Best for Face
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Pros
- Lightweight, nongreasy texture and ingredients to fight acne
- Contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane
- Widely available in stores and online
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Not specifically created to address eczema
- May cause irritation on some skin
Key Specs
- Type: Cream
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, five types of ceramides, squalane
- Face or body: Face
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
This moisturizer has a rich yet lightweight and nongreasy texture, and it can be used during the day or night. It’s suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive skin, and it is gentle enough for kids to use. It’s free of dyes, essential oils, gluten, parabens, lanolin, botanical extracts, formaldehyde-releasing agents, and fragrance. And it’s not tested on animals. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive, but some consumers report that this product caused adverse reactions on their skin, such as redness, breakouts, or stinging, so make sure you do a patch test first.
Best for Body
CLn Body Moisturizer
Pros
- Uses emollient, humectant, and occlusive moisturizers
- Contains 2 percent colloidal oatmeal to relieve itching
- Includes ceramides, shea butter, glycerin, aloe, petrolatum, vitamins B5, C, E
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Only available in 8-ounce tube
- Pricey for a body moisturizer
Key Specs
- Type: Cream
- Key ingredients: 2 percent colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, aloe, shea butter, petrolatum, ceramide 2, vitamins B5, C, E
- Face or body: Body
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
Instead of relying on one type of moisturizer, CLn Body Moisturizer nourishes dry, damaged skin using a combination of all three types: emollients, humectants, and occlusives. Emollients like ceramides and dimethicone smooth and improve the skin’s texture, humectants like glycerin and aloe draw moisture into the top layer of skin, and occlusives like petrolatum and shea butter create a barrier to keep moisture in. Ceramides have been shown to help create a moisture barrier, preserve hydration, regulate pH, control inflammation, and enhance skin functioning and appearance. The cream’s 2 percent colloidal oatmeal helps relieve symptoms like irritation and itching.
Best Budget
Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Daily Soothing Moisturizer
Pros
- Most affordable on our list
- Contains 1 percent oatmeal to relieve itching
- Includes niacinamides, glycerin to moisturize
- Free of steroids, parabens
Cons
- Texture may feel runny
- Pump may break
Key Specs
- Type: Cream
- Key ingredients: 1 percent colloidal oatmeal, proprietary filaggrin technology, ad-resyl, niacinamide, glycerin
- Face or body: Both
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
As an eczema sufferer and avid deal chaser, I’m very familiar with the Cetaphil brand and can attest to the effectiveness and gentleness of its Restoraderm product line, which is formulated to address common eczema symptoms by focusing on restoring the skin barrier. I regularly use the Eczema Itch-Relief Gel and Stressed Skin Soothing Wash. This moisturizer is an affordable addition to your skin-care routine. It can be used on your body and face, and it’s hypoallergenic and free of steroids, fragrance, and parabens.
Best for Itchy Skin
Curél Hydratherapy Itch Defense Wet Skin Moisturizer
Pros
- Formulated to apply to wet skin to lock in moisture and prevent dry, itchy skin
- Contains ceramides, oatmeal extract, shea butter, and vitamin E to soothe
- Free of parabens, dyes, and phthalates
- Vegan, cruelty-free
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
- National Psoriasis Foundation Seal of Recognition
Cons
- Texture may feel sticky
- Pump may break
Key Specs
- Type: Cream
- Key ingredients: Ceramide, oatmeal extract, vitamin E
- Face or body: Body
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
To really lock in moisture and combat the itchiness that can come with dry skin and eczema, Curél Hydratherapy Itch Defense Wet Skin Moisturizer should be your post-shower go-to. It’s activated by the water on your freshly washed skin: Humectants like glycerin and mineral oil will pull that moisture into your skin, then occlusives like petrolatum and shea butter will create a moisture barrier to seal it in.
It contains oatmeal extract to help soothe and relieve itchy skin, while the emollient ceramide complex and vitamin E boost the skin barrier and improve moisture retention, to help prevent future dryness and itching. Keep it by the tub and apply before you towel off to help it deeply penetrate the skin for ultimate healing. It dries quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy residue, though some folks complain that it leaves them feeling a bit sticky.
Best Toner and Moisturizer
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturizer
Pros
- Two-in-one toner and moisturizer
- Contains ceramides, peptides, and amino acids
- Free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates
- Refillable bottle
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Not specifically created to address eczema
- Some may find the texture sticky
- May cause breakouts in some people
Key Specs
- Type: Creamy liquid
- Key ingredients: Ceramide and peptide complex, white leaf tea
- Face or body: Face
- Scented: Yes
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
This moisturizer is created to address dryness and loss of firmness and elasticity, and it is suitable for all skin types. It’s free of parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates, triclocarban, triclosan, and contains less than 1 percent synthetic fragrance. It comes in an eco-friendly refillable bottle, and you can also purchase a mist pump attachment separately.
Best Lightweight
Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer
Pros
- Lightweight formula is great for layering
- Contains avocado oil, hyaluronic acid to moisturize and hydrate
- Free of silicone, fragrance, alcohol, mineral oil, PEG
- Can also use as makeup primer
- Vegan, cruelty-free
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Texture may feel greasy to some
- May not be hydrating enough for very dry skin
Key Specs
- Format: Cream; squeeze tube
- Key ingredients: Avocado oil, shea butter, naturally derived silicone alternative
- Face or body: Face
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
Best for Intense Moisturizing
Dr. Arsy Moisturizer #003
Pros
- Rich formula contains shea and cocoa butters, squalane, vitamins E, C, and B5
- Can be used on face and body
- Free of parabens, cruelty-free
- Vegan
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Thick texture may be too heavy for oily skin
- Not great in humid, sweaty conditions
Key Specs
- Type: Cream
- Key ingredients: Squalane, shea and cocoa butter, vitamins E, C, B5, extracts of tomato, carrot, pumpkin seed, oat, kale
- Face or body: Both
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
If you have very dry skin or need a thicker option for the winter months, Dr. Arsy’s rich, creamy #003 moisturizer offers the intense, long-lasting hydration you need. The moisturizer aims to increase skin moisture levels and improve the function of the skin barrier with emollient squalane and lipids. Thanks to botanicals like extracts of tomato, carrot, pumpkin seed, oat, and kale, it’s rich in amino acids that help repair damaged skin and prevent future damage. Ingredients include occlusives shea and cocoa butter, and vitamins E, C, and B5.
This cream quickly soothes and moisturizes dry, red, and itchy skin on both your face and body. It’s hypoallergenic, free of fragrance and parabens, certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, and vegan. The rich formula may be too heavy for people with oily skin or for use during hot, humid summer months when you will be sweating.
Best for Aging Skin
Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer II
Pros
- Targets signs of aging, irritated skin, like fine lines and wrinkles
- Contains squalane, five types of ceramides, macadamia oil, and aloe
- Brown seaweed extract stimulates collagen production
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Most expensive on our list
- Thicker formula may sit on top of skin longer
Key Specs
- Type: Cream
- Key ingredients: Ceramides, squalane, brown seaweed extract, amino acids, macadamia oil, phytosterols, pro-vitamin B5, aloe vera leaf extract, green tea, argan oil
- Face or body: Face
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
Best Oil-Free
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water Gel Moisturizer
Pros
- Free of oil, alcohol, fragrance, gluten
- Contains hyaluronic acid, chamomile, kiwi, and peach extracts
- Prebiotics and probiotics to discourage breakouts
- Vegan
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Cons
- Moisturizing effect may not last long
- Not specifically created to address eczema
Key Specs
- Type: Gel
- Key ingredients: Chamomile flower, kiwi, and peach extracts, hyaluronic acid
- Face or body: Face
- Scented: No
- NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
Peach & Lily products are vegan and free of oil, alcohol, fragrance, and gluten. They’re also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. This moisturizer is designed for use on all skin types, particularly oily, combination, uneven, red, or acne-prone skin.
Why Trust Everyday Health
Olivia Campbell
Author
Olivia Campbell is the New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine and Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History. She is a freelance editor at Dotdash Meredith and a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, New York Magazine, Health, Parents, History, and The Guardian, among other outlets.
Campbell received a journalism degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, where she now acts as a thesis advisor. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
Campbell lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and two cats.
Susan Bard, MD
Medical Reviewer
Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.
She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.
Orlando de Guzman
Fact-Checker
Orlando de Guzman is a writer and editor with expertise in health and environmental news. He has a background in investigative and science journalism and has worked on documentary films about war and trauma, health, sanitation, and the changing climate around the world. His interest in health and medicine started after an early career as a medical and legal translator.
De Guzman is a longtime health and fitness enthusiast who is interested in nutrition, diet, and mental health. He participates in endurance sports and cross-trains in several traditions of martial arts from Southeast Asia. De Guzman is interested in how the progressively complex movements of martial arts training can improve cognition and mental well-being, especially for those with PTSD and for those approaching middle age and beyond.
De Guzman has a dual B.A. in communications and international studies from the University of Washington in Seattle. He is committed to factual storytelling and evidence-based reporting on critical choices that affect our planet.
