How To Choose a Facial Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

What Is My Skin Type?

Understanding your skin type is the first step in deciding which moisturizer to use in your daily regimen. There are five main skin types: normal, combination, dry, oily, and sensitive. Although daily cleansing and moisturizing are beneficial for all skin types, there are varying ingredients and moisturizing products that are best-suited to support the unique needs of each. Identifying your skin type can help you make educated decisions when choosing a moisturizer that will help keep your skin feeling healthy, hydrated, and balanced.

 

If you’re unsure of your skin type and need additional tips and guidance, check out CeraVe’s guide to finding and understanding your skin type.

 

Which Facial Moisturizer Is Ideal for Your Skin Type?

There are a few core products that should always be included in any daily skincare routine—like a broad-spectrum sunscreen and a non-drying facial cleanser. As one of these staple products, facial moisturizers come with an overwhelming array of options to choose from. Fortunately, you can use your skin type as a starting point to help narrow down your options.

 

Here are the main skin types to consider when selecting a facial moisturizer, as well as how to incorporate each into your morning and nighttime CeraVe skincare routine:

 

Combination Skin

As the name suggests, people with combination skin typically have skin that feels drier in some areas and oilier in others. This frequently manifests as increased oiliness around the T-zone area (the forehead, nose, and chin) and dryness around the cheeks. This skin type benefits from light to medium-weight moisturizers that are well-rounded enough to address the mixed needs of combination skin.

 

CeraVe recommends applying our Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 to freshly cleansed skin in the A.M., followed by a nighttime moisturizer (such as CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion) before bed to hydrate and help restore your skin barrier throughout the night.

 

Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, you may experience skin that feels tight or is itchy, flaky, rough, or even scaly. Since common skin concerns for dry skin include uneven skin texture, pronounced fine lines and wrinkles, and overall dullness, a soothing moisturizer specially formulated to seal in moisture (and keep irritants out) is key.

Choose a hydrating moisturizer with SPF in the morning, like CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen, to help supply much-needed moisture and sun protection throughout the day. To help release a steady stream of moisturizing ingredients throughout the night, apply CeraVe’s barrier-restoring Moisturizing Cream (or a similar moisturizer of your choice).

 

Normal Skin

The normal skin type is categorized by skin that is well-balanced—neither too oily nor too dry. Normal skin is generally not prone to common skin concerns, such as breakouts or flakiness. Since this skin type already possesses a good natural moisture balance, the right facial moisturizer will be focused on maintaining the skin’s hydration with lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas, such as CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. This moisturizer makes a great option for normal skin due to its lightweight and non-greasy texture and gentle, non-comedogenic formula that provides 24-hour hydration.

 

At nighttime, opt for a moisturizer without sunscreen to support your skin’s natural repair processes, such as CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion.

 

Oily Skin

Oily skin types are usually more predisposed to concerns like enlarged blackheads, acne blemishes, and unwanted shine. This comes as a result of excessive sebum production in the skin. To avoid this shiny, greasy feeling, the ideal moisturizer for anyone with oily skin should be lightweight and non-comedogenic—such as CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30. This ultra-light moisturizer can help leave oily skin feeling soft and smooth, as well as protected from the sun. And remember to apply CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion before bed, because even oily skin requires moisture around the clock.

 

Sensitive Skin

Although it’s often considered one of the main skin types, it’s important to note that you can have skin that is both sensitive as well as acne-prone, dry, or another skin type. Sensitive skin often means that your skin tends to be triggered by external factors, which can include your skincare products, resulting in symptoms such as redness, burning, itching, or dryness.

 

Because of this, you’ll want to avoid any moisturizers with potential triggers, such as fragrances.¹ Apply CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion in the morning to help reflect the sun’s rays and protect sensitive skin from UV damage—and at nighttime, apply a hydrating product like CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

 

Formulated with hyaluronic acid to help bind moisture to your skin’s surface, our Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum helps smooth skin and provides up to 24 hours of hydration. And remember: It’s always wise to do a patch test when introducing a new product into your regimen.

 

Mature Skin

To help target fine lines, wrinkles, or dullness, look for a moisturizer that helps seal in moisture and features anti-aging ingredients, such as retinol. CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream—our anti-aging day moisturizer with encapsulated retinol and SPF—helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and texture and helps prevent early signs of aging related to sun exposure, when used with other sun protection measures.

 

For your PM anti-aging skincare moisturizer, CeraVe recommends the Skin Renewing Night Cream. This moisturizing product is formulated with ceramides, peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, and is designed to hydrate, soften, and renew the look of tired-looking skin.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about the best CeraVe products for your skin type, read this article on how to choose the ideal cleanser for your skin type.