$45 and under
Aveeno Positively Radiant Clear Complexion was the closest runner-up to our Cetaphil pick: The Aveeno moisturizer also pairs 0.5% salicylic acid with soothing ingredients that minimize redness, but testers disliked its floral scent. We also found that it pilled under foundation, as did the Avène Cleanance Mattifying Aqua-Gel.
Bubble Skincare Slam Dunk has cute packaging and a clean pump, but testers disliked its texture and insufficient absorption. Byoma’s Moisturising Gel Cream had a refreshing cooling effect, but ultimately it didn’t seem to hydrate enough. Similarly, the CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel left skin feeling taut, and one tester reported a faulty pump dispenser.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration left a slightly greasy sheen, and the texture seemed better suited for the body than the face. The Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream had an unpleasant slimy feel and a sticky finish. And Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer exuded old-school charm but took too long to dry down.
For some panelists, the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream was a revelation: They loved its texture, spreadability, and stylish gray tube. But one tester said it made her face look too shiny and greasy.
Under $75
We loved Clinique Moisture Surge’s mild scent and the way it absorbed, but it made our skin feel tight. Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer has a luscious weight, but overall it felt too similar to more-affordable options.
EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer balled up and pilled on our testers’ peach fuzz.
The PCA Skin ReBalance Daily Moisturizer, Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream, Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow, and Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream all garnered mixed reviews from panelists: Each product massages in quickly and delivers moisture, but none of them struck us as remarkably special in any way.
Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream earned high marks for its whipped texture and juicy formula, but panelists ultimately found it a little too watery.
$75 and up
Luxury-skin-care products are expensive, so we held the contenders in this category to the highest standards. In its pot, Clé de Peau’s Beauté La Crème looks like an identical twin to Kerrygold butter, and it swipes onto skin in a whisper-thin layer. It didn’t have much staying power, though, and the chunky gemstone container was a little too extra.
Though testers praised the lightly whipped texture of Estée Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Brilliance Soft Creme Moisturizer, the excessively floral fragrance was a serious turnoff. Lancôme Rénergie had a fresher, zestier scent, but the thick cream appeared almost curdled.
We considered the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore and liked its infusion of mellow moisture. But for the steep price (around $160 for 1.6 ounces), it wasn’t leaps and bounds better than our super-affordable pick from CeraVe. The Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream felt modern and had a buttery smoothness, but it also had a polarizing jolie laide botanical scent. Although testers appreciated that the pot was refillable, they didn’t love that it was plastic instead of glass.
We also ruled out a number of other products from Belif, CeraVe, Chanel, Chantecaille, Charlotte Tilbury, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Elemis, Glossier, La Mer, La Prairie, La Roche-Posay, Lancôme, Paula’s Choice, Peter Thomas Roth, Phyla, Senté, SkinBetter Science, Skinfix, and Ursa Major. We chose not to send them to panel testing for a variety of reasons, including insufficient or unfavorable reviews and concerns related to value or formulation.
Patricia Tortolani contributed reporting. This article was edited by Jennifer G. Sullivan and Hannah Morrill.
