Finding the best pharmacy moisturizer should take a little entertainment time, and that’s the doctor’s order. “It’s a product category that can be experimented with, because you’re likely to find a great fit without overspending,” said Shannon Humphrey, Ph.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Vancouver, British Columbia. And don’t be surprised if you encounter Humphrey or one of her peers while browsing the pharmacy shelves.
FashionFavorite pharmacy moisturizer
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Bubble Skin Care Grand Slam Dunk Hydrating Facial Moisturizing Cream
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Cerave Ultra Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
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Outlet Regeneration Micro Statue Cream
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Insider tip: “Dermatologists often turn to pharmacy moisturizers because of their simple formula and cost-effectiveness,” said Dr. Rayva Khanna, a dermatology resident at Georgetown University Medical Center. “In many cases, these affordable options outperform luxury face creams with a simpler, more effective ingredient list.”
While it’s hard to go wrong in this category, it’s easier to go right if you accept professional advice. Below, find expert editors for the best (and most cost-effective moisturizer) for a variety of skin types, including sensitive and mature skin. Soft, hydrated skin has never been easier to obtain.
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Best for normal skin: Bubble skin care
- Why we like it: Vegan, cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested, Bubble’s moisturizing moisturizer has vitamin E that nourishes skin cells, avocado oil to tame redness and essential fatty acids to soak in moisture in the skin. Lightweight salty water will also help those skin tones that are prone to radiating (if not, perhaps mentally): it contains a superfood protein compound that is said to protect the skin from blue light damage. Coincidentally, this also attracts the generation that is most likely to tend to do Tiktok Deep-Diep before bedtime. “This line has a wide range of appeal to teenagers,” Dr. Humphrey noted.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, avocado oil, aloe vera leaf juice
- Best for: Blue skin is normal, blue light protection
- size: 1.7 fl oz
Best for SPF: Cerave Ultra Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
- Why we like it: Another dermatologist designed moisturizer stuffed onto the drugstore shelves, Cerave’s lightweight moisturizer hydrate and provides broad spectrum of UV protection. The SPF-30 lotion has three skin-sensitized ceramides that support the skin barrier. It is also made with hyaluronic acid to enhance moisturizing. “This moisturizer is perfect for oily skin,” said Dr. May Hall, a double-plate certified dermatologist in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. “It absorbs beautiful skin and has the added benefit of SPF 30, making it an excellent moisture for daily moisturizers.” Dr. Khanna adds that ceramide is a key element to look for in over-the-counter moisturizers. “Ceramide forms a large part of the skin’s natural lipid barrier,” she explained. Therefore, “using moisturizers of ceramide helps restore and enhance skin disorders.”
- Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ocefolic acid 5%, Ocereal crystal 2.7%, Ceramide, Hyaluronic acid
- Best for: Normal to oily skin type, sun protection
- size: 1.7 fl oz
Best for mature skin: Outlet Regeneration Micro Statue Cream
- Why we like it: Olay’s Lifting Cream is infused with amino peptides to firm and smooth the skin, nicotinamide to nourish the skin barrier and has a hyaluronic acid touch that provides an additional dose of rejuvenating moisture. “This is a great pharmacy option for those who want to fight aging without investing in high-end active ingredients,” said Dr. Humphrey. “The formula combines a variety of hydrated and skin-renewing ingredients, making it a powerful choice for those looking for a multi-active daily cream.” Dr. Khanna, also a fan of moisturizers, said, “This has a great, fragrance-free and soft formula, including niacinamide.
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, aminopeptide
- Best for: Lifting weights, lifting, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, all skin types
- size: 1.7 oz
Best for oily skin: Medium-derived hydrogen saline hydrogel
- Why we like it: Neutrogena’s cream gel is oil-free and non-Confucian, with little risk of worsening acne. It is also allergic testing and approved by a dermatologist. “When injected with glycerin and hyaluronic acid, it’s a lightweight, acne-friendly moisturizing gel,” Michelle Ventresca, beautician, acne expert, acne expert, founder of Live By By Skin in Woburn, Massachusetts. “It’s ideal for moisturizing, softening skin without clogging pores.” A quick-absorbing product can also create a seamless makeup foundation, making it easy to layer it into daily work. Dr. Hall is also under the formula. “This is my first choice for my acne-prone skin,” she said. “It’s very lightweight, but still very nutritious.”
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Best for: Normal to oily skin type
- size: 1.7 oz
Best for night time: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dual Repair Facial Moisturizer
- Why we like it: Typically suitable for all skin types, especially those prone to dryness, this French pharmacy classic is an integral part of Keke Palmer’s skin care routine. It is said to moisturize the skin for up to 48 hours, so celebrity-approved moisturizers blend with a variety of ingredients that soothe the skin and strengthen its obstacles, including nicotinamide, Ceramide-3 and the brand’s signature hot water. “It’s a great choice for nighttime use, especially for those with dryer skin or fractured skin barriers,” Dr. Hall said. “It’s formulated with prebiotic hot water to promote a healthy skin barrier.” Dr. Khanna added, “Ceramide and nicotinamide both moisturize and strengthen the skin. Niacinamide also helps calm down, calming the inflammation, making it a perfect addition to the nighttime, post-retatin post-skin care routine.”
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Ceramide-3, Hot Water
- Best for: All skin types, skin repair, post-application of Readingol
- size: 1.7 oz
Best for sensitive skin: VANICREAM Daily Facial Moisturizer
- Why we like it: Vanicream is part of Sofia Richie Grainge’s “Simple and Clean Skin Care,” she told Fashionis “the only thing that is reserved [her sensitive skin] A little tame. Dr. Hall notes that gluten-free and non-disease-free, the brand’s ultra-diet daily moisturizer is accepted by the National Eczema Association. She is not the only dermatologist to quickly recommend the formula.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramide, hyaluronic acid, tomato, glycerine
- Best for: All skin types, sensitive skin
- size: 3 oz
Best for irritating skin: aveeno Calm + Reduce Oatmeal Gel Moisturizer
- Why we like it: “This is my favorite pharmacy draft pick,” Ventresca said. “It’s lightweight, non-filmed and formulated with emollients of olive oil and fatty acids, helping to lock in hydration and keep skin soft.” The mild cream is made with prebiotic oats to soothe irritation and support the skin barrier, and also contains Feverfew extract, rich in antioxidants, which reduces redness and further sedation irritation. “This gel cream is lighter than Aveeno’s original formula, but still provides meaningful hydration,” added Dr. Humphrey. “With the help of oat extract, it is perfect for dry, sensitive skin (including those prone to eczema), providing for soothing benefits at a fair price.”
- Key Ingredients: Prebiotic oats, fever
- Best for: Soothe skin, all skin types
- size: 1.7 oz
Everything you need to know
Are pharmacy moisturizers as good as their more expensive counterparts?
According to Dr. Humphrey, pharmacy moisturizers are often as effective as moisturizers from high-end retailers. “When it comes to moisturizers, the price is not necessarily equal,” she said. “Luxury brands may offer more delicate textures or packaging, but pharmacy products often offer comparable hydration and obstacles.”
What to look for in a pharmacy moisturizer
“The ingredients are important when considering which moisturizer is,” Dr. Hall said. “For example, if your skin is dry, you may want to choose a heavier moisturizer that contains ceramide, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid that can help suck water into the skin.” For those with more greasy or acne-prone skin, she recommends choosing a non-film-based, lightweight moisturizer with ingredients such as salicylic acid that can help hydrophobic.
Dr. Humphrey said personal preferences should also play a role in product selection. For example, “Do you like gel or cream, bathtub or pump?” she asked. There are a variety of textures and types of packaging available for drugstore moisturizers, and there is plenty of room to find the right option for you.
- Dr. Do May Hall is a double-plate certified dermatologist in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
- Shannon Humphrey, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder and medical director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Humphrey & Beleznay, Vancouver.
- Dr. Rayva Khanna, MD, is a dermatology resident at Georgetown University Medical Center.
- Michelle Ventresca is a beautician, acne expert and founder of Skin Live By Skin in Woburn, Massachusetts.
