Moisturizers For Every Skin Type
When it comes to building a skincare routine, moisturizer is pretty much a non-negotiable. Yet, there are still lingering misconceptions about its role in maintaining skin health. Many believe that if you have oily skin, you should avoid moisturizer altogether, while others think dry skin requires the thickest cream available. Moisturizers are essential for preventing water loss through the skin's outer layers, keeping your barrier strong.
Why Moisturizers Matter
Before we get into which moisturizer makes the most sense for each skin type, let’s go into just a little more detail on why moisturizers matter as much as they do! Moisturizers play a vital role in supporting the skin’s barrier, which helps retain moisture and protect against environmental aggressors. As we age, our skin’s ability to hold water diminishes, leaving it more prone to dryness and sensitivity. Add daily cleansing, exposure to harsh weather, or sweating into the mix, and it’s easy to see why consistent moisturizing is key.
Below, I’ve broken down my recommendations for every skin type, along with product picks that have been tried, tested, and loved.
Oily Skin - La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Oil-Free Mattifying Moisturizer
If you have oily skin, hydration is still a must. The key is opting for lightweight gel moisturizers that deliver moisture without clogging pores or adding excess shine. Formulas like La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Oil-Free Mattifying Moisturizer use micro-exfoliating lipo-hydroxy acid to gently refine the skin, while sebum-regulating silica absorbs excess oil for a matte finish. This moisturizer ensures your skin stays moisturized without feeling greasy.
Normal to Oily Skin - Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream 5%
For normal to oily skin, I love (and suggest) lightweight creams that balance oil production while still keeping drier areas hydrated. The Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream 5% is one of my favorite options for this! It contains niacinamide to balance oil and brighten skin, glycerin to lock in moisture, and sodium PCA to soothe and hydrate without adding heaviness.
Normal Skin - Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer
Normal skin types have a little more luxury to experiment. However, in my opinion, the best moisturizer (for normal skin types) maintains the skin’s current balance while offering lightweight hydration. Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer will be a holy grail for you! It blends peptides to repair and firm the skin barrier, vitamin E for antioxidant protection, and ceramides to hydrate. Aka it’s everything you could need!
Dry Skin - Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream
As a dry skin girl myself, this has been a go-to in my arsenal for years! Dry skin thrives with rich emollients and occlusives. Aestura AtoBarrier 365 Cream combines ceramides and fatty acids to deeply nourish skin! This is my ultimate moisturizer pick for colder months, for this reason!
Sensitive Skin - Tower 28 SOS Daily Skin Barrier Redness Recovery Moisturizer
For sensitive or compromised skin, I recommend simple, calming and non-irritating formulas. Tower 28 SOS Daily Skin Barrier Redness Recovery Moisturizer incorporates hypochlorous acid to calm inflammation, along with glycerin to hydrate. The combo is quite literally “chefs kiss!”
Budget-Friendly Pick - CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Let’s say it together, a great moisturizer doesn’t need to break the bank. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is honestly just a classic, no-frill, get-the-job-done moisturizer. It contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which we all know I love. I also think it’s worth mentioning that the formula contains petrolatum to lock in moisture—all without irritation. It’s a staple for a reason!
Splurge-Worthy Pick - Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
I like to say that I love a budget option on occasion, and I like a bougie option on occasion. If you feel like investing in luxury formulas that deliver results that justify the price tags (in my opinion), I’ve got you. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream quite literally has a chokehold on me. Is the price a little insane? Absolutely. Will I repurchase it? Absolutely. It’s formulated with potent botanicals, omega-rich oils, and TFC8 technology. The hydration is just straight-up unparalleled.
Ultimately, moisturizers are a dream for maintaining skin health! I hope these support you in your skincare journey! Make sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok & My Newsletter for skin tips, beauty advice & more!
**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and may contain products gifted in PR. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase via these links at no additional cost to you (thank you! It helps me keep things up and running)… As always I ONLY recommend products, goods and services that I stand behind and personally love and use.
