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A moisturizing face cream is usually the last step in any skincare routine, or the second to last step if it doesn’t contain sunscreen. Either way, using a good moisturizer is one of the keys to healthy, hydrated, and happy skin.
Below we have rounded up some of our favorite moisturizer cream options that vary in ingredients depending on your unique skin type and any areas or issues of concern you may want to target. We have included a moisturizer with the holy grail retinol that will not only hydrate but work on those pesky fine lines and wrinkles, an organic moisturizer that is an all-around great hydrator, and a complete moisturizer that is filled with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that can repair and protect both face and body.
You can also count on some drugstore faves that are focused on anti-aging and Vitamin C to help give you brighter, more hydrated, and healthier skin.
Our Favorite Moisturizer Cream of 2024
Era Organics Cream — Best Overall
This face and body cream is filled with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids including aloe vera, manuka honey cream, and blue-green algae. This natural moisturizer helps to repair damaged cells while stimulating new cell growth and restoring your skin’s natural pH balance. Other benefits you are sure to enjoy include stimulation of collagen production, strengthened skin fibers, improved elasticity, and environmental protection.
Pros
- This non-greasy formula leaves no residue
- A little goes a long way, so the product will last a while
Cons
- If you have acne-prone skin, another option might be better
Admire My Skin Cream Moisturizer — Runner Up
The Admire My Skin Cream Moisturizer is an exciting and effective solution for those looking for an anti-aging, anti-acne moisturizer for their skin. This product was scientifically designed with a variety of active ingredients to help reduce the appearance of aging. Plus, the hyaluronic acid helps hydrate dry skin, while the plant-derived squalane oil helps soothe and protect delicate skin from the environmental damage it encounters daily.
Pros
- Helps even out skin tone and keep acne at bay
- Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
- Helps reduce enlarged pores
Cons
- May not be suitable for daytime use
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream — Best Results
It is an intensely hydrating moisturizer that instantly restores skin health and gives your skin young radiance. When combined with green tea, rice, and algal extracts, Tatcha's unique hadasei-3 formula promotes healthy skin and a youthful glow. It is ideal for people who are concerned about dryness and uneven texture. Antioxidants included in Japanese purple rice bran aid in the healing of the skin and in protecting it from harsh environmental aggressors and stress. The Okinawa algae blend helps the skin make more hyaluronic acid and ceramides, improving the skin's barrier functions and helping it keep more moisture.Â
Pros
- Strong moisturizing effectsÂ
- Protects against harsh weather effectsÂ
- Okinawa ensures maximum moisture retention
Cons
- Is slightly greasyÂ
Allwell Hydrating Moisturizer — Best Botanical Moisturizer
Allwell Beauty Botanical Hydrating Moisturizer uses the power of natural botanicals to soothe, nourish and revitalize your skin. It contains key ingredients that can work wonders on dry and dull skins, providing incredible results. Users of this moisturizing cream say that their dry and tired-looking skin feels much softer and smoother, especially with regular, consistent use.Â
This cream is easy to use, too. You can simply apply an even layer across the face and neck two times a day. There's no need to worry about any nasties, as the cream is free of silicons, phthalates, parabens, and sulfates. Instead, it contains safe and powerful ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, vegan collagen, and rubrum extract.
Pros
- Really easy and pleasant to use
- Long-term visible benefits
- Key natural ingredients
Cons
- Excessive amount of packaging
HydroPeptide Moisturizer — Best for Anti-Aging
If you're looking for a science-backed moisturizer to fight the signs of aging, meet the HydroPeptide Face Lift Advanced Ultra-Light Moisturizer. This specially formulated, ultra-light moisturizer strengthens your skin's defenses against environmental damage. It reduces and slows the development of age-related issues like wrinkles, fine lines, and spots, helping you stay youthful and radiant.Â
This moisturizer also fights free radicals, with its clever formula able to promote the body's natural antioxidants, building natural resistance. It contains key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil for moisture and botanical stem cells to fight urban pollution, too.
Pros
- Excellent for reducing the signs of aging
- Fights free radicals
- Contains powerful natural ingredientsÂ
Cons
- Quite a pricey product
Radha Beauty Moisturizer — Most Notable
This is an anti-aging moisturizer that works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while brightening skin tone and treating hyperpigmentation. This is accomplished by a slew of beneficial ingredients including active retinol which supports natural cell turnover to improve skin texture and tone. In addition, this moisturizer includes hyaluronic acid to boost moisture and Vitamin E, aloe vera, and green tea to deeply hydrate while strengthening the skin cells against premature aging and environmental aggressors. Ideal for day or night use, apply this moisturizer as the last step in your skincare regimen.
Pros
- This product is safe for all skin types and free of fragrance, dyes, and parabens
- It works to fade sun damage, even the skin tone, and soften skin
Cons
- There is no SPF in the moisturizer
Christina Moss Naturals Moisturizer — Honorable Mention
Made with certified organic ingredients, this moisturizer is formulated for deep moisturization and absorption to thoroughly hydrate and smooth the skin. This is a very concentrated formula and each ingredient has a beneficial effect on the skin to leave it nourished, healthy, and radiant. Great for all skin types, this formula includes almond, grapeseed, and coconut oils, and aloe vera to soothe and calm the skin. Most importantly is that this formula is free of any harmful, toxic petrochemicals, fillers, binders, or fragrance.
Pros
- This is a very concentrated formula and a little goes a long way
- It is noncomedogenic, so it will not clog pores
Cons
- This product does not contain SPF
LilyAna Naturals Cream — Editor's Pick
This cream is an organic, non-greasy, anti-aging facial moisturizer to hydrate and soften the delicate facial skin. With its premium, moisturizing and antioxidant-rich ingredients including rose distillate, aloe vera, Vitamins C and E, your skin will be more toned, smoother, and more radiant. In addition to hydration, this moisturizer’s other focus is on healing and can help improve eczema, rosacea, and dermatitis to repair, calm, and brighten.
Pros
- This cream is formulated without parabens, artificial colors, or fragrances
- Reduces the appearance of acne scars and sun damage
Cons
- If you suffer from very dry skin, another option might be better
Olay Regenerist Cream — Best Drugstore Product
Focused on anti-aging, this cream contains key ingredients like amino-peptides that work to regenerate surface skin cells and deliver visible, transformative results. These results include improved elasticity and firmer skin for a lifted, more refined look. With visible results starting day one, this cream promises that after four weeks, up to ten years of wrinkles can be reduced, leaving you hydrated and plumped, ultimately giving you younger-looking skin. This is also a lightweight and moisture-binding formula with hyaluronic acid and should be the last step in your skincare regimen.
Pros
- This moisturizer is fragrance-free
- Strengthens the skin's moisture barrier for long-lasting results
Cons
- This is not an organic-based product
Olay Total Effects Moisturizer — Best Value for Money
This cream fights and provides seven major skin benefits, including moisture replenishment, evening skin tone, enhancing brightness, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, minimizing the look of pores, restoring firmness, and reducing dark spots, all in one simple step. This formula is also oil-free, fast-absorbing and in just four weeks, you will notice younger, healthier-looking skin.
Pros
- This vitamin-enriched formula has Vitamin E and green tea extract to help fight surface free radicals
Cons
- This moisturizer may have a slight fragrance
TruSkin Naturals Moisturizer — Also Consider
This Vitamin C moisturizer is a daily formula supercharged with a blend of 15% Vitamin C along with Vitamin B5, jojoba oil, and green tea for a lightweight yet effective daily facial lotion. Ideal for all skin types, the benefits of antioxidant-rich Vitamin C give you a more brightened skin tone, diminished sun spots, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation, all while helping to fade the look of fine lines and wrinkles. For optimal results and smoother skin, it is recommended to use twice per day, as the last step in your skincare routine.
Pros
- This cream is vegan and paraben-free
- This product is certified cruelty-free
Cons
- The high content of Vitamin C may contribute to drier skin
Buying Guide: Moisturizer Creams
Moisturizing your skin daily with the top moisturizer creams in 2024 in conjunction with the right skin care regimen will prevent premature aging, and keep you looking fresh-faced and spot-free.
For those who have developed spots from using new skincare products in the past, or for those who don’t know where to begin their search, choosing the right moisturizing face cream might seem like a daunting task.
However, reading this article will help you greatly narrow down your choices. In this article we will discuss some of the ingredients to look for, and how your skin type should guide you to choose your perfect product.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Moisturizer Cream
Natural ingredients
- Aloe vera
Aloe vera has reparative and anti-inflammatory properties. When used on wounds, such as healing spots, it can speed up the healing process and reduce the likelihood of scarring.
- Manuka honey
If you suffer from acne, you should consider purchasing skincare products containing manuka honey. Manuka honey is antibacterial and will reduce the number of bacteria that gather in pores. This will prevent blackheads and reduce acne outbreaks. Manuka honey is also anti-inflammatory.
- Blue-green algae
Algae is a natural moisturizer and will massively hydrate the skin. This is a great ingredient to look for if you have extremely dry skin.
- Green tea
Green tea is full of antioxidants and will fight against free radicals. It will also reduce the signs of aging. This is another ingredient to look for if you often get spots as it will not clog up your pores.
Super ingredients
The following ingredients are amazing for the skin and are often found in a variety of skin-care products:
- Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid will penetrate your skin and draw water from the air, thoroughly moisturizing your skin without adding excess oil. Using this ingredient will make your skin feel more plump and glowing.
- Active retinol
Active retinol stimulates your skin to produce more collagen. It fills out fine lines and wrinkles, as well as, reduces the appearance of sun and age spots.
- Amino-peptides
Amino-peptides are naturally occurring in the skin. Increasing the amount by including them in cream creates younger-looking, firmer skin.
Vitamins
Many moisturizers have added vitamins to give your skin even more of a boost. The added vitamins are usually:
- Vitamin E
Vitamin will protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals. This includes UV damage and bacteria found in dust and pollution. Damage caused by free radicals is the largest cause of premature aging.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C contains many antioxidants that will also protect your skin from damaging free radicals. Vitamin C also reduces the skin’s production of melanin, the skin darkening hormone. It will prevent the appearance of age spots.
SPF protection
A moisturizer should not replace sunscreen. However, using a moisturizer with UV protection in conjunction with sunscreen will protect your skin from premature aging and possible skin cancer.
Absorption speed
Consider how quickly the moisturizer cream will absorb into your skin. If you don’t have much time to complete your morning routine including applying makeup, you will need to ensure you purchase a moisturizer that absorbs quickly into the skin.
Skin type
Your skin type should play the largest part in which moisturizer you use. People with different levels of oil production should choose a moisturizer accordingly:
- Oily
If you have oily skin, you should look for a water-based moisturizer instead of an oil-based moisturizer. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid or blue-green algae are your skin's friends because they moisturize using water absorption instead of oil. The moisturizer should be lightweight and absorb quickly.
- Dry
If you have dry skin, on the other hand, you should look for a thicker moisturizer with plenty of natural oils included. Hyaluronic acid and blue-green algae are still recommended, but with plenty of oils included to lock them in.
- Combination
If you have combination skin, you will have patches of dry and oily skin. If this is the case, you should treat each section of skin with its own product.
- Normal
If you are lucky enough to have normal skin, choose a well-balanced moisturizer with a small amount of oil and plenty of vitamin content. Your skin is already fabulous and you do not want to upset its natural oil production.
Sensitive skin
You can have any of the above skin types and also have sensitive skin. However, it is most common to have sensitive and dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, choose a moisturizer with a minimal amount of ingredients, and one that is advertised as being for use with sensitive skin.
You should also avoid artificial colors and fragrances as these are known common causes of allergic reactions.
Vegan and cruelty-free
You may want to look for a product that is not tested on animals and has no animal products in its ingredients. If this is the case look for vegan and cruelty-free labels.
How We Choose the Top Moisturizer Creams
To choose the top moisturizer creams we consider the following factors:
- Ingredients
- Absorbency
- Consistency
- Moisturizing ability
- Amount of time feeling moisturized
- Scent
- Cost
- Customer reviews