Even if you don’t do makeup every day, you should take care of your skin. Moisturizer is one of the most important steps in any morning beauty routine, and generally speaking, everyone should use one, no matter their skin type, says Dr. Annie Chiu , a board-certified dermatologist at The Derm Institute in California. “Moisturizer prevents skin from drying out by retaining water in the outermost layer,” she explains. “Without this moisture, we would age faster and the skin would not look supple.”
And sure, finding the best moisturizer for your skin type doesn’t sound like a difficult task: try a few, find one you like, and that’s it. That is, until you end up looking like an oil slick, or worse, irritated, dry, and flaking skin. “Most people should use a moisturizer designed for their skin type,” he says. “Even those with oily skin can benefit, as light formulas can control the natural production of oils in your skin.”
There are also good reasons to re-evaluate the products you’re using as you age, as skin often becomes dry and less light over time. “As our skin ages, losing water is more common, and therefore the need for hydration becomes more frequent,” says Jordana Herschthal Heber , MD, a dermatologist in the Florida-based office of Cosmetic Dermatology.
The best face moisturizer for oily skin
“Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, salicylic acid, retinol, niacinamide, clay, and grapeseed oil,” Chiu says, adding that you should never try to strip skin of its natural oils, but rather work to balance them.
The best face moisturizer for sensitive skin
Dry skin and sensitive skin are similar, but not the same. “Hyaluronic acid and ceramides draw water into the skin for moisture,” says Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank , cosmetic dermatologist, medical director and founder of PFrankMD , and author of ” The Pro-Aging Playbook .” He adds that while none of these ingredients should irritate even the most sensitive skin, instead you should “avoid AHAs and BHAs, as they can be sensitizing to the skin,”.
The best face moisturizer for combination skin
Combination skin generally means oily skin in some areas and dry skin in others. Still, the impulse is usually to target oily skin, which is often close to the T-zone.
“If oily skin is stripped of its natural oils, it will produce more oil and cause sebum buildup,” says Chiu, who recommends that those with oily or combination skin find an oil that can balance the skin.
Herschthal Heber recommends jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, and squalane oil, thanks to their “antibacterial and sebum-regulating properties that can help control oil production,”.
The best facial moisturizer for men
“Male skin is thicker than female skin and has more sebaceous glands, the glands that produce oil,” Chiu says. “In general, men have oilier skin than women, so a light gel, lotion or emulsion is often the preferred type of moisturizer.”
Frank adds that hormonal fluctuations are more likely to wreak havoc on a woman’s skin, while shaving could irritate or cause dryness for some men.
The best drugstore face moisturizer
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find a product that works. Most dermatologists, including Frank and Herschthal Heber, recommend CeraVe skin care products for savings.
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