Our Favorite Moisturizers for Every Skin Type

We like to say that beauty has no rules, but that’s not entirely true. There are a few rules that everybody should follow, and applying a good moisturizer every day is near the top of the list. The best moisturizer for you will depend on your skin type and concerns—while all help hydrate the skin, many are designed to target other concerns, like fine lines or unevenness, too.

If you’re not sure how to find the most effective moisturizer for your skin type and concerns, don’t stress: we’re here to help. Ahead, we’re revealing which ingredients to look out for when choosing a face lotion or cream and sharing a look at our best moisturizers for every skin type.

Our Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Dry skin lacks moisture, so when you’re looking for a face cream, you’ll want to seek out formulas that help hydrate the skin and trap moisture in. Occlusive moisturizers such as shea butter can be particularly useful for those with dry skin, as can lightweight oils, ceramides, and dimethicone. 

For intense, long-lasting hydration, we suggest giving the L’Oréal Paris Collagen Filler Moisture Filler Facial Anti-Aging Moisturizer—one of our most hydrating face creams for dry skin—a try. The lightweight formula contains glycerin, shea butter, collagen, and dimethicone and provides up to 48 hours of intense hydration. Unlike some richer moisturizers for dry skin, it absorbs quickly and won’t clog your pores. Apply it to clean, toned skin in the morning to create a hydrated, smooth base for makeup, and again during your evening skincare routine for deep hydration overnight.

Our Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Oily skin needs moisture too, but to avoid leaving your skin feeling slick or greasy, you’ll want to steer clear of rich creams or oil-based moisturizers. Instead, look for water-based options that feel lightweight on the skin. 

We love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream for all skin types, but especially for those with oilier complexions. The fast-absorbing formula deeply hydrates, leaving the skin instantly softer and smoother. With continued use, it also helps plump the skin to diminish the appearance of fine lines. Use it morning and night as part of your regular skincare routine to help promote a brighter, more youthful complexion over time. 

Our Best Anti-Aging Moisturizer

With age often comes skin concerns such as dryness, laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles. People may also notice their skin appears duller with age, and dark spots and discolorations may become more noticeable. The top moisturizers for aging skin are those designed to address these various concerns while providing the hydration your skin needs to look and feel its best. Retinol, in particular, is a common ingredient found in anti-aging moisturizers—that’s because products with this ingredient can help to firm the skin and diminish the appearance of wrinkles, per the Cleveland Clinic. 

If you’re starting to notice the visible signs of aging creeping up or feel like it’s time to start an anti-aging skincare routine, we suggest adding the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer to your daily lineup. It’s made with vitamin C, pro-retinol, and hyaluronic acid and helps visibly improve skin tone and texture in as little as one week. The non-greasy formula is suitable for all skin types and layers beautifully under makeup, making it a must-have addition to your morning skincare routine.

Editor’s tip: Those with sensitive skin can reach for the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer Fragrance-Free, which offers the same benefits as the Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer, just with a fragrance-free formula.

Our Best Moisturizer for Uneven Skin Tone

Though it’s typically used for anti-aging, retinol can also be found in moisturizers designed to help address uneven skin tone. While we’d recommend using a dark spot treatment if discoloration is your main concern, the right moisturizer can help bolster your routine and keep your skin feeling comfortable and hydrated. 

During the day, we suggest using a moisturizer with SPF to protect your skin from the sun and help prevent existing dark spots from worsening. At night, reach for the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Pressed Night Moisturizer with Retinol + Niacinamide. This lightweight night cream provides up to 24 hours of deep hydration and helps firm the skin. Over time, it also helps brighten the complexion, improves the appearance of skin tone and texture, and visibly minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. If you’ve never used retinol before, we suggest introducing it into your routine slowly (twice per week to start is ideal). As your skin acclimates, you can increase your frequency to nightly usage. 

Our Best Moisturizer for Dull Skin

Dullness can have many causes. In some cases, it’s related to aging; other times, it’s the result of dryness or dehydration. No matter the cause, though, a good moisturizer is a must. The right formula can serve as the perfect pick-me-up for dull skin, which is why we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Skin Care Cell Renewal Midnight Cream with Antioxidants.

The luxurious night cream features a blend of patented antioxidants and vitamin E and helps repair the skin’s natural moisture barrier at night while you catch up on your beauty sleep. Slather the non-greasy formula onto your face and neck before hitting the sheets, and you’ll notice smoother, more moisturized-feeling skin come sunrise. Over time, you’ll enjoy less noticeable wrinkles, firmer-looking skin, and a more radiant complexion. 

Our Best Moisturizer for Mature Skin

As mentioned earlier, mature skin is susceptible to specific age-related concerns, including dullness, dryness, and a loss of elasticity. Because mature skin tends to be on the drier side, you can handle richer, heavier moisturizers—look for formulas that contain occlusive ingredients like shea butter, as they can help provide the moisture and nourishment your skin needs to look and feel its best (at any age). 

The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Age Perfect Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Day Moisturizer with SPF is one option we love. It’s formulated with collagen peptides, shea butter, and niacinamide and provides non-greasy all-day hydration for all skin types. The antioxidant-infused formula also helps support the natural moisture barrier and boosts skin’s natural renewal process to promote a firmer, smoother, more radiant-looking complexion over time. 

Our Best Moisturizer for Dull, Mature Skin

Moisturizers that contain gentle exfoliants such as alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acids can be a great option for those looking to boost their skin’s radiance and luminosity. For those with mature skin, exfoliation is extra important, as your skin’s ability to exfoliate naturally slows down with age. 

For hydration and gentle everyday exfoliation, we suggest adding the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer for Mature, Dull Skin to your routine. This non-greasy moisturizer features lipo-hydroxy acid—a derivative of salicylic acid—and helps gently exfoliate dull, sallow skin to reveal a rosier complexion. You can use it morning and night at the end of your skincare routine to help support smooth, youthful-looking skin. 

Our Best Moisturizer With SPF

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again (a million times): wear SPF every day! You can layer sunscreen over your moisturizer, but there are plenty of good moisturizers with SPF that offer sun protection, too. One of our favorites for daily use is the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Day Lotion SPF 30. It contains broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen—plus a triple whammy of vitamin C, pro-retinol, and hyaluronic acid—and helps firm, brighten, and smooth the skin in as little as one week. 

Keep in mind that while using a moisturizer with SPF is a great way to ensure you never forget SPF, it shouldn’t be your only form of sun protection. You should also follow other sun protection measures, like avoiding direct sunlight at midday and wearing protective clothing, whenever possible. And when you are in the sun, remember to apply your chosen sunscreen at least every two hours, or after sweating or swimming. 

Next Up: 3 Benefits of Using a Moisturizer With SPF

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris