Best Moisturizers For Sensitive Skin 2024

A pared down, gentle formulation is what sensitive skin requires to look its best. In this top pick, ceramides work to support a healthy skin barrier, while four types of hyaluronic acid moisturize the skin, and allantoin smoothes redness and inflammation. The lightweight lotion doesn’t contain any fragrance, alcohol or irritants—plus it has a National Eczema Association seal of approval. I also love the vibrant red tube and sustainable packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.

Specifically formulated for individuals with sensitive skin, Vanicream’s facial moisturizer is a safe bet for any skin type, according to Shirazi. “They leave out a lot of [potentially irritating] common preservatives, like lanolin, dyes, fragrances and so forth,” she says. Instead, the formula is chock full of nourishing squalene, glycerin and ceramides. For those wanting a less complicated morning routine, the brand recently released a lightweight SPF 30 moisturizer with non-nano zinc oxide to provide broad spectrum protection.

Shirazi’s a big fan of La Roche-Posay’s moisturizer for its key ingredient prebiotic thermal spring water, which soothes inflammation and balances the skin microbiome. The lightweight cream also contains glycerin to hydrate, ceramides to fortify the skin barrier, niacinamide to fade discoloration and SPF 30 to protect against UVA/UVB rays. What’s more, this dermatologist pick is fragrance-free, paraben-free and noncomedogenic.

Although Dr. Barbara Sturm specifically developed this line with darker skin tones in mind, it’s also ideally formulated for oily, acne-prone skin. Melanin-rich skin can be more prone to extra sebum production and inflammation, which can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This moisturizer targets all of those issue in a gentle, fragrance-free formula. It’s pricey, yes, but the velvety formula contains a unique blend of potent ingredients, like magnolia and African whitewood bark extracts to refine pores, hydrate and reduce excess oil. And purslane is a soothing plant extract that soothes inflammation, while telovitin strengthens the skin barrier and fights signs of aging.

Like a comfortable blanket, this rich, buttery moisturizer drapes the skin in therapeutic colloidal oatmeal, instantly relieving dryness and irritation. The pretty blue tint is courtesy of Japanese indigo extract, which calms the skin while a proprietary complex of antioxidant-rich fermented rice, green tea and algae work to fortify the skin’s barrier. The innovative, fragrance-free cream is so gentle and soothing, it received the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval. Pro tip: Use its cute little gold spoon to scoop just the right amount of cream while keeping allergens from contaminating the jar.

Some products designed for sensitive skin aren’t the sexiest, so it’s exciting that RéVive specifically created a version of its splashy Renewal Moisturizer for those with delicate skin. The new Sensitif line contains the brand’s signature anti-aging Bio-Renewal Technology featuring ethically made epidermal growth factor peptides (EGFs are all the rage in skincare) along with soothing ingredients designed to fortify the skin’s barrier. Sunflower, avocado and olive oils strengthen skin, while glycerin and squalane hydrate. And the included SPF 30 protects against UVA/UVB rays. It’s worth noting that this moisturizer does contain a very small amount of citric oil, which has the potential to cause a reaction in some (test it on a small patch of skin beforehand).

Calm itchy, dry skin with Avène’s rich and nourishing cream. Made with the brand’s proprietary thermal spring water, it’s known for its soothing properties while the postbiotic complex helps to strengthen the skin barrier. “People with sensitive skin have an imbalanced microclimate, so they may have more bad bacteria versus good,” says Shirazi. “We see this a lot in patients with eczema.” The postbiotics in this cream help to cultivate good bacteria, rebalancing the microbiome. Approved by the National Eczema Association, the preservative-, fragrance- and paraben-free formula features ​​omega-6 fatty acids to hydrate and strengthen skin.

Tata Harper’s luxurious yet gentle moisturizer is part of the brand’s Superkind collection, which caters to those struggling with environmental triggers along with common food and fragrance allergies. The formula contains 28 high-performance, plant-derived ingredients, including microalgae peptide to prevent inflammation, mulberry leaf complex to promote cellular turnover and calendula to hydrate. The lightweight lotion is free from fragrances, essential oils, wheat, soy, gluten and 85 other common allergens.

Those acne-prone skin will want to avoid heavy creams or harsh ingredients that can further clog aggravated pores. This lightweight, water-based moisturizer strengthens the skin’s barrier, reducing the appearance of enlarged pores. Saccharide isomerate (a plant-derived moisturizer) adds lightweight hydration, while niacinamide calms inflammation and a peptide blend balances the skin microbiome. Most importantly, zinc pca helps treat acne while reducing sebum secretion. The non-comedogenic pick is also free of fragrance, silicone, parabens, sulfates, essential oils, lanolin and more irritants.

Our skin goes into repair mode at night, and dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Libby says to take advantage of that time by using a deeply hydrating moisturizer to replenish the skin. She recommends Cetaphil’s Rich Hydrating Cream as a luxurious yet affordable night moisturizer. “It deeply hydrates skin and is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and formulated specifically for sensitive skin,” she says. Key ingredients in this wallet-friendly option include skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, moisturizing glycerin, soothing olive extract and free radical-fighting vitamin E.

A key to healthy skin is a thriving microbiome (the organisms that live on our bodies). Unfortunately, ours is usually out of whack thanks to stress, pollution and other environmental aggressors. Symbiome’s simple yet effective moisturizer contains ingredients designed to rebalance skin. Sanoma leaf oil is an Amazonian oil that’s full of lipids that nourish and soothe the skin, and lactobacillus ferment is a potent postbiotic that contains lactic acid, lipids and polysaccharides to strengthen barrier function and moisturize.

Retinol is a renowned ingredient, but it’s also infamous for potentially drying out sensitive skin. Shirazi designed this calming product for her clients dealing with rosacea or acne-prone skin. The fragrance- and paraben-free formula contains ceramides, glycerin and vitamins to strengthen the skin’s barrier while ingredients like cactus and yeast extract soothe the skin. The addition of allantoin gently reduces inflammation, too. It’s so gentle and restorative that Shirazi even recommends it to patients after they’ve gotten laser treatments.

When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with CeraVe. The Daily Moisturizing Lotion is gentle enough to use on your whole body—and your family’s, too. The drugstore favorite is lightweight and oil-free, yet super hydrating. It’s formulated with three essential ceramides to help seal in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, while hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates it. Plus, the fragrance-free and non-comedogenic line has received the National Eczema Association’s seal of acceptance.