The 11 best moisturizers for sensitive skin
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Finding the right moisturizer can be an exhausting and frustrating process of trial and error when you have sensitive skin. I would know: I've tested dozens of moisturizers over the years in my search for products that hydrate, smooth, and soften my skin without irritating it.
According to Dr. Peter Young, medical director at Thirty Madison, a good-quality moisturizer is especially important for those of us with sensitive skin because we're also prone to dryness.
"Someone with sensitive skin should look for moisturizers that are gentle, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic in order to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and irritation," says Young.
With that in mind, our favorite moisturizer for sensitive skin is SkinFix Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream with B-L3™ Complex. It's dermatologist-tested, free of common irritants, and contains a powerful blend of ingredients that can support the skin barrier.
That said, when searching for the best face moisturizers for your unique skin, other factors must be taken into account — for example, if you're looking to address redness, acne, eczema, or wrinkles and fine lines. With that in mind, here are our top picks for every type of sensitive skin based on testing and recommendations from dermatologists.
Our top 5 picks for the best moisturizers for sensitive skin
Best overall
According to Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, the best face moisturizers for sensitive skin contain lipids. These natural fats play a key role in maintaining a strong skin barrier.
"Lipids work as the 'mortar' between the 'bricks' of the skin cells, preventing external irritants from penetrating the skin," explains Yadav. "Good lipids to look for include ceramides, squalane, shea butter, and jojoba oil. Sensitive skin can also always benefit from more hydration from humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe."
This rich moisturizer packs a patented lipid complex that can help restore the skin barrier, as well as several helpful humectants. Best of all, it doesn't contain common irritants like parabens, sulfates, fragrances, essential oils, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers, and lanolin.
While I like to change things up in my skincare routine occasionally, this moisturizer remains a trusty standby because it leaves my skin looking dewy and radiant.
Best drugstore
My husband and I have sensitive skin, and when our skincare budget is low, we often reach for this budget-friendly but effective moisturizer.
Dr. Jody Alpert Levine, a board-certified dermatologist at Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC, says moisturizers that contain ceramides — like this one —are ideal for people with sensitive skin.
"Ceramides bolster the skin barrier and promote healing by locking in moisture — reducing sensitivity and contributing to a healthier complexion — making them a valuable ingredient for those with sensitive skin," she tells Business Insider.
Levine and Young often recommend CeraVe Moisturizing Cream because it contains not one but three different types of essential ceramides.
Also worth noting? This moisturizer is free of fragrances and parabens and approved by the National Eczema Association.
Best luxury
The Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum may come with a hefty price tag, but a little goes a long way. Plus, it's chock full of ceramides and other skin-nourishing ingredients — like japonicus root extract, which research has shown can improve skin hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce skin inflammation.
According to Young, it also contains hyaluronic acid and diglycerin, a humectant derived from glycerin. Both can moisturize the skin without causing irritation.
This serum-in-a-moisturizer is meant to be used in the evening — just apply a pearl-sized amount as the final step in your routine.
In our Tatcha skincare review, former Business Insider style and beauty editor Ashley Phillips noted that the consistency is "super soothing," and her skin feels much softer to the touch the morning after applying it. "It's the perfect product to counteract the extra sun exposure I've experienced over the summer," she shared. "I'm really enjoying this treatment so far."
Best for mature skin
In a small clinical study of women aged 36-60, 94% saw an improvement in visible lines and wrinkles after one week of using this moisturizer, and 97% agreed that their skin felt more firm after four weeks of using it. There are several standout ingredients to thank for these reported benefits — hyaluronic acid, squalane, and acai berry sterols.
As we age, our skin loses its ability to hold water — and hyaluronic acid is a key molecule for supporting skin moisture. By attracting moisture to the skin and helping it maintain elasticity, it can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Sun exposure is one of the top culprits of skin aging — in fact, experts believe about 80% of those wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots as you age can be attributed to damage from UV radiation. Studies have suggested that these berry-derived plant sterols, like the ones in this moisturizer, may help to counteract the skin damage from UV exposure due to their antioxidant activity.
Squalane is another ultra-moisturizing ingredient with antioxidant properties. Research has also shown that its anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce redness and swelling in certain skin conditions, like eczema.
This is also one of the best face moisturizers for sensitive skin because it contains no parabens, fragrances, or essential oils.
Best for dry skin
People with sensitive skin often battle dryness as well, says Young. This is because dry skin typically has a weakened skin barrier function, making it easier for irritants and allergens to seep in and cause reactions. And when you have a compromised skin barrier, moisture is more likely to escape the skin, leaving it dry.
This moisturizer contains ceramides and is formulated with multiple humectants — including aloe vera, shea butter, glycerin, and butylene glycol — which act like a magnet for moisture in the skin. Butylene glycol is an organic alcohol derived from sugarcane, and studies have shown that it can actually help the ingredients in your products penetrate the skin more effectively.
Business Insider's beauty editor Maiya Pascouche uses this moisturizer when her "sensitive skin is craving a shot of deep moisture in the colder months." It's one of her favorite face moisturizers for dry skin thanks to its "gentle formulation and lush cream texture" that sinks into the skin quickly and nourishes her skin all day and night.
Holika Holika's whole line is great for sensitive skin, as the products are free of so many common irritants like fragrances, mineral oils, and artificial dyes.
Best for oily skin
Young says the best moisturizers for oily skin are non-comedogenic. That means they don't contain any ingredients known to block or clog pores.
Dieux Skin Air Angel Gel Cream fits the bill: people with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin who applied this product twice daily for 30 days experienced no new breakouts.
A small independent study conducted by a third-party lab also found that when participants used this moisturizer daily, their skin was 77 times more hydrated. The product also reduced transepidermal water loss — how much moisture evaporates off the skin into the air — by 36 times.
Not only does Dieux Skin Air Angel Gel Cream contain skin-quenching ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and glycerin, but it's also free of parabens, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates, and many other potential irritants. It also features amino acids, which research shows help repair damaged skin, retain water in the skin, maintain a healthy skin microbiome, and even help protect the skin from sun damage.
No wonder this product has garnered hundreds of five-star reviews from Sephora customers.
Best for combination skin
My skin — and I say this with love — is a hot mess. It's not only sensitive but tends to get oily around my nose yet dry everywhere else. This is known as "combination skin," and it requires a moisturizer that's hydrating enough to keep flakes at bay on my cheeks and forehead but also not so greasy that it will make my already shiny T-zone glisten. If that sounds like you, you might want to seek out gel formulas like this one.
According to Business Insider lifestyle writer Brittany Loggins, this moisturizer lives up to its claims of working like magic. In her Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream review, she noted that it can be used during the daytime or as a night cream and is lightweight enough to layer with serums and oils yet thick and hydrating enough to use on its own.
"Every time I use this cream, I wake up with noticeably softer, more moisturized skin," she said. "I've also found that small wrinkles are noticeably diminished."
As an added perk, she even noticed that her sunburns heal faster when using this moisturizer.
Dr. Marie Hayag, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Fifth Avenue Aesthetics, told Business Insider that this moisturizer is chock-full of skin-loving ingredients like rosehip oil to replenish the skin's moisture barrier and sunflower seed oil to prevent the skin from losing moisture.
Best for melanated skin
"Patients with melanated skin have different skin needs compared to patients with lighter skin," says Dr. Corey L. Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology. "Black and brown skin are more susceptible to dry skin and hyperpigmentation, which leads to an uneven skin tone. They also have a higher likelihood of having an adverse reaction or allergy to certain skincare products and ingredients. Hartman says this sensitivity can sometimes lead to atopic dermatitis and eczema.
When looking for the best moisturizers for sensitive skin that's also melanated, Hartman advises seeking out formulas that are gentle yet ultra-moisturizing — with a combination of occlusive ingredients that create a barrier on the skin's surface, paired with emollients to drive moisture into the skin. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30 is one he often recommends to patients with melanated skin.
"Sunscreen is essential for Black and Brown skin to protect against skin cancer and sun-induced hyperpigmentation," says Hartman.
Hartman likes that this fragrance-free formula absorbs quickly without leaving a white cast on darker skin tones.
In her full La Roche-Posay Toleraine Double Repair Moisturizer review, Abigail Barr noted that it feels "creamy but not too heavy" on her combination, redness- and acne-prone sensitive skin.
"Over time, what I've noticed is that my skin feels moisturized and not tight," she said. "More importantly, my skin hasn't felt red, or itchy, or blotchy, and my acne hasn't gotten worse after using."
Best for acne-prone skin
If your skin is sensitive and acne-prone, you'll need a lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer like this one from First Aid Beauty.
The dermatologist-tested formula blends ceramides and squalane to replenish the skin's moisture and dimethicone to protect the skin from losing moisture. But it also contains another uniquely powerful ingredient: camellia sinensis leaf extract from tea leaves. A 2019 review found that when applied topically, it can improve skin texture by enhancing smoothness and reducing roughness. It can also reduce sebum in the skin — which is beneficial for those with acne, who often have an overproduction of sebum.
Since it's free from fragrances, mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde, and many other irritants, this moisturizer is just as suitable for sensitive skin as it is for acne-prone skin. It's also worth noting that it doesn't have any simple alcohols, which can strip your skin dry, leading your skin to overcompensate by producing more oil.
You can use it at night or during the day — reviewers claim it layers beautifully under makeup.
Best eczema-prone skin
According to The National Eczema Foundation, some of the best face moisturizers for sensitive skin prone to eczema contain humectants and petrolatum, which can soften skin, hydrate by preventing moisture loss and heal chapped skin. This non-comedogenic moisturizing cream features both — hence why it's Young's top pick for people with eczema. It also has The National Eczema Foundation's seal of approval.
"Products with this seal undergo rigorous screening to ensure they minimize the likelihood of causing irritation, making them suitable for those with an impaired skin barrier," says Dr. Deeptej Singh, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Sandia Dermatology.
More specifically, this moisturizer contains propylene glycol, a humectant that helps your skin absorb active ingredients more easily. It's also free of dyes, fragrances, parabens, and formaldehyde releasers.
Best with SPF
Technically this is more of a sunscreen than a moisturizer — that said, it still gets a nod of approval from Young since the formula features moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and butylene glycol. Vitamin E is found in the natural oil your skin produces and can help protect skin cells from damage while also preventing your skin from losing moisture.
"This lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer is formulated with micronized zinc oxide to provide broad-spectrum sun protection without leaving residue," says Young.
Mineral sunscreens, like zinc oxide, which this product contains, offer maximum sun protection. Young also notes that this sunscreen moisturizer features niacinamide, a B vitamin that can calm inflammation and help keep moisture in the skin while keeping irritants out.
What to look for
Ingredients:
When searching for a face moisturizer for sensitive skin, experts advise choosing products that contain humectants, occlusives, and emollients, as well as ingredients that help to strengthen the skin barrier.
Here are some of the best moisturizer ingredients to look for if you have sensitive skin:
- Glycerin
- Hyaluronic acid
- Shea butter
- Squalane
- Panthenol
- Aloe
- Jojoba oil
- Allantoin
- Dimethicone
As for what ingredients to avoid with sensitive skin, these are some of the most common skincare ingredients, according to Young, Yadav, and Levine:
- Fragrances
- Sulfates
- Synthetic dyes
- Parabens
- Formaldehyde releasers, such as DMDM hydantoin, bronopol, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
- Phthalates
- Drying alcohols
Nikki Hill, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Skin of Culture and Hair Center, also notes that retinoids and salicylic acid can be too harsh and drying for sensitive skin.
Consistency:
The consistency of a moisturizer refers to the way it feels on your skin — and there are a range of options to choose from. Moisturizing creams tend to feel thicker and are best suited to dry skin. On the other hand, gel-creams and gels, which contain more water and have a thinner consistency, are often better for oily and acne-prone skin. They typically absorb a little faster and leave more of a dewy to semi-matte finish.
Some of the most beneficial ingredients in moisturizers include humectants, which draw moisture to the skin; emollients, which soften and smooth the skin by filling in any cracks; and occlusives, which form a barrier on the skin to protect it from water loss. Humectants are beneficial for all skin types. The best moisturizers for dry skin often contain occlusives and emollients — but if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you may find that these richer formulas feel too "heavy."
FAQs
What should you avoid when treating sensitive skin?
When caring for sensitive skin, dermatologists agree it's important to be gentle. Don't scrub too hard, use scalding hot water, or wash your face multiple times per day — all of which can irritate your skin and compromise your skin barrier.
What is the root cause of sensitive skin?
The main cause of sensitive skin is having a weakened skin barrier, which allows chemicals and pathogens to penetrate your skin and moisture to evaporate your skin more easily.
Here are some factors that can weaken your skin barrier:
- Regularly being in an environment that's too humid or too dry
- Exposure to allergens, irritants, and pollutants
- A skincare regimen that's too harsh (overwashing or over-exfoliating, for example)
- Too much sun exposure
- Genetics that make you more prone to eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis
What are the 4 types of sensitive skin?
There are four subtypes of sensitive skin:
- Acne: You're prone to getting clogged pores, and using certain products may cause flare-ups of papules or pimples
- Rosacea: Irritants in skin care may trigger you to experience redness, visible blood vessels, and a sensation of warmth in your face.
- Allergic: Your skin is particularly sensitive to certain allergens like fragrances and preservatives and reacts by causing redness, swelling, and/or itching.
- Stinging: You experience a stinging or burning sensation when you apply certain skincare ingredients to your face.
Note that these can overlap — in other words, you can have more than one subtype of sensitive skin.
How do you apply a face moisturizer for sensitive skin?
Always apply moisturizer after cleansing your face to seal in moisture and prevent your skin from drying out. Start with a pea-sized amount and distribute it by gently rubbing or massaging it into the skin using circular motions.
When trying out a new moisturizer, Dr. Justine Park, a board-certified dermatologist at Skin & Beauty Center, says it's especially important to do a patch test first. This entails applying a small amount of the product to your inner arm twice a day for a full week and monitoring whether it irritates your skin.
"If there's no reaction after a week, you can assume the product may be used safely on your face," says Park.