With options from Skinfix, Dr. Dennis Gross, Aveeno, and more
Finding a great moisturizer is hard at the best of times, but when you factor in a combination skin type, things get even more tricky. You need a formula that’s hydrating but non-greasy, lightweight but still comforting—something that will balance and clarify your complexion, leaving it soft, healthy, and happy. Formulas that work best on combination skin include those that mimic the skin’s own make-up and natural moisturizing systems.1
“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 esthetician 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 on the best moisturizers for combination skin, evaluating top-rated formulas on their active ingredients, texture, feel, and the types of skin concerns targeted. We considered moisturizers with SPF protection and without as well as how quickly the moisturizer is absorbed into the skin. In addition to extensive research, we also included some options that our editors swear by. After considering dozens of options and consulting with an esthetician for her recommendations, we landed on these picks.
Keep reading for the best moisturizers for combination skin.
Best Overall: Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion
The texture of this product is one of the many things we love so much about it. A unique water-gel cream, it’s super fresh and cooling—as if tiny water droplets were bursting across your face. It’s slightly more hydrating than a traditional water cream, yet not quite as rich as a traditional cream. The formula is full of hyaluronic acid and Japanese marine algae (from the Blue Zone of Okinawa), meaning it delivers soothing moisture without shine. It’s also packed with amino acids and vitamins to help improve skin elasticity and increase moisture. Expect plump, balanced skin with a subtle dewy finish.23
Best Budget: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Thanks to hyaluronic acid (a molecule that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water), this lotion is super lightweight and moisturizing. It’s one of our favorites because it’s gentle, non-greasy, hydrating, and generally just really efficient at calming and balancing combo skin. It’s also great for applying on the body, making it a versatile choice at an affordable price.
Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel
Thank you, Neutrogena, for providing us with drugstore skincare that still feels luxurious. This moisturizer is like a tall drink of water for the skin thanks to high levels of hyaluronic acid, a molecule that can draw water into the superficial layers of the skin. The fresh, water-gel consistency is great under makeup, too. If you’re looking for something incredibly lightweight to wear during humid months or sweaty workouts (without compromising on moisture), this is the one for you.
Best for Mature Skin: Augustinus Bader The Cream
When Hailey Beiber, 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.4 The result is skin that’s smoother, stronger, and more youthful in appearance. But the super light texture means it won’t exacerbate shine. Yep, it seems you can have it all.
Best for Blemish-Prone Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Niacinamide Restoring Gel Cream
This moisturizer is a great option for anyone with combination skin, but especially recommend it for those dealing with breakouts. The lightweight, gel texture feels refreshing and moisturizing on the skin, and we appreciate that, unlike some other gel moisturizers that don’t seem to keep the face feeling balanced for long, this one provides long-lasting hydration. The formula contains niacinamide to help even tone and control oil, as well as an antimicrobial peptide that helps to balance the skin’s microbiome to keep it looking and feeling healthy. Plus, it’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and comes in hygienic packaging.
Best for Minimizing Pores: Tatcha The Water Cream
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-feeling, so it feels lightweight but soothing and hydrating when you apply it. The gold applicator wand and luxe packaging is a nice touch, too.
Best for Redness: Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer
Simple but effective, this light gel formula from Aveeno contains oat extract, which is proven to reduce redness, calm the skin, and restore healthy barrier function.5 There’s also glycerin (a humectant) and panthenol to help increase moisture levels. But what we love is the texture—light, and cooling, it glides onto the skin effortlessly, delivering fresh hydration that doesn’t exacerbate shine.
Best Plumping: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Rich Barrier Moisturizer
If you’re looking for a combination skin-friendly moisturizer with plumping benefits, look no further than this option from Peter Thomas Roth. It has a rich but somehow still water-like texture that instantly replenishes the skin with much-needed moisture thanks to the inclusion of a hyaluronic acid complex in the formula. It also contains a special moisture barrier boosting complex which helps to increase the look of the skin’s thickness, thus creating a more plumped appearance. It’s worth noting that some people with oily skin find this moisturizer to be a bit thick, so we recommend using this one at night if you’re prone to oiliness.
Best Refillable: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream
If you’re looking for a moisturizer that’s refillable in an effort to be more sustainable, this is a great choice. It has a super moisturizing formula with a rich, gel-like texture that feels almost like a cream—it’s a bit strange but in the best way. It spreads easily and immediately quenches dehydrated skin, leaving it looking luminous and feeling hydrated. And once you use it up, you can just buy a refill container and pop it into the jar. This is not only sustainable, but it will also save you a few bucks.
Final Verdict
Turns out, there’s a stack of effective moisturizers for combination skin out there. Our top pick is Dr. Dennis Gross’ Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion for its beautiful texture that absorbs easily and works effectively to plump skin with hyaluronic acid and algae. For a more affordable pick, consider CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, a drugstore option packed with nourishing ceramides.
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. The Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer is a wonderful drugstore option that contains glycerin, a popular humectant.
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.” Though most of the moisturizers on this list are lightweight, if you really want something that feels practically weightless on the skin, we recommend trying the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel.
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 formulated 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.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives.
