Key Ingredients: Peptides, collagen, hyaluronic acid | Who It’s For: People looking for bounce and a supple texture
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Restoring Gel Cream
Why It’s Worth It: “For people with oily, acne-prone skin looking for a lightweight moisturizer, Skinfix Barrier+ Restoring Gel Cream is excellent,” says David Kim, MD, an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology and founder of Lightsaver. “One to two pumps is all you need and it gets absorbed instantly.” The star ingredients here are moisture-binding saccharide isomerate, oil-absorbing niacinamide, and a heptapeptide blend that supports barrier function. It’s free of silicone and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores.
Editor Tip: For drier skin, we recommend Skinfix Lipid-Peptide Cream, an emollient moisturizer (and 2019 Best of Beauty Award winner) that’s packed with shea butter, sodium hyaluronate, and fatty oils to restore hydration levels.
Key Ingredients: Zinc PCA, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Who It’s For: People prone to breakouts or congested skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you need a face moisturizer?
“Moisturizers are an essential part of every skin-care routine,” says Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Just as our bodies require us to hydrate with water, so does our skin.” While our skin appears dewier almost instantly, the real benefits show up in the long term. The consistent use of moisturizers slows down the rate and intensity at which fine lines and wrinkles appear, she says.
This daily philosophy applies to all skin types and not just dry skin. “Overwashing without the appropriate use of a moisturizer will trigger an overproduction of oil on your skin,” Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Torrance, California, previously explained. In short, if you don’t rehydrate your skin, it will become dried-out and irritated — which then opens your skin up to a cache of troubles.
“People confuse oil with hydration, so they don’t properly hydrate the skin,” New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Doris Day, MD, noted. “We now have really great ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, which balances oil and water in the skin.” Increased hydration supports a stronger barrier, she said, which then helps curb oil production.
What step is moisturizing in a skin-care routine?
Consider your daily moisturizer as the cellophane that seals in the rest of your skin-care routine. In our beginner-friendly skin-care guide, multiple dermatologists recommended using a moisturizing cream after cleansing, but if you’re using a serum, you may want to use that first. A basic rule of thumb is, after cleansing, use products with the lightest texture first and work your way down to denser formulas like moisturizers. Using your moisturizer after serums and treatments is crucial for getting the most out of your products, according to cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson. “They seal in serums on your skin, which can make them more effective,” previously told Allure. After moisturizing, you can layer oil to make your skin look dewier than ever, and if you’re heading out during the daytime, never forget to apply your last (and arguably most important) layer, sunscreen.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of face moisturizers, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
