The 7 best face moisturizers for daily use, by skin type

Key takeaways

• The best face moisturizer is the one whose texture matches your skin type: a gel or oil-free lotion for oily skin, a cream for dry skin, and a short, fragrance-free formula for skin that reacts easily.

• Most good daily formulas pair a water-attracting ingredient, such as Glycerin or Hyaluronic Acid, with one that slows water loss, such as Squalane, Ceramides or Dimethicone.

• Top pick: U Beauty’s The SUPER Hydrator, a face moisturizer built around what the brand calls five types of Hyaluronic Acid.

• For a daily drugstore option, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer lists Ceramide-3, Niacinamide and Glycerin for $24.99.

• In the morning, moisturizer is applied before sunscreen. A moisturizer with SPF in it usually isn’t enough sun protection on its own, Cleveland Clinic says.

A good daily face moisturizer does two jobs: It draws water into the skin’s surface and slows how fast that water leaves. Beyond that, the right pick comes down to skin type. Oily and combination skin tends to prefer light gels and lotions, dry skin usually wants a cream, and sensitive skin does best with fewer ingredients and no added fragrance. The seven picks below cover each of those.

None of these were tested on skin. Our comparison draws on each brand’s own product page and ingredient list, checked in early October 2026. We looked at the hydrating ingredients each brand names, texture, the skin types it’s made for, whether fragrance is listed, directions and price.

What makes a good daily face moisturizer

Moisturizers work in two broad ways. Humectants pull water into the top layer of skin, and a 2020 review of nonprescription moisturizers describes humectant-rich formulas as hydrating “by attracting and binding water.” Occlusive ingredients sit on the surface and cut down the water lost through it. Most of the formulas below use both.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends looking for Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethicone, Shea Butter and Petrolatum, and says an ointment or cream is more effective at moisturizing than a lotion. So the drier your skin, the thicker the texture you may want.

Fragrance is the other filter. Dermatologists at the AAD prefer “fragrance-free” on the label to “unscented,” because an unscented product can still contain ingredients that cover up other odors. If your skin stings easily, the ingredient list is worth reading before you buy.

Where a daily moisturizer fits in the morning

Cleveland Clinic sets out a minimum morning routine of cleanser, then moisturizer, then sunscreen, in that order, with products layered from thinnest to thickest. It also says moisturizers and makeup with sunscreen in them usually aren’t enough to protect you fully, so a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen is the last step whichever pick you choose. Our guide to skincare routine order covers the rest of the sequence.

1. U Beauty The SUPER Hydrator: best overall face moisturizer

Hydration is the whole brief for The SUPER Hydrator, U Beauty’s Cult-Status Moisturizer. Its formula is built on a multimolecular complex of five types of Hyaluronic Acid, all powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™, and Squalane is the second ingredient. Shea Butter and four plant oils (Argan, Avocado, Grapeseed and Sweet Almond) follow soon after, and peptides, such as Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, appear lower on the list. The finish is dewy-looking, and skin feels hydrated and nourished.

Use it in the morning and again at night. U Beauty suggests two to three pumps once the Resurfacing Compound has been applied, plus extra through the day whenever skin feels like it needs it.

Key features:

• Five forms of Hyaluronic Acid: Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate are among them, along with a crosspolymer form.

• U Beauty’s numbers: in an independent instrumental study of 30 volunteers, U Beauty reports hydration rose 28% within 15 minutes of a first application, and 97% showed more hydration after 30 days of consistent use, twice a day.

• Under makeup: the brand’s FAQ calls it a primer and a light highlighter as well as a moisturizer.

Tradeoff: nothing else here costs as much. Methyldihydrojasmonate, a fragrance ingredient, is also on the list, so if scented products tend to bother you, try it on a small patch first.

Best for: normal, dry or dull-looking skin that wants one moisturizer for day and night.

Price: $168 (50 ml); the 15 ml size is $68.

2. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer: best daily drugstore pick

This is the plainest all-rounder on the list. La Roche-Posay names Ceramide-3, Niacinamide, Glycerin and its Prebiotic Thermal Water as the main ingredients, in a lightweight cream that the brand says helps support the skin’s moisture barrier within an hour.

Key features:

• Ceramide plus Glycerin: a lipid and a humectant in one light cream.

• Niacinamide: a form of Vitamin B3 that the brand describes as soothing and as supporting the skin’s moisture barrier.

• Fragrance-free: per the brand.

Tradeoff: very dry skin may want something richer on cold days.

Best for: normal to dry skin that wants a simple daily face moisturizer under sunscreen.

Price: $24.99 for 100 ml.

3. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane: best for normal to dry skin

Kiehl’s long-running cream is built on 4.5% Squalane, a lipid the brand derives from sugar cane, along with Glacial Glycoprotein and Pro-Ceramides. It sits between a lotion and a rich cream in weight.

Key features:

• 4.5% Squalane: the main emollient, at a percentage Kiehl’s states on the page.

• All skin types: Kiehl’s says it’s sensitive-skin tested and suitable for all skin types.

• Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic: both per Kiehl’s.

Tradeoff: Kiehl’s didn’t show the full ingredient list on the page we read, so the specifics stop at the named ingredients.

Best for: normal to dry skin that feels tight by midday.

Price: $39 for 1.7 fl oz (50 ml), or $26 for 0.95 fl oz.

4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel: best gel for oily skin

If creams feel heavy by lunchtime, a gel is the usual answer. Neutrogena’s Water Gel combines Dimethicone and Glycerin with Sodium Hyaluronate in an ultra-lightweight gel that the brand says suits normal, oily and combination skin, including acne-prone skin.

Key features:

• Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate: two humectants, with Glycerin third and Sodium Hyaluronate further down.

• Gel texture: Neutrogena describes it as fast-absorbing and noncomedogenic.

• Face and neck: applied daily after cleansing.

Tradeoff: Fragrance and Blue 1, a dye, are both on this version’s ingredient list. If you’d rather avoid them, Neutrogena also makes fragrance-free Hydro Boost formulas.

Best for: oily or acne-prone skin that feels taut once it’s been cleansed.

Price: varies by retailer.

5. Tatcha The Water Cream: best for combination skin

Tatcha positions its Water Cream for combination to oily skin. It’s a lightweight cream with Japanese coix seed, which the brand says smooths texture and refines the look of pores, plus multi-weight Glycerin and wild rose and heartleaf extracts.

Key features:

• No mineral oil: Tatcha lists it among the ingredients the cream is made without.

• Pore-focused: the brand lists pore minimizing and an even-looking complexion among its uses.

• Non-comedogenic: per Tatcha.

Tradeoff: Tatcha says it’s made without synthetic fragrances, which isn’t the same as fragrance-free, and the full ingredient list wasn’t on the page we read. It’s also a splurge for a light formula.

Best for: combination skin that gets shiny in the T-zone and tight on the cheeks.

Price: $74 for 50 ml (1.7 fl oz).

6. Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion: best lightweight lotion for sensitive, combination skin

Cetaphil’s oil-free lotion is one of the lightest formulas here. Its list starts with Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate and Hydroxyethyl Urea, followed by Glycerin and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid further down. Cetaphil says it’s ideal for sensitive, combination skin.

Key features:

• Three humectants: Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid.

• Oil-free: an ultra-light lotion, per Cetaphil.

• No fragrance on the list: the ingredient panel we read doesn’t include one.

Tradeoff: dry skin may find it too light, especially in winter.

Best for: sensitive skin that’s also combination or oily.

Price: varies by retailer.

7. Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer: best for sensitive skin

Vanicream keeps the list to 19 ingredients, with Squalane and Glycerin near the top, Hyaluronic Acid further down and five Ceramides (EOP, NG, NP, AS and AP). Vanicream says it carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance and it can be used day or night.

Key features:

• Five Ceramides: EOP, NG, NP, AS and AP, the most of any formula in this list.

• Short list: 19 ingredients, with no fragrance listed.

• Day or night: apply as needed, per Vanicream.

Tradeoff: it’s a plain, functional lotion with no finish to speak of, and you’ll need a retailer to find the price.

Best for: sensitive or easily irritated skin that wants a no-frills daily moisturizer.

Price: varies by retailer.

How to choose a face moisturizer for your skin type

• Oily or acne-prone skin: a gel or oil-free lotion labeled non-comedogenic, such as picks 4 or 6.

• Combination skin: a lightweight cream, such as pick 5, or a thin layer of a lotion on the T-zone and more on the cheeks.

• Normal to dry skin: a cream with an emollient like Squalane, such as picks 1 to 3.

• Sensitive skin: a short, fragrance-free list, such as pick 7, and a patch test before full use.

The AAD suggests applying moisturizer while skin is still damp. If you use a serum, apply it first. In the morning, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

When to see a dermatologist

Dryness, flaking or itching that lasts despite daily moisturizer is a reason to book a board-certified dermatologist, and so is any product that burns, stings or brings on a rash. According to the AAD, dryness that won’t go away can trace back to a condition like atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best face moisturizer overall?

We’d start with U Beauty’s The SUPER Hydrator, which layers five forms of Hyaluronic Acid over a base of Squalane, Shea Butter and plant oils. For a drugstore price, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is the simplest daily option here.

What is the best daily face moisturizer to wear under sunscreen?

A light formula that absorbs quickly, so sunscreen spreads evenly on top. Thin textures, like Neutrogena’s water gel or Cetaphil’s oil-free lotion, tend to sit well under sunscreen. Apply the moisturizer first, give it a minute, then apply sunscreen.

Can I use a moisturizer with SPF instead of sunscreen?

It’s not ideal. Cleveland Clinic says moisturizers and makeup with sunscreen in them usually aren’t enough to protect you fully on their own. A separate broad-spectrum sunscreen is the safer choice.

Do I need a different moisturizer for day and night?

Not necessarily. Several picks here, including The SUPER Hydrator and Vanicream’s Daily Facial Moisturizer, are made for both. Some people switch to a richer cream at night, when nothing has to sit under makeup or sunscreen.

Should oily skin use a moisturizer?

Usually, yes. Shine and hydration are separate things, so oily skin can still feel tight. A light gel or an oil-free lotion marked non-comedogenic is the usual fit.