The best face moisturizers of 2025, recommended by dermatologists and experts

Yahoo

20-03-2025

Of all the anti-aging skin care products you can buy — from eye creams to serums to toners to exfoliators — facial moisturizers are probably the most common and familiar. Many of us grew up watching our mothers and grandmothers apply some type of face cream to soothe dryness, including familiar classics like Pond's or Oil of Olay. But when it comes to finding the best face moisturizer today, it's easy to feel a little lost. Many of us still don't even understand why we need it, let alone the number of options on the market.
But never fear: While most of us might not understand the ins and outs of moisturizers for a healthy glow, experts do: "Every skin-care routine should include gentle, soothing and hydrating ingredients that help maintain the skin's protective moisture barrier," says Dr. Kiran Mian, a dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in New York City. "Moisturizers specifically work to help add moisture to dry skin and protect the skin's barrier to prevent it from drying out again."
The following are our seven favorite moisturizers of the year, and they suit a wide variety of skin concerns.
Best face moisturizer overall
Factors to consider when choosing a face moisturizer
How we tested
Other face moisturizers we tried
Face moisturizers FAQs
Update, Mar. 20, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability, and added a handy specs comparison chart at the bottom. Our number one pick for the best face moisturizer remains unchanged.
(back to top)
(back to top)
Skin type: Before purchasing a moisturizer, you should first know both your skin type — normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive — and what that means for your individual hydration needs. If you can't tell just by looking, a dermatologist or aesthetician can help.
Budget: Once you've established skin type, you can start looking at value: How much you can afford to spend on a product you'll use twice a day? Remember, as with all skin care, consistency is key, so choose a face moisturizer you can afford to regularly restock.
(back to top)
As two over-40 beauty editors with decades of experience testing skin care products and very different skin (Marie's is more oily and acne-prone, Jennifer's is drier and, regrettably, in some places, crepey) we already had a few favorite face moisturizers. But we also tried more than two dozen new products for this story, evaluating their efficacy, absorption rate, texture, scent and value. We also considered (and included) expert picks we both love.
(back to top)
SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator tops many best lists and the formulation itself is fine, but we found the bottle to be laughably small, especially at its $150-plus price.
Beauty experts and influencers rave about the Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream and, while the ingredients themselves are high quality, and we love other products from this line, this moisturizer pilled and was impossible to use under makeup.
(back to top)
"Moisturizers are an essential step in skin care because they can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promote a more supple appearance in the skin," says Dr. Julia Schwartz, a board-certified dermatologist and adviser for telehealth company Ro.
Generally, thinner moisturizers are out — your parched skin needs a little extra oomph. "I recommend thicker, richer formulas for dry skin, like Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream," Mian says.
Once you've reached a certain age, a thicker formula may also be a good bet. "I like cream moisturizers for people with mature skin," says Schwartz. "A thicker cream formula can help lock in more hydration which, again, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."
The experts we spoke with recommended twice-daily application — gently rubbing a quarter-sized amount all over your face, avoiding the eyes and mouth. This will lock in moisture and seal in any other skin care products (like vitamin C serums or retinol), while also boosting hydration.
At night, moisturizer should be the last step in your skin care routine. In the morning, it should be the second-to-last step, before sunscreen.
"I recommend that people generally keep their skin care routines as simple as possible to make it easier for them to follow," Schwartz says. "If your moisturizer is working well for you, not promoting an overproduction of sebum while also keeping your skin hydrated and skin barrier supported, you can use the same moisturizer for day and night and all year round."
(back to top)
Formulation
Size
Skin type
Key ingredients
CosRx Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cream
Cream
3.52 ounces
Dry, dehydrated
Hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn water
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Cream
2 ounces
Dry, dehydrated, eczema
Colloidal oatmeal
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Cream
2.5 ounces
All
Niacinamide, ceramide-3
Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream
Cream
1.7 ounces
Dry, dehydrated, sensitive
Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin B5, vitamin E
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
Cream
1.7 ounces
Dry, normal
Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, peptide complex
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Cream
19 ounces
Normal, dry
Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Cream
1 ounce
Normal, dry
TFC8, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed rice protein
Angela Lamb, MD, board-certified dermatologist
Kiran Mian, MD, board-certified dermatologist
Julia Schwartz MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist
(back to top)