Key Points
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Whether you’re dealing with redness or other reactions, these sensitive skin moisturizers work wonders on all skin types.
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The sensitive skin moisturizers in this article are excellent for greasy, dry, or combination skin.
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The products below are also perfect for acne-prone skin.
Most products make your skin itch, burn, or flake. Thinking about shopping for moisturizers feels like a living nightmare. You have no idea what sensitive skin moisturizers might work best for you and frankly, you’re feeling overwhelmed to even try one.
If you have sensitive skin, finding the right moisturizer is a challenge. Many moisturizers contain ingredients that cause irritation or breakouts, which is why it’s important to choose a moisturizer formulated specifically for sensitive skin. In this article, you’ll be introduced to a collection of the best sensitive skin moisturizers. These moisturizers have been carefully selected based on their ingredients, effectiveness, and overall performance to ensure you have the best possible skincare experience.
Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, finding the right moisturizer may feel daunting. But fear not! Whether you’re dealing with flakiness, redness, or just want to keep your skin feeling soft and smooth, these top-of-the-line moisturizers have you covered. Most products can be found at Walmart, Amazon, or Target.
Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream
Avene Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream is made with zinc oxide, which protects and soothes the skin, as well as copper sulfate, which promotes the skin’s natural healing process. It’s suitable for use on sensitive, damaged, or compromised skin.
This cream is fragrance-free, non-greasy, and safe for use on children and babies. Some Avene Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream users have reported that this cream is effective at reducing the appearance of scars and other skin imperfections. Other users claim that the product provides relief for dry, chapped, or irritated skin.
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream is fragrance-free and dye-free. This moisturizer is an excellent choice for sensitive skin. It’s developed with a mixture of glycerin, petrolatum, and squalane, which moisturizes and protects the skin.
This cream is suitable for use on all skin types. It’s also free from common allergens and other potential irritants, such as lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde.
Some users have reported that the Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream is effective at providing relief for chapped, itchy, red, or inflamed skin, as well as improving the overall texture and appearance of the skin.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is ideal for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. It’s concocted with colloidal oatmeal, which soothes and calms the skin. It’s also designed with shea butter and ceramides which moisturize and strengthen the skin’s barrier.
Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer
Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer contains a blend of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, which relax and comfort the skin. This product is great for use on sensitive, red, or irritated skin.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that works wonders for all skin types — including sensitive skin. This product is designed with glycerin and squalane which lock in moisture and shield the skin from potential irritants. It’s also free from fragrances and other harsh ingredients.
Moisturizers for Dry and Sensitive Skin
Dehydrated skin feels tight, itchy, and uncomfortable, and it may also lead to flakiness and roughness. Using a moisturizer hydrates and nourishes chapped skin, keeping it soft, smooth, and healthy-looking. Whether you have rough skin on your face, body, or both, there is a moisturizer ideal for your skin type.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
In 2021, Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel was the number one selling best-selling facial moisturizer in the United States. This lightweight, water-based moisturizer is designed with hyaluronic acid to attract and retain moisture in the skin.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is a thick and creamy formula. The rich cream is ideal for very arid skin, as it provides intense hydration and shields the skin from environmental damage. The Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream has a reputation for reducing the itchiness that stems from dehydrated skin.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman, M.D., named Cetaphil’s Moisturizing Cream the “best overall moisturizer for dry skin.” While it is intended for the face, it’s suitable for use on the whole body.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion is designed with colloidal oatmeal and rich emollients, which work together to soothe and moisturize dry, sensitive skin. The lotion also contains urea and other ingredients to restore the skin’s natural barrier and reduce the look of ashy, flaky skin.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
The La Roche-Posay Double Repair facial moisturizer is developed with prebiotics and ceramides to strengthen the skin and provide long-lasting hydration. The moisturizer is non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog pores, and it’s hypoallergenic, making it an excellent choice for those with allergies or other sensitivities.
Moisturizers for Oily and Sensitive Skin
Oily skin is difficult to manage as it’s prone to lots of shine, breakouts, and clogged pores. Finding the right moisturizer is an important step in your skincare routine because it balances and refreshes your skin without leaving it looking greasy or obstructing your pores.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Moisturizer is an oil-free, mattifying moisturizer. It is created with salicylic acid to decongest pores and reduce excess shine production. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat is also formulated with sebum-absorbing micro-particles to mattify the surface of the skin.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture
Neutrogena’s popular Oil-Free Moisture is a delicate, oil-free moisturizer. It is perfect for more oily skin, as it refreshes the skin without leaving a greasy residue. The Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture is formulated with glycerin and salicylic acid. These ingredients lock in hydration, exfoliate the skin, and unclog pores.
This moisturizer is non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t cause acne or other blemishes. It’s also fragrance-free, making it suitable for use on sensitive skin. Some users have reported that this moisturizer is effective at providing hydration without leaving the skin feeling oily.
Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer
The Oil Control moisturizer by Cetaphil is designed with a mixture of ceramides and glycerin to aid in hydration and provide balance to shiny skin. Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer is a popular choice in the skincare community and is well-regarded by both consumers and skin care professionals.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream works wonders on skin with excess oil. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Facial Cream is created with hyaluronic acid and amino peptides which work together to plump and revive the skin, without causing breakouts.
Moisturizers for Sensitive and Combination Skin
Combination skin is challenging to care for because it’s both rough and shiny at the same time. This skin type is characterized by a greasy T-zone — the forehead, nose, and chin — and dry skin on the cheeks. Using an effective moisturizer is an essential step in balancing out combination skin without leading to any flakiness, shininess, or clogged pores.
Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion
Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion is a sheer, oil-free facial moisturizer. It is designed with hyaluronic acid and marine algae extract, which is rich in minerals and antioxidants. This combination revives and protects the skin.
This moisturizer contains parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin. In addition to locking in hydration and nourishing the skin, this moisturizer is formulated with a color-correcting complex to even out skin tone and reduce redness and discoloration.
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion
CeraVe daily facial moisturizer is made with three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. Ceramides are lipids that are naturally found in the skin and support the skin’s barrier function, while niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has been shown to improve skin texture and tone.
This moisturizer is a great choice for combination and sensitive skin as it’s fragrance-free and non-irritating. It’s also designed with a patented MVE Delivery Technology, which releases the ingredients slowly over time, ensuring that the skin remains saturated and strong throughout the day.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is a lightweight, oil-free facial moisturizer. It is a great fit for combination skin. It’s designed with a combination of ingredients to moisten and enhance the skin, including glycerin and apricot kernel oil. Apricot Kernal Oil is rich in essential fatty acids that strengthen and rejuvenate the skin.
Another key element in Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is Antarcticine. Antarcticine is a glycoprotein that is derived from the Pseudoalteromonas bacteria species found in the extreme environments of Antarctica. This ingredient works wonders due to its ability to protect the skin from natural stressors such as cold temperatures and wind.
Boscia Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
Boscia Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer is made with green tea extract and other natural ingredients. Green tea extract is indulged in antioxidants and has been shown to shield the skin from environmental stressors.
Boscia Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer is excellent for combination skin as it also contains a mixture of natural extracts to soothe and calm the skin. It’s also a top pick for those with redness or sensitivity.
Augustinus Bader The Cream
Augustinus Bader The Cream works amazingly on combination skin. It’s designed with a blend of ingredients to strengthen and revive the skin. It’s made with a complex of vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients that have been shown to refine the skin’s complexion.
It’s also formulated with a proprietary TFC8 technology, which supports the skin’s natural repair and renewal processes. In addition to providing hydration and nourishment, this moisturizer is made with antioxidants to aid in protecting the skin from environmental components and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Moisturizers for Sensitive and Acne-Prone Skin
Finding the right products for acne-prone skin is a bit tricky. It’s essential to use products that keep your skin moisturized without clogging your pores and causing unwanted breakouts.
Proactive Green Tea Moisturizer
The Proactive Green Tea Moisturizer keeps acne-prone skin moisturized and hydrated no matter the time of year. The delicate, non-greasy recipe is created with mineral and botanical extracts, including the antioxidant green tea. These elements soothe dry skin without stuffing up pores and causing breakouts.
Tatcha The Water Cream
The Tatcha Water Cream is a facial moisturizer made with a mixture of Japanese botanicals and other ingredients. It works to strengthen and revive the skin. It contains a proprietary complex of Japanese wild rose and Japanese leopard lily, which smooth and refine the skin’s texture. It’s also made with Okinawa red algae, which is known to provide intense moisture.
This moisturizer is great for acne-prone skin because it doesn’t jam pores or cause pimples to form. This product is also free of sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin.
La Mer Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream
La Mer Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream is like a magical potion for acne-prone skin! It’s created with a combination of sea kelp and other ingredients that work together to enhance the skin, while also reducing blemishes and redness.
LovelySkin Luxe Mattifying Antioxidant Moisturizer
LovelySkin Luxe Mattifying Antioxidant Moisturizer is a great choice for those with acne-prone skin, as it’s developed to reduce excess oil production and provide long-lasting freshness without clogging pores. It contains a blend of antioxidants, including vitamin C to protect the skin from environmental stressors. The product is also made with a mixture of alpha and beta hydroxy acids to exfoliate and decongest pores.
Sente Dermal Repair Cream
Sente Dermal Repair Cream contains a mixture of elements that rejuvenates the skin and is a popular choice for those with acne-prone skin. It has a combination of heparan sulfate analogs, which improve the look of the skin’s surface. It’s also developed with a few different antioxidants to shield the skin.
The Bottom Line: Keep Your Skin Moisturized Without Compromising Your Health
Sensitive skin requires special care when it comes to choosing a moisturizer. The options listed here are excellent for all skin types and are free from potential irritants. By selecting the right moisturizer, you can nourish and protect your skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and strengthened.
Don’t let sensitive skin hold you back from achieving your best skin!
