The Best Drugstore Moisturizers, According to Dermatologists


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Here’s a secret that the SPY team knows after interviewing hundreds of dermatologists: most doctors love brand-name drugstore grooming products best of all. The best drugstore moisturizers might also be the best moisturizers overall, which isn’t to suggest that the niche and luxury labels are subpar. The best of those brands will still excel with terrific active ingredients (often natural, at that, and in fresh small-batch blends), but the behemoth companies like Dove, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, and CeraVe are many doctors’ favorites for good reason.

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“The legacy brands are beloved by dermatologists for a few reasons,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carly Roman of Modern Dermatology in Seattle. “They are a known entity. There is value in having a brand that has existed for decades as far as feeling comfortable with the overall safety.” She added that these larger brands have decades of experience, innovation, and research behind them, not to mention the funds to support those innovations. “They can lead the skincare industry given their size,” said Roman. “It would be much harder for smaller brands to do as much research and development, though some prioritize this!”

Mass-made products are also inherently more affordable. If it’s not a priority to buy a natural-forward, non-synthetic recipe, then it’s easy to spend just $10-30 on a moisturizer as opposed to the nicher brands, where $30 represents the low end of options. Read on for more insight into what to consider when shopping for the best drugstore moisturizers, with insight from the pros.


What the Experts Say

It’s important to reiterate something: some of the best moisturizers for men are not drugstore options. This article isn’t suggesting that a drugstore is the only way to go. But for anyone who wants to pare down their routine and save some cash, and trusts the science behind mass-made synthetics, then there is a lot of good to be mined from the drugstore options.

SPY spoke with board-certified dermatologist and medical advisor for Dermstore Dr. Ashley Magovern about what to look for in a drugstore product. Dermstore is known for carrying the “best of the best” top-shelf brands like SkinCeuticals and Elemis as well as drugstore staples like CeraVe, First Aid Beauty, Weleda, and LaRoche Posay.

Magovern clarified that not all drugstore moisturizers are created equal, and there are a few key factors to look for when opting for a product from a large brand. “Drugstore moisturizers should be hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic,” said Dr. Magovern. “Hypoallergenic products work well for those with sensitive skin and do not contain unnecessary additives, like fragrances, that may irritate the skin. Similarly, non-comedogenic formulas are great for all skin types since these products don’t contain pore-clogging ingredients.” So, stick with unscented recipes, and unless skin is extremely dry (and not prone to acne), avoid anything that has heavier oil-based ingredients.

Then, stick to the other key principle of choosing a moisturizer: The product needs to align with the needs and variables of the skin. Someone with oily skin should buy a product that wears light and won’t feel occlusive. Someone with sensitive skin needs to double down on Dr. Magovern’s advice and prioritize gentle formulas.

Ideally, the product of choice will have a couple of active ingredients that target the skin’s needs like hyaluronic acid for hydration, ceramides for firmness, or salicylic acid for oil control, but with drugstore options, there is greater emphasis on core functions as opposed to nuanced multitasking.

Still, keep expectations high. The best drugstore moisturizers below prove that these low-cost picks are overachievers, especially when it comes to moisturizers that contain SPF, something Magovern recommends everyone incorporate into their routine.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

BEST OVERALL

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

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Does any moisturizer check as many boxes as this one? CeraVe’s oil-free hydrator wears light on all skin types, plus it delivers SPF30 to the skin for that necessary daily sun defense.

Not only is it a favorite of mine, but Dr. Magovern echoes the sentiment: “This is a great, and affordable moisturizer. I love that the formulation not only has sun protection but also includes ceramides to repair the skin barrier, as well as hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide,” she added.

I could write pages on CeraVe’s terrific formulas, but here is the abridged version for this moisturizer: It blends in easily, doesn’t suffocate my oily and acne-prone pores, and a little goes a long way. One bottle tends to last me a couple of months (and I’m the type to reapply moisturizer throughout the day). This is a terrific value.


Vanicream Daily Facial Moistuizer
Vanicream Daily Facial Moistuizer

FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN

Vanicream Daily Facial Moistuizer

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Dr. Roman loves Vanicream, calling it a “go-to for dermatologists” since the brand’s formulas exclude all the common allergens and irritants. “And this is a lightweight product that I love for my acne-prone patients,” she said of this product specifically.

Here’s why: “It is hydrating without being or feeling occlusive. It layers great with sunscreen and makeup. Plus, the very reasonable price point is also something to love.” And, similar to the CeraVe option, Vanicream’s also delivers barrier-fortifying ceramides and moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid.

And remember, not every product in a regimen has to counter key skincare woes. This moisturizer serves its purpose as a skin hydrator and does so without aggravating acne or spoking oil levels. Other products in the skincare regimen can take the lead on fighting acne, while this one goes about its business as a friendly, unassuming addition.


La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Zinc Oxide SPF 50
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Zinc Oxide SPF 50

BEST WITH SPF

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Zinc Oxide SPF 50

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Sometimes flipping the script pays off, like in this instance with La Roche-Posay’s SPF sunscreen which also happens to be a great moisturizer. By choosing a facial sunscreen with moisturizing properties, the product will likely do a better job protecting skin for longer. So, consider the LaRoche-Posay pick from Dr. Roman as a reassuring SPF layer over a non-SPF moisturizer, or as a go-to moisturizer for extremely sunny days.

“It is hard to find a drugstore mineral SPF that does not leave a heavy white cast, but this product succeeds,” she said. “It leaves you with a matte finish and even skin tone.” On top of that, it’s also water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, so it’s a great choice for anyone who likes to exercise in the sun for 30-40 minutes, and work up a sweat without reapplying.


Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Extra Dry Skin
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Extra Dry Skin

BEST FOR DRY SKIN

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for Extra Dry Skin

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Here’s a pick from me (the writer of this article, and resident grooming expert). While I’ve got hundreds of hydrators coming through my doorway each year, I inevitably have one of these gel creams in my arsenal (and likely purchased it myself as opposed to receiving it for work). It is chock full of hyaluronic acid to draw in and trap moisture.

This is the perfect “emergency buy” any time I travel and need a product to revive my skin post-flight or in changing environmental conditions. I also use it at home whenever the temperature drops, and it even helps hydrate cracked lips, split knuckles, and hangnails. If I wasn’t constantly getting sent products to test for free, this is likely one I would be using every single day.


Thayers Let's Be Clear Water Cream
Thayers Let's Be Clear Water Cream

BEST FOR OILY SKIN

Thayers Let's Be Clear Water Cream

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Here’s a recent favorite product of mine: Thayers built its name as an oil-tempering toner, and now is expanding into other skincare products. This moisturizer has the same oil-balancing properties of the brand’s hero product but achieves those means by summoning azelaic acid to help unclog pores.

It’s an ultra-light water-gel recipe and a favorite of mine after a post-gym shower (when I am most prone to excessive sweating and oil buildup). It doesn’t further suffocate my skin so I can cool down without the worry of moisture loss from my skin cells.


Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion
Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion

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This gentle, non-comedogenic formula is perfect for just about every skin type, given that it targets the most sensitive skin first. It’s also excellent for anyone who has a go-to facial SPF but needs a lightweight and oil-free moisturizing layer beneath the sun defense.

Cetaphil’s roster of moisturizers covers pretty much every skincare need (from AM to PM, too), but this is the one I find myself recommending most often to friends, family, and readers given its extremely universal application. That’s typically how it goes: The product geared towards sensitive skin is often the best for the rest of us.


La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

BEST NIGHTTIME REPAIR

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

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It’s no surprise that LaRoche-Posay takes two spots on this list: The top-tier drugstore label is beloved by dermatologists for its innovative, universal, and high-performance formulas.

This Toleriane night cream is Dr. Roman’s recommendation for your PM cream: “It is a richer product intended mostly for dry or sensitive skin,” she explained. “But it also works well with the more drying acne topicals we often prescribe for nighttime use.” She cited the brand’s use of soothing niacinamide, plus hydrating glycerin and squalene to calm and nourish the skin. Wear it to bed, and then wake up with calm, alert, and soft skin.



Frequently Asked Questions About Drugstore Moisturizers

What Are The Best Ingredients In Drugstore Moisturizer?

While there are many ingredients to look for in a moisturizer, Dr. Magovern loves SPF and ceramides as top options. It’s easy to find a daytime moisturizer with SPF 30+ (the minimum SPF level to use, she said), and many brands have formulas rich in ceramides, which help reinforce skin’s barrier functions: “Moisturizers with ceramides can be used day or night and are particularly impactful in the winter months when the dry, cold air draws out moisture from the skin. They moisturize and repair the barrier.”

What Is The Best Drugstore Moisturizer?

For its use of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and SPF 30, as well as its lightweight wear and low cost, CeraVe takes the top spot as the best drugstore moisturizer. SPY and Dr. Magovern both agree that CeraVe’s AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is top of its field here.

Do Drugstore Moisturizers Work?

Not only do drugstore moisturizers work great, but they are often the most beloved by dermatologists. These big-name brands have some serious muscle behind their research, innovation, and production. While they may err on the synthetic side, that’s not a bad thing, either: They’ve got science on their side, and the large-batch productions also keep prices lower than niche labels.

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