The Best Drugstore Moisturizers for Radiant Skin on a Budget

Best Overall

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

$24 at Amazon $24 at Target $25 at Ulta

There’s a reason the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is loved by everyone, including dermatologists, celebrities, influencers, and even us—it’s the top pick in our roundup of best face moisturizers, drugstore or otherwise. The reasonably priced cream is suitable for all skin types (yes, even sensitive ones), goes on like a dream, and absorbs quickly into the skin leaving you with a hydrated face that lasts all day. In fact, it claims to replenish moisture for up to 48 hours. 

Just take it from Real Simple beauty director Heather Muir Maffei, who uses this as her go-to moisturizer. “One thing I learned early on in my career is that products don’t have to be expensive to work,” she says.
“Most of the time, the brands on drugstore shelves have the most money to spend on research and development. This editor favorite doesn’t have (or need) all of the bells and whistles, but it’s packed with proven ingredients that get the job done. It hydrates without making my combo skin feel greasy, and they even have a matte version if the dewy dumpling finish isn’t your vibe.” 

The formula contains ceramides, which are great for retaining moisture and restoring the skin barrier (after just an hour, no less), and niacinamide to soothe and repair troubled skin, and it’s oil free and non-greasy, making it a great base for makeup, too. It’s also made with prebiotic thermal water, an antioxidant rich in selenium, which is said to amp up the hydration. It won’t pill like some other options, and it’s fragrance free, which further adds to its suitability for sensitive folk.

This lightweight cream is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores. It has a smooth texture, is paraben free, and has been tested and approved by dermatologists for allergies. It’s suitable for use in the morning and evening on the face and neck, and it’s a must in every skincare enthusiast’s cabinet—although you might need something a little richer if you have extremely dry skin.

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Ceramide-3, niacinamide, prebiotic thermal water | Size: 1.35 or 3.38 ounces

Best Budget

e.l.f. Daily Hydration Moisturizer

$8 at Amazon $8 at Target View on Elfcosmetics.com

The e.l.f. Skin Daily Hydration Moisturizer is a great option to smooth and hydrate your face, even if you’re on a tighter budget. The product is cruelty-free and vegan, and free from other potential irritants like parabens, phthalates, hydroquinone, and sulfates. The product is even made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.

As part of the brand’s Holy Hydration range, this lightweight formula is designed to lock in moisture and keep it there all day long. It’s gel-based and absorbs easily into the skin. The included ceramides help to build up the skin’s moisture barrier, and the peptides promote collagen while improving overall skin texture. 

It’s chock-full of super-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and shea butter for a plump complexion, and it even has aloe vera to soothe irritated skin. It also includes grapeseed oil for evening out skin tone and vitamin E for a soft and supple face. The scent is light and fresh but might not be suitable for those who would rather have a fragrance-free moisturizer.

Formulation: Gel-based cream | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, jojoba oil, vitamin E, grapeseed oil | Size: 2.53 ounces

Best for Oily Skin

Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer

$14 at Amazon $14 at Target $16 at Ulta

If you happen to have an oily complexion, you’ll be well aware that not just any moisturizer will do. Nobody wants to add extra grease to an already shiny face, which is why we recommend the Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with SPF 30. Not only will it adequately moisturize your face (because, yes, even those with oily skin types need to use moisturizer), but it will absorb surface oil (thanks to its micropearl technology) and leave you with a sheen-free and matte complexion all day long. The cream, developed by dermatologists, is not only oil-free and non-greasy, but it’s non-comedogenic (no clogged pores!), hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free, too.

The cream offers a stellar broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF sun-protection via the use of chemical sunscreen ingredients: avobenzone to absorb UVA rays, octisalate to absorb UVB rays, and octocrylene that absorbs both. The sunscreen formulation uses a low concentration of filters to avoid any irritation. However, it’s still advised to avoid applying near the eye area; the inclusion of the SPF elements could cause stinging.

Formulation: Lotion | Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene | Size: 4 ounces

Best for Dry Skin

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Orig. $27 $14 at Amazon $20 at Target $21 at Ulta

As one of the most highly rated and much-loved drugstore moisturizers available, the inexpensive Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer is immensely hydrating and quick to absorb. Dr. Chang recommends the lightweight formula for summer months especially; it’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and formulated with hyaluronic acid to pull in moisture and hydrate the skin. 

The dermatologically tested and non-comedogenic formula also includes amino acids to retain moisture, support the skin barrier, and repair, regenerate, soothe, and calm the skin. Electrolytes are also included for even more hydration. The label states that this gel cream boosts hydration for up to 72 hours, but it has been clinically proven to do so for 24 hours—still a win. 

The smell is mild yet fresh, and absolutely no residue is left behind. The cream can be worn under makeup as it only needs a few seconds to fully absorb. Although the glass jar is recyclable for those concerned about sustainability (and the company recently did away with the window and plastic tray from its carton), we feel that a bottle or pump option instead would be more hygienic to avoid any cross-contamination. 

Formulation: Gel | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid | Size: 0.5, 1.7 ounces

Best for Sensitive Skin

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

Orig. $15 $13 at Amazon $16 at Target Orig. $16 $13 at Walmart

Dr. Hill recommends the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer to all her patients with sensitive skin because it’s free from chemicals that could prove to be potential irritants and flare up delicate faces. You won’t find any dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde-releasing agents, or even gluten in the formula. Botanical extracts have also been excluded to avoid irritation.

Vanicream was founded by two pharmacists in 1974 who liaised with dermatologists to create non-irritating products for their customers and, since then, has been a dermatologist-approved brand for those with sensitive skin. This daily moisturizer is vegan and non-comedogenic, and it’s even been accepted by the National Eczema Association. For hydration, it utilizes ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and glycerin. 

Although this cream is quite thick, it’s non-greasy for those with normal to dry skin (although it might not be the best option for oily skin types), leaves skin feeling silky smooth, and it can be used as both a day or night cream. Its gentle formula is pH balanced to seal in the moisture, and it absorbs quickly, too. The price is reasonable as the bottle is quite large, so will last a good amount of time. 

Formulation: Lotion | Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin | Size: 3 ounces

Best for Mature Skin

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

Orig. $28 $25 at Amazon $30 at Walgreens View on Olay.com

This popular moisturizer from Olay is loved not only by those with mature skin but anyone who wants to prevent the signs of aging. The hydrating Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is designed to plump, lift, tighten, and freshen dull skin thanks to its mix of power ingredients, which include hyaluronic acid, amino-peptides, vitamin B3, antioxidants, and collagen. 

It’s formulated to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while providing ample moisture to dehydrated skin and strengthening the moisture barrier. The result is a visibly plumper, smoother, and more youthful visage. It has a gentle, fresh fragrance with a light and whipped texture that absorbs quickly.

The cream is quite thick but doesn’t linger on the skin or leave behind any oily residue, allowing you to either go out fresh-faced and sheen-free or apply your makeup on top. You can use it morning and evening as part of your daily skincare routine. It comes in a jar container, but we feel that a bottle or pump would be more hygienic. 

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Collagen, vitamin B3, amino-peptides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants | Size: 1.7 ounces

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Moisturizer

Orig. $11 $10 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $15 at CVS

Many people with acne choose to bypass the moisturizing step of their skincare routine as they believe that it will only exacerbate their condition, but with the right product, dermatologists report that you can hydrate the skin and treat acne at the same time. The Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer is one such product, and it’s extremely affordable, too. 

This two-in-one acne treatment and moisturizer includes 0.5% salicylic acid to help unclog pores from blackheads and whiteheads and prevent new clogs and acne from forming. Acne-prone skin typically goes hand-in-hand with oily skin, and this non-comedogenic and non-greasy cream leaves a matte finish, making skin appear even and smooth. It even reduces the appearance of large pores.

For optimal hydration, the formulation includes glycerine, squalene, and dimethicone to lock in moisture and make the skin feel smooth, but the acne-busting ingredients might be a little too strong for sensitive skin types. This fragrance-free cream is lightweight and absorbs quickly, is excellent for daily use, and it makes a great base for makeup, too.

Formulation: Lotion | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, prebiotics | Size: 3 ounces

Best for Redness

Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Moisturizing Cream

Orig. $27 $19 at Amazon $20 at Target $20 at Walmart

Facial redness can be caused by a number of factors including, but not limited to, eczema, contact dermatitis, allergies, acne, and hormonal changes. Aveeno’s Calm + Restore Redness Relief Moisturizing Cream has been designed to calm, soothe, and reduce redness with the help of oat, feverfew (a plant known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties), and prebiotics that balance the skin’s microbiome. 

Tested by dermatologists specifically for those with sensitive skin, this product makes a superb daily moisturizer and locks hydration in. It also includes ceramides and vitamin B5 to restore and nourish the skin barrier. The included oats help to reduce itching and offer antioxidant protection to neutralize free radicals and prevent premature aging. 

The calming and soothing effects can be seen from the very first application. It absorbs well and doesn’t feel sticky or greasy. Although the product is not cruelty-free, it is free from parabens, phthalates, dyes, fragrances, and other potentially flaring ingredients. As an extra perk for the eco-conscious, the company aims to have entirely reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025. 

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin B5, feverfew, and oat | Size: 1.7 ounces

Best Gel

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel

Orig. $20 $17 at Amazon $17 at Target Orig. $25 $13 at Walmart

Perhaps the most popular of drugstore brands, CeraVe has made a name for itself with affordable and highly effective skincare products that customers love and keep returning to. The company’s Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel is ideal for those who want a lightweight hydrator (it's practically weightless) that’s easy to apply and doesn’t linger on the skin for too long after application. Despite its quick absorption, it doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight or dry; in fact, quite the opposite.

Used as a daily moisturizer, this gel promises to help retain moisture, maintain the skin’s barrier, and keep the face feeling hydrated all day. This is for the most part due to the innovative MVE (Multivesicular Emulsion) Technology that the company designed with “time-released” spheres instead of the quick-burst release common in many other moisturizers.

These spheres trap and hold the included ingredients like ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP), fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, and phytosphingosine (a lipid molecule found in the outermost layer of the skin with antimicrobial properties) to maintain moisture for up to 24 hours. The product is fragrance-, paraben-, and oil-free and an exceptional value for money. It might, however, pill if layered with other skincare items.

Formulation: Gel | Key Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 1.75 ounces

Best Natural

Weleda Sensitive Care Facial Cream

Orig. $25 $20 at Amazon Orig. $37 $35 at Walmart $23 at Thrive Market

If you’re a fan of Weleda’s Skin Food (the popular cream that’s all over social media and has become something of a cult skincare product in recent times, even though it’s been around for almost a century) but find it a little too thick and harsh for the face, you’ll love the brand’s Sensitive Care Face Cream. 

Just like the original, this cream is exceptional at moisturizing extremely dry skin, and it only uses natural extracts for hydration rather than synthetic compounds such as fragrances, colors, and preservatives. The key ingredients include raw materials derived from mineral oils, like sweet almond oil, a gentle ingredient that can even be used on children’s skin, plum seed oil to improve the skin barrier, and beeswax for hydration.

The cream, just like all of Weleda’s products, is not tested on animals and is sustainability certified. The smell is milder than the Skin Food and it dissipates quickly after application. It is a little on the thick side and leaves a rather dewy sheen, so if you have oily skin, you might want to only use this as a nighttime moisturizer. 

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, flower, fruit, and root extracts | Size: 1 ounce

Best Tinted

Wet n Wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator

Orig. $7 $5 at Amazon $6 at Target $6 at Walmart

The fresh, barefaced, no-makeup look is all the rage (think: Hailey Bieber, Jessica Alba, and Elle Fanning), but if you’re after a photoshopped finish, you might want a little something to even out your skin tone and hide any blemishes. The wet n wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator is just the ticket.

This product hydrates and plumps the skin thanks to the included hyaluronic acid that also helps to retain moisture. This hydrator has a creamy consistency and blends into the skin effortlessly. It goes on smoothly and leaves no streaks. You only need a pea-sized amount to cover the whole face, and you can dab it on as you would a regular foundation. For more coverage, you can add additional layers on top once the first one has dried.

The finish is semi-matte with a slight dewy effect to nail that beautiful I-woke-up-like-this look. It’s suitable for all skin types, but if you have very dry skin you might need to put a layer of a thicker moisturizing product underneath. It’s available in 12 shades to suit almost everyone and comes at an impressively low price.

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vegan squalane | Size: 0.91 ounces

Best Night

EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer

$44 at Amazon $39 at Dermstore View on Eltamd.com

It might be a little more expensive than some other drugstore options, but the EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer Lotion is worth its weight in gold. This night cream brings back the skin’s elasticity, strengthens the moisture barrier, and visibly diminishes dullness and signs of aging. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs easily.

The company, trusted and recommended by dermatologists, has been around for over three decades, so it knows a little something about skin rejuvenation. With niacinamide to soften skin and reduce redness, and peptides that even out the skin’s texture, you’ll wake up with a face that feels soft, plump, and hydrated.

This dermatologically tested face moisturizer is non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types. It’s free from parabens, oils, dyes, and fragrances, and even those with dry, flaky, red, and inflamed skin will feel relief. The pump bottle, while hygienic, makes it hard to get the last little bit out of the bottle, but it lasts quite a while since you only need a couple of pumps with each use. 

Formulation: Lotion | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hydrolyzed rice protein, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, linoleic acid | Size: 1.7 ounces

Best for Combination Skin

EltaMD AM Therapy Face Moisturizer

$44 at Amazon Orig. $36 $28 at Walmart $39 at Dermstore

If you find yourself in combination skin limbo, the EltaMD AM Restore Moisturizer is about to become your new BFF, especially if you also happen to have sensitive skin. Thanks to its well-balanced formulation, it caters to both oily and dry areas of the face. Some of its most notable ingredients are niacinamide and willow bark extract. 

Niacinamide is great for combination skin as it helps to regulate oil production and reduce excess shine. Willow bark extract, on the other hand, is a natural source of salicylic acid that will gently exfoliate and unclog pores and prevent breakouts. But the dry areas of the face will be far from neglected: This lightweight cream has glycerin and squalene to keep skin smooth, plump, and hydrated.

This cream also has vitamin E, a known hydrating antioxidant that protects the skin and keeps dry patches at bay. However, if your dry areas are particularly parched, this cream alone might not be enough. While this option is quite pricey for a drugstore moisturizer, it’s definitely worth the splurge, and the brand is highly recommended by customers and dermatologists alike. 

Formulation: Lotion | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3, willow bark extract, caffeine | Size: 1.7 ounces

Best for Uneven Texture

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5

Orig. $18 $17 at Amazon $17 at Target $19 at Ulta

If you’re a skincare enthusiast and haven’t yet heard of La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast Balm B5, then there’s something terribly wrong with the algorithm. Considered the holy grail by many celebs and skinfluencers, this intensive healing cream is non-comedogenic, fragrance free, and incredibly soothing for even the most sensitive and dry faces.

This cream has 5% vitamin B5 for speedy skin repair (which some users note can be seen from a single application). Not only will it not clog your pores, but it can also unclog them. There’s a new trend going around whereby you slather a good amount of this stuff on your nose before you go to bed, and wake up the next morning miraculously sans sebaceous filaments (it works; we tried it).

It also has madecassoside, a natural compound that comes from the medicinal plant, Centella Asiatica, which is known for its healing and antiinflammatory properties. It also helps reduce redness and supports the skin’s natural healing process. As this is quite a thick cream, it does leave behind a bit of a sheen (although it doesn’t feel too greasy), so it’s best for nighttime use. 

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Vitamin B5, shea butter, madecassoside | Size: 1.35 ounces

Best Firming

RoC Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Chest, Neck & Face Cream SPF 30

$27 at Amazon View on Rocskincare.com

Whether your skin is starting to lose its firmness or you want to prevent any potential loss, the RoC Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Chest, Neck, and Face Cream is here to save the day without breaking the bank. This five-in-one cream lists vitamin E as one of its key ingredients as well as glycerin and shea butter, which are all known for their hydrating and moisturizing properties.

While it’s moisturizing the skin, this dermatologically tested cream is simultaneously improving elasticity, lifting, firming, and brightening it, thanks to the brand’s special Hexyl-R Complex Technology. The product is not only designed for the face but also the neck and chest areas that tend to lose their elasticity quicker as they are often neglected in skincare and easily burn in the sun.

The cream is non-greasy, absorbs wonderfully into the skin, and won’t clog the pores. Another one of its perks is that it has broad spectrum SPF 30 so you don’t need to buy an extra facial sunscreen. The cream boasts being able to visibly lift and firm the skin, even out the tone, and reduce wrinkles in just four weeks of regular use. While it’s subtle, this option is not fragrance free.

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Hexyl-R Complex, vitamin E, shea butter | Size: 1.7 ounces

Best With SPF

No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

$23 at Amazon $23 at Target $23 at Walmart

Saving you the sunscreen step in your skincare routine (and a few extra dollars), No7’s Lift & Luminate Triple Action Day Cream is also a broad spectrum SPF 30 protector for both UVA and UVB rays, and it doesn’t leave a white cast. It absorbs into the skin effortlessly, has a medium-light consistency that goes on smoothly, and leaves a slightly dewy (but non-greasy) pearl-like glow. 

This cream is packed with potent ingredients designed to target fine lines, loss of elasticity, and even out skin tone. Emblica (a fruit extract that protects against free radicals) and vitamin C help to brighten the skin, but the star of the show is the Matrixyl 300 Plus, a peptide that stimulates collagen production and smoothes out those fine lines. It also has hibiscus that helps skin feel youthful and bouncy.

This cream offers long-lasting hydration so you won’t feel your face tightening throughout the day. It’s dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic, so even people with sensitive skin can use it. This option might be priced slightly higher than some others on our list, but it feels like a luxury product at a drugstore price.

Formulation: Cream | Key Ingredients: Retinyl palmitate, hyaluronic acid, hibiscus, vitamin C, shea butter | Size: 1.69 ounces