The 13 Best Drugstore Moisturizers, According to Skincare Experts

Lal recommends La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Double Repair face moisturizer to just about everyone, especially those with sensitive skin. “This moisturizer is great for dry and oily skin and will keep your skin moisturized for up to 48 hours,” he explains. "It has ceramide-3, niacinamide, prebiotics, and microresyl."

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin

Customer review: "I have tried so many moisturizers, and this is one I keep coming back to. I have sensitive combo skin and this moisturizer is always soothing to my skin. It locks in moisture and plays well with sunscreen and makeup."

"Sometimes I feel silly when I use or recommend any other moisturizer," Bazaar beauty director Jenna Rosenstein says of CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion. "There is nothing quite as good as CeraVe, especially if you have dry and sensitive skin. The texture is lightweight but packs a hydrating punch, and it's truly the only thing I can trust to save my skin in the winter. I like to lay it on thick, almost like a mask, before bed. I also use it on my hands and body. When I wake up, my dry skin feels truly transformed."

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin

Customer review: "I’ve tried many expensive moisturizers, and this beats them all. So moisturizing with great ingredients and such a clean feel."

Streamline your morning skincare routine with this e.l.f. Cosmetics face cream, one of Bazaar editors' favorite hyaluronic acid moisturizers. This version of the peptide-packed formula softens skin without leaving behind a sticky residue and nicely contains SPF 30 to keep your face protected (though it doesn't hurt to add an extra pump of sunscreen). After you've applied it, you can seamlessly move right onto your face makeup without the threat of pilling.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, squalane

Customer review: "This has been my holy grail. Makeup application is wonderful after this hydrates and prepares my skin. No primer needed."

Lal counts Cetaphil's DermaControl Oil Absorbing moisturizer as one of his top moisturizer recommendations for those with acne-prone skin. “It’s also great for patients on isotretinoin or Accutane as it contains sunscreen,” he adds. Another reason the skincare expert suggests the oil-free moisturizer for those prone to breakouts? “It has technology that absorbs oil and reduces shine,” Lal notes.

• Key ingredients: Allantoin, glycerin, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene

Customer review: "I have tried countless moisturizers for oily, sensitive skin from expensive brands and medical-grade skin lines. However, this beats them all...I wear this all day and have no oil, even after a light sweat or applying a face of makeup."

Here's a National Eczema Association-approved hydrator that's also loved by beauty editors. “After paying the equivalent of a month’s rent on fancy moisturizers, I decided enough was enough," says Bazaar contributor Tatjana Freund. "Every dermatologist I’ve ever seen recommends Vanicream. Not only is it incredibly gentle, but deeply hydrates the skin without clogging pores.”

• Key ingredients: Petrolatum, sorbitol
  

Customer review: "This has been a lifesaver for my skin, especially while I was on Accutane, which is known for its extreme drying effects. Throughout my treatment, my skin was incredibly sensitive and prone to dryness, but this moisturizer kept my skin hydrated and soft without irritation."

"This nighttime cream contains multiple peptides for smoother skin, including pentapeptide-4, a synthetic peptide that has skin-repairing and anti-aging properties," board-certified dermatologist Rachel Westbay previously told Bazaar. "It stimulates collagen production and improves skin elasticity." She also likes that the formula has hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening niacinamide.

Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide

Customer review: "I’ve tried different skincare lines in all price ranges, and I always go back to Olay! It is moisturizing, not too heavy, and fragrance-free."

The original drugstore retinol, this editor-loved RoC cream is a great option for those new to using the fine line-reducing, acne-clearing ingredient. RoC's formula gently stimulates collagen production to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. Experts recommend applying the cream starting at two nights per week and slowly working your way up to daily use.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid

Customer review: "Tried a more expensive brand since then, but noticed [this] works better and doesn't aggravate my very sensitive skin. So, I'm back to using it daily."

If you prefer your face cream to have a more watery, gel-like texture, try Neutrogena's ultra-popular Hydro Boost Water Gel Cream. The lightweight moisturizer is like a cold drink of water for your face. It's packed with hyaluronic acid that helps plump skin right away yet feels weightless, making it ideal for oily and combination skin.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin

Customer review: "I've noticed a significant improvement in my skin's hydration. It has a light, fresh texture that absorbs quickly, leaving my skin soft and without any greasy feel. It's perfect for my combination skin, as it hydrates dry areas without overwhelming the oilier zones...Plus, it hasn’t caused any irritation or breakouts, which is a big plus. "

Weleda's Skin Food moisturizers are a not-so-secret favorite of celebrity makeup artists, thanks to a glowy finish that works well solo or under foundation. This Light Nourishing Cream is just the right weight for use on your face and body, so it's great to keep tucked in your bag for on-the-go hydration. Swap in the original Skin Food Ultra-Rich Cream on nights when you need a little extra moisture.

• Key ingredients: Sunflower oil, calendula extract, pansy extract

Customer review: "My makeup glides on so nicely and my skin actually feels nourished after using this product."

"Did you use too much retinol or go wild with an exfoliating acid? Nothing heals dry, irritated, or angry skin faster than a thick coat of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5, a skin-healing ointment and favorite of derms and beauty experts everywhere," Bazaar staff wrote of this 2024 Skincare Awards winner.

• Key ingredients: Shea butter, glycerin, vitamin B5

Customer review: "It’s the best for a compromised skin barrier. I use it in the summer after too much sun exposure and in the winter for that dry weather skin. It’s been a great addition when I’m using a retinoid (anyone with sensitive skin knows that struggle). It’s also helpful for when I get a little too carried away with picking at my blemishes."

This luxe L’Oréal Paris face cream cools the skin by two degrees, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to drift off to sleep. After a few weeks, you'll notice smoother, brighter, and more supple skin thanks to vitamin E and patented antioxidants that help with cell turnover.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, patented antioxidant complex

Customer review: "I’ve tried a lot of different moisturizers, but this one tops my list. My face still feels soft when I wake up in the morning."

This soothing hydrator is lightweight and nongreasy, with a hypoallergenic formula that aims to restore the skin's moisture barrier while reducing redness. It also nicely provides up to 24 hours of hydration without feeling like a mask.

• Key ingredients: Prebiotic oat, feverfew

Customer review: "I loved this moisturizer and would definitely buy it again. I like that it doesn't have a strong scent and makes your skin feel moisturized without feeling greasy." —desireed222

EltaMD does more than just make great sunscreen; it also makes one of our favorite moisturizers. It has niacinamide, willow bark extract, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, vitamin C, and willow bark extract to smooth out skin texture and lock in moisture. It's also super lightweight and non-comedogenic, so it won't clog pores.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, willow bark extract, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, vitamin C, willow bark extract

One satisfied customer writes: "I’m 74 and I have dry skin. How many products have I tried? So many. This AM moisturizer is the one that actually does what it says. I wear it daytime and at night. When I get up my skin feels soft and it looks and feels moisturized. With others, I wake up to dull dry skin. This is the answer for me." —Janelle