10 Moisturizes That Are Like a Glass of Water for Combination Skin (2024)

Dr. Robinson recommends Skinbetter Science’s Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment for combination skin types because “it packs a ton of moisture, without the weight,” she says. “The science-backed formation helps support deep hydration using hyaluronic acid, squalane, and actives like urea and glycerin. Additionally, it has linolenic acids, cholesterol, and ceramides to support a healthy skin barrier.”

Best skin type: Combination, dry, aging

Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, urea, glycerin, linolenic acids, cholesterol, ceramides

Size: 1.7 oz.

Dr. Robinson suggests ISDIN’s Age Contour daytime cream for those with mature, combination skin.“It contains cross-linked hyaluronic acid that helps the skin retain water for an intense boost of hydration,” she explains. “It also features alteromonas ferment extracts, derived from fermentation of marine bacteria, that help protect the skin from wrinkle-inducing free radical damage.”

To complete your routine, you can also grab the cream in a potent nighttime version. It also features cross-linked hyaluronic acid, plus antioxidant-rich melatonin, which “works with the body’s natural circadian rhythm to repair the skin while you sleep,” adds Dr. Robinson.

Best skin type: All

Active ingredients: Cross-linked hyaluronic acid, alteromonas ferment extracts

Size: 1.81 oz.

I’ve tried many hydrating face creams that ultimately sit atop my skin and cause my makeup to pill, but this silky Laneige formula does quite the opposite. It has a weightless finish that leaves me with a perfectly supple, slightly tacky base for seamlessly blending in foundation. And in the rare cases I go au naturale, it creates a healthy-looking glow I’m actually proud to show off to the world. Per the brand, it contains micro-sized molecules of hyaluronic acid that allow for faster absorption and longer-lasting hydration. Squalane and glycerin also help keep flaky patches at bay, while ceramides offer additional barrier-boosting benefits.

Best skin type: Dry, combo, normal

Active ingredients: Blue hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin, ceramides

Size: 1.6 oz.

Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration moisturizer is my go-to when my combo skin feels especially dry and irritated. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid as well as rosewater and damask rose extract to effectively soothe skin and help strengthen it in the process. The rich formula is super nourishing yet absorbs so well, I can still get away with wearing it year-round.

Best skin type: Dry, combo, normal

Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, rosewater, damask rose extract

Size: 1.6 oz.

Augustinus Bader’s luxurious offerings have plenty of hype, with the brand’s signature, The Cream being the buzziest in its lineup. Using a proprietary blend of amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, the lightweight moisturizer helps balance hydration levels, smooth fine lines, and boost elasticity and brightness. Included is L-Ascorbic Acid, a powerful, stable form of vitamin C that can effectively target stubborn dark spots and hyperpigmentation. “This cream always gives my skin what it needs to get glowing. There’s hyaluronic acid, evening primrose, and this tiny breakthrough molecule called TFC8—“trigger factor complex”—which trains your skin to regenerate and become healthier in the long term just like a session at the gym,” shares Margaux Anbouba, Beauty Editor, ELLE.

Best skin type: Normal, dry, combination, and oily

Active ingredients: TFC8 complex, vitamin A, vitamin C

Size: 1 oz.

This classic CeraVe lotion is a number one bestseller on Amazon for good reason: It’s affordable, extremely gentle, and versatile enough to be used on the face and body without clogging pores or feeling greasy. Inside is a mix of hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides made to lock in moisture and keep skin looking healthy.

An Amazon reviewer says: “I have uber-sensitive/combination skin and I live in a dry climate with not a lot of natural moisture in the air. This lotion is creamy but not too heavy and I genuinely believe my skin will not survive without it. We love CeraVe over here.”

Best skin type: Normal, dry, combination

Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides (1, 3, and 6-II)

Size: 19 fl. oz

Streamline your skincare routine with this dermatologist-backed moisturizer featuring an essential daily dose of sunscreen. Anyone with combination skin will love its lightweight texture and blend of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to help nourish, shrink pores, and minimize excess shine. Not to mention, the mineral-based formula is oil-free and non-comedogenic. “I just ran out of this sunscreen. I bounce between this one and two others but EltaMD always stays in my rotation because this left my skin not only protected, but also feeling moisturized. It helps fight hyperpigmentation with UVA/UVB protection and overall, keeps my skin looking even (with the help of my other serums, of course), especially in Summer months,” shares Danielle James, Digital Beauty Director, ELLE.

Best skin type: Sensitive, acne-prone, combination

Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, zinc oxide, niacinamide, vitamin E

Size: 1.7 oz.

Like the rest of Tower 28’s thoughtfully-formulated makeup and skincare products, this moisturizer is designed to suit even the most sensitive complexions. (FYI, it’s from the same line as the brand’s popular facial mist, beloved by Hailey Bieber and countless TikTok influencers.) Aptly named the SOS Daily Barrier Recovery cream, it boasts four types of hydrating hyaluronic acid, strengthening ceramides, and calming allantoin to help keep skin balanced. It’s also fragrance-free, backed by the National Eczema Association, and said to be fast-absorbing and non-greasy.

A Tower 28 reviewer says: “I absolutely love this moisturizer! I’ve had a few dry patches on my face, and this product makes my skin so much smoother. I’ll definitely purchase this in the future!”

Best skin type: Sensitive, all

Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin

Size: 1.86 oz.

Gel, or water-based, moisturizers are known for being some of the best hydrators for combination skin as they offer plumping perks while melting into pores within seconds. This K-beauty gem is one of my favorites, namely to use during brutally humid New York summers. Equal parts hydrating, soothing, and brightening, it instantly absorbs to reverse dry spots and even out tone. And since it’s free of silicones and mineral oil, it never makes me look overly shiny. The cherry on top? Its subtly fruity scent smells almost good enough to eat.

Best skin type: Dry, normal, oily, combination

Active ingredients: Cherry blossom extract, niacinamide, betaine, glycerin

Size: 1.69 fl. oz.

Biossance’s gel moisturizer is especially ideal for anyone with combo, acne-prone skin. Not only should it feel featherlight and refreshing thanks to squalane, but it’s also packed with microbiome-restoring probiotics, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and P. acnes bacteria on the skin that causes acne. With consistent use, expect to see visibly smaller pores and a calm, clear complexion.

Best skin type: Oily, combo, normal

Active ingredients: squalane, probiotics, bisabolol

Size: 1.6 oz.

“Seek out moisturizers with adaptive ingredients to reduce redness, great humectants like hyaluronic acid, and soothing ingredients like niacinamide—which has a potent anti-inflammatory effect, helps fade hyperpigmentation, and minimizes pore size by increasing elasticity in the skin,” says Dr. Marmur. “Moisturizers with pre/probiotics are also great for combination skin types, as they help keep the protective microbiome in sync and prevent inflammation that leads to acne, rosacea, and eczema.”

Dr. Robinson also calls out ceramides and peptides as key ingredients for “supporting a healthy skin barrier and regulating hydration levels.”

According to Dr. Marmur, you’ll want to look for silky yet moisturizing textures. And those with acne-prone skin should always reach for oil-free formulas that are non-comedogenic. “These won’t clog pores in areas that are oil-prone,” she explains.

Remember, combination skin types can vary by season and due to factors like stress or hormone fluctuations, so you may need to switch up your moisturizer accordingly. “For example, summertime humidity can make your skin feel more oily, so switch to a lighter moisturizer that mattifies the skin,” suggests Dr. Marmur. “In the winter months, the skin dries out and needs a moisturizer with more humectant.”

“Many think they should cut back on moisturizing if they have any oiliness to the skin, but that is not the case,” says Dr. Marmur. “Combination skin thrives with moisturizers twice daily–every morning and night,” she says.

During the day, Dr. Robinson suggests applying your moisturizer over any prescription topicals or serums and underneath a mineral sunscreen of at least SPF30 for proper sun protection.

• Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist. She is president and co-founder of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale New Haven Hospital.
• Dr. Ellen Marmur is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Marmur Medical in New York, New York.