25 Face Moisturizers ELLE Editors Won't Shut Up About

“I can't even count the number of times I've finished this cream and had to re-stock. It's so luxurious, and leaves my skin completely prepped to put on some makeup. I also have a sneaky feeling that the purply tone of the cream helps make my redness look less noticeable when I have it on.” Tatjana Freund, Beauty Commerce Writer

“I recently returned from vacation with horribly dry and dull skin. Dehydrated from hours soaking in the sun, I reached for the first moisturizing product I could find on my vanity—Namesake’s moisturizer, a new addition to my beauty collection—and was surprised at how soft and bright my skin (pre-sunscreen) looked the next morning. It takes a lot for me to add a new product to my holy grail beauty list. Namesake’s Daily Moisturizer not only gently exfoliates but makes the skin feel buttery and smooth.” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

“Maybe this sounds nuts, but I use so many products specifically focused on hydrating my skin that, by the time I get to my moisturizer, I like it to be as silky, light-weight and barely existent as possible—but still hydrating! I also like to keep my moisturizer consistent across my ever-shifting beauty routine, which means I need something affordable but effective. I haven’t found anything that feels as delicious on my skin (but as comfortable for my paycheck) as Clinique’s Moisture Surge. I love that it’s a lightweight gel and not a goopy lotion, plus it gives my skin that naturally radiant look I’ve been trying to accomplish since I was an acne-ridden teenager.” — Lauren Puckett Pope, Associate Editor

“I don’t remember what I was using as a nighttime moisturizer before I met Laneige’s Water Sleeping Mask, and I don’t want to! Meeting this lady changed the game—she goes out on like, well, water, sinks in fast, and leaves me with supple, baby-soft skin in the morning.” — Katherine Krueger, Features Editor

“Finding the perfect moisturizer for acne-prone skin is a journey…oftentimes a long, treacherous journey. But don’t worry, I’ve done the dirty work to find the holy grail moisturizer that hydrates the skin without irritating existing blemishes. Enter the Peace Out Daily Blemish Repairing Moisturizer. The formula is packed with ceramides to provide moisture and protect your skin barrier, while CoQ10 works to calm redness and prevent future breakouts caused by environmental aggressors.” — Emily Burns, Assistant Beauty Editor

“I've been using prescription topicals for years now to keep my acne at bay, and because they're pretty harsh and drying, my dermatologist recommended this gentle drugstore moisturizer to keep my skin moist and smooth. Purpose's moisturizer contains a little bonus SPF and keeps my skin hydrated without irritating it—something necessary when using serious skin treatment creams.” —Alyssa Bailey, Senior News & Strategy Editor

“Ye old faithful and mighty. I’ve tried many different moisturizers, but this one takes the cake. While I love trying out new products, FAB Ultra Repair Cream has stayed in the mix for the past 8 years! I had blemishes and some acne scarring left over from my pimple faced days in college and it really helped clear up any redness or bumps caused by other acne treatments. Now this is just my everyday go-to.” — Leah Romero, Senior Digital Designer

“There is regular moisturizer and then there's The Rich Cream. The cult science-backed formula from Augustinus Bader is super hydrating and uses a patented technology called TFC8 that’s been clinically tested to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It's very much worth the money.” — Claire Stern, Digital Deputy Editor

“This cream is so wonderful that I've been trying my best to use it sparingly, when what I really want to do is slather it on my face every night. Biba is an aesthetician who works with the one and only Rosie Huntington Whiteley, so it shouldn't be surprising that her products are A-List approved. It's super thick and hydrating but has never clogged my pores or caused a breakout. That's a win in my book.” — Tatjana Freund, Beauty Commerce Writer

“I like going to sleep knowing I’ve slathered a moisturizer on my face that is really getting to work, which is why I love the Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment. This two-in-one product uses Japanese indigo extract to soothe the skin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to provide moisture, and mondo grass root to balance the microbiome. This cream addresses dryness, redness, and uneven texture, all while you snooze away. What more could you ask for?” — Emily Burns, Assistant Beauty Editor

“Touching your face is a big skincare no-no, but after I apply this squalane and niacinamide infused cream, I can’t help but admire how silky my skin feels. As someone with a highly reactive complexion, I love that it’s formulated without fragrance, essential oils, or artificial color.” — Taylor Davis, Beauty Assistant

“I was first introduced to this beauty when I was gifted Drunk Elephant’s The Littles set featuring eight, skin-saving products formulated to transform the skin’s texture. Of the bunch, the bite-sized Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer was the first one I finished because it’s just that good. Because I use retinol throughout the week, there’s no escaping the inevitable dry patches that appear all over my skin. But this cream—packed with ingredients like pygmy waterlily stem cell extract and soybean folic acid ferment extract—soothes my skin so I wake up with a hydrated glow.” — Nerisha Penrose, Commerce Editor

“I am one of the unlucky people who seems to have worse skin while in quarantine. The combination of stress, wearing a face mask, and (finally) faithfully using my retinol has made my skin super sensitive. I was instantly drawn to Kate Somerville’s newest launch because of the pretty packaging, but keep using it because it’s made specifically for sensitized skin. Smoothing it on my face feels like I’ve draped a cool washcloth over my face—completely calming.” —Margaux Anbouba, Beauty Editor

“I’m usually a serum or an oil, person, but when I do use a cream, I like it to feel soft and easy to massage my skin with. If I’m turning to a cream it usually means my skin needs some kind of break, either from the actives in the serums or the heaviness of the oils. My rescue sauce is Caudalie Vinosource SOS Intense Moisturizing Cream which has grape water to soothe (hey, it’s not always about rose water, ok?) and squalane, which is a reliable, simple ”— Katie Becker, Beauty and Health Director

“After several weeks of complaining about my smelly moisturizer (that shall not be named) a friend recommended that I switch to this cream—or I should say créme, because she’s fancy. It’s pricey so I use more sparingly than I would other products but I find that its calming scent—a combination of Camellia blossom, blue ginger, and shea butter—helps combat my stress each morning and night.” —Katie Connor, Digital Director

“I discovered this wonder during one of my many phases of trying to fix my vexing skin by obsessively reading K-Beauty blogs and buying (a lot) of products. I've since pared back my routine, but one of the products that have become a mainstay is Etude House's Moistfull Collagen Cream. It goes on super lightweight because of its gel texture but packs a serious hydration punch, all without being tacky or greasy, and sinks in quickly. I love to use it after I've picked my face (sorry) or my skin feels parched, with collagen and vitamin E helping heal any damage.” — Katherine Krueger, Features Editor

“Sometimes, you’ve got to go back to the basics. That, for me, was a few weeks ago, after I tested a new fashion-house beauty serum and woke up with my face, literally, on fire. It was a full-blown case of dermatitis: the burning, itching, swelling, redness, soreness, dryness, peeling, breakouts. After a digital consult with my derm, I put all my luxury skincare aside and switched over to all things Cetaphil. I, even on my best skin days, only use Cetaphil cleanser. But the brand’s cream—thick, hydrating, gentle, and built for sensitive skin—came through. It’s calming salve-meets-intense moisture boost. Something we could all use, on the best and worst of skin days.” —Angel Lenise, Supervising Video Producer

“I prefer my skincare routine to be as uncomplicated and unobtrusive as possible. I've been using Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for years and it delivers exactly this. I have dry skin, so this moisturizer helps to soften and soothe irritation while also remaining light after application. I dab a small amount twice a day and let the serum do the rest—not much maintenance required for this moisturizer.” — Savannah Walsh, Editorial Fellow

“I’ve been using Olay Complete as a morning and evening face moisturizer for as long as I can remember. It’s also a staple in my mom’s skincare routine, which she says is the reason she’s been able to maintain a glowing, poreless complexion for years! Olay Complete’s oil-free formula protects your skin from the sun (SPF 15), plus it has vitamins E, B3, and C.” — Rose Minutaglio, Staff Writer

“I’m the type to risk— er, spend —it all on skincare, and after being graced by the #GiftedByLaMer gods, I’ve made it a point to budget for the brand’s Moisturizing Soft Cream. It’s a lighter version of the super-rich La Mer Crème, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated, soft, and smooth, without unwanted dewiness (read: oil-slick free). It’s worthy to note that my skin rests at the intersection of sensitive, oily, and dry, and this is a moisturizer I can use year-round, no matter what tricks my epidermis is trying to pull. Plus…let me be honest…it makes me feel r i c h! And feeling is halfway to actually being, right?”— Angel Lenise, Supervising Video Producer