TL;DR
After thorough testing, we think the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Refillable Moisturizer is the best moisturizer for combination skin types. It's nourishing without feeling too heavy on the complexion and works to support the skin barrier. For a more affordable option, we love The Inkey List's Omega Water Cream because it's lightweight and makes the skin feel soft and smooth.
Finding a great moisturizer can be difficult, but things tend to get even stickier if you have combination skin. You need a formula that’s hydrating but nongreasy, lightweight, but still impactful. The goal: Balancing and clarifying your complexion, leaving it soft, healthy, and happy. Formulas that work best on combination skin mimic the skin’s natural moisturizing systems. “Combination skin is generally shiny around the T-zone but dehydrated elsewhere, so a light, water-based moisturizer is important to restore balance within the complexion,” says aesthetician and skin expert Melanie Grant. “I tend to recommend fluids, gels, and lotions as these provide the skin with essential hydration without stimulating excess shine.”
We conducted in-depth research and tested the best moisturizers for combination skin, evaluating top-rated formulas for their key ingredients, texture, feel, and the types of skin concerns targeted. (We also considered moisturizers with SPF protection and without.) Next, we had testers weigh in on the texture of the cream, how quickly the moisturizer absorbed into the skin, and how well the product moisturized our complexions. We also consulted with Grant to get her picks. After everything was said and done, we landed on these winners.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget:
Best Splurge:
Best for Mature Skin:
Best for Minimizing Pores:
Best for Dark Spots:
Best for Hydration:
BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Moisture Boost Cream at Ulta$33
Best With Hyaluronic Acid:
Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer at Amazon$29
Best for Acne-Prone Skin:
What We Like
Pump-top jar dispenses perfect amount and is hygienic
Comes in two sizes
Great for hydration and barrier repair
What to Consider
Thicker texture may be off-putting to some
Key Ingredients: African oil blend, ceramides | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.5, 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
As the name implies, this pick is a slightly thicker moisturizer. However, we found that it wasn’t too heavy, and that one pump absorbed beautifully, noticeably increasing hydration. Credit a combination of African oils that nourish and moisturize, along with a trio of skin-strengthening ceramides that help promote and maintain a healthy skin barrier.
What We Like
Comes in a hygienic tube
Packaging is recyclable
Cruelty-free
What to Consider
Feels a little sticky initially
Key Ingredients: Ceramide complex, niacinamide | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The price of this product is great, but what's even better is its formula. Even though this water cream has a very light and almost runny texture, we were pleasantly surprised at just how much moisture it was able to deliver—probably because it contains niacinamide, a choice ingredient for combo skin, given that it can help both moisturize and control oil production at the same time. To that point, it left our skin feeling (and looking) nice and smooth, though not in the least bit oily.
What We Like
Is both very hydrating and contains antioxidants
Calms irritated skin
Absorbs well
What to Consider
May be too thick for some
Key Ingredients: Skullcap, vitamin E, Avocadin | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination | Size: 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We felt the intense hydrating effects of this moisturizer right away; to that point, it’s definitely on the thicker side, though it still absorbed nicely. And while it’s pricey, we also found that a little goes a long way, allowing you to get plenty of bang for your buck out of one jar. That holds even more true when you consider that there are antioxidant-rich ingredients in the formula as well.
What We Like
Helps smooth appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Softens skin texture
Thin, lightweight consistency
What to Consider
Has an unpleasant smell
Key Ingredients: TFC8, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), vitamin C, vitamin B5, hydrolyzed rice protein, aloe vera juice, shea butter | Skin Type: Combination, oily, acne-prone | Size: 1 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
When Hailey Bieber, Victoria Beckham, and Lili Reinhart all confess their love for a single product, you know there must be something special about it. Augustinus Bader’s The Cream contains a signature trigger factor complex: a combination of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins, and synthesized molecules to activate the body’s stem cells. The result is skin that’s smoother, stronger, and more youthful in appearance. But the super light texture means it won’t exacerbate shine. It seems you can have it all.
What We Like
Refines the look of pores
Oil-free
Lightweight
What to Consider
Jar packaging could be more hygienic
Key Ingredients: Japanese wild rose, Japanese leopard lily, Hadasei-3 Complex | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 0.34, 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This stuff is legendary in the world of skincare, and for good reason. The oil-free gel cream is formulated with Japanese botanicals, like wild rose, which helps to reduce the appearance of pores, and Tatcha’s hadasei-3 blend of algae, green tea, and fermented rice. The texture is incredibly weightless and fresh—we loved how it was even slightly cooling—so it feels lightweight but soothing and hydrating when you apply it. The gold applicator wand and luxe packaging are a nice touch, too.
Best for Dark Spots
Eadem Cloud Cushion Plush Moisturizer
What We Like
Fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested
Comes in recyclable packaging
Cruelty-free
What to Consider
Can feel a little tacky initially
Takes a little while to absorb
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, peptides, niacinamide | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If your skin is on the combination side and you’re also battling discoloration, reach for this winner. It contains radiance-boosting niacinamide, coupled with three different ceramides for hydration purposes. We found that it left our complexion feeling extra smooth and perfectly prepped for makeup, which is always a benefit in our book.
Best for Hydration
BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Moisture Boost Cream
What We Like
Developed by a cosmetic chemist
Gel-cream texture spreads nicely and absorbs quickly
Targets signs of aging
What to Consider
Fragrance-free, but still has a strong smell
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin F, ceramides, reishi mushroom extract | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
There’s all kinds of good stuff to be found in this moisturizer, all meant to deliver some serious hydration—and then some. There are ceramides to lock in moisture and hyaluronic acid, too, which helps ensure this formula never feels too heavy. There’s also a fermented mushroom complex in the mix, targeting inflammation, puffiness, and wrinkles; maybe that’s why we were particularly impressed with how it helped minimize our under-eye bags while also deeply hydrating our skin.
Best With Hyaluronic Acid
Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
What We Like
Contains five types of hyaluronic acid
Strengthen skin's moisture barrier
Lightweight texture
What to Consider
Fragrance might irritate sensitive skin types
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, green tea tri-biotics™, green tea seed oil | Skin Type: Dry, combination, normal | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: No
As you may have picked up already, hyaluronic acid is a top ingredient to seek out if you have combination skin. It’s a humectant, so it attracts moisture and traps it in the skin, but still feels extremely light and never in the least bit greasy. This formula contains not one, not two, but five different types of HA (as it’s called) to help really step up the hydration game. So it’s no surprise that we found that it struck the perfect in-between, imparting just the right amount of refreshing moisture without feeling too thick or greasy.
What We Like
Gel-cream texture is very light
Protects and maintains moisture barrier
Plumping peptides leave the skin refreshed
What to Consider
Jar packaging could be more hygienic
Key Ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane | Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
As a general rule of thumb, gel formulas are great for those with combination skin because they are typically lighter (to help avoid greasiness) while still packing hydration. It’s why we tested this one, which we found to be noticeably more hydrating than other gels; it left our complexion looking and feeling velvety for hours on end. It’s also not in the least bit runny, with a perfectly middle-of-the-road consistency that spreads extremely evenly.
What We Like
Soothes redness
Feels soothing upon application
Absorbs very quickly
What to Consider
Can pill under makeup
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, borage seed oil | Skin Type: Combination, oily, acne-prone | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Combination skin and acne-prone skin often go hand-in-hand, which is where this moisturizer comes into play. The niacinamide in the mix helps to control and balance out oil production. Meanwhile, the fatty acids in the borage seed oil combat breakout-induced redness. To that point, we noted that it also felt soothing going on and struck the perfect balance of moisturizing and smoothing the skin without leaving behind telltale residue. Along with soothing the skin and combatting redness, this is great for balancing out oil production, a win if you’re prone to breakouts.
Best Vegan Formula
Shani Darden Hydration Peptide Cream
What We Like
Oil-free formula is still very hydrating
Large amount of product
Heals dry patches
What to Consider
Doesn’t leave skin looking particularly dewy
Active Ingredients: Squalane, peptides, niacinamide, Hydrosella | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 2.5 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This vegan, cruelty-free formula is oil-free and won’t clog pores—though it still manages to deliver super long-lasting hydration—72 hours worth, to be exact. It absorbed lightning fast into our skin, alleviating any rough patches and that dry, tight feeling almost instantaneously. Also nice: The bottle is slightly larger than many others.
What to Look for in a Moisturizer for Combination Skin
- Humectants: Grant says that it's important to seek out a moisturizer formula packed with humectants as these will bind water to the skin, increasing hydration without triggering oil overproduction. “Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, and panthenol are all great,” Grant explains. On the opposite end of the scale, she advises steering clear of heavy occlusives like shea butter, lanolin, coconut, and mineral oil as these are too heavy and will contribute to oil production and, thus, congestion.
- Lightweight Textures: On that note, Grant suggests that combination skin types seek out a light gel or fluid moisturizer. “Rich creams, balms, and butters are better suited towards extremely dry skin.”
FAQ
What are the benefits of moisturizers for combination skin?
“It’s a common misconception that oily skin—even combination skin—should be starved of moisture,” Grant explains. “The right moisturizer should replenish and rebalance, helping to improve texture, luminosity, and skin clarity.”
If you skip out on all moisture, any dry spots will become drier, whereas areas prone to excess shine will get confused and create even more oil—a lose-lose situation. That’s why a light but effective moisturizer for combination skin is paramount. If you have oily skin, though, you'll want to opt for a high-end or drugstore moisturizer for oily skin.
How often should you use moisturizers for combination skin?
Grant explains that moisturizers for combination skin should be used morning and night as the final step in your skincare routine (except for sunscreen during the day).If you want to streamline your morning routine, opt for a moisturizer with SPF.
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Algaris an experienced writer who covers all things beauty. Her work has appeared in many multiple national publications.
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s written for Byrdie since 2020, covering hair, makeup, skin, health, wellness, fashion, and more. She also has combination skin herself and is on a perpetual hunt to find moisturizers that will combat dryness without exacerbating slick spots.
Team Byrdie collaborated with a specialist to better inform our choices:
- Melanie Grant is an esthetician, facialist, skin expert, and the founder of Melanie Grant Skin Health, a clinic with outposts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Los Angeles.