There are thousands of skincare products on the market today… and unfortunately, despite what they may claim, they’re not all safe for the skin.
While a product can have beautiful packaging, a pleasant smell, and promise to offer amazing benefits, its ingredient list might tell a different story. The lack of federal regulation in the skincare industry means that brands can get away with including harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and sodium lauryl sulfate in their formulations.
Luckily, more and more brands are stepping up to the plate by creating products with simple, natural ingredients. By doing a little bit of research, you can find products that you feel good about applying to your skin.
If you’re looking to switch up your skincare products to incorporate more clean ingredients, moisturizer is a great place to start. Keep reading to learn about some of the best natural face moisturizers for different skin types.
For Normal Skin
For normal skin types, the best moisturizers will maintain balance by protecting skin from dryness and environmental stressors. You’ll want to make sure that the ingredients are lightweight enough to not clog pores, yet emollient enough to support your skin’s barrier. Products that integrate light natural oils like prickly pear, rosehip or argan as well as protective nutrients and antioxidants can fit this bill.
Herbal Dynamics Beauty Prickly Pear Antioxidant Daily Moisturizer
Photo: Herbal Dynamics Beauty
The Youth Refresh Prickly Pear Antioxidant Daily Moisturizer by Herbal Dynamics Beauty is the perfect everyday moisturizer. Formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, prickly pear seed oil, and vitamin C, this moisturizer boosts radiance and hydration for soft, supple skin.
This lightweight formula balances sebum production while keeping skin hydrated, making it a great choice for those with normal skin (as well as for balancing combo skin). It also helps to fight free radical damage and repair and create new skin cells with antioxidant botanicals, making skin look vibrant. Reviewers like the light texture, non-greasy feel, and fast absorption.
$24 from Herbal Dynamics Beauty
Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
Photo: Sephora
Youth to the People’s Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream is another great option for those with normal skin. It can also be used by those with dry or sensitive skin.
The superstar ingredients in this formula include squalane, ashwagandha, and fermented reishi. Squalane works to boost skin hydration without clogging pores, while ashwagandha fights off external stressors. Fermented reishi hydrates, detoxifies, and fights signs of aging. This moisturizer is fragrance-free, so if you find that your skin is sensitive to fragrance, consider giving it a try.
For Oily Skin
Using moisturizer on oily skin might seem counterintuitive—but doing so is actually key to keeping oils at bay. When your skin is dry, it may overcompensate by producing excess oil, so using a good moisturizer can help to prevent this. Gel textures and hyaluronic acid-based formulas can help prevent skin from producing excess oil or becoming rough/flaky.
Farmacy Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer
Photo: Farmacy Beauty
Farmacy’s Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer is a lightweight gel formula designed to absorb right into the skin without feeling heavy or greasy. Key ingredients include moringa seed extract and moringa water, hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, which all work together to refresh and hydrate the skin.
This moisturizer also includes papaya extract, which gently exfoliates the skin for a fresh, radiant complexion. Overall, this moisturizer is great for keeping skin balanced—and it’s a favorite among those with oily skin.
Base Butter Radiate Face Jelly
Photo: Base Butter
Similar to the Farmacy moisturizer, Base Butter’s Radiate Face Jelly has a lightweight gel texture that won’t leave behind a greasy residue.
The aloe vera in this formula helps to keep skin balanced, while evening primrose boosts elasticity with omega-6 fatty acids. This moisturizer also contains lavender, which regulates sebum production and disinfects the skin. All of these benefits make this a great product to include in your lineup if you have oily skin.
For Dry Skin
Dry skin types need a surge of moisture that lasts all day or night to prevent dehydration. Typically, overly dry skin is a sign of an impaired skin barrier, dehydration, reactions to other products/diet or a combo effect. When picking a moisturizer, you’ll want a richer, more emollient texture designed with calming ingredients (and without harsh ones). Squalane, natural plant oils and hyaluronic acid can all provide soothing moisture without inducing further irritation.
Herbal Dynamics Beauty Antioxidant Transforming Night Cream
Photo: Herbal Dynamics Beauty
Skin repairs itself overnight—so having a nighttime skincare routine is essential if you want to achieve a glowing, healthy complexion. This is especially the case for those with dry skin, as skin can easily become deprived of moisture as you sleep.
If you’re on the hunt for a natural night cream, consider the Revitage Antioxidant Transforming Night Cream from Herbal Dynamics Beauty. Formulated with natural ingredients like squalane, green tea, chamomile, and watermelon, this cream nourishes the skin as it goes through the regeneration process overnight. It can be applied as the last step of your nighttime routine to lock in moisture and fight signs of aging. Reviewers mention that their skin feels hydrated upon waking and also brightening effects.
$28 from Herbal Dynamics Beauty
Weleda Skin Food Original
Photo: Weleda
Weleda’s Skin Food is a rich cream designed to treat rough, dry skin. Its plant blend formula can be applied anywhere on the body, but many reviewers rave about the benefits it offers the face.
This formula contains extracts of calendula, gentle voila tricolor, oils, and beeswax, which work together to provide long-lasting hydration for the skin. This ultra-thick moisturizer can be applied to the entire face or as a spot treatment on areas that are especially dry. Whether your skin is naturally dry or gets dry seasonally (such as during the winter months), this product can help to bring it back to life.
100% Pure Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme
Photo: 100 Percentu Pure
The Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme by 100% Pure contains nutrient-rich sea minerals and vitamins to deeply hydrate the skin.
Cassia Angustifolia plumps the skin by locking in moisture, while Beta Glucan soothes redness and irritation. Alteromonas fights inflammation, Bacurri softens and nourishes skin, and Sea Buckthorn provides a boost of essential nutrients.
This product can be used both day and night after cleansing and toning. The hydrating ingredients it offers makes it an ideal choice for those with dry skin.
For Combination Skin
If you’re someone who has combination skin, you might find that your skin is dry in some areas, and oily in others. This can make choosing products tricky, as many are formulated specifically for either dry or oily skin.
Juice Beauty Antioxidant Moisturizer
Photo: Joice Beauty
Juice Beauty’s Antioxidant Moisturizer is a great all-around product for combination skin. It contains antioxidants from certified organic botanical juices, peptides, and vitamins to prevent premature aging while leaving the skin feeling silky smooth. This formula is very lightweight, yet provides a noticeable boost of moisture to keep your skin balanced.
One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm
Photo: One Love Organics
The Skin Savior Wonder Balm by One Love Organics is a unique 3-in-1 product. It can be used to break down and remove makeup, applied as a treatment mask, or left on as a rich moisturizer. This balm-to-oil formula glides on the skin and leaves a beautiful dewy glow.
Many reviewers claim that this product is great for travel, as it can be used in several different ways. Ingredients like chia seed, orange peel wax, and oat oil work together to tone, condition, and soothe the skin. This product can be used by all skin types, and those with combination skin may find it to help nourish dry areas while keeping the moisture level in oily areas in check.
For Sensitive Skin
When it comes to sensitive skin, it’s important to choose products that provide hydration without clogging pores and causing irritation. Typically, sensitive skin needs a slightly richer formulation compared to oily skin, but hyaluronic and aloe based products can also serve this skin type well.
The key thing to keep in mind is to go simple, introduce new products slowly, and pay close attention to how your skin reacts. You may want to try a hyaluronic acid serum first, then find a moisturizer that plays well with it.
Peet Rivko Daily Moisturizer
Photo: Peet Rivko
Oftentimes, simple ingredients are best, like those found in the Peet Rivko Daily Moisturizer. This plant-derived formula contains shea butter, jojoba, and aloe to leave the skin feeling soft and smooth.
It provides long-lasting hydration throughout the day to keep skin healthy and nourished. This formula is lightweight, so ideal for sensitive skin on the normal to oily spectrum.
Burt’s Bees Daily Moisturizing Cream for Sensitive Skin
Photo: Burt’s Bees
Formulated with a soothing blend of aloe and rice extract, the Burt’s Bees Daily Moisturizing Cream is ideal for sensitive skin types. This cream is designed to provide all-day hydration without causing irritation and redness in the skin.
It contains cotton extract, which helps to replenish the skin’s outer layer while minimizing the effects of irritants like harsh cleansers or soaps. A bonus of this product is that it’s available at many drugstores.
For Acne-Prone Skin
If you’re prone to breakouts you might assume that you need to skip moisturizers and dry out your skin. However, when skin becomes dry, its natural barrier is less effective at fighting off bacteria and irritation – meaning more breakouts. The harsh ingredients in many acne products further exacerbate this issue. To pick a moisturizer that will help calm rather than inflame acne, look for lightweight formulas with simple ingredients designed to gently exfoliate and prevent blocked pores.
Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer
Photo: Tata Harper Skincare
Many skincare products geared toward treating acne contain harsh chemicals. Not only are these ingredients likely to irritate your skin further, but they can cause long-term damage. The good news is that there are a variety of natural skincare products designed to treat and prevent acne, like the Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer.
This lightweight lotion contains saw palmetto, which helps to balance oil production, and a BHA botanical blend that gently exfoliates the skin to treat blemishes and pores. It also contains tazman pepper berry, a natural antioxidant that calms redness and irritation. This is a great option if you’re looking for a product that will moisturize while also fighting acne.
$120 from TataHarperSkincare.com
OSEA Blemish Balm
Photo: Osea Malibu
OSEA’s Blemish Balm is a fast-absorbing moisturizer designed to hydrate the skin and promote an even tone.
This formula contains juniper, thyme, and tea tree essential oils to calm and clarify the skin. It also contains a proprietary trio of seaweeds that offer a boost of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids—which are all skin-loving ingredients. The result? A fresh, hydrated, and younger-looking complexion.
As the skincare industry continues to advance, there will likely be more natural products to choose from. Brands are starting to realize the importance of using quality ingredients—which means you won’t have to sacrifice the health of your skin to use the products you love!
