La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer with SPF 30, 2.5 Fl. Oz.

Product Information

To simplify your search for a great face moisturizer, we put 64 face moisturizers to the test in The Verywell Testing Lab and at home. We tested 29 moisturizers for oily skin and 35 moisturizers for dry skin. And we divided our testers into two teams based on skin type: 18 tested the moisturizers for oily skin, while 21 tested the moisturizers for dry skin. Moisturizers typically contain three kinds of ingredients: humectants, occlusives, and emollients. Humectants (like hyaluronic acid) attract water and hydrate your skin. Occlusives (like beeswax) form a protective layer that seals in moisture. And emollients (like vitamin E) smooth out and support your skin. Great moisturizers contain a combination of these ingredients, King says. And you can find non-comedogenic versions of each.

Ceramides occur naturally in the skin, but synthetic ceramides are used in skin care products. They also tend to be more stable. According to Fenty, you should reapply this moisturizer every two hours for optimal results and sun protection—just like regular sunscreen. We love how hydrating the moisturizer felt the first time we applied it, and we think it’s a great option for everyday use, especially if you like exercising outdoors. Though the moisturizer is made for acne-prone skin, it’s also great for oily and combination skin. We also love that it’s fragrance-free and appreciate the budget-friendly price. To find a face moisturizer that won’t clog your pores, look for something with non-comedogenic ingredients. Our experts specifically recommend ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, and squalane, because they moisturize skin without clogging pores. They also recommend avoiding comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients, like coconut oil, cocoa butter, and lanolin. If you’re especially prone to clogged pores, you may also want a moisturizer made with comedolytic (pore-clearing) ingredients, like salicylic acid.To keep the moisturizing benefits going, Dr. Yadav says to look for other emollients. These help moisturize and nourish the skin, she says. Squalane is one of her favorite emollients that mimics the skin’s natural oils, and it’s a key ingredient in the Shani Darden Hydration Peptide Cream. We consulted five experts for further advice and recommendations: dermatologist Hadley King, MD-FAAD;dermatologist Noreen Galaria, MD-FAAD;dermatologist Gloria Lin, MD-FAAD; fitness instructor Jess Paris, NASM, CPT; and Rumble Boxing trainer Taylor Sanders, CPT. Because the moisturizer contains essential oils, like lavender and tea tree oil, it has a strong smell—and we didn’t love the fragrance. Since we appreciate the emphasis on natural ingredients, we’re happy to tolerate the smell. And we suspect we might get used to it the more we wear this moisturizer. to 4.7 stars: These ceramide moisturizers are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.

The four most common skin types are normal, dry, oily, and combination. Normal skin feels balanced, dry skin can get tight and flaky, oily skin can get greasy and shiny, and combination skin often gets oily in the T-zone (along the forehead and nose). Finding the right moisturizer for your skin type and lifestyle may take some trial and error, says dermatologist Gloria Lin, MD-FAAD. But the dermatologists we spoke to generally recommend heavier creams for dry skin, oil-free moisturizers for oily skin, and combination products for combination skin. La Roche Posay's moisturizer doesn't contain these ingredients, so it's a dream for my sensitive skin. And while it leaves out a lot of the bad stuff, it also contains beneficial ingredients as well. Like ceramides, which help restore your skin's moisture barrier somoisture doesn't evaporate. There's also niacinamide, or vitamin B5, to help with redness and the appearance of pore size; hyaluronic acid, which keeps helps skin retain up to 1,000 times its weight in water; and prebiotic thermal water, which definitely sounds like it's from a fairy tale, but actually keeps more of the good bacteria on your skin to help fight the bad bacteria that can cause acne.Other moisturizing ingredients to look for include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, cholesterol, and peptides, says Dr. Klein. Fortunately, all of them can be found in the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream. Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw water into the skin while fatty acids like ceramides and cholesterol support skin barrier function. Peptides are best for those looking for anti-aging ingredients since they increase firmness and plumpness. We also like that this top-notch moisturizer is budget-friendly. And since a little goes a long way, the 1.5-ounce tub of cream should last you a while.

While Glossier’s After Baume made our skin feel hydrated, it also made it feel oily and greasy—and took a while to soak in. We’d happily use the moisturizer to spot-treat dry patches, but it felt too heavy for everyday wear. Ceramides may be the hero ingredients of these moisturizers, but other active ingredients can help signal that a cream or lotion is more suitable for your skin type and concerns. Though the cream wasn’t as fast-absorbing as some of our other favorites, it didn’t take long to soak in. And it felt lightweight, comfortable, and easy to wear. Given its non-greasy texture, the moisturizer is great for various skin types, like dry, combination, and sensitive skin. And if you have oily skin, Versed recommends using the rich lotion as a night cream—not an everyday moisturizer.Our only issue with this product? It’s not cruelty-free. And we know that for many people, that’s not just a downside—it’s a dealbreaker. Glycerin: This non-comedogenic ingredient is a highly effective hydrator and helps the skin retain moisture. Ceramide-3: A lipid that occurs naturally in the skin, supplementing the skin with this ingredient helps enhance hydration and support barrier function. Outside of the lab, we tested each moisturizer for four weeks by applying it as the last step of our normal skincare routines and continuing with our usual activities. Prior to applying each moisturizer, we measured the moisture level on our clean skin using a moisture reader and then took moisture readings at the end to compare.

Though ceramides are most commonly associated with improving dryness and skin barrier function, anyone can use and benefit from them. In mature skin, ceramides help retain moisture, giving skin a more firm, plump appearance. Since they’re skin-replenishing ingredients, they can help reduce redness and irritation in sensitive skin. As Galaria noted, oil-free moisturizers are great for oily skin—and Tatcha’s The Water Cream is no exception. But the lightweight moisturizer takes things a step further: One of its key ingredients, leopard lily, actually reduces the amount of oil in your skin.For the price, we wish the 1.69-ounce tub contained more cream. (Even when we first opened it, it didn’t look very full.) But we still think the moisturizer is worth the investment, especially if you want something truly natural. The moisturizer is also one of the most versatile on our list. In addition to being great for different skin types (including dry, oily, and combination skin), it’s fragrance-free and sensitive-skin-friendly. And at a budget-friendly price, we think it’s a steal. The moisturizer is also oil-free, fragrance-free, and sensitive-skin-friendly. So it’s great for a range of skin types. Paris has combination skin and uses the tinted version of this moisturizer every day. But it wowed us when we tested it on dry skin, too.