These Moisturizers Are Like a Cozy, Comfy Blanket for Your Face (2024)

Finding a new moisturizer isn’t always straightforward, especially if any little thing can set your skin off. That’s the beauty of the best face moisturizer for dry sensitive skin: It's as gentle as can be. Instead of formulas that your friends rave about, which might leave your complexion feeling tight and irritated, these creams and lotions are especially formulated to comfort and soothe stressed-out skin—and deliver moisture to touchy types. They're usually help repair the skin barrier with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides for skin that’s hydrated, nourished, and calm, all courtesy of a rich, creamy swipe.

But these formulas can vary in how they made and who they're right for. With that in mind, here's what dermatologists and editors consider to be the best face moisturizers for dry, sensitive skin.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $19
• Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, $155
• Best Fragrance-Free: SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Cream, $54
• Best K-Beauty: Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream, $32
• Best Lightweight: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer, $24
• Best for Compromised Skin: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, $28
• Best for Mature Skin: Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer with Ceramides, $39

Frequently Asked Questions

• What causes dry, sensitive skin on the face?
• Which moisturizer is best for a dry, sensitive face?
• How do you rehydrate dry sensitive skin on the face?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Why it’s worth it: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is a holy grail for those with dry, sensitive skin around the world, which is why it’s so frequently recommended by dermatologists. “This is a classic, simple drugstore moisturizer that is incredibly hydrating and effective,” says David Kim, MD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City. The formula is gentle and fragrance free, making it an excellent option for those with eczema. It features humectant sodium hyaluronate to pull water into the skin and lipids like ceramides and cholesterol to keep the skin soft and moisturized. Despite its nourishing texture, it doesn’t feel especially heavy or greasy.

Editor tip: One of the best features of this moisturizer is that it can be used on the body as well as this face, giving you even more bang for your buck from this affordable pick.

Key ingredients: ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, cholesterol | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

Why it’s worth it: You’ll see SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 on the shelves of countless derms and plastic surgeons, and for good reason: It boasts a blend of ingredients known for its ability to fortify the skin barrier. “It is formulated with a specific ratio of essential lipids, 2:4:2—two percent ceramides, four percent cholesterol, and two percent fatty acids,” says Dr. Margarita Lolis, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in central New Jersey; this blend of fats can replenish and repair the skin barrier to improve radiance and texture, with noticeably smaller pores and smoothed-out fine lines. For those whose dry, sensitive skin can tolerate retinoids, this formula is a must-try to help stave off irritation and flakiness.

Editor tip: This indulgent cream is best used at night; apply it before bed and you’ll wake up to soft, velvety skin.

Key ingredients: glycerin, ceramides, cholesterol, lavender essential oil | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Fragrance-Free: SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Cream

Why it’s worth it: “This formula is designed specifically for those with a compromised skin barrier,” says Dr. Lolis. SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Cream has a blend of nourishing lipids like squalane and shea butter as well as signal peptides that work like little messengers that tell your skin to mimic that of a healthy 22 year-old for optimum skin barrier function. Dr. Lolis also notes that the fragrance-free cream contains niacinamide, which offers anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe irritation, and has a thick texture that feels rich without weighing down the skin. It instantly floods skin with hydration, but with regular use, it helps smooth uneven texture and fade redness for a radiant, healthy-looking complexion.

Editor tip: The airless pump packaging ensures the formula stays perfectly sanitary in addition to meting out the perfect dose every time—and it’s refillable, too.

Key ingredients: shea butter, peptides, ceramides, glycerin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best K-Beauty: Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream

Why it’s worth it: For those in need of extra moisture, Dr. Kim considers Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream the best face moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin—no surprise there, since Korean moisturizers tend to be especially gentle. “This creamy moisturizer is gentle and packed with ceramides,” he explains. The blend of ceramides includes long-chain and encapsulated ceramides to lock moisture into the skin for longer—up to 120 hours of moisturization, in fact. For even more nourishment, the formula has cholesterol, squalane, and fatty acids, plus soothing niacinamide and allantoin. “It also has this frosting-like texture that just melts on your skin,” adds Dr. Kim. He notes this product makes for a great hand cream, too.

Editor tip: Aestura's Atobarrier 365 Lotion picked up a 2024 Best of Beauty Award for best light moisturizer. "It's lightweight but works like a much heavier formula. It kept my skin plump and hydrated through months of using retinol in dry weather, which, in my opinion, is the true test of a moisturizer's power."

Key ingredients: ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, squalane, allantoin | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Lightweight: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer

Why it’s worth it: You don't always need a thick, heavy cream to get comfort. Take La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer: The lightweight moisturizer features hydrating glycerin and nourishing ceramides in an oil-free base to help combat congestion. For further insurance against blemishes, it contains anti-inflammatory thermal water and niacinamide, which help quell redness and shrink tender bumps while working to balance oil production. "By maintaining a healthy, diverse population of normal bacteria, the skin can function optimally," Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously told Allure.

Editor tip: If you prefer to wear as few layers as possible to avoid potential breakouts, this product is also available with sunscreen for a two-in-one option.

Key ingredients: ceramides, glycerin, niacinamide, thermal water | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Compromised Skin: Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

Why it’s worth it: If your skin is suffering—be it from eczema, overexfoliation, or just a particularly rough winter—Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream should be on rotation. “This is the best soothing barrier healer—it contains mineral water,” says Dr. Lolis. Avène’s proprietary mineral water has been studied extensively and is proven to have anti-inflammatory and redness-relieving properties; the formula also features fellow skin soothers zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, and copper sulfate to help heal skin. Glycerin and mineral oil round out the formula to help hydrate and seal in nourishment for calm and comforted skin.

Editor tip: This formula is so gentle that it can be used on infants and is a French pharmacy favorite for soothing diaper rash.

Key ingredients: glycerin, zinc oxide, thermal spring water | Fragrance-free: yes

Best For Mature Skin: Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer

Why it’s worth it: As we age, skin’s moisture levels naturally deplete, making our complexions more likely to dry out and appear crepey. Paula's Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer with Ceramides is loaded with humectants (including glycerin and sodium hyaluronate) and lipids—five ceramides, cholesterol, squalane, and shea butter among them—to restore the skin barrier. (No shock here, but we consider it of the best barrier creams.) As an added bonus, palmitoyl tripeptide-5 promotes firmer, smoother skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles.

Editor tip: Though this cream is nourishing, it’s not greasy, and it’s effective on those with dry, sensitive skin whether it’s prone to eczema or acne.

Key ingredients: glycerin, shea butter, squalane, ceramides, sodium hyaluronate | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex Face Moisturizer

Why it’s worth it: EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex Face Moisturizer contains all the hydrating and nourishing heavy hitters you’d expect in a moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin (sodium hyaluronate, squalane, ceramides), but takes things one step further with ingredients that help brighten skin and promote cellular renewal without causing sensitivity—which is why it's a staple in board-certified dermatologistJenny Liu's skin-care routine. "This is such an important step for keeping yourskin barrier healthy—especially with acne, where there’s a barrier defect to start," she says. Superstar B vitamin niacinamide helps combat redness and discoloration, as does bromelain, an enzyme derived from papaya. This provides gentle exfoliation, breaking down dead cells that exacerbate the appearance of dark spots as well as fine lines and enlarged pores for more radiant skin.

Editor tip: While you might be wary of a product that exfoliates when you have sensitive skin, this derm-approved moisturizer is clinically proven to improve compromised skin within 24 hours, leaving it more comfortable as well as luminous.

Key ingredients: niacinamide, ceramides, squalane, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Budget: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

Why it’s worth it: Despite its lightweight price tag, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is powerfully hydrating and moisturizing, with a comprehensive blend of humectants and emollients in a rich, cushiony cream. Amino acids and plant sugars help boost water levels in the skin while lipids like fatty acids and ceramide precursors prevent moisture loss. A little bit of this thick moisturizer—which, by the way, previously won a Best of Beauty Award for its ability to optimize skin health—goes a long way, too.

Editor tip: Sounds simple, but we really appreciate the flip cap and slim design of this packaging. It sits really nicely on a crowded nightstand and is easy to grab and apply when exhausted.

Key ingredients: fatty acids, amino acids, urea, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Daytime: It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream

Why it’s worth it: A mainstay for soothing skin, It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Anti-Aging Hydrating Moisturizer was recently reformulated to include gentle anti-aging ingredients, including firming peptides. Its creamy texture feels luxe, yet doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy or filmy—and while it’s great as an evening moisturizer, it’s this quality that makes it so excellent for use before makeup. It doesn’t pill up or create a patchy finish under foundation or blush, but creates a smooth, even canvas that looks plump and radiant.

Editor tip: This formula is available in three different sizes, including a mini that’s perfect for travel.

Key ingredients: niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Fragrance-free: no

Best for Nighttime: Weleda Rejuvenating Night Cream

Why it’s worth it: Another Allure Best of Beauty winner, Weleda Rejuvenating Night Cream is one of the richest night creams we’ve tried, using a blend of plant oils and butters (including olive, shea, cocoa, and castor) to intensely nourish and condition dry skin. Extracts like blue gentian, edelweiss, and centella asiatica work in tandem to help brighten, smooth, and soothe so your complexion glows upon waking. This one does have a bit of an oily finish, but we like that for an evening formula. "As a dry-skinned person, I like my night creams extra thick and a little bit greasy," says content director Kara McGrath. "This one nails both criteria, plus it has a light, calming, floral scent that lets my brain know it’s time to start winding down for bed."

Editor tip: There is a touch of added fragrance in this formula, but in our experience, it doesn't irritate skin.

Key ingredients: blue gentian extract, edelweiss extract, shea butter | Fragrance-free: no

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes dry, sensitive skin on the face?

When skin is dry and sensitive, that’s a sign that your skin barrier is compromised. “When the skin barrier is compromised, it does not protect you as well from allergens and irritants,” explains Dr. Lolis. This layer of your skin doesn’t just act as a shield from environmental factors, but also helps prevent water from escaping the skin. “When the skin barrier is weakened, there is more transepidermal water loss, so your skin becomes dry and more susceptible to irritation,” she adds.

Things like overuse of harsh active ingredients like retinol and skin conditions like eczema can lead to a weakened skin barrier, but so too can seasonal changes, says Dr. Kim. “As the weather gets colder, our skin gets drier and inflamed,” he explains. “Our skin barrier gets compromised and we need heavier moisturizers to keep our skin protected and hydrated.”

Which moisturizer is best for a dry, sensitive face?

When shopping for a moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin, it’s crucial to seek out ingredients that fall into three specific categories: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. “Humectants attract water like a sponge to keep the epidermis hydrated,” says Dr. Lolis. These include hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin. Emollients are lipids that act like grout between skin cells to prevent that water from evaporating; Dr. Kim points to ceramides and fatty acids. “Ceramide is a naturally occurring molecule in our skin and helps keep the skin barrier intact,” he says. “Fatty acids are an important component of our skin's natural barrier and help keep the skin hydrated and supple.” The last category, occlusives—which includes ingredients like petroleum jelly, shea butter, and beeswax—act like a top coat to trap in all that goodness.

You can also seek out skin soothers like vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide), allantoin, and bisabolol), but other actives, such as vitamin C, alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, and retinol, should be avoided. “The best moisturizers are ones that are simply and primarily designed to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized,” says Dr. Kim. Dry skin will get the most nourishment from a rich, thick, and creamy moisturizer rather than a cream with a gel-like texture, though these can be good for layering, says Dr. Lolis. “I also like balms for specific dry patches,” she adds.

How do you rehydrate dry sensitive skin on the face?

To really combat dryness and sensitivity, a multi-pronged approach is key. Dr. Lolis recommends following the use of a gentle cleanser with a hypochlorous acid spray due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Then, apply a hydrating serum. “Use a hyaluronic-acid serum while the skin is still damp to enhance absorption,” she says. Once your serum has absorbed, slick on a rich, creamy moisturizer like the ones above to help reinforce the skin barrier. Those with extremely dry skin can try slugging with a rich balm for added insurance against dehydration.

You can also add a face mask into your weekly routine, says Dr. Kim. “Using a gentle, hydrating mask once a week will help deliver that extra hydration your skin needs,” he explains. “Look for calming and hydrating ingredients like centella asiatica, oat extract, rice extracts, and ceramides.”

Meet The Experts

• Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in central New Jersey
• David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at IDRISS Dermatology in New York City
• Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Minnesota and assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our review of the best face moisturizers for dry sensitive skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and dermatologists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Read more about skin care for sensitive skin:

• 8 Best of Beauty Award Winners That Give Your Sensitive Skin the Respect It Deserves
• 11 Best Retinols for Sensitive Skin to Minimize Irritation
• The 12 Best Eczema Creams to Soothe Your Itchiest Flare-Ups
• 14 Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin, Vetted by Dermatologists and Tested By Editors

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