Active Ingredients: Titanium dioxide | Skin Type: Oily, combo | Size: 1.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Finding a non-comedogenic moisturizer that is also suitably hydrating is hard. Often, people with combination or acne-prone skin have to settle for something that either gives them acne or doesn't properly moisturize their face. Tatcha has solved this problem with their Water Cream.
The brand makes a point to have clean ingredients, so it's no shock that this formula is free of irritants, including parabens and synthetic fragrances. The Water Cream specifically uses ingredients you likely won't find in other brands—like Japanese leopard lily and Japanese wild rose—to keep skin hydrated without leaving excess oil behind. For a bonus shine, there's a little bit of 24k gold in the formulation as well.
What Our Testers Say
"After each application, my face felt really hydrated but light at the same time. There is a freshness you feel upon applying The Water Cream, almost like a cooling sensation in a way. I continued to enjoy how it felt on my skin during the day and at night." — Ashley Rebecca, Product Tester
These Non-Comedogenic Moisturizers Won't Irritate Your Skin
Best for Itchy Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
ultra-repair-cream
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Active Ingredients: Squalane, sodium hydroxide | Skin Type: All skin types | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
As if parched skin weren't already bad enough, it usually accompanies itchiness and flaking. Thankfully, this intensely moisturizing cream can come to your skin's rescue. Colloidal oatmeal lovingly smothers itchy, dry skin with its soothing properties. Ceramides swoop in to help repair the moisture barrier, while shea butter adds another surge of moisture. People struggling with eczema and dry patches alike can use this cream, and if you happen to over-exfoliate, dab this on to soothe the healing process.
Best During Pregnancy: Matrescence Skin Rose Glow Brilliance Protection Soufflé
Matrescence Moisturizer
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Skin Type: Dry | Size: 2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Many of our favorite skincare ingredients for treating hyperpigmentation and providing plump skin aren't always the best options for pregnancy. That's why this emollient soufflé is a prime investment. If your skin is dull or distressed, it will love the hydrating results of sunflower seed oil, cucumber extract, carrot root, and other yummy ingredients.
Best PH-Balancing: Base Butter Radiate Face Jelly
BASE BUTTER
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Skin Type: Dry | Size: 2. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Whether you have dry skin or oily skin, this best-selling aloe vera gel moisturizer is a fan favorite for moisture that lasts all day long. The natural formula balances your skin's pH levels between 4.2 to 5.8, leaving your skin rejuvenated, restored, and protected. This product gets extra brownie points for lavender that works to regulate sebum production and evening primrose to boost skin elasticity.
Final Verdict
We're giving top honors to Olay's Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream; the pretty red jar sells every 20 minutes worldwide—no joke. It's hydrating (thanks to hyaluronic acid) and really helps put wrinkles in their place, and the affordable price sure doesn't hurt. Looking to splurge? You can't go wrong with La Mer's Crème de la Mer, a cult classic, or Dr. Barbara Sturm's Face Cream Rich. Both are dry skin heroes and offer long-lasting hydration that justifies their price points.
Lightweight Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
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What to Look for In a Facial Moisturizer
Humectants
Humectants are ingredients that work by attracting water to and holding it in the skin; common examples include hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
Emollients
Emollients soften and smooth the surface of the skin. Ingredients such as oils, fatty acids, and ceramides are all good emollients to look for in a formula.
Occlusives
This category of ingredients forms a seal on the surface of the skin, helping to lock in moisture that way. Petrolatum, mineral oil, and silicones are all considered occlusives.
Lightweight Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
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How often should you moisturize your face?
According to Dr. King, this will vary depending on how dry or oily your skin is and the dryness or humidity of your environment. Other products you’re using that can affect your skin barrier—retinoids or salicylic acid, for example—can also play a role in how often you’ll need to moisturize. That being said, in most cases, moisturizing twice daily after cleansing will suffice, she says.
How do you use a face serum with moisturizer?
Simply put, serums always go first. The general skincare rule is to apply products from lightest to heaviest; serums are innately more lightweight than any type of moisturizer, so if you are using one, apply it first. Give it a little time to soak into your skin completely, then follow with your moisturizer of choice.
How much moisturizer should you use?
Again, this also varies, depending not only on how dry your skin is but also on the particular moisturizer you’re using. As a general rule of thumb, Dr. King says approximately a nickel-size amount is a good guideline.
FYI: Dermatologists Say These Are the Best Moisturizers for Rosacea
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