21 Best Face Moisturizers, Tested and Reviewed for 2023

This face moisturizer is a regular in my skincare lineup. The lightweight gel-cream texture soaks in fast without any greasy residue and the combo of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and allantoin help hydrate, brighten, and soothe my reactive skin. I also love how sanitary and easy to use the airless jar packaging is too—two pumps dispense the perfect amount of product.

THE REVIEW: “This is a great option if your skin is oily or combo,” writes one tester. “It goes on smooth and is hydrating enough to use as a day or nighttime moisturizer.”

This is one of my favorite clean beauty face moisturizers. It has a really nice medium-weight cream texture and is incredibly moisturizing (thanks to squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid). And because it’s a clean, plant-based formula, you won’t find any questionable ingredients, like parabens or synthetic fragrances or dyes, inside the jar.

THE REVIEW: “I have been using this moisturizer for about two months now and wow! It’s super hydrating and it leaves your skin dewy without looking oily.”

I’ve been dealing with a ton of inflammation and hormonal acne lately and this is one of the few face moisturizers that plays nice with my skin. It has a lightweight, jellylike texture that packs a major hydrating punch without clogging pores. Ingredient-wise, it contains brightening niacinamide and soothing green tea to help fade acne scarring—plus with a blend of ceramides to improve skin barrier health.

THE REVIEW: “First of all, the packaging is so cute,” one review reads. “Secondly, it left my skin feeling super hydrated. I love the gel texture—it feels really nice and not at all greasy.”

Even though my skin is prone to chin breakouts, it can be super dry depending on the time of the year. That’s when I reach for this face moisturizer from Doctor Rogers. It’s the only rich cream that doesn’t clog my pores or make my skin look weird and waxy. What it does do? Cocoon my face in a thick layer of moisture that erases dry, rough patches and makes skin supremely soft and dewy.

THE REVIEW: “I know this product is pricey for some, including me. but if you need skin repair, this product is gold in a jar,” writes a tester. “It’s exactly what you need to restore your skin. If you don’t mind the price, this is the best investment for your skin routine.”

The perfect combo of hydrating yet mattifying, this face moisturizer for oily skin uses hyaluronic acid to quench your skin’s thirst along with oil-absorbing microspheres and pore-refining niacinamide to keep your skin looking glowy, not greasy.

THE REVIEW: “I have super oily skin and this stuff really toned down my greasiness without taking away my natural glow,” reads a review. “It’s really great for layering under sunscreen and makeup too.”

In addition to moisturizer, sunscreen is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine. This moisturizer with SPF combines both into one easy-to-use formula that’s even safe for all skin types and tones. It uses physical blockers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and antioxidants to protect the skin and hyaluronic acid to hydrate.

THE REVIEW: “This blends seamlessly into my skin dark,” one tester writes. “It leaves my skin with zero white cast—just looking ultra hydrated and dewy.”

Not all expensive skincare is worth the hype IMO, but this cult-favorite face cream from Augustinus Bader is deserving of the hefty price tag. It uses a blend of amino acids, vitamins, and regenerative molecules to deeply moisturize skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. And the results come quickly—after using it at night for three straight weeks, the horizontal lines on my forehead were less noticeable and my skin was more even-toned too.

THE REVIEW: “I regret to inform my bank account that this is, in fact, a miracle product,” writes a tester. “If you can afford this, you should definitely try it. I have had numerous people comment on how great my skin looks since I started using this stuff. I will never use another face cream again!”

I was introduced to this all-natural face moisturizer during a dreamy facial with Angela Caglia herself, and I haven’t stopped using it since. The blend of organic plant oils, aloe vera, and goat milk extract smooth and plump skin, provide light but long-lasting hydration, and even help fade discoloration too. A 10/10 choice if you’re into clean, green beauty *and* products that deliver big time on results.

THE REVIEW: “This is lightweight but still feels rich—like a drink for my skin in my dry, dry New York apartment. I also feel like its ingredients may have an anti-bacterial effect—not only is it not irritating my skin, I feel like my oily areas look less congested after I use it.”

Whether you’re dealing with redness from angry breakouts, a rash, rosacea, or sun burn, this facial moisturizer can help reduce inflammation and calm things down. It uses allantoin and mushroom extract to take down redness, prebiotics to temper sensitivity, and squalane to hydrate without clogging your pores.

THE REVIEW: “This is a great basic moisturizer for anyone with sensitive skin,” reads one tester’s review. “There’s no scent and it settles into the skin very nicely. I find this helps my skin to retain moisture throughout the day.”

Support your skin’s regenerative processes while you sleep with this potent night cream from Peach & Lily. Inside the jar is a blend of protective antioxidants (like black ginseng extract and acai berry), firming peptides, and moisturizing plant-extracts, like squalane and jojoba oil. Massage it into your face as the last step in your nighttime routine and wake up to soft, supple skin in the morning.

THE REVIEW: “This cream melts right into your skin,” one tester writes, adding, “I love the almost pudding-like texture—it doesn’t sit heavy at all. I always wake up noticing my lines have been smoothed out overnight!”

Keep eczema flare-ups in check with this ultra-nourishing face moisturizer from Murad. It contains colloidal oatmeal to calm and soothe skin, oat lipids to minimize irritation and itchiness, and niacinamide to strengthen your skin’s barrier. And unlike other eczema creams, the formula is surprisingly lightweight, non-greasy, and easy to layer under makeup.

THE REVIEW: “I love this moisturizer!!! It has helped my skin so much—it appears more even, there’s a reduction in redness and inflammation, and it feels so soft and hydrated too,” one tester review reads.

If you hate wearing face moisturizer because you dislike the feel of a thick film sitting on your skin, consider this super-lightweight gel moisturizer the anti-moisturizer of moisturizers. It’s free from oils and silicones and is a phenomenal choice for skin that’s prone to clogged pores. Not only is it light in texture and consistency, but this formula is full of watermelon extract to hydrate, calm, and brighten your skin too.

THE REVIEW: “This is the perfect daytime moisturizer for my oily skin,” one tester writes. “It sits so well under makeup and sunscreen—once I put it on, it basically disappears.”

Anyone, regardless of your skin type or concern, can benefit from adding this gentle face moisturizer to the morning and evening skincare routines. The formula is simple, yet effective, and made with minimal ingredients (a plus for those with sensitive, reactive skin) that help hydrate skin without weighing it down. I like to use it over my niacinamide serum and under my SPF in the morning and over my retinol serum at night.

THE REVIEW: “It is very lightweight in initial feel but still moisturizes plenty,” one tester write. “Two pumps spread easily across my face and neck and leave my skin feeling perfectly hydrated.”

If your biggest skin concern is hyperpigmentation (like melasma, sun spots, or acne scarring), this is the face moisturizer for you. It contains brightening ingredients like vitamin C and butylresorcinol with hydrating glycerin to even out your skin tone and give your skin a nice dewy glow.

THE REVIEW: “I love this moisturizer! I’ve been using it for about a month now to fade the scars I got while purging from Accutane and my skin already looks a lot brighter. I will definitely be repurchasing,” reads one tester’s review.

If you have sensitive skin, you want a formula with as few ingredients as possible to limit the possibility of irritation. This moisturizer for sensitive skin, which comes highly recommended by Dr. Marcus, has a stripped-down formula that's free of dyes and fragrance and full of hydrating hyaluronic acid and ceramides. “Ceramides are an essential portion of the skin barrier that becomes depleted with day-to-day life,” Dr. Love explains. “Ceramide-containing moisturizers help to restore the skin barrier allowing moisture retention.”

THE REVIEW: “This is the only moisturizer I’ve had in my entire life that doesn’t burn the hell out of my extremely sensitive skin,” reads one review. “It’s not too greasy and it has made my skin so radiant!”

Acne-prone skin, oily skin, and combination skin will love this lightweight lotion from celeb facialist Shani Darden. It hydrates with hyaluronic acid and plumps fine lines with collagen extract. And because it’s an oil-free moisturizer, it won’t clog your pores or make your skin look overly shiny either.

THE REVIEW: “I’m almost finished with my first bottle of this and I’m loving it,” one tester writes. “It moisturizes well and melts into the skin perfectly—I have no issues putting makeup on over it either.”

Derms, TikTokers, and beauty editors all love this drugstore moisturizer from CeraVe. The formula is simple but incredibly effective and you can’t beat the price point either. “It’s a hydrating, ceramide-containing, oil-free cream that I recommend my patients use on their face and even their body,” says Dr. Love.

THE REVIEW: “I love this cream for everyday use,” write a tester. “It’s fragrance free and does not smell strange like other fragrance free creams. Plus, it absorbs so quickly while still leaving your skin soft and smooth. I feel it has made my skin overall healthier.”

Looking for a good, reliable fragrance-free moisturizer for your everyday routine? This one contains all the “needs,” like hyaluronic acid and ceramides as well as the “wants,” like bonus antioxidants such as green tea extract to soothe the skin. You’ll love the light, whipped texture too.

THE REVIEW: “I really love this cream. Not only is it made with great ingredients, it’s also fragrance free. Give it a try and you won’t be disappointed.”

Retinol and hyaluronic acid are combined with an impressive blend of bioactive ingredients, including CoQ10 and niacinamide, in this overachieving anti-aging moisturizer that protects, strengthens, moisturizes, smooths, brightens, and more. It also contains all three humectants, emollients, and occlusives, to hydrate your skin and keep it that way. Makes sense why they named it “the total package,” right?

THE REVIEW: “I cannot say enough how much I love this facial moisturizer,” reads one tester’s review. “I originally bought it as my one pandemic splurge for 2020 and now I’m addicted. My skin is healthier, happier, and looks so much more even.”

Both Dr. Marcus and Dr. Love are fans of this formula and if you prefer a moisturizer that’s not too thin but not too thick, soon you’ll be a fan too. “I recommend it as a moisturizer for those with combination skin,” Dr. Marcus says. “It’s a medium-weight moisturizer that is non-irritating and contains ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin.” Dr. Love also highlights the prebiotics in the formula that work to support the skin’s microbiome.

THE REVIEW: “As someone who has struggled with acne for most of my life, most moisturizers either irritated my skin or triggered my acne. This has done the complete opposite. If anything, I have noticed positive changes with my texture as well as moisture control.”