Keep your face hydrated without the shine factor.
Moisturizer is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine. The hard part is choosing the right one for your skin type. There are options out there for dry skin, oily and acne-prone skin, sensitive types and more but combination is a little trickier than the others. “This skin type can be the hardest, as you’ll need to assess your skin on a daily basis,” says Fatima Fahs, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in Michigan and founder of Dermy Doc Box. “If your skin is on the oiler side, opt for lighter based formulations or consider only applying thicker ointments to dryer areas like the cheeks.”
Since those with combination skin experience both dryness and oiliness, “it is important to look for ingredients that will both hydrate and reduce excess oiliness and shine, without clogging the pores or drying out the skin,” says Marisa Garshick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell – New York Presbyterian Medical Center. The formulas need to be truly multi-tasking and “include hydrating ingredients such as humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, as well as ingredients that help to strengthen the skin barrier like ceramides, without being too occlusive on the skin or leaving the skin feeling greasy.” It’s a tough job, but luckily we found plenty of products that can do it and do it well.
To find the best facial moisturizers, the Institute screened dozens of products using both consumer and laboratory testing. This included 240 women with various skin types who evaluated facial moisturizers at home and then rated the products on multiple factors including ease of use, performance and more. The top scored products were then further evaluated in the Lab. Our picks below include some of these high performing products, some that are backed by our Seal and others recommended by our Lab scientists and top dermatologists.
1
Best Overall Moisturizer for Combination Skin
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Moisturizer
A winner in our recent facial moisturizer study, Philosophy’s ultra-light moisturizer got great reviews from our combination skin testers. It moisturized skin by 28% over six hours, according to our Corneometer data, which measures skin hydration levels. Almost all (95%) of the testers loved the scent and most (90%) felt it had a nice texture and left skin feeling smooth. “My skin feels more vibrant, and within two weeks, I felt like I had new skin,” says one tester. “My T-zone wasn’t as oily, and my dry spots disappeared.” Another loved that “it was lightweight and did not make my face feel greasy.”
Size | 4.7 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Vitamins, antioxidants |
Sunscreen | No |
2
Best Value Moisturizer for Combination Skin
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Face Cream
Another winner in our recent facial moisturizer study, this cream from Aveeno was loved by those who have combination skin as well as sensitive skin types. All of our testers ranked it the fastest absorbing facial moisturizer and best for making skin feel hydrated. They also really liked the texture and most agreed that the product soothed skin and didn’t cause irritation or redness. “It went on very smoothly and left my face feeling moisturized but not greasy at all and gave a matte finish,” shares one reviewer.
Size | 5 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Oat flour |
Sunscreen | No |
3
Best Moisturizer for Acne-Prone Combination Skin
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer
A lightweight hydrator with a gel cream texture, Cetaphil’s gentle moisturizer “helps hydrate the skin while reducing breakouts, thanks to the 0.5% salicylic acid included,” says Dr. Garshick. Plus, botanical extracts and prebiotics soothe skin. She also likes that it leaves the skin with a soft matte finish without drying it out, which many mattifying products tend to do.
Size | 3 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Salicylic acid, botanicals, prebiotics |
Sunscreen | No |
4
Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin for Teenagers
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
“This ultra lightweight lotion from CeraVe is easy to apply and absorbs quickly without leaving the skin feeling greasy, making it a great option for a teenager,” says Dr. Garshick. With soothing niacinamide, it can be a great complement to products with other active ingredients — like acne-fighting salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide — in a routine.
Size | 3 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Hyaluronic Acid, niacinamide |
Sunscreen | No |
5
Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin in Summer
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer
A powerhouse product with a laundry list of good-for-you ingredients, La Roche-Posay’s matte moisturizer “both hydrates and supports the skin barrier with glycerin, ceramides and niacinamide, in addition to the brand’s classic prebiotic thermal spring water,” says Dr. Garshick. “It’s perfect for combination or oily skin in those hot summer months as it absorbs easily without leaving the skin looking shiny.”
Size | 2.5 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin |
Sunscreen | No |
6
Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin with SPF
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Both Danusia Wnek, a chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Institute, and Dr. Garshick are huge fans of this popular moisturizer with sunscreen. “There are very few sunscreens that I like for my combination skin; most are way too oily or just feel heavy on skin,” says Wnek. “EltaMD is one of the most lightweight sunscreens that I have ever tried and provides just the right amount of hydration with an ideal combination of mineral and chemical sunscreens.” Wnek uses it daily and also appreciates that it works well under her makeup. Dr. Garshick loves that “it’s oil-free and noncomedogenic, which is especially important when it comes to finding a good sunscreen for those with combination skin.”
Size | 1.7 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid |
SPF | SPF 46 |
7
Best Tinted Moisturizer for Combination Skin
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30
This cult classic tinted moisturizer has been around for decades but was updated a few years ago with new ingredients (think antioxidants, super hydrating macadamia and kukui seed oils) and additional shades. It’s a personal favorite of Wnek’s as she likes the lightweight texture, which is sheer but also provides coverage. “It does a good job of balancing my oily T-zone and not drying out my cheeks, which get a bit dry in the winter,” she says.
Size | 1.7 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Antioxidants, macadamia and kukui seed oils |
SPF | SPF 30 |
8
Best Gel Moisturizer for Combination Skin
RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Vitamin C Face Moisturizer, Anti-Aging Gel Cream
A current Good Housekeeping Seal holder, RoC’s gel cream hydrates and brightens skin simultaneously. A clinical study by the brand showed that this product hydrates for 24 hours and firms skin while reviewers love that that “it absorbs quickly and feels lightweight.” It also has both immediate and long-term effects: a study showed that the moisturizer leaves skin visibly glowing instantly (24 hours after application) and also over time.
Size | 1.7 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Vitamin C |
SPF | No |
9
Best Nighttime Moisturizer for Combination Skin
Mary Kay TimeWise® Age Minimize 3D® Night Cream – Combination/Oily
This current Good Housekeeping Seal holder is formulated specifically for combination skin, making it a top pick in our book. “It is dermatologist tested, great for sensitive skin, non-comedogenic, non-greasy and fragrance- and oil-free,” says Wnek. A clinical study showed that this night cream moisturized skin both immediately and over 12 hours after application. Thanks to a combination of powerful ingredients, like Japanese apricot extract, encapsulated resveratrol, vitamin B3 and peptides, “it also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and leaves skin glowing,” she adds.
Size | 1.7 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Japanese apricot extract, encapsulated resveratrol, vitamin B3 and peptides |
SPF | No |
10
Best Splurge Moisturizer for Combination Skin
CHARLOTTE TILBURY Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Light Moisturizer
While it is a pricey option, this luxe moisturizer is a protection powerhouse with ingredients that protect skin against against UVA, UVB, blue light and pollution. But it doesn’t stop there: peptides help reduce wrinkles and a combo of crambe seed oil, vitamin E and coconut alkanes help to condition, hydrate and soothe skin. “It’s ideal for those with oily or combination skin or those who prefer a lightweight option, especially in humid environments,” says Dr. Garshick.
Size | 1.6 oz. |
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Key Ingredients | Peptides, vitamin E, coconut alkanes |
SPF | SPF 20 |
How we test moisturizers for combination skin
Philip Friedman
To find the best skincare, the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab rounds up the latest and greatest products on the market to see which ones are actually worth your money, from drugstore moisturizers to luxury picks and more.
For this test, we included 240 women with various skin types who evaluated facial moisturizers at home, by using it daily for two weeks following the manufacturer’s instructions. Following the testing period, testers completed questionnaires rating ease of use, absorption, performance and satisfaction. Products are masked to remove any brand biases. The top overall scoring products from consumer testing were then evaluated in the Lab for moisturization using the Corneometer, which provided 1,920 data points.
What to look for when shopping for the best moisturizers for combination skin
As we mentioned above, those with combination skin should seek out a mix of hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and ones that will minimize shine and oil production. “You should also look for oil-free formulations that are non-comedogenic so they won’t clog pores,” says Dr. Garshick.
Other ingredients to look for include niacinamide, “as it helps to control sebum production and is also calming, soothing and anti-inflammatory,” she adds. Lightweight is a big buzzword for those with combination skin, with gel-based formulas being a great option. “In terms of sunscreen, you can use either chemical or mineral blockers, however if your skin is more sensitive, it can be safer to stick with the mineral sunscreens,” advises Dr. Garshick.