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Balanced Hydration from the Best Face Creams

  1. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Cream
  2. Tatcha Face Cream
  3. Chanel Hydra Beauty Creme Riche Face Cream
  4. Tree of Life Retinol Facial Moisturizer
  5. Chanel Hydra Beauty Face Creme
  6. Gratiae Organics Nourishing for men Face Cream
  7. Kate Somerville Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream
  8. La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream
  9. Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream
  10. Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream
  11. Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream
  12. Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 | PA++++ | 1.7 Fl Oz Moisturizer for Mattifying Facial Skin
  13. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Cream
  14. Ambre Glow Moisturizing Cream
  15. The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream
  16. Fresh Rose Hydrating Gel Cream
  17. Pevonia Mattifying Oily Skin Cream
  18. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream
  19. Aubrey Organics: Lumessence Lift Firming Renewal Cream
  20. Simple Skincare 24 Hour Nourishing Cream Moisturizer
  21. Oil of Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Firming Cream
  22. Alba Botanica Natural Even Advanced Daily Cream
  23. Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream Gel
  24. L'Oreal Skin Expertise Youth Code Day/Night Cream Moisturizer
  25. Buyer's Guide

Face creams are generally going to be on the high end of the hydration spectrum. They contain emollients that help skin retain moisture plus oily skin can use these creams to obtain the perfect balance while keeping oil production in check. Aging skin and other skin types will find the perfect blend of ingredients that work to soften, protect and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. Men can also find the perfect formula designed with a man’s specific needs in mind. You may find that you only need to use a face cream certain times of year, especially when skin is prone to dryness. For more information on what to look at in selecting the best face cream in 2022 regardless of what type skin you have, we have listed below the face creams available for you to help find what works best for you.

Compare The Best Face Creams Of 2022

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Cream - Best Face Cream Overall

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is simply the perfect “go-to” product for anyone with dry skin. The great thing about this product is you get a lot for a great price making it great for those of you using a moisturizer throughout the day, at night or in-between makeup changes. This non-irritating formula contains some of the richest hydrators your thirsty skin needs like Shea Butter and calming oatmeal-perfect for counteracting redness and fighting flakes. This cream is formulated without harsh chemicals, parabens, and dyes and is even recommended for individuals dealing with eczema.

Tatcha Face Cream - Most Effective

If you're scouring for the most effective option in the entire marketplace, then you should unquestionably take a quick look at the all-mighty Tatcha Face Cream. It's made out of several Japanese superfoods, including mild-green tea, pure rice, and algae. The cream is mainly suggested for individuals that want to have a smoother and richer skin texture. Thanks to its efficiency, you should only apply a pearl-sized amount to your skin. Remember, in order to start seeing results; you will need to use the create twice a day — preferably in the morning and night. All of the face creams are heavily tested by top-quality technicians, ensuring the best quality possible with every batch.

best Chanel Hydra Beauty Creme Riche Face Cream

Chanel Hydra Beauty Creme Riche Face Cream - Runner Up

Chanel specializes in revitalizing dry, aging skin types, providing a luxurious treat for your skin. Hydra Beauty Crème Riche absorbs quickly and hydrates with powerful herbs like Camellia and Blue Ginger to keep skin both soft and protected. This cream gives skin a silky texture while enhancing firmness resulting in tighter, smoother-looking skin. Hydra uses Polyfractioned Active, a patented ingredient used to actively restore the skins strength and suppleness, fade away fine lines and wrinkles while keeping it deeply hydrated.

Tree of Life Retinol Facial Moisturizer - Honorable Mention

This face cream from Tree of Life accomplishes several things at once. One, it can reduce the look of wrinkles that come from age. Two, you can diminish facial dark spots. And three, the hyaluronic acid leaves your skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and plump. Other ingredients, such as Aloe, Vitamin E, and green tea, add antioxidative and moisturizing effects. Rest assured, this formula is safe and recommended by dermatologists. Not to mention, we love the convenient pump.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Face Creme - Honorable Mention

Named after Celtic goddess Weleda –the goddess of healing and wisdom, this brand uses its own locally grown, plant-based ingredients in all of their products. The perfect product for any skin type, the jojoba seed oil and Marshmallow root-infused formula is light, refreshing, and perfect for a post workout shower. This cream hydrates skin, calms irritation, diminishes redness and protects from harsh environmental stressors. Use Weleda Natural Moisture Cream post-shave cream to keep razor burn at bay while leaving your face incredibly soft.

Gratiae Organics Nourishing for men Face Cream - Consider

Put your best face forward with Gratiae, a face cream for men which will revitalize skin and promote an overall firmer texture. This face cream fights against environmental stressors and dehydration with a balm-like consistency for quick absorption and effortless application with no greasy residue. This product contains certified organic ingredients such as Jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and oat extract to minimize irritation and allergic reactions to harsh synthetics like fragrance and fillers like mineral oil. Best of all, this cream has a mild, pleasing scent.

Kate Somerville Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream - Best Anti-Aging Face Cream

As you age the delicate areas around your eyes, lips, and neck may start showing the visible signs of deterioration first. These areas tend to lose elasticity the quickest because there is less fatty tissue to keep it looking plump and supple. Telomeres in our body work on the cellular level to keep our DNA protected, but as we age, skin gets damaged easily which leads to a sagging and unresponsive complexion. Enter Kate Somerville’s Age Arrest, which contains patented Telo-5 technology. The Telo-5 in this face cream uses sea Kelp and collagen-boosting peptides to moisturize, reduce sagging and boost elasticity giving skin firmness while fading blemishes and discolorations.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream - Best Anti-Aging Face Cream

La Prairie products are defiantly gaining momentum in the beauty world as Youtubers, bloggers and beauty gurus are spreading the word about how effective they are. Skin Caviar Luxe Cream won the Beauty Choice Award in the best of “New Beauty” category for its deeply nourishing, firming and dramatic improvement in skin tone and texture. This is a high-end luxury brand is definitely worth the investment if you want top-of-the-line quality and care for delicate, aging skin.

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream - Best Anti-Aging Face Cream

Kiehl’s is still considered one of the best “go-to” brands today because of its natural, safe and effective ingredients. This cream is so gentle it will work wonders on those of you prone to skin sensitivity, breakouts or allergic reactions to common beauty creams. This cream is without added parabins, harsh additives and fragrances but does contain natural jasmoinic plant acid to heal and repair your skin. It also contains beech tree extract for improved elasticity and hyaluronic acid to help prevent moisture loss.

Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream - Best Natural Face Cream

Try Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream by Eminence for a daily treatment ideal for all skin types. This 100% natural cream is handcrafted with incredible active berries, sprouts and other plants from the arctic including cloudberry seed, arctic roseroot and juniper sprouts. This potent formula offers nourishment and protection from environmental damage while improving skin’s elasticity. Additional active ingredients like yellow plum and plant-based stem cells hydrate and smooth wrinkles away while reducing skin inflammation.

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream - Best Natural Face Cream

Weleda works with trade partners to grow quality, organic ingredients for use in their pomegranate firming day cream. Organic pomegranate seed oil is the key ingredient in this unique facial cream formula which protects and hydrates skin along with a powerful blend of golden millet seed, argan and jojoba to keep skin firm and deeply nourished. You’ll notice a significant improvement in your skin’s elasticity in just under a month, the ideal product for individuals with visible signs of aging who want to enjoy the benefits of younger-looking skin.

Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 | PA++++ | 1.7 Fl Oz Moisturizer for Mattifying Facial Skin - Best Face Cream for Sensitive Skin

All Burt’s Bees products are 99 percent all-natural, making them ideal for sensitive skin types easily irritated by fragrance, heavy oils and other harsh chemicals. This unique face cream uses cotton extract and just like the way soft cotton fabric feels on your body, this face cream will have the same gentle soothing effect while hydrating and rejuvenating the skin.

Other active ingredients like sunflower seed oil contain plant-based fats, vitamin A and Beta-Carotene, making this a safe ingredient to combat and reverse visible signs of aging. This product is ideal for daily or nightly use and is very cost effective.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Cream - Best Face Cream Overall

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is simply the perfect “go-to” product for anyone with dry skin. The great thing about this product is you get a lot for a great price making it great for those of you using a moisturizer throughout the day, at night or in-between makeup changes. This non-irritating formula contains some of the richest hydrators your thirsty skin needs like Shea Butter and calming oatmeal-perfect for counteracting redness and fighting flakes. This cream is formulated without harsh chemicals, parabens, and dyes and is even recommended for individuals dealing with eczema.

Ambre Glow Moisturizing Cream

Ambre Glow Moisturizing Cream - Best Face Cream for Sensitive Skin

Let’s suppose your skin is so sensitive you even avoid makeup like mineral powders and bronzers because they contain talc, fillers and other cheap additives which can irritate sensitive skin. This face cream from Ambre is the perfect solution, since it’s handmade with 100% all-natural, vegan, organic quality ingredients like mica minerals (derived from fine particles like pearl, gold and diamond,) and olive-based antioxidants. It also contains Ambre Essence Oil-known for its euphoric scent and used for the mind in aromatherapy.

To say this product smells amazing in an understatement. You can use this luxurious skin cream like an all-in-one foundation, moisturizer and bronzer. It gives your skin tone a bright youthful radiance with a little hint of shimmer adding a sexy glow to skin of any age. This product is truly unique because it looks almost like you are wearing makeup, but what you are actually doing is keeping skin protected and hydrated all at the same time.

The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream - Best Face Cream for Oily Skin

This daily face cream from The Body Shop is one of the top rated, best-selling products the brand offers. The first thing you’ll notice and love about this cream is your oily skin will transform into fresh, shine-free skin instantly. The formula contains starch which gently absorbs oils without out clogging pores or causing irritation.

This cream also contains Glycerin which balances moisture levels within the skin and prevents bacteria from attacking the surface. Seaweed prevents skin from producing excessive oil and leaves skin feeling velvety smooth while maintaining balance. The consistency of this product is less like a cream and a bit more like a gel, so it absorbs quickly.

Fresh Rose Hydrating Gel Cream - Best Face Cream for Oily Skin

Fresh products contain a lot of all-natural good-for-skin ingredients to keep oily skin balanced, hydrated and free from greasy shine. Rose Hydrating Gel Cream is ultra-gentle and ideal for oily skin that’s a bit on the sensitive side as well.

This light, refreshing face cream does a great job keeping skin protected from the environment with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and Rhodiola root, a great antioxidant and natural antiseptic to keep bacteria from attacking skin. Rose water is one of the main ingredients in this cream; a gentle ingredient ideal for helping balance moisture within the skin while keeping it soft.

Pevonia Mattifying Oily Skin Cream - Best Face Cream for Oily Skin

If you frequent the spa then you may already be familiar with the Pevonia Botanica line. If not then know your oily skin is in for an indulgent treatment that will lightly hydrate and protect skin from premature aging. Refreshing lemon, grapefruit and vitamin B work to keep pores free from trapped dirt and oils that can lead to breakouts, while keeping skin feeling fresh and nourished.

Oily skin can often be accompanied by enlarged pores so you’ll love how this cream works to refine and clarify large pores creating a smoother surface ideal for flawless makeup application. You can also apply this cream at night to prevent breakouts thus leading to clearer skin over time.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream - Best Face Cream for Oily Skin

Neutrogena is ideal for oily, acne prone skin types or anyone without “perfect” skin in general. This affordable cream keeps keep oil production under control, protects skin from sun damage and reverses the visible signs of aging. This is a dermatologist recommended brand that won’t irritate, clog pores or cause breakouts. Active ingredients like Retinol, vitamins A, B5 and E all help nourish skin and fight off fine lines and wrinkles. This is the perfect daily face cream to throw into a bag and go.

Aubrey Organics: Lumessence Lift Firming Renewal Cream - Best Drugstore Face Cream

Aubrey is the “creme de la creme” when it comes to face creams and while this company is considered a drugstore brand, it truly rivals high end contenders in quality. Compare Aubry to Ole Henrickson and you’ll find Aubey wins in the scent department. Not only does it smell better, Aubreys Lumessence Lift Face Cream nourishes just as well without a slick reside. Stack it up next to Estee Lauder, a popular company known for their high-end, anti-aging luxury creams; you’ll see skin looks just as luminous with Aubrey as it would with Este Lauders top selling cream.

This company uses natural, organic, innovative and effective ingredients like watermelon extract rye seed extract and sea algae to give skin a radical experience every time. This cream is one of the brand’s top selling items because those who use it noticed significant results as it helps firm the skin while fading fine lines and wrinkles. Use it to protect skin from harmful environmental irritants as well.

Simple Skincare 24 Hour Nourishing Cream Moisturizer - Best Drugstore Face Cream

If you need a gentle moisturizer truly free from harsh irritants, then Simple Skincare is ideal for you. Although this brand caters to those with sensitive and allergy prone skin types, normal to mature skin will reap the benefits as well. This product is long-lasting and will keep skin protected and hydrated all day and night with multivitamins which nourish the skin and prevent moisture loss. This cream doubles as both a day and night cream making it ideal for travel.

Simple has won tons of rave reviews and acclaim from publications like Allure Magazine, Health Magazine's June 2012's edition and was featured in April 2012's edition of InStyle Magazine to name a few. Users who have tried Simple generally feel this product exceeded their expectations as I know they’ve exceeded mine. Simple is also free of dyes, synthetics, chemicals and fragrances while never leaving behind a greasy residue.

Oil of Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Firming Cream - Best Drugstore Face Cream

Oily of Olay is one of the best top-selling drugstore brands and their popular products have been around for many years. This brand is still going strong as it continues to help women fight visible signs of aging. Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Face Cream is going to help your skin look younger by improving the way skin acts and reacts. The secret weapon is the peptides (amino acids) and vitamin B3 complex which helps create firm, taught skin which looks and feels younger. These ingredients work to help skin regain its strength so it won’t appear as loose. This cream helps create and firm, hydrated skin while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can take 10 years off your face with consistent use of this product.

Alba Botanica Natural Even Advanced Daily Cream - Best Face Cream for Normal Skin

A few blemishes here and there, trapped dirt and oils, lack of sleep and proper nutrition can all lead to a less than perfect complexion. The thing I love so much about this face cream is the fact after just one use you can feel the difference in your skin as it responds to the sweet almond oil, aloe and Shea butter. Your skin will feel hydrated all day as this cream is also a great base-layer under your other facial products.

Over time you will notice skin discolorations, acne scars and other general unevenness begins to fade as skin looks smooth and radiant. Grapefruit extract plays a huge role in this and also adds a light refreshing scent. This product does not contain added sulfates, artificial colors, paraben fillers and is 100 percent vegetarian so it won’t irritate skin.

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream Gel - Best Face Cream for Normal Skin

Clarins Multi-Active Day Correction Cream-Gel is ideal for normal-combination skin on the mature side. Ambiaty leaf extract comes from a tree in Madagascar and works to heal and strengthen the skin surface while fighting off visible signs of aging. Normal skin can be a tricky type because you want to even out the skin without overdoing the hydration but you may also find yourself loosing moisture rapidly and at random.

Enter Katafray extract and orange peel extracts to the rescue. These ingredients help deliver the perfect refreshing balance of both protection and moisture in a lightweight formula. This product is on the natural side and all active ingredients are plant-based.

L'Oreal Skin Expertise Youth Code Day/Night Cream Moisturizer - Best Face Cream for Normal Skin

If you love the idea of a double duty product that can work for both day and night while reversing visible signs of aging, then look no further than L’Oreal. This cream is an affordable, effective, lightly scented, lightweight formula. It is also water-based and is not going to clog pores. L’Oreal Youth Code contains a gentle yet powerful protein-based emollient called isohexadecane. If you are sensitive to retinol then this is the perfect alternative if you want to reverse those fine lines.

This emollient leaves skin with a soft silky texture. The first thing you will notice is skin feels instantly hydrated and plump, but also your coloration will look bright and healthy as the moisture is restored. If you travel a lot or skimp on sleep, this cream is a must have to instantly give tired dehydrated skin a powerful boost.

Buyer's Guide

A surprising number of people feel overwhelmed when they’re looking for a face cream for their skin type---and we don’t blame them. Drugstores and supermarkets are stocked with dozens of options, ranging from $10 to $500, each product promising to deliver better, faster results. How do you know which brands to trust and which ones to pass on? Well, there’s a very simple formula for finding the best face cream, according to our experts, and we’re about to break it down for you.

How to Choose the Best Face Cream for Your Skin Type

There are so many different types of face creams in the market. To find the best ones, you must first determine your skin type.

Sensitive Skin

This skin type is prone to redness and irritation, especially when exposed to harmful ingredients like alcohol, fragrances, and sulfates. If your skin falls under this category, a fragrance-free skin cream with all-natural ingredients will be more beneficial for your skin without aggravating it any further.

Our experts also recommend looking out for other hidden irritants like salicylic acid and glycolic acids. Skincare experts often praise these acids for their exfoliating properties, but they can disrupt the moisture barrier and do more harm than go for sensitive skin.

Instead, look for ingredients with soothing properties like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera that will strengthen the skin barrier.

Oily Skin

People with oily skin know the struggle of finding the correct face cream that doesn’t clog pores or cause breakouts. If your skin falls under this category, there are a few ingredients that you need to be wary of and some that you should look for in a face cream.

Oil-free is generally the best way to go if you’re looking for a lightweight skin cream. Our experts suggest looking for non-comedogenic skin creams that mimic your skin’s moisture composition and won’t feel too heavy.

Dry Skin

Dry skin often benefits from a richer skin cream free from alcohol, sulfates, dyes, and fragrances. These ingredients can dry out your skin and cause unpleasant reactions such as itchiness and sensitivity.

It might require some trial and error to find a face cream that works for you, depending on how dry and sensitive your skin is. If you have combination skin, you might benefit from a face cream with a lightweight gel formula that is hydrating but won’t clog your pores. We love ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides for their soothing and hydrating properties for dry skin types.

What Are Ingredients to Look for in Face Creams?

Your skincare products will only be as effective as the ingredients in them. Let’s look at some of the most common ingredients found in face creams and how they affect your skin type.

Antioxidants

We all know the damaging effects of free radicals on our skin by now. These unstable oxygen molecules break down the collagen in our skin, which speeds up the aging process to lead to the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Antioxidants neutralize the effect of free radicals and have excellent anti-aging properties, which is why they’re an essential ingredient in any good face cream.

Retinol

Retinol has quickly become a popular ingredient, and many brands are incorporating it in their skincare products for its potent exfoliating and antiaging benefits. Commonly prescribed by dermatologists to clear acne, retinol has now made its way into face creams as well.

This skin-perfecting ingredient promotes cell turnover, smooths skin texture, and softens wrinkles. Since retinol can cause dryness and irritation, it works well with other hydrating ingredients in face creams to minimize the side effects.

Alcohols

If you have dry skin, you’re probably thinking that alcohol is the last ingredient to look for in a face cream. While most astringents can cause dryness and irritation if used in high quantities, some fatty alcohols like lanolin have the opposite effect. With their hydrating and skin-repairing properties, fatty alcohols definitely make a good ingredient in a face cream.

Sun Protection

If you’re looking for a face cream for your daytime skincare routine, look for a product that has SPF 15 or more to provide adequate protection against the sun’s harmful rays.

What Are the Ingredients to Avoid in Face Creams?

While there are plenty of incredible face creams on the market, there are some that may contain harmful ingredients that can cause damage to your skin. Here are a few things you should avoid in your face cream.

Fragrance

Most skincare brands, including the high-end ones, add fragrance to their products to give them a luxurious scent that makes your skin smell nice. However, fragrances are one of the most common irritants that can cause skin problems like contact dermatitis, redness, and inflammation. Read the ingredient list on your face cream to avoid any scents that may aggravate your skin.

Parabens

Your face cream might contain a group of chemicals called parabens, often used as a preservative to increase a product’s shelf life. While parabens are great for inhibiting bacterial growth in face creams, they can be absorbed into your body and interfere with hormone production in women. Although found in very small quantities in cosmetic products, parabens have been linked to cancer, making them one of the top few ingredients to avoid in face creams.

How Did We Choose the Best Face Creams?

Face creams can run the gamut of price, ingredients, and quality. But sometimes, finding the best product for your skin isn’t an easy task. We understand the individual needs of different skin types, from oily to dry to sensitive, so we’ve done an in-depth analysis of every skin cream based on customer reviews, ingredients, packaging, and overall value for money.

Face Cream FAQ

Q: What the best time to use a face cream?
A: The best time for using a face cream is usually in the morning and at night after your cleansing routine. Most day creams are different from their night counterparts in terms of ingredients and consistency, so it’s essential to choose a face cream depending on what time you plan on using it.

Q: Are non-comedogenic face creams better?
A: Face creams are considered non-comedogenic if they’re made with a formula that doesn’t block your pores or cause acne. It usually has a lightweight consistency and is best for people with oily or sensitive skin.

Q: Which face cream should I choose for anti-aging?
A: Look for face creams rich in antioxidants and contain retinol or another vitamin A derivative. These ingredients are known for repairing skin damage and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.

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Our research team searches out the best of everything so that you can confidently pick the perfect products and services for your needs.
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