Your best moisturizer should, at the very least, hydrate your skin. It appears easy, yet the advantages are numerous: “This guarantees that the skin looks more plump and smooth and maintains skin barrier function, which enhances both the texture and general appearance of your skin,” adds Dr. Hadley King of New York City. Supporting the skin barrier also maintains the skin healthier and more robust, making it less prone to harm or infection.” While moisturizing may sound simple, looking for the new best moisturizer is anything but.
Top 20 Best Moisturizers For Hydrate Your Skin In 2021
Not only are there so many various types of lotions and creams on the market, but everyone’s skin is different, making it even more difficult to find the proper fit. Skin type, budget, and top skin concerns all play a role, adding stress to an already difficult scenario. The good news is We’re here to assist with your best moisturizer for all skin types in 2021.
What Should You Look for in the best Moisturizer?
Humectants
According to Dr. King, the best moisturizers should have three components: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. It’s critical to look for goods that include all three, “she explains. Humectants are low molecular weight compounds that attract and retain water in the skin. Examples include hyaluronic acid and glycerin. However, they must be utilized in conjunction with the other components in order to keep that water content,” she explains.
Emollients
According to Dr. King, emollients are saturated and unsaturated chemicals that help with skin barrier function, membrane fluidity, and cell signaling, resulting in an overall improvement in skin texture and appearance by softening and smoothing its surface. Oils, fatty acids, and ceramides are all excellent emollients to look for in a recipe.
Occlusives
Dr. King defines occlusives as “oils and waxes that form an inert layer on the skin and physically restrict transepidermal water loss.” They essentially operate as a seal on the skin’s surface, aiding in moisture retention. Occlusives include petrolatum, beeswax, mineral oil, and lanolin.
1. Best moisturizer for glowing skin: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
When you try this anti-aging drugstore face cream, you won’t want to use anything else. And that’s because it works really well—addressing the look of wrinkles from day one, and we’re not exaggerating. That’s because of the formula’s hyaluronic acid 1-, amino-peptide complex II-, and niacinamide content, which target indications of aging and strive to reveal more youthful-looking skin. Bianca Lambert was delighted with how smooth and moisturized her skin felt after using this lotion.
2. Best moisturizer for oily skin: La Mer Crème de la Mer
“Does La Mer truly work?” people frequently inquire. and the answer is, without a doubt, yes. Creme de La Mer is the brand’s flagship product, and it’s the one that admirers of the brand keep coming back to. Because Creme de La Mer isn’t inexpensive, most beauty editors keep a jar on hand and augment it with another moisturizer. Few recipes, however, can compete with their famous “Miracle Broth,” the distinctive component in all of their products that are brought to life through a bio-fermentation process that mixes vitamins, oils, and minerals.
3. Best moisturizer for Drugstore: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel
This moisturizer, which contains the powerful hydrator hyaluronic acid, is favored by both high-end beauty enthusiasts and drugstore dwellers. The lightweight moisturizer is rich in hyaluronic acid and is non-comedogenic, making it an excellent choice for oily skin, “Dr. King explains, adding that it’s also oil- and alcohol-free. If you like the cooling effect of gel moisturizers, this lightweight recipe should be in the spotlight on your vanity.
4. Best moisturizer for Oily Skin: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer
If you have oily skin, a lightweight moisturizer that is moisturizing enough to balance your complexion is your best choice. Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench moisturizer contains 30% hyaluronic acid as well as ceramides to smooth and heal the skin. Most moisturizers are too emollient, but this one has a whipped, cloud-like structure that feels like a silky gel on the skin. Reviewers stated that it plumped up their complexions without leaving a greasy residue (an unfortunate side effect of having oily skin), and that makeup slides well over it.
5. Best for Oily Skin: Shani Darden Skin Care Weightless Oil-Free Moisturizer
If you have combination or oily skin, this oil-free moisturizer absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy behind. It includes hyaluronic acid, which helps skin retain moisture, and collagen, which restores suppleness.
6. Best Innovation: Augustinus Bader The Cream
If you’re interested in the science behind why a product works the way it does, expect to be blown away by this innovative formula—and we don’t use that word lightly. Professor Augustinus Bader has devised a cream with cutting-edge technology that will make the beauty nerd in you swoon. Because it’s a cream, you can instantly see that its recipe is hydrating. It contains a Trigger Factor Complex, which is essentially a combination of natural amino acids, three vitamins, and synthetic compounds that offer the building blocks for your body’s own stem cells to regenerate.
7. Best moisturizer for Hyperpigmentation: ROSEN Skincare Tropics Moisturizer
This moisturizing, fruity moisturizer is designed to remove dark spots and enhance skin texture. Users experience considerably smoother skin as a result of hyaluronic and kojic acid working together to control breakouts and brighten the complexion. We particularly like the pineapple extract, which contains vitamin C and has a natural tropical smell.
8. Best moisturizer for Very Dry Skin: Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich
This is Hallie Gould’s “most prized moisturizer.” She uses it twice a day faithfully and enjoys the fact that it gives her skin a young appearance by morning. What’s within is a potent blend of antioxidants including vitamin E and purslane, as well as skullcap extract to encourage cell regeneration and rich oils for long-lasting hydration.
9. Best moisturizer for the 30s: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
The figures in the name refer to an ideal lipid ratio—2% pure ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids—that is responsible for making this anti-aging cream one of the finest on the market. This lipid combination seeks to replenish critical skin lipids depleted by natural aging or environmental aggressors (or a combo of the two). As a consequence, the skin feels softer and appears more luminous, smooth, and full.
10. Best moisturizer for Mature Skin: Lancôme Absolue Premium Bx Cream
This heavy-duty moisturizer contains glycerin, a fantastic humectant. The wild yam extract, marine algae, and soy in it work overnight to restore moisture. Yes, it’s a costly moisturizer, but it’s wonderful and nearly addicting, as with any fine thing. Once you start, you might never go back to your old favorites.
11. Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Moisturizing Cream
La Roche-Posay tested this moisturizer on people with skin allergies to ensure that the recipe was correct. It delivers enough hydration without aggravating sensitive skin. Dr. King concurs, adding that it is devoid of parabens, fragrance, preservatives, and alcohol, all of which are typical potential irritants, particularly for people with sensitive skin. In fact, the whole Toleriane collection is designed for those with sensitive skin. This is a lifesaver if your skin is easily freaked out and you don’t want to take any chances.
12. Best Rich Cream: Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream
This moisturizer will be your new skin savior if your skin is prone to dryness and flaking. Celebrities, editors, and skin specialists all love it because it delivers on its promises. It’s definitely a cult favorite; I have a lot of patients who swear by it, “Dr. King explains. With vital fatty acids, bee wax, lanolin, sweet almond oil, cholesterol, and vitamin E, it moisturizes dry skin while also leaving it looking healthy and glowing, she claims. When in a pinch, dab a dollop of this cream on the high points of your face to replace a highlighter. It’s also worth noting that this luscious cream may be used as a body lotion on tough, dry regions like elbows, hands, and feet.
13. Best Night Cream: Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Night Cream
This night cream is a dream, and not only because the name suggests so. It has the ideal consistency for a night cream: thick enough to keep nourishing your skin as you sleep, yet thin enough not to rub off on your pillow when you eventually doze off. Of course, the best thing about this cream is what it does overnight. Even if you aren’t searching for a line-reducing cream, the lotus and peach extracts in this cream will make your skin seem brighter and more even. This implies it’s equally beneficial to fatigued skin as it is to aged skin. It also has a fantastic scent.
14. Best moisturizer for combination skin: Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer
It’s difficult to find a moisturizer that works for all skin types, which is why we love this all-natural recipe from Youth to the People. This lightweight yet ultra-nourishing preparation, which is like a green smoothie for the face, is filled with kale, spinach, and green tea to supply key phytonutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants to the skin, while hyaluronic acid keeps the skin supple and moisturized. It doesn’t hurt that the formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and packaged in recyclable packaging.
15. Best moisturizer for men: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
This is Kiehl’s best-selling face cream, and we can’t get enough of it at Byrdie HQ, especially during the cold months. This recipe, a powerful hydrator, contains glacial glycoprotein to profoundly hydrate and prevent water loss from the skin, as well as squalane to improve the skin’s moisture barrier. This all adds up to 24-hour hydration and softer, smoother skin.
16. Best for Acne-Prone Skin: A-DERMA Compensating Cream
A quick disclaimer before we begin: This is not an acne treatment cream. It’s a super-soothing solution that can help counteract the dryness and irritation that commonly arise from using strong acne treatments and products on a regular basis. Use this in combination with your acne treatment to alleviate some of the worst side effects by relaxing and calming your sensitive skin. After all, treating acne is difficult enough without having to deal with additional irritants. Yes, indeed.
17. Best moisturizer for mature skin: Dr. Jart Ceramidin Liquid
A little goes a long way with this moisturizer. Ceramidin Liquid includes the same moisture-barrier-repairing components as the Ceramidin Cream Moisturizer. The liquid seeps into the skin for all-over hydration while lowering redness with only a few drops. It feels weightless on the face, does not aggravate greasy spots, plumpifies the skin, and layers nicely under makeup.
18. Best moisturizer for face Philippines: Moon Juice Cosmic Cream
Collagen and elastin synthesis declines with age, resulting in more noticeable lines, wrinkles, and dullness. While you can’t stop time or even slow it down, you can use this moisturizer to prevent your skin from premature collagen loss. It contains two adaptogens, ashwagandha, and Schisandra plant extracts, to help maintain natural collagen and protect it from environmental aggressors that might cause it to degrade.
19. Best moisturizer for face: Make P: rem Micro Tension Cream
With this K-beauty classic, you may achieve your radiant “glass skin” fantasies. The gel-like texture allows for rapid and simple absorption without leaving a greasy or heavy residue behind. It instantly hydrates the skin and produces a beautiful sheen that will turn attention. And, because of the low price, you can use this baby with a strong hand without fear of financial repercussions.
20. Best Non-Comedogenic: Tatcha The Water Cream
It’s difficult to find a non-comedogenic moisturizer that’s also moisturizing. People with combination or acne-prone skin sometimes have to settle for products that either cause acne or do not adequately moisturize their skin. Tatcha has addressed this issue with their Water Cream.
Final Words
Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (see on Amazon) takes first place; the gorgeous red container sells every 20 minutes worldwide—no kidding. It’s moisturizing (due to hyaluronic acid) and truly helps keep wrinkles at bay, plus the low price doesn’t hurt either. Do you want to splurge? You can’t go wrong with La Mer’s Crème de la Mer (available at Sephora) or Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Face Cream Rich (view at Sephora). Both are dry skin saviors, providing long-lasting moisture that justifies their high prices.