These moisturizers hydrate your skin without further irritating it. If your face is irritated, you should never use products that will make it look and feel worse. However, if you have sensitive skin, this guessing game can become an ongoing problem.
What you really need is the perfect moisturizer for sensitive skin (more on that later). "Sensitive skin is not necessarily a clinical diagnosis from a dermatologist, but rather skin that is more likely to react than average," says Michael Kassardjian, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles.
This is due to a weaker skin barrier, which means irritants (such as those caused by certain ingredients or cold weather) can penetrate the skin more easily. result? Redness, itching, or stinging.
"Many people may occasionally be alluded to a product, but ongoing sensitivity to a product and persistent symptoms such as redness, irritation, or itching may indicate an underlying condition," says Kassardjian, such as: B. Eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea.
Even sensitive skin is often dry. "A thin or damaged skin barrier allows moisture to escape more easily, causes more dryness and makes the condition worse," explains Kasadejian.
"Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for the skin barrier to thin as we age, so some products that once worked well may later become increasingly irritating and incompatible." (Check out our best. Favorite moisturizer for dry skin.)
To help you find the best moisturizer for sensitive skin, we've rounded up the only moisturizers for sensitive skin, based on dermatologists and reviews, that you can incorporate into your daily routine. Check out our top picks below:
1.Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream: Kassardjian says Vanicream is a great choice for very sensitive skin because it's so gentle. Take it for granted because it's free of common irritants like dyes, fragrances, parabens, lanolin, and formaldehyde.
Still, "it contains ceramides, which help moisturize and moisturize the skin," he adds, and it even gets a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association.
It has tens of thousands of positive reviews on Amazon, and testers say it's a winner, too. "I have very sensitive skin and can't tolerate a lot of lotions/creams, but this one is so comfortable and non-greasy," one reviewer explained.
2. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dual Repair Facial Moisturizer: "This product contains thermal spring water, which helps soothe inflamed skin and promote a healthy skin microbiome," says Dr. Illustrator.
It also contains glycerin (for hydration), ceramides (for reducing irritation), and niacinamide (a B vitamin that fights discoloration and redness). This light cream is also allergy tested, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.
Not to mention, it’s highly rated on Amazon, with over 18,000 5-star reviews. Emily Goldman, editor-in-chief of Prevention magazine, swears by this moisturizer for her sensitive skin. "This lotion is very lightweight, suitable for use under makeup, and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. I love it!"
3. Avène Xeracalm A.D Lipid Cream: This non-greasy moisturizer from Avène fights dryness, itchiness, redness and irritation, making it a good choice for sensitive skin types. "Generally speaking, this brand has a variety of moisturizers that are very low in ingredients, fragrance-free, mild, and non-comedogenic," says Dr. Kasarjian.
"This stuff is amazing!" shared one happy Amazon customer. "If you have any dry skin or eczema issues, this is the only lotion you need. After three days of use, my skin was completely clear. I've never been as impressed with any product like this one. It's expensive, but it works So good. I absolutely love this lotion!”
4. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion: All CeraVe products are developed with ceramides, natural lipids (also known as fats) that hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. If you're new to the line, this nighttime moisturizer is a great place to start, as it also contains skin-pumping hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to soothe inflammation included.
Plus, it's non-comedogenic, oil- and fragrance-free, and overall very gentle if you have sensitivity issues. Shannen Zitz, Assistant Editor for Prevention, loves this lotion. "This moisturizer has been a staple in my skincare routine for years because it's lightweight, hydrating, and affordable.
Whether I'm battling acne, dry patches, or skin irritations, this moisturizer is always my go-to It helps me. "It was even my holy grail product when I was taking Accutane, which made my skin extremely dry, sensitive, and reactive," she says.
5. Eucerin Skin Soothing Cream: If you have sensitive skin that tends to itch, this is the product for you. Eucerin Skin Soothing Cream contains colloidal oatmeal, a premium ingredient often used to soothe eczema. PhD. Lortscher also likes this rich moisturizer because it's free of common irritants like fragrances and dyes. It works best at night or when you suffer from skin conditionsor severe dryness. Otherwise, it may feel a bit heavy when used on your face every day. Reviewers are also enthusiastic about the product. "I bought this product because I had an ongoing dry, flaky rash on my face. I read reviews about how it helped soothe irritated skin. It really worked. Within a few days, my skin calmed down and the rash was gone .I would use this if your skin is irritated and highly recommend it for short term use," said one satisfied Amazon customer.
6. Cetaphil Moisturizing Night Cream If you suffer from dryness in addition to sensitivity, this non-comedogenic, fragrance-free night cream from Cetaphil is perfect for you. PhD. Lortscher recommends this product because, in addition to increase to hyaluronic acid, it contains soothing olive extract to skin's natural moisture. It's rich enough to keep your face soft without feeling greasy. "I have been looking for a moisturizing, non-greasy, fragrance-free and lightweight cream for my face (sensitive skin). I found this Cetaphil lotion. It has changed my life! I have been using it for a few years now. My facial skin accepted it very well and I no longer have any blemishes. Perfect! Thank you Cetaphil,” said one Amazon reviewer who gave the product 5 stars.
7. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream This highly-rated moisturizer has thousands of near-perfect reviews on Amazon, and for good reason: It's affordable, cruelty-free, and it works. "This product contains hyaluronic acid, which has an incredible ability to retain moisture and moisturize the skin," says Dr. Kasarjian. "It's mild, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and applies smoothly. It also absorbs quickly and locks in moisture." (Check out our full Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream review.) "If you have dry or sensitive skin, this is the product for you! I've used many products and have never found one like this. This leaves your face feeling rejuvenated , hydrated and not greasy. Highly recommended! ” said a verified Amazon customer.
8. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream This gentle moisturizer works great on dry patches and is even enough to reduce flaky skin associated with eczema and psoriasis. Enriched with soothing and hydrating ingredients like oat extract, ceramides, shea butter, squalane, and feverfew (a medicinal plant), feel free to apply this rich cream all over your body to soothe irritated skin. Pros: It never feels greasy and contains 6 ounces of product. "This stuff is amazing. I have eczema around my eyes and cheeks and another cream made it worse. I'm embarrassed to be doing this on Zoom so I'm hoping to find something to clear up the problem quickly (Or at least relieves redness). That's it. The tub seems to last forever and the smell is very light and pleasant. Highly recommended!” said one Amazon reviewer.
9. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizing SPF 15 This popular Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer has a sheer, lightweight formula so it doesn't feel heavy on skin. "This is the only facial moisturizer my skin loves to use and it has nothing to do with the brand name," writes one Amazon reviewer. "This is the only major brand I could find that doesn't contain cetyl alcohol, the bane of my existence." The glycerin is hydrating, while SPF 15 provides extra sun protection.
10. COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer This unscented, powerful moisturizer is a cult favorite because it contains powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid. With over 2,000 reviews and nearly five stars on Amazon, this moisturizer is a fan favorite among shoppers. "Speaking of sensitive skin: this cream is an absolute dream. It's gentle, soothing, and won't cause irritation or redness," writes one happy Amazon shopper.
11. Olay Defense All Day Moisturizer SPF 30 This beautifully lightweight, oil-free and fragrance-free Olay moisturizer moisturizes, nourishes and protects skin with soothing aloe, hydrating glycerin, skin-soothing niacinamide and SPF 30. It also makes dull skin look nourished without leaving a sticky, greasy film. "I've been using this for about 20 years. It's a great sunscreen that doesn't smell and doesn't bother sensitive my redhead skin. "It's the only one I've found that doesn't burn my face Sunscreen,” one Amazon reviewer shared.
12. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Recovery 242 "This moisturizer contains natural fats that help repair the skin's outer layer," says Dr. Illustrator. The formula also contains vitamin E, essential oils, ceramides and glycerin to boost moisture and smooth skin texture, making it a great choice for aging skin. And prevent harmful free radicals from further damaging the skin.
13. Dermalogica Calming Hydrogel Moisturizer This moisturizer deserves Kauvar's recommendation. She loves that it's rich in hyaluronic acid, fragrance- and paraben-free, and contains soothing cactus extract. The gel texture is also absorbed directly into the skin. Ultra-soothing and nourishing night cream
14. Aveeno Ultra Soothing Nourishing Night Cream Aveeno's oil-free and frag