When the seasons change so do our beauty needs. In winter, even those of us with oily skin had dry, parched complexions that needed a heavy dose of moisture. However, in the summer, we may find that nourishing moisture to be too rich and too greasy. Sometimes the heat and humidity call for a lightweight moisturizer, and ideally one with SPF.
Check out the 7 best moisturizers that get our readers’ votes:
1. Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30 ($10.99, CeraVe)
This moisturizer doesn’t contain the usual ingredients found in moisturizers which is why it has stood out from the rest and become a best seller. Isana Leshchinskaya is a fan:
“Cerave AM (with SPF) and PM (without) are great options. They are lightweight, non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and full of skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and ceramides. I’m serious about the plumping of Cerave products. This stuff is for reals.”
In addition to nourishing ingredients, its patented Multivesicular Emulsion technology releases the ingredients over time for continuous moisture. Clever. So try to shop cerave products and bring your skin’s lost moisture.
2. Skin Recovery Cream ($32, Avene)
If you have sensitive skin, it can be a struggle to find the right product that moisturizes your skin but doesn’t irritate it. Commenter Aisha found one that protects, soothes, and nourishes:
“Avene’s Skin Recovery Cream is WONDERFUL. I have extremely sensitive combination skin that has been through the ringer with occasional flair-ups of acne and eczema (sometimes both at the same time) and this is one of the few products that adequately moisturizes my skin, soothes breakouts and allergic reactions, and is non-greasy on my T-zone. The minerals in it make my skin look very glowy and it’s only about $22-30 on Amazon so it’s a great deal. I would recommend it for any skin type.”
Don’t let the little white package fool you. This is a skin savior.
3. Vanishing Cream Moisturizer ($42.95, Lush)
If you suffer from breakouts, listen up because this moisturizer helps to fight pimples. It gets reader Bee‘s seal of approval:
“hands down the best for me has been vanishing cream by lush cosmetics. I know it’s a bit pricey, but I went into the store and asked for a sample– they have other moisturizers as well and I’m sure there are others that would work better for different people, but there is a huge difference in my skin! I have a few hormonal breakouts, but I was amazed to see how quickly they disappeared because of the moisturizer! much faster than normal.”
It has witch hazel which helps to eliminate pimples and tighten pores in addition to gentle, hydrating ingredients.
4. Dry Skin Cream ($8.29, Pond’s)
Pond’s made it onto the list of best makeup removers and now it gets a spot on this list. This was what Bee used as part of her skincare regimen prior to Lush’s moisturizer:
“I was a pretty devoted ponds cold cream at night/ Neutrogena moisturizer in the AM person! Because there’s no SPF, I use the Neutrogena healthy skin enhancer over it for SPF 20 and I’m ready to go! I get so many compliments from strangers about how glowy my skin is!”
It’s hypoallergenic, won’t clog pores, and provides a serious dose of moisture.
5. Imperialis Facial Moisturizer ($24.95, Lush)
Lush earned a second spot on the list. Jade-Yue-Ryu likes this lavender infusion moisturizer for combination skin:
“Lush’s Imperialis. The formula is very lightweight and has calming ingredients for my rosacea. Plus a little goes a very long way, one dab on my finger can cover my whole face and neck easily. Also important is that it sinks in pretty quickly so I can put my SPF over it and not worry.”
The lavender isn’t just to make your face smell nice. It helps control sebum production. If your skin is oily, it will stop your face from turning into a greasy mess, but if it’s on the dry side, it will encourage it to produce more natural oils.
6. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($26, Clinique)
This was the moisturizer that got my vote. The gel formula is refreshing and great for those with oily skin. You just need a little bit to moisturize your face. It absorbs quickly into your skin without that heavy trace residue some creams leave.
7. Intensive Healing Daily Fragrance-Free Cream ($8.49, Curel)
Don’t judge a product by its packaging. Reader hannah loves this classic moisturizer:
“Curel fragrance-free is my everyday. Very gentle, very cheap, very effective. The little tubs look sexier, but if you get the pump bottle you won’t introduce germs in with your fingers and you can keep it longer.”
If you have dry skin regardless of the weather, keep this stocked in your bathroom.
What Is The Best Facial Moisturizer You Have Ever Used?
It is wintertime again! Besides drinking too much eggnog and having lots of awkward conversations at your office holiday party, this season also involves one very annoying skin dilemma: dry skin. Between the cold outside, the heater drying out the air in your apartment, and all the aforementioned alcohol, you may experience that awful tightening feeling or overall flakiness. That’s why moisturizer is more important than ever! But which one is the best?
Everybody’s got their favorite moisturizer, and it’s as personal of a choice as, say, your favorite eyeliner or that sweater you love no matter how worn-out it’s gotten. I remember watching my mom apply her pretty yellow Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion while looking in the mirror, and it’s one of my favorite memories from childhood.
My picks:
- Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream – It’s a lovely anti-aging moisturizing cream that actually makes my super dry cheek and chin areas much softer and smoother. I have fairly sensitive skin, so the fact that it doesn’t irritate my complexion at all is wonderful.
- nyakio Hydrating Face Oil With Kola Nut – This stuff is ridiculously great for adding moisture to dry skin. It’s one of the only products I’ve ever used that genuinely improved the texture of my face, so definitely give it a go if you’re self-conscious about your skin.
I take the two above products and mix a dollop and a drop together to apply to my face in the morning and evening. When I’m feeling fancy, I use La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask to add extra moisture to my skin overnight.
So, which is your favorite moisturizer ever? Tell us in the comments!
Moisturizing Face Products That Will Stop You From Turning Scaly
Some of us have dry skin no matter what the season, but a lot of us get drier skin when the temperature starts to dip. Now that we’re into October, we need to make sure we have hydrating products that will keep our skin moisturized and silky smooth before winter comes and turn our skin into a red, flaking it-hurts-to-smile mess. Stock these products in your bathroom cupboard to keep you from turning rough and scaly on cold days.
Check out 10 hydrating products that will keep your complexion looking its best:
- Purely Nourishing Moisturizer For Combination Skin (bareMinerals): Having combination skin is difficult. You need a product that nourishes your dry spots but doesn’t feel too greasy. Thankfully this moisturizer provides balanced hydration, while protecting your skin against the damaging effects of the environment.
- Skin Expertise Collagen Moisture Filler Daily Moisturizer (L’Oréal): This lightweight moisturizer can be used as a day or night cream. It also contains collagen to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Moisturizing Facial Wash (Simple): If your face is feeling dry and tight, your harsh face wash could be doing more harm than good. This gentle cleanser hydrates and protects parched skin. Plus, it doesn’t contain any irritating ingredients.
- Radiance Night Cream (Burt’s Bees): A natural moisturizer that doesn’t contain anything nasty? Yes, please. This cream contains royal jelly, bee pollen and shea butter to keep your skin soft and supple. Apply before bed and wake up with a beautiful, hydrated complexion.
- Acne-Fighting Mattifying Moisturizer (Sephora Collection): If you have acne prone skin, heavy moisturizers can cause pimples. This multipurpose moisturizer contains salicylic acid so it actually treat zits and helps combat excess shine.
- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + (Clinique): If you haven’t tried this cult skin care product, you need to. The rich, creamy lotion is perfect for those with extremely dry skin, who feel like their faces are about to crack in half.
- Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 (Mario Badescu): There are lots of moisturizers on the market that don’t clog pores, and this is one of the ones that won’t make you break out. It is also formulated with green tea to fight the signs of aging and SPF 30, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting your sunscreen. Again.
- Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask (The Body Shop): If you find that your regular moisturizer isn’t cutting it, keep a few of these masks close at hand. It provides an intense boost of moisturizer thanks to soya oil and vitamin E, and helps combat the effects of environmental irritants.
- Divine Oil (Caudalie): The right oils can actually be really good for your skin. This nourishing face oil blends different oils that are instantly absorbed into skin. Bonus: You can also use it on your hair and body.
- Oil-Free Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin (Neutrogena): If just looking at a new cream turns your face red, this gentle moisturizer is specifically formulated for sensitive skin. It contains no alcohol or irritating ingredients and it is oil-free.
What Is The Best Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin?
It is winter and your skin is probably so dry it has scales at this point. You want to slather on the moisturizer, but if you have sensitive skin that can cause just as many issues. You don’t want a product that moisturizes your face but leaves it red and irritated. Finding products that work with your sensitive skin can be tricky. You want something that is strong enough to adequately moisturize your face, but you don’t want it to be so strong that you break out in a rash. So, what is the best moisturizer for sensitive skin that you have ever used?
I have sensitive skin so I understand how difficult it is to find a product that doesn’t inflame your face. My skin always gets dry in the winter, so I recently tested out different moisturizers to see what one was the best at nourishing my complexion. Surprisingly, none of the products I tested irritated my skin, and they all did a decent job at hydrating my face. I picked Sephora Intensive Instant Moisturizer, as my favorite. It is suitable for sensitivity and has a rich creamy formula that absorbs quickly. You only need to use a bit to cover your entire face.
Another product that I find works well with my sensitive skin is face oil. I was initially skeptical about using an oil on my face because my complexion already is quite oily, but oils really are suitable for all different types of skin, including those that are oilier. I’ve tried a few different face oils that didn’t irritate my skin. Bio-Oil, $21.99, is one of my favorites. It isn’t greasy and it absorbs easily. There is no sticky residue and one or two drops are all you need, so a bottle will last a long time.
In this open thread, we want to know: What is the best moisturizer for sensitive skin that you have ever used? Tell us in the comments!
(Photo: Olgaorly/iStock/Luminaimages/Shutterstock)
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.