choose, your skin will look and feel softer, smoother, and way more hydrated.

"This drugstore find is great for combination skin because it contains hyaluronic acid, which works to hydrate skin and lock in moisture while feeling lightweight and non-greasy," says Batra. It's also non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores—a must for anyone with acne-prone skin.

This oil-free and non-comedogenic formula gets raves from over 2,000 reviewers on Amazon because it contains a powerful punch of retinol that works to reduce both fine lines and deep wrinkles while you sleep. It also contains squalene to help counteract potential dryness or irritation from retinol and moisturize skin.

The combination of linoleic acid, oat kernel, and silver mushroom balances skin to hydrate and nourish in-between complexions while also helping to produce new collagen and elastin. It's no wonder it's one of Peredo's favorites.

Aiming for plump, glowing, and hydrated skin? This water cream does it all. The bouncy texture feels weightless on the skin, making it ideal for oily and combination skin types. It's made with niacinamide to help even skin tone and texture, and the Waterlocking Fusion Technology helps trap moisture to boost hydration, offering dehydrated skin plump and radiant results.

Whether you deal with dark spots and hyperpigmentation or are simply looking to boost your skin's radiance, this lightweight yet ultra-hydrating formula is the way to go. It's made with ceramides to moisturize and protect the skin barrier, niacinamide to brighten, and peptides to even out the skin's tone.

Go to sleep; wake up with better skin. Sound too good to be true? Maybe not. "This moisturizer contains some of my favorite ingredients for even the driest of skin," says Zubritsky. "The hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and ceramides work hard to repair the skin barrier and leave skin feeling soft and smooth."

"I absolutely love this moisturizer for those with dry skin, but it also works well for normal skin types, too," says Zubritsky. "It contains a combination of peptides, lipids, hyaluronic acid, and rich shea butter to help with firming and plumping."

Classic, tried-and-true formulas have earned that status for a reason—and this product definitely qualifies. "I love that this is formulated with salicylic acid to help with acne. It's also lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin," says Peredo.

Peredo formulated this moisturizer with lightweight hydrators like squalane and glycerin to lock in moisturizer without leaving a greasy feel on the skin. For good measure, she added green tea to calm skin.

An elegant hydrator with the Japanese anti-aging trifecta of algae, green tea, and rice that serves skin that's a little bit dry, a little bit oily just fine. "This oil-free moisturizer is hydrating without feeling sticky or greasy and does a great job at preventing excess oil," Zubritsky explains.

Zubritsky believes that it may take a bit of trial and error to find the formula that suits your skin perfectly. That being said, "this cream is particularly good for those who are both sensitive and dry," she says. "The colloidal oatmeal calms down inflammation and redness while hydrating."

A double-duty product that works equally well on the face and the body, Zubritsky prizes this gentle yet ultra-hydrating formula as a great option for her eczema or rosacea patients.