This Drugstore Moisturizer Is a Dermatologist Favorite—And It's Only $20 ...Saudi Arabia

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One of the best things you can do for your skin, especially the delicate skin on your face, is regularly moisturize. But with so many products on the market, finding the best face moisturizers can seem like a daunting task. That's why Parade consulted six dermatologists to get their expert opinions. They share 12 of their tried-and-tested favorite products that you can use for better daily hydration.

As Dr. Erin Carty, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Philadelphia, explains, moisturizers are the key to help "repair the skin barrier to protect against irritants" for "smoother, softer and firmer-appearing skin."

Of course, finding the right one is only half the task. As Dr. Gabriela Soza, a board-certified dermatologist says, "One exceptional formula used consistently" is better than a complicated routine that you quickly abandon.

But how do you find that "exceptional" formula? And since it's important to be consistent for many months, you may not want to splurge on a moisturizer that's hundreds of dollars and you can't afford to buy again.

So, first we're highlighting the dermatologist-favorite drugstore moisturizer, chosen by three doctors we interviewed—it's one that's great for your skin and wallet. And if you like to have more choices, we included other top dermatologist picks that cover a range of skin types, so whether you have dry skin, oily skin or a combination, there's something available for everyone.

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The Best Drugstore Face Moisturizer, According to 3 Dermatologists

1. Best Drugstore Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, $27

Amazon

This drugstore moisturizer was recommended by three of the dermatologists that Parade spoke with. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD Skincare, Dr. Azadeh Shirazi says, "It absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling smooth without any greasy residue ... thanks to its lightweight gel texture."

Dr. Soza adds, "When my patients ask what to recommend to a friend or family member who isn't ready to invest in a medical-grade routine, I always land here."

Dr. Carty notes that there are different formulations of the Hydro Boost product available for different skin types. "This water gel is lightest for oily skin types, the water cream is hydrating for dry skin and the gel cream falls in the middle."

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Best Drugstore Moisturizer:Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water GelBest Lightweight Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face MoisturizerBest Moisturizer for Oily Skin: CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-CreamBest Moisturizer for Dry Skin:CeraVe Moisturizing CreamBest Moisturizer for Combination Skin: Skinfix Ceramide Prime Whipped CreamBest Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair CreamBest Moisturizer for Improving Texture: Elm Biosciences A3O Elemental Night CreamBest Moisturizer Under Makeup: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Face MoisturizerBest Moisturizer for Mature Skin: NEOCUTIS Bio Cream Firm RicheBest Moisturizer for Acne-Prone skin: Sofie Pavitt Face Omega Rich MoisturizerBest Fragrance-Free Moisturizer: Vanicream Moisturizing CreamBest Hydrating Cream Moisturizer: Image Skincare Ormedic Biopeptide Crème

How Do Moisturizers Help Improve Skin Texture?

"When skin is dehydrated, it can appear rough, flaky and uneven," says Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She explains that's why using a moisturizer is so important.

"By replenishing hydration and supporting the barrier with ingredients like ceramides, humectants and fatty acids, moisturizers help smooth the skin's surface, making it feel softer and look more refined," she adds.

When you're trying to choose a moisturizer, you may notice that many come in lotion, cream or gel formulas. "The main difference comes down to how much water versus oil each one contains, and that ratio changes how the product feels and how well it holds moisture in your skin," says Dr. Aderonke Obayomi, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at Mount Sinai.

She says that lotions have a higher water content, "so they are the lightest and absorb the fastest." And creams "are thicker and contain more oil, which makes them more emollient and better at sealing moisture in." She adds that gels are usually oil-free so they can "absorb quickly without any greasy residue."

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How To Choose the Best Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

According to Dr. Obayomi, you have to match your moisturizer texture to your skin type. She recommends creams for those with dry skin and gels for those with oily or acne-prone skin, adding, "Combination skin can go either way, and some people use a lighter formula over the oily areas and something richer where they get dry."

She also wants you to factor in your environment. "The same skin can need a heavier cream in dry winter air and a lighter gel in humid summer months," she says.

Dr. Obayomi adds, "One thing worth knowing for deeper skin tones, when skin dries out it can take on a gray or ashy cast, and a richer cream usually prevents that better than a thin lotion does."

Dr. Carty says you want to focus on humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin which help "attract water to hydrate skin" and emollients like fatty acids, lipids and ceramides that "smooth and repair the skin barrier."

And Dr. Engelman adds that she also likes seeing "antioxidants like niacinamide or vitamin C" that can help improve the skin's "tone and texture over time."

What Moisturizer Ingredients Do Dermatologists Avoid?

"Fragrance is the first thing I look at on an ingredient label," says Dr. Soza. "It's one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis and can be hidden under terms like 'parfum,' 'natural fragrance' or even botanical names."

She adds that "denatured alcohol listed high in the formulation is drying and barrier-disrupting, [which is] especially problematic for mature or sensitive skin."

And for those who struggle with acne, she advises skipping products with "coconut oil, cocoa butter, lanolin and isopropyl myristate" because they're "common pore-cloggers."

Related: I Asked 3 Dermatologists Which Deodorant They Swear By—and They All Said the Same Thing

"I recommend moisturizing twice daily, morning and night," says Dr. Engelman. She explains that moisturizing in the morning preps your skin and helps your sunscreen adhere better, while "at night, the skin is in active repair mode, making it the ideal time to replenish the barrier." (She adds that those with very dry skin can also reapply midday.)

"I do think it's worth using different formulas for day and night," says Dr. Engelman. She recommends a lightweight moisturizer under your sunscreen in the morning. "Bonus points if it contains antioxidants like niacinamide to help defend against environmental damage throughout the day," she adds.

For night, she likes a richer cream "with ceramides or peptides ... to restore and strengthen the [skin] barrier overnight."

Related: 10 Best Eye Creams for Crow’s Feet, According to Skincare Experts

4 of the Biggest Moisturizer Mistakes People Make

Here's what dermatologists say to avoid.

1. Taking a 'one size fits all' approach

"Just because a certain moisturizer worked for a friend or celebrity doesn’t mean that it’s the best fit for you," says Dr. Carty. Instead, you need to consider your specific skin type when picking a product.

"Oily skin still needs hydration. When you deprive it of moisture, the skin often overproduces oil to compensate, which can actually make breakouts worse," says Dr. Engelman.

3. Not adjusting for seasons

"I also see people using the same heavy moisturizer year-round without adjusting for seasonal changes," says Dr. Engelman. "What your skin needs in January is verydifferent from what it needs in June."

Dr. Soza says if you put your moisturizer on slightly damp skin versus dry skin, "it dramatically improves absorption, particularly for hyaluronic acid-based formulas."

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11 Face Moisturizers for Silky, Smooth Skin, Tested by Dermatologists

Besides their #1 drugstore pick listed above, here are 11 other expert-approved options to try out.

1. Best Lightweight Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, $25

Amazon

"For hydration without any weight, this is a great pick," says Dr. Obayomi, adding, "It suits normal and combination skin and is gentle enough for sensitive skin too."

Dr. Shirazi likes that "it provides lightweight hydration while still supporting the skin barrier with ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin."

2. Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin: CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream, $20

Amazon

"This gel formulation offers lightweight hydration for those with oily skin," says Dr. Carty. "It is non-greasy and absorbs oil to leave a matte finish."

3. Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $21

Amazon

Dr. Obayomi calls this a "classic" skin barrier-repairing option. "It pairs three essential ceramides with hyaluronic acid in a rich, fragrance-free cream that releases moisture slowly so skin stays hydrated for hours," she says.

She adds that it's gentle enough for skin that's prone to eczema and "helps prevent the dry, ashy look that deeper skin tones can get when the air turns dry."

4. Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin: Skinfix Ceramide Prime Whipped Cream, $54

Amazon

Dr. Engelman recommends this cream for those with combination skin. "The whipped texture moisturizes while still providing non-greasy hydration," she says, adding, "It also contains niacinamide, which helps regulate excess oil production and supports the skin barrier."

5. Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, $42

Amazon

This hydrating cream comes recommended by Dr. Engelman for those with sensitive skin. "The main ingredient, colloidal oatmeal, is a skin protectant that helps relieve any itchiness or dryness without irritating reactive skin," she says.

6. Best Moisturizer for Improving Texture: Elm Biosciences A3O Elemental Night Cream, $165

Elm Biosciences

Dr. Soza tells Parade, "I've been watching Elm Biosciences closely and this night cream genuinely impressed me." She says it pairs a retinoid derivative with a barrier-supporting antioxidant, explaining, "For patients who have struggled with peeling and irritation from retinol but still want meaningful texture improvement, this is a sophisticated option. I recommend it as a nighttime texture treatment layered under or instead of a richer cream."

7. Best Moisturizer Under Makeup: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Face Moisturizer, $19

Amazon

Dr. Jeannette Graf, a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine highly recommends this moisturizing cream. "This has been a favorite among makeup artists for years because it creates a smooth, hydrated base that doesn't pill or feel greasy," she says. "Ingredients like shea butter and fatty acids [give] skin a healthy, dewy finish that helps makeup apply more easily and helps skin texture look even."

8. Best Moisturizer for Mature Skin: Neocutis Bio Cream Firm Riche, $208

Amazon

"For my peri- and post-menopausal patients, this is my first recommendation," says Dr. Soza. "It builds on the same growth factor and peptide technology as the original Bio Cream Firm but with a significantly richer, more emollient base that addresses the dryness, thinning and laxity that accompany hormonal shifts." She adds, "This one works on both hydration and structural support simultaneously, and that's exactly what mature skin needs."

9. Best Moisturizer for Acne-Prone skin: Sofie Pavitt Face Omega Rich Moisturizer, $64

Sephora

"I like this moisturizer for acne-prone skin because it's formulated with barrier-supporting ingredients, like omega fatty acids and ceramides, to replenish moisture without feeling overly occlusive," says Dr. Graf. She adds, "It’s especially helpful for patients using acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide, exfoliating acids or retinoids since those treatments can compromise the skin barrier and lead to dryness and irritation."

10. Best Fragrance-Free Moisturizer: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream, $23

Amazon

"When skin reacts to everything, this is the [moisturizer] to reach for," says Dr. Obayomi. She notes that it's fragrance-free and doesn't contain dyes or parabens, explaining, "Bland is the goal here, in the best possible way."

11. Best Hydrating Cream Moisturizer: Image Skincare Ormedic Biopeptide Crème, $84

Amazon

"This is one of my favorite everyday cream moisturizers because it has a peptide-rich formulation that delivers lasting hydration while helping support the skin barrier," says Dr. Graf. "The formula also includes soothing botanical extracts, leaving skin feeling nourished and balanced without the heavy, greasy feel that some richer creams can have."

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