Moisturizers

Amalgamating the best Moisturizers so you don't have to!

You guys. We’ve nearly made it. With 15 days left of 2020 and 9 days left until Christmas and 0 days left until Hanukkah, I feel incredibly grateful to be closing out the hardest 365 days most people can remember with a roof over my head, a job and my post-Covid health. I also feel incredibly grateful to have created this newsletter to keep me busy (and you entertained, I hope) these last 6 months, particularly on the really long days when boredom started creeping in and was quickly banished by never-ending data collection and list creation. Though to be honest, I have been collecting data and creating lists since I was a teen keeping track of the Z100 Top 100 Songs of the year, so really not much has changed in two decades. I’m mostly just good at filling downtime with the mindless exploration and enumeration of sometimes useful information.

Today, we close out the year by turning to my very favorite skincare topic of all time:

*inhales* MOISTURIZERS *exhales*

Now, despite my penchant for hydrating serums, my love for undereye creams and my lifelong devotion to chapstick, when it comes to picking the be-all-end-all skincare product out there, it would be moisturizer. I’m obviously not the only person who feels this way; this category was without compare the most overwhelming one I’ve tackled (and probably will tackle). With 40 “best of” lists and 277 products across those 40 lists, the volume of moisturizing options on the market today is truly insane. That being said, I admittedly cast a wide net here - I didn’t focus on any specific type of moisturizer (for example, anti-aging, pore minimizing, etc.) but rather did a sweep of all available options. However, I did not include any moisturizing serums, balms, etc. - I kept it straightforward with only creams/gels/lotions so the category didn’t become too out of control.

So why now? Why moisturize? It kind of goes without saying that skin is drier in the winter and moister (ew) in the summer, which is part of the reason why I didn’t choose this subject matter for mid-August. There are several different (mostly obvious) reasons why skin tends to dry out more in the winter, including: (a) lower humidity in the air, (b) longer, hotter showers, (c) inconsistent/underuse of moisturizers, and (d) dry heat in homes. To combat these factors, you should (a) use a humidifier, (b) take shorter, cooler showers (yeah right), and (c) consistently use moisturizers twice a day.

Winter conditions aside, though, dry skin is often not really in your control no matter how good your product regimen is; genetics unfortunately (or for a blessed few like Caren Behar, fortunately) play a large part in determining how scaly and patchy your face can be.

Similar to many of the other product categories we’ve covered so far, moisturizer ingredients matter. When on the hunt for the right moisturizer, you should keep your eyes out for the following important components:

• Humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which attract and retain water in the skin

• Emollients, such as natural oils, fatty acids, and ceramides, which soften and smooth the skin’s surface

• Occlusives, such as petroaltum, dimethicone, and silicones, which create a barrier on the skin’s surface to seal in moisture

If you have sensitive skin like moi, you should avoid AHAs and BHAs, alcohol, fragrances and sulfates.

It’s hard for me to overemphasize how much of a difference the consistent AM and PM application of moisturizer has made for my iguana complexion. It’s also hard for me to overemphasize the importance of selecting the right products for your skin’s needs, much of which occurs through trial and error. I have used manyyy of the Top 10 products and will of course be candid about my thoughts on each one. At the end of the day, though, I think moisturizers are the most individual-specific products on the market, so you do you boo boo!

I also think there are a lot of moisturizers out there that, well, don’t really do anything. They aren’t bad for your skin per say, but they also have no measurable positive impact either. My personal example here is the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which I used for years and years before I knew anything about skincare. It didn’t do any harm, but did it help? I literally don’t think it did a damn thing.

I’m so thrilled I saved this list to cap off the year. It was so fun to research, so fun to write, and I cannot wait for Mike Williams to gift me all 10 products below in 9 days time. Let’s do it!

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The Top 10 moisturizers, based on the 40 lists (our largest data set so far!) and 277 products I reviewed, are:

1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel - $15 - Neutrogena, the skincare brand none of us knew we really needed until 2020. And by none of us I mostly mean me, but the stalwart does it again with another gold-medal product, this time in the form of their age-old Hydro Boost Water Gel (and Water Gel Cream, a slightly richer version of the same product). With a mind-boggling, incomparable 22 mentions across the 40 lists, this affordable, gel-textured moisturizer took top billing for the following reasons: (i) it hydrates with humectants and emollients, (ii) absorbs immediately upon application, (iii) softens and nourishes skin, (iv) doesn’t clog pores or cause breakouts, (v) has a non-greasy, cooling finish, (vi) is a best drugstore pick, (vii) is oil-free and lightweight, and (viii) boasts over 5,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. If you want to get a super-sized version, they also sell it at Costco, which, like, what more could you ask for?

2. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer - $60 - Another FOML superstar brand, Drunk Elephant rounds out the year with their top moisturizer, receiving a commendable 13 mentions across the 40 lists. This clean beauty option has a thick, fluffy texture, is fragrance-free (and therefore great for sensitive skin), hydrates with plant oils and vegetable-based fatty acids and adds glow day and night. It also is free of essential oils, drying alcohols, and silicones, which you love to see. Full disclosure - this is one of the DE products that I have found incredibly overrated (sorry!), but if it’s your jam drop a comment below and let us all know!

3. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration - $34 - The first AC fave to grace this list, FAB’s moisturizer is my travel/plane staple. Also making 13 appearances across the 40 lists, this super-thick lotion comes in various sizes, and the 2 oz. tube is my go-to for bone-dry plane air. Fragrance-free and completely clean, it’s awesome for sensitive skin and provides immediate relief for those tight, itchy moments we all hate. Its powerhouse ingredients include colloidal oatmeal (to soothe) and shea butter (to hydrate), and it will come as no surprise that it is one of Sephora’s best-selling face creams.

4. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream - $16 - The second AC fave in the Top 10, I cannot speak highly enough about this miraculous tub of luscious goodness. Originally recommended to me by flawless skin goddess Lua O’Brien, I turn to this cream anytime I just can’t even with my normal 10-step routine (aka last night, and many nights over the course of the past 9 months). At $16, you get a shitload of product for your money, and an incredibly effective product at that, packed with hydrating niacinamides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. Gentle enough for sensitive skin (+ fragrance-free!) and thick enough to be soothing on even the driest days, it took home several “best overall” titles on the 12 lists on which it appeared. Derms love it, I love it, and so will you. I promise.

5. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream - $22 - Truth be told, this is the product on this list that I know the least about but am the most impressed by given its glowing (pun intended) reviews across the entire internet. Appearing 12 times across the 40 lists, it seems to be the go-to pick for people with more mature skin looking for long-lasting, deep hydration (thanks to hyaluronic acid and niacinamides). An Amazon best-seller and winner of two “best overall” titles, it is known for being reliable and effective when it comes to anti-aging, helping to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles over time. It doesn’t hurt that it’s fragrance-free and has an option with SPF too!

6. Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream - $32 - The third AC fave on the podium, this K-Beauty legend is one of the few products in my routine I use every single day (I think I’m on my 3rd tube at this point?). With 11 mentions across the 40 lists, it’s affordable, intensely hydrating for dry and very dry skin, helps to heal in addition to providing surface hydration, calms inflammation and strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier. Its high concentration of ceramides makes it a great daily pick, and I use it in the morning on top of my serums and under my makeup (but like what even is makeup right now?).

7. La Mer Creme De La Mer - $190 - This is going to be my most controversial opinion of the day/year, but I just don’t think La Mer is that great. I’ve tried it again and again and it just has never done much to change/improve/hydrate my skin. That being said, I know tons of people who are ride or die for it (including my “friends” JLo, Selena Gomez, Chrissy Teigen and Nicole Kidman), so I know it must be effective. The most expensive item on the list (by a significant margin), the cream is known for its luxurious texture, anti-aging properties, ability to shrink pores and restore radiance and soothe dry and very dry skin. It got 11 shout outs and is definitely a cult classic, so if you’re looking to splurge this is a safe bet!

8. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream - $32 - Like Neutrogena, Kiehl’s has really cleaned up on the FOML lists these past 6 months. Their original facial cream is a perennial best-seller and got 10 shout-outs across the 40 lists. A straightforward moisturizer, this pot-de-creme, if you will, softens, provides 24-hour hydration, strengthens and restores the skin’s moisture barrier, prevents water loss, smooths and comes in an SPF option if you like combining your products. Can’t really go wrong with such a classic.

9. La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer - $20 - Lemme tell you, La Roche Posay showed UP in the moisturizer category. They had six different creams that graced the 40 lists, but the most popular by far was this Double Repair Moisturizer, which got mentioned on 10 of the rosters. An Amazon best-seller, this fragrance-free, sensitive skin pick does WERK…it hydrates with ceramides, soothes with niacinamide, minimizes redness, restores and repairs skin with lipids and comes in an SPF option too. For $20 you can’t do much better - this is one of the two products I’ve ordered to try out in 2021!

10. Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream - $68 - This is one of those products I have had in my cart forever but have yet to pull the trigger on since I am already inundated by great moisturizing options at home. Together with the La Roche Posay pick, though, this is going to be my end-of-the-year treat to myself given how fantastic the 10 reviews I read were! Best for dry skin, this moisturizer has some bad ass, innovative ingredients like purple rice (for hydration) and red algae (for skin barrier support). It adds a dewy glow upon application, repairs skin from stress and pollution and helps to slow the aging process thanks to high antioxidant levels. Can’t wait for it to arrive!

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Now, I am the first to admit that this Top 10 list is hot fire flames. HOWEVER. There are 2 products that just missed the cut with 8 mentions each that I have to shout out since they are just so damn good (and since I use both on a regular basis).

First, Weleda’s Skin Food ($19). A true bargain at $19, this thicc AF cream is a winter lifesaver. When I say thicc I mean thicc…even for me, this rich textured option is verging on too much (but is actually just enough). A cult favorite for years and years, it provides intense hydration and shine with an almost medicinal quality about it. Given how tacky and greasy it leaves your face I only use this guy at night, but when I do I always wake up with soft, happy skin.

And of course, the moisturizer to end all moisturizers, Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream ($185). I know I have a tendency to exaggerate, and I know I have a lot of “favorites” and call a lot of things “the best,” but this product has changed my skin more than any other product out there. It’s a crazy splurge, but worth every penny - it is formulated from the same amino acid compounds that are used in burn relief gel, and it makes my skin look better and brighter than any other moisturizer or serum I’ve ever tried. Derms, beauty editors, celebrities and models alike all swear by it, and despite being none of the above, so do I. If you want to get someone you love a really really nice gift this year, I can’t recommend this highly enough.

And for the last time this year, a comment moment!

A sharing moment!

And a subscription moment!

Happy holidays, happy 2021 (BLESS) and THANK YOU for playing along with FOML these past 6 months. Here’s to hoping the next 12 are a small fraction as stressful and horrendous as the previous 12. Stay healthy, stay hydrated and see you in January!

All my love,
ALC

The following lists were amalgamated to create this Fruits Of My Labor collection:

• vogue.com - The 23 Best Face Moisturizers For All Skin Types in 2020

• byrdie.com - 23 Facial Moisturizers for Hydrated, Healthy Skin All Year Long

• allure.com - The 23 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin All Year Round

• cnn.com - The Best Face Moisturizers, According to Dermatologists

• thecut.com - The Absolute Best Moisturizers for Dry Faces

• glamour.com - The Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, According to Glamour Editors

• harpersbazaar.com - The 20 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin

• townandcountrymag.com - The 22 Best Creams and Moisturizers for Dry Skin

• marieclaire.com - The 15 Best Moisturizers MC Beauty Editors Swear By

• nymag.com - The Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, According to Dermatologists

• goodhousekeeping.com - 15 Best Face Moisturizers for Every Type of Skin

• healthline.com - The Best Face Moisturizers

• cosmopolitan.com - 15 Best Moisturizers for Every Skin Type

• instyle.com - The 15 Best Face Moisturizers for Various Skin Types, According to a Dermatologist and a Cosmetic Scientist

• prevention.com - 16 Best Face Moisturizers for Dry Skin in 2020, According to Dermatologists

• self.com - The Best Face Moisturizers for Every Skin Type, According to Dermatologists

• oprahmag.com - 15 Drugstore Face Moisturizers Dermatologists Swear By

• elle.com - 15 Face Moisturizers Elle Editors Won't Shut Up About

• buzzfeed.com - 38 Moisturizers That'll Help Your Skin Survive The Winter

• seventeen.com - 18 Facial Moisturizers for Dry Skin That You Can't Live Without

• businessinsider.com - The Best Face Moisturizers for Every Skin Type

• teenvogue.com - The 16 Best Face Moisturizers to Lock in Moisture for Dry Skin

• womenshealthmag.com - 20 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, According to a Dermatologist

• popsugar.com - The Hands-Down Best Face Moisturizers of All Time, No Matter Your Skin Type

• amazon.com - Best Sellers in Face Moisturizers

• forbes.com - Best Moisturizers for Every Skin Type

• refinery29.com - 13 Editor-Approved Moisturizers To Quench Thirsty Skin

• jetsetter.com - The 15 Best Face Moisturizers to Save Your Dry Skin This Winter

• southernliving.com - The 5 Face Moisturizers You Need To Try in 2020

• thezoereport.com - The Best Moisturizers For Winter, According To The Zoe Report Editors

• health.com - The 9 Best Face Moisturizers for Every Skin Type, According to Experts

• whowhatwear.com - The 20 Best Moisturizers Guaranteed to Make Your Face Look Expensive

• ipsy.com - The Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, Ever

• mydomaine.com - 11 Moisturizers That Offer A Little Something for Every Skin Type

• realsimple.com - I’ve Tried Over 100 Face Creams—These Are the 7 Best for Dry Winter Skin

• chicagotribune.com - The Best Face Moisturizer

• etonline.com - 25 Best Face Moisturizers From Drunk Elephant, La Mer, Chanel, Glossier, Obagi and More

• shape.com - The Absolute Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, According to Dermatologists

• rankandstyle.com - 10 Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

• nylon.com - 11 Winter Moisturizers That Will Save Your Dry, Dull Skin

Author’s Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.