The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (2024)

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (1)

Written by Brigitt Earley

Updated May 10, 2024

A good face moisturizer is an essential part of a daily skincare routine. It locks in moisture while creating a barrier that protects your face from pollutants and irritants that cause damage. Choosing a face moisturizer can be difficult because of all the options and a slew of claims.

Like face washes, the best face creams and face moisturizers for you will depend on your skin type and individual beauty needs. However, whether you have normal, dry, oily, or even combination skin, there is a quality, everyday face moisturizer out there for you.

We tested top-rated face creams, lotions, and gels to find the best face moisturizer. We found a clear winner: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (available at Amazon) . This smooth, thick face moisturizer is infused with shea butter for soft skin but also contains colloidal oatmeal and allantoin for soothing benefits.

We also like The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (available at Target). Containing hyaluronic acid, it does a great job moisturizing and is available for a value price.

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (2) The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (3)

Best Overall

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream promises “intense hydration,” and that’s exactly what it delivers. The cream is thick but silky, allowing a dime-sized amount of formula to spread easily and evenly around our tester’s entire face.

With shea butter to moisturize and provide a skin barrier, we instantly felt hydrating benefits during testing. The cream felt cool on our tester’s skin as it began to absorb, and her skin went from dry and rough to ultra-smooth. Once the cream soaked in—within a few seconds—her skin felt softer to the touch and not at all greasy or sticky. This hydrating sensation lasted the majority of the day.

The positives didn’t stop with the formula: The cream is fragrance-free, making it suitable for even sensitive skin. It also targets eczema with ingredients like colloidal oatmeal to relieve itching and allantoin to calm and soothe the skin.

Pros

  • Spreads easily

  • Feels hydrating

  • Leaves skin soft

Cons

  • None that we could find

Buy now at Amazon


$38.00 from Target


$17.48 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (4) The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (5)

Best Value

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

In a blind test, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA could be mixed up with the First Aid Beauty Intense Repair Cream. This cream feels just as luxe in about every way.

The 3.3-ounce squeeze tube we tested dispenses the product with no issue. A small amount of formula goes a long way, spreading over the skin beautifully to lock in moisture. It absorbs at about the same speed as the First Aid Beauty—in just a few seconds—and leaves skin silky, too.

The one difference (and downside) is that this face moisturizer’s finish leans greasy, so if you’re a stickler for oiliness, you may want to splurge for our Best Overall pick.

Pros

  • A little formula goes a long way

  • Spreads easily

  • Leaves skin soft

Cons

  • Slightly greasy feeling

Buy now at Amazon


$14.00 from Target

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (6)

Best for Mature Skin

L'Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler

The L'Oreal Paris Skincare Collagen Face Moisturizer is plenty thick and spreads easily and evenly. The cream, which has collagen to fight wrinkles, feels smooth and hydrating, and it left our tester’s skin moisturized and silky to the touch for as many as six hours. It takes a touch longer to absorb than our top two picks, but nothing you’d notice if you’re not, say, testing a dozen or so face moisturizers.

If there’s any downside, it’s that the product has a medicinal smell that tends to linger. If you can ignore that (and it didn’t really bother our tester), it’s a great option, especially if you’re looking for an anti-aging product that’s widely available at drugstores, grocery stores, and other retailers.

Pros

  • Leaves skin super smooth

  • Spreads easily

Cons

  • Unpleasant medicinal smell

Buy now at Amazon


$13.24 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (7)

Best for Dry Skin

e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream

The E.L.F. Holy Hydration! Face Cream isn’t quite as thick and creamy as some of the other options tested, but it’s still a very effective face moisturizer for dry skin. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin B5 to boost hydration, it leaves skin feeling perfectly moisturized and smooth for up to six hours.

It’s easy to get out of the container and spreads well. More formula was needed than the dime-sized amount used with other face moisturizers, and it didn’t absorb quite as easily as our top-ranking ones. That said, the absorption time (about two minutes) is hardly inconvenient, and the formula doesn’t leave any residue behind.

It’s also truly fragrance-free, meaning there’s no added fragrance and the formula doesn’t smell like chemicals or medicinal, which makes it a good option for those with sensitive skin or noses.

Pros

  • Leaves skin soft

  • Fragrance-free

  • Spreads easily

Cons

  • Doesn’t absorb as quick as others

  • Requires more formula

Buy now at Amazon


$13.00 from Target


$13.00 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (8)

Best for Sensitive Skin

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

The Vanicream Facial Moisturizer is designed for people with sensitive skin, meaning it’s free from potential irritants, such as dyes, fragrances, lanolin, and parabens. Still, it doesn’t have the medicinal smell some fragrance-free products tend to have.

The face moisturizer is much more lotion-like than the higher-ranking products tested and, as such, feels lighter. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to squeeze too much out of the tube. But because of this consistency, the face moisturizer spreads with ease, and a little bit goes a very long way—only a pea-sized drop was needed to coat our tester’s whole face in a thin layer compared to a dime-sized amount used with others.

Despite how gentle and lightweight it is, it also manages to be a relatively effective face moisturizer. Our tester’s skin had some tackiness even after the formula was fully absorbed, but otherwise, it left her face feeling smooth and hydrated for a couple of hours.

Pros

  • Sensitive skin friendly

  • Spreads easily

Cons

  • Runnier than others

  • Leaves a tacky residue

Buy now at Amazon


$12.99 from Target


$8.28 from Walmart

Other Face Moisturizers We Tested

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (9)

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

You might be skeptical of CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion because it doubles as a body lotion, but our tester was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy, greasy, or sticky.

Although lightweight, it’s not quite as runny as the Vanicream, which made it easier to work with. Interestingly, it wasn’t as instantly hydrating and didn’t leave our tester’s skin as silky-smooth as some of the higher-ranking products did. Overall, this is a good product to stock if you want to streamline your beauty routine for all of your skin lotion needs.

Pros

  • Absorbs fast

  • Spreads easily

Cons

  • Very thin consistency

Buy now at Amazon

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (10)

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel is a gel-based product with a very lightweight consistency. Because of this, it spreads well and feels instantly cooling on the face. However, it sat on top of our tester’s skin for a few minutes before fully absorbing. It also has a slight medicinal, musty smell.

That said, once the formula was fully absorbed, it left our tester’s skin feeling silky—albeit a tiny bit sticky—and hydrated, but not for quite as long as other products did.

Pros

  • Spreads easily

  • Provides an instant boost of hydration

Cons

  • Overpowering scent

  • Leaves a tacky residue

  • Hydration doesn’t last as long as other options

Buy now at Amazon


$19.99 from Target


$13.05 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (11)

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

If you don’t love the thickness of cream face moisturizers but could use the hydration of one, you’ll love the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer. It feels like a happy medium between a cream and a lotion. It’s thick enough to leave skin feeling amply moisturized, but it’s not as heavy as a true cream, making it easier to spread.

And while it initially feels a little greasy, that sensation disappears once the face moisturizer fully absorbs into the skin a few minutes later post-application. At that point, skin feels super quenched—and remains that way for the better part of the day.

Pros

  • Spreads easily

  • Long-lasting moisture

Cons

  • Greasy upon application

  • Absorbs slowly

Buy now at Amazon


$14.20 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (12)

Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer, For Sensitive Skin

Though the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer looks thick and white like a cream, it’s actually a gel-based face moisturizer, which becomes clear when you touch the formula—it’s much lighter and feels wetter on the skin. And while a dime-sized amount spreads easily, it’s not as instantly cooling and quenching as the other gel option on this list, Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost.

This also left our tester’s skin feeling greasy—she wanted to wash her hands immediately after application. But if you can get past the surprisingly oily nature of the formula, you’ll be pleased with how silky-soft the skin feels once fully absorbed. Just don’t expect it to last—you may feel the urge to reapply just a few hours after the initial application.

Pros

  • Spreads easily

  • A little formula goes a long way

Cons

  • Greasy

  • Not as long-lasting as other options

Buy now at Amazon


$19.99 from Target


$15.20 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (13)

Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid Lotion

Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid Lotion has an easy-to-spread, cream-like consistency but a strong baby powder-like scent. If any potent fragrance bothers you, this will be a difficult hurdle to surmount because the scent definitely lingers.

And though it’s relatively moisturizing, our tester felt that the formula is too greasy, which increases absorption time and causes skin to feel damp and oily for longer than she would have liked. Instead of feeling like the face moisturizer absorbed into and hydrated her skin, it felt like a film on top that wasn’t providing hydration beyond the surface.

Pros

  • Easy to spread

Cons

  • Greasy

  • Absorbs slowly

  • Not as hydrating as other options

Buy now at Amazon


$11.99 from Target


$10.98 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (14)

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+

The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ says its formula has a silky texture that penetrates quickly, but our tester found that only the first half of that claim held up. While the product feels very silky, it doesn’t readily absorb, and she had to work hard to rub it in. The effort pays off, however, as skin feels smooth and not at all scaly once the lotion is fully absorbed into skin. The application is an inconvenience, though.

Another area where this fell flat: The product is fragrance-free but has a noticeable medicinal scent that may bother you.

Pros

  • Silky texture

  • Fragrance-free

Cons

  • Absorbs slowly

  • Strong unpleasant smell

Buy now at Amazon


$34.00 from Target


$12.99 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (15)

Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion

The Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion is very thin and milky, which makes it exceptionally runny. As a result, it’ll spurt out of the bottle and run down your fingers if you’re not quick and precise with application. And though it’s infused with hyaluronic acid, it’s not nearly as hydrating as other formulas tested—either upon application or after several hours of wear.

Pros

  • Very lightweight

Cons

  • Runny consistency is hard to work with

  • Not as hydrating as other options

Buy now at Amazon


$14.49 from Target


$13.29 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (16)

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

The cucumber-like scent of the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream is a nice touch, but the product feels more like applying post-sun aloe on the skin than it does a face moisturizer. Like aloe, it immediately cools on the skin but is also sticky. It sits on top of the skin for a long time—so long that it doesn’t feel like it ever fully absorbs in to hydrate the skin, but instead feels more like a filmy mask than a face moisturizer.

Pros

  • Cooling on skin

Cons

  • Sticky

  • Absorbs slowly

Buy now at Amazon


$18.60 from Walmart

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (17)

Burt's Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Day Lotion

Like other low-ranking products, the Burt's Bees Calming Day Lotion feels thin, milky, sticky, and even a little greasy. Our tester didn’t find that it made a noticeable difference in her skin's hydration in the way thicker formulas did.

What’s more, the pump bottle (the only packaging this is available in) has a tiny dispenser, which makes application a bit slower—our tester needed a few solid pumps to get enough product to cover her face, mainly because it absorbs immediately on contact with skin.

On top of it all, the product has a musty smell that almost skews dirty rather than fresh.

Pros

  • Absorbs quickly

Cons

  • Strong smell

  • Sticky and greasy

  • Not as hydrating as other options

Buy now at Amazon


$12.59 from Target


$11.15 from Walmart

How We Tested Face Moisturizers

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (18)

Our tester researched which face moisturizers are the best and then eliminated products that exceeded $10 per ounce, focusing on non-specialized face moisturizers for “normal” skin—neither dry nor oily.

Once top-rated face moisturizers were selected, the testing process was straightforward: Each face moisturizer was evaluated for bottle functionality before our tester used it on her skin. As she used each product, she assessed how easily the face moisturizer spread and how hydrated and comfortable her skin felt a few minutes and hours after application. When she finished testing all the products, she teamed up with Reviewed’s in-house experts to score and weigh the results on a scientifically calibrated rubric to find the best face moisturizer.

What You Should Know About Face Moisturizers

When it comes to face moisturizers, we've outlined a few considerations that may influence your purchasing decision.

Types of Face Moisturizers

It’s important to note that, though many use the terms interchangeably, there is a difference between creams, lotions, and gels.

Creams are the thickest and contain the most oil. Lotions are thinner and contain more water and less oil than creams. Gel-based face moisturizers are the thinnest; they may contain little oil or be oil-free. All can offer great hydrating benefits, but creams are usually the most moisturizing.

How to Factor Skin Type and Face Moisturizers

Typically, someone with normal to dry skin may want to consider a cream, while those with oily or combination skin may prefer a lotion or gel—but it’s as much a personal preference as anything else.

We focused only on face moisturizers for all skin types that offer the basic necessity: moisture. And yes, oily skin needs face moisturizer, too.

Skin Concern With Face Moisturizers

As with skin types, there’s a face moisturizer to address just about any skincare concern, from wrinkles to acne to dark spots.

Face moisturizers will include specialized ingredients to target skin concerns. People with acne-prone skin want to look for a face moisturizer with salicylic acid. (They should also look for a lightweight face moisturizer that won’t clog pores.) Meanwhile, people with fine lines or mature skin should look for face moisturizers with collagen and/or retinols, among other anti-aging ingredients.

Face Moisturizer Cost

Like other beauty products, there are vast differences in cost. Pricier face moisturizers, such as Creme de La Mer (available at Amazon) and the Water Cream from Tatcha (available at Amazon) are acclaimed by some board-certified dermatologists, but for the purpose of our tests, we focused on readily available (meaning you can find them online or in local stores) and relatively affordable face moisturizers priced at less than $10 per ounce.

When Should You Use Face Moisturizer?

You should use face moisturizer after cleansing your face and applying toners or serums. Serums tend to be water-based, while face moisturizers usually contain oil. Applying the serum first ensures the skin absorbs its ingredients before applying an oily face moisturizer. This helps heighten the effect of the serum because the face moisturizer locks in the ingredients, providing more benefits to the skin.

Applying face moisturizer before and after flying is also a great idea since prolonged periods in a plane tend to dry out the skin. Make sure to use face moisturizer before putting on any sunscreen or makeup.

How Often Should You Use Face Moisturizer?

You should use face moisturizer twice a day, both in the morning and at night before bed. This ensures that your face stays moisturized throughout the day and overnight, which is key to maintaining healthy and hydrated skin.

What Are The Best Face Moisturizer Brands?

The best face moisturizer brands include some that we've tested like First Aid Beauty, Vanicream, La Roche-Posay, The Ordinary, Clinque, and CeraVe. Other popular face moisturizer brands include Drunk Elephant (available at Amazon), Paula's Choice (available at Amazon), and SkinCeuticals (available at Dermstore).

Where To Buy Face Moisturizers

Some of the best places to buy face moisturizers include Amazon, Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta Beauty, Target, and Walmart. You can also buy face moisturizers directly from brand sites.

More On Body Lotions and Moisturizers

  • The Best Body Lotions We've Tested
  • The Best Hand Creams We've Tested
  • Gloves in a Bottle hand lotion review
  • The 15 most popular moisturizers
  • 7 Best Facial Tissues and Kleenex
  • This is my favorite face moisturizer—here's why
  • The Best Hand Creams We've Tested for Aging Hands
  • The Best Self-Tanners We've Tested
  • What colloidal oatmeal can do for your skin
  • 11 Beauty products celebrities swear by
  • The Best Facial Cleansing Brushes
  • The Best Face Washes

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Meet the tester

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (19)

Brigitt Earley

Writer

@@brigitt_earley

Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor based in NJ. Her work has appeared in a number of lifestyle publications, including Real Simple and Apartment Therapy. She’s a new mom, runs an Instagram account full of the most delicious food she can find, and loves to hate a good barre class.

See all of Brigitt Earley's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

The Best Face Moisturizers of 2024 (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5761

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.