The Best Face Moisturizers of 2026

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 Ulta). Containing hyaluronic acid, it does a great job moisturizing and is available for a value price.

Other Face Moisturizers We Tested

How We Tested Face Moisturizers

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.

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