Our Testers Swear By These Super-Hydrating Drugstore Moisturizers (2025)

TL;DR

La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is our top overall pick because it delivers lasting hydration, has a lightweight, gentle formula, and works as an excellent base when layering on products or makeup. It also leaves skin looking a little brighter and more glowy than before. If you’re looking for a moisturizer formulated to work on your face and body, we recommend CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream.

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin, and La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water | Size: 40, 100 mL | Cruelty-Free: No

Of all the drugstore moisturizers we tested, this one by La Roche-Posay stood out the most. It has a light, creamy texture that absorbs easily and quickly, and makeup looks great layered on top of it. It’s formulated with ceramides and niacinamide, leaving skin looking hydrated and bright. Despite how much moisture it delivers, we appreciate that skin doesn’t look oily or greasy after use.

Over the course of four weeks, our tester found that this moisturizer deeply hydrated his skin beyond just surface-level moisture. With each application, his skin looked more radiant, and he particularly liked the slightly dewy finish it left behind. It’s now his favorite go-to moisturizer.

Saleam, tester: “This has a high hydration factor, lasts all day, and it's affordable for the amount of product you get. It's worth the price and does its job and then some.”

Key Ingredients: Prebiotic oat | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

For skin that’s easily irritated or needs a little extra TLC, we love Aveeno’s Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer. In addition to its moisturizing ingredients, it’s formulated with oat, which helps soothe and calm dry, irritated skin. We especially like its lightweight gel texture and the fact that it leaves skin with an all-day glow.

This moisturizer is fragrance-free and made without parabens, phthalates, dyes, or alcohol, which can be too harsh for sensitive skin. With consistent use, our tester’s skin was radiant, hydrated, and free of irritation.

Ashley, tester: “This gel moisturizer does exactly what it says it will—it calms, moistens, and leaves my sensitive skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.”

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Size: 16 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This creamy, smooth moisturizer is great for the face and body. After applying this buttery cream, our tester found her skin looked and felt more balanced, less inflamed, and well-hydrated. We like that it’s a straightforward formula without many additives but still includes hyaluronic acid to boost moisture and softness.

This moisturizer quickly absorbs into the skin (especially given its thickness) and layers well with other skincare products and makeup. It also delivers long-lasting hydration, and our tester never needed to apply it more than once a day. Since it’s made with gentle ingredients, it’s also an excellent option for sensitive skin.

Lauren, tester: “I love how simple and effective it is at hydrating the skin, soothing it, and making it feel balanced.”

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you have oily skin, you need an oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizer that hydrates the skin without clogging pores. This product checks all of those boxes. It has a thin, watery texture that applies smoothly across the skin and absorbs quickly. Additionally, our tester never experienced any leftover cast or a sticky-greasy feeling after application. This lightweight product would also make a great option for those looking for moisturizers for teens.

This moisturizer is fragrance-free and formulated with hyaluronic acid for extra hydration. Throughout the testing period, our tester found that her pores appeared smaller, and her skin was smoother and more radiant with less shine. However, she does caution that a little goes a long way, so go easy when pumping this out of its bottle.

Naosha, tester: “It was very lightweight and didn't clog pores or feel heavy, which was great for my oily skin.”

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For under $15, e.l.f.’s Holy Hydration! Face Cream proves that great skincare products don’t have to cost a small fortune. This moisturizer is excellent for most skin types and is made with niacinamide, which helps minimize pores and even out skin tone; peptides for promoting collagen and softening fine lines; squalane, which improves skin elasticity; and hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 for extra hydration.

We like that this moisturizer is thick but not too heavy and absorbs quickly. Our tester found it easy to apply and was impressed by how quickly it absorbed into her skin. Despite its hydrating ingredients, this lotion doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy or over-moisturized and adds a little radiance boost.

Ashley, tester: “The packaging size is great because you get a lot of product, and I found that you only need to use a small amount per application. You really can’t beat the value.”

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Suitable for all skin types, Naturium’s Niacinamide Gel Cream 5% is effective and gentle and works well under makeup and other skincare products. The gel is super smooth and absorbs into the skin quickly and flawlessly. A little goes a long way, so a single pump should be all you need for each application. Our tester tried this gel under a variety of products, and we are particularly impressed that he didn’t experience any pilling.

It minimizes the appearance of pores and leaves skin with a nice, dewy finish. It also delivers all-day hydration; our tester did not get clogged pores or breakouts from this gel.

Alfredo, tester: “As you would expect, the cream has a gel-like consistency that quickly absorbs into the skin. I used it after I showered as my first step before layering serums, oils, and sunscreen. At night, I would use it before taking my tretinoin. And I want to highlight that I didn't experience any pilling!”

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, olive extract | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you hate the feeling of heavy moisturizers, this one has you covered. It has a creamy gel-like texture and feels lightweight once applied to the skin. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and olive extract, and it has a nice soothing effect that our tester said felt like “a cool drink of water” for her skin.

Another plus: This moisturizer is formulated without oil, so it’s a good option for someone more prone to breakouts. It delivers all-day moisture and has a natural finish (not too matte or dewy) that leaves skin looking fresh and hydrated, not oily or greasy. It’s the perfect pick for someone whose skin craves moisture but doesn’t want to feel suffocated by it.

Bianca, tester: “The moisturizer spread on with ease and absorbed right into my skin. It took it about a minute to fully absorb. Once on my skin, it felt like I was wearing nothing.”

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer is the top choice for those needing a good moisturizer for mature skin. It hydrates while helping to tighten the skin, improve elasticity, and soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Our tester particularly loved how lightweight it felt and that it helped even out her combination of dry-oily skin.

This moisturizer is made with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and amino peptide, allowing it to really lock in hydration and give the skin a nice glow. It has a combination cream-gel texture that applies smoothly to the skin, absorbs quickly, and serves as a nice base for makeup. Our tester was especially impressed by this moisturizer’s performance during hot weather (and hot flashes).

Samantha, tester: “I really appreciated the lightness of this product because between the heat during the day and my hot flashes at night, I really don't like to have much on my face.”

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free:No

For those with a dry complexion, this moisturizer will quench your skin’s thirst without leaving it looking or feeling greasy. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to provide ample hydration, and its lightweight texture smooths onto the skin nicely for even distribution. Our tester felt the benefits of this moisturizer immediately after application, and with consistent use, her dry spots disappeared.

This moisturizer is gentle on most skin types and free of common irritants like fragrances, dyes, essential oils, gluten, and parabens. Throughout the testing period, it didn't clog our tester's pores, and she experienced less redness. She also noted that it worked as a great base for layering makeup.

Chelsea, tester: “I felt its moisturizing and hydrating abilities nourish the skin barrier day after day. I also noticed a quick difference in my rosacea thanks to this moisturizer.”

FAQ

• What are the best drugstore facial moisturizers for sensitive skin?

  Dr. Thornburg recommends finding simple formulas that are fragrance-free and free of unnecessary additives. “Using a less complicated product as your base to moisturize will be the most important factor in sealing in moisture for the skin,” she says.
  

• What is the best moisturizer for extremely dry skin?

  The best moisturizer for extremely dry skin will be a thick cream rather than a gel or lightweight lotion. “Think of something that is too thick to pump out of a bottle,” says Dr. Thornburg. Dermatologists often recommend options from Neutrogena, CeraVe, Cetaphil, and Vanicream.
  

• How often should you use a drugstore face moisturizer?

  Dr. Dele-Michael says you should use moisturizer after washing your face, whether it's once or twice a day. Some people might apply it following a toner, serum, or ampoule. And those with extra-dry skin may want to use moisturizer more often. However, an oil-free formula is best in this case to avoid clogged pores.