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These Are the 11 Best Moisturizers for Combination Skin (We Tested Dozens)
Finally, products that won’t clog your pores or dry out your skin.
Byrdie
TL;DR
After thorough testing, we think Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane is the ideal moisturizer for combination skin types. It’s nourishing without feeling too heavy on the complexion and won’t trigger breakouts. For a more affordable option, we love The Inkey List’s Omega Water Cream because it’s lightweight and makes the skin feel soft and smooth.
Finding a great moisturizer can be difficult, but things tend to get even stickier if you have combination skin. You need a formula that’s hydrating but nongreasy, lightweight, but still impactful. The goal: Balancing and clarifying your complexion, leaving it soft, healthy, and happy. Formulas that work best on combination skin mimic its natural moisturizing systems. “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 aesthetician 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 and tested over 100 top-rated moisturizers, many designed for combination skin. We evaluated their key ingredients, texture, feel, and the types of skin concerns targeted. (We also considered moisturizers with SPF protection and without.) Next, we had testers weigh in on how quickly each moisturizer absorbed into the skin and how long the hydration lasted. Finally, we consulted a skin expert to learn her favorites. After everything was said and done, we landed on the winners below.
Top Picks
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream at Sephora$72
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The Inkey List Omega Water Cream at Amazon$12$9
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Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Refillable Moisturizer at Sephora$66
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich at Amazon$240
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Augustinus Bader The Cream at Amazon$195
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Tatcha The Water Cream at Amazon$72
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Eadem Cloud Cushion Plush Moisturizer at Amazon$48
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BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Moisture Boost Cream at Ulta
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Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer at Amazon$30
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Kopari Peptide Glow Hydrating Moisturizer at Amazon$30
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Best Overall
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
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Deeply hydrating formula
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Works well on sensitive skin
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Won’t trigger breakouts
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Might be better for nighttime use for oilier skin
Highlighted Ingredients: Squalane, ceramides, glacial glycoproteins | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.95, 1.7, 4.2, 5.07, 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Kiehl’s has been in the skin business for over a decade for good reason: The brand understands how to design products that work for various skin types. This original formula (sans squalane) has been around for quite some time, but we think adding this hero ingredient really took it over the top. Along with ceramides and proteins sourced from Antarctic Sea glaciers, the moisturizer smooths out dry patches without making skin oily. This effect also makes it an ideal makeup primer.
Our editor, who tested this product, was thrilled to finally find a moisturizer that kept her skin from flaking while never triggering breakouts or leaving her skin feeling greasy. It’s truly that Goldilocks formula you’ve been searching for.
Read Full Review: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream Erased My Dry Patches
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Credit: Byrdie
Best Budget
The Inkey List Omega Water Cream
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On par with more expensive options
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Packaging is a hygenic tube that’s recyclable
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Lightweight
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Feels a little sticky initially
Key Ingredients: Ceramide complex, niacinamide | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The price of this product is great, but what’s even better is its formula. Even though this water cream has a very light and almost runny texture, our tester was pleasantly surprised by just how much moisture it was able to deliver—probably because it contains niacinamide, a choice ingredient for combo skin, given that it can help both moisturize and control oil production at the same time. It left our tester’s skin feeling (and looking) nice and smooth, though not in the least bit oily.
Best for Skin Barrier Repair
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Refillable Moisturizer
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Great for hydration and barrier repair
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Comes in two sizes
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Pump-top jar dispenses perfect amount and is hygienic
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Thicker texture may be off-putting to some
Key Ingredients: African oil blend, ceramides | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.5, 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
As the name implies, this pick is a slightly thicker moisturizer. However, our tester found that it wasn’t too heavy and that one pump absorbed beautifully, noticeably increasing hydration. Credit a combination of African oils nourishing and moisturizing, along with a trio of skin-strengthening ceramides that help promote and maintain a healthy skin barrier. We love the pump top, which helps you get every last drop of the formula.
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Best for Very Dry Skin
Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich
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Is both very hydrating and contains antioxidants
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Calms irritated skin
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Absorbs well
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May be too thick for some
Key Ingredients: Skullcap, vitamin E, Avocadin | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination | Size: 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Our tester felt the intense hydrating effects of this moisturizer right away; to that point, it’s definitely on the thicker side, though it still absorbed nicely. And while it’s pricey, a little goes a long way, allowing you to get plenty of bang for your buck. That holds even more true when you consider how much of a multitasker this formula is: it can smooth fine lines, firm skin, and increase elasticity all in one go. It’s no wonder Byrdie editor-in-chief, Hallie Gould, loves it.
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Credit: Byrdie
Best for Mature Skin
Augustinus Bader The Cream
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Helps smooth appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
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Softens skin texture
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Thin, lightweight consistency
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Has an unpleasant smell
Key Ingredients: TFC8, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), vitamin C, vitamin B5, hydrolyzed rice protein, aloe vera juice, shea butter | Skin Type: Combination, oily, acne-prone | Size: 1 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
When Hailey Bieber, 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. The result is skin that’s smoother, stronger, and more youthful in appearance. But the super light texture means it won’t exacerbate shine. It seems you can have it all.
Byrdie
Best for Minimizing Pores
Tatcha The Water Cream
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Refines the look of pores
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Oil-free
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Lightweight
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Jar packaging could be more hygienic
Key Ingredients: Japanese wild rose, Japanese leopard lily, Hadasei-3 Complex | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 0.34, 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This stuff is legendary in the skincare world, and our testers and editors know why. 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—we loved how it was even slightly cooling—so it feels lightweight but soothing and hydrating when you apply it. The gold applicator wand and luxe packaging are a nice touch, too.
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Credit: Byrdie
Best for Dark Spots
Eadem Cloud Cushion Plush Moisturizer
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Contains niacinamide to address dark spots
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Comes in recyclable packaging
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Fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested
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Can feel a little tacky initially
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Takes a little while to absorb
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, peptides, niacinamide | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If your skin is on the combination side and you’re also dealing with hyperpigmentation, reach for this winner. It contains radiance-boosting niacinamide and three different ceramides to turn up the hydration and protect the skin barrier. It left our tester’s complexion feeling extra smooth and perfectly prepped for makeup, which is always a benefit in our book. We love that it’s fragrance-free, meaning it won’t irritate sensitive skin.
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Credit: Byrdie
Best for Puffiness
BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Moisture Boost Cream
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Targets signs of aging
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Gel-cream texture spreads nicely and absorbs quickly
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Developed by a cosmetic chemist
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Fragrance-free, but still has a strong smell
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin F, ceramides, reishi mushroom extract | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
There’s all kinds of good stuff in this moisturizer designed to deliver some serious hydration—and then some. There are ceramides to lock in moisture and hyaluronic acid, too, which helps ensure this formula never feels too heavy on the skin. Then there’s a fermented mushroom complex, targeting inflammation, puffiness, and wrinkles; we were particularly impressed by how much it helped minimize our tester’s under-eye bags while also deeply hydrating his skin.
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Credit: Byrdie
Best With Hyaluronic Acid
Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
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Contains five types of hyaluronic acid
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Strengthen skin’s moisture barrier
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Lightweight texture
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Fragrance might irritate sensitive skin types
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, green tea tri-biotics™, green tea seed oil | Skin Type: Dry, combination, normal | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
As you may have picked up already, hyaluronic acid is a top ingredient to seek out if you have combination skin. It’s a humectant, so it attracts moisture and traps it in the skin, but it still feels extremely light and never in the least bit greasy. This formula contains not one, not two, but five different types of HA to help really step up the hydration game. So it’s no surprise that it struck the perfect in-between, imparting just the right amount of refreshing moisture to our tester’s without feeling too thick or greasy.
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Credit: Byrdie
Best Gel
Kopari Peptide Glow Hydrating Moisturizer
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Gel-cream texture is very light
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Protects and maintains moisture barrier
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Plumping peptides leave the skin refreshed
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Jar packaging could be more hygienic
Key Ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane | Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
As a general rule of thumb, gel formulas are ideal for those with combination skin because they are typically lighter (to help avoid greasiness) while still packing hydration. That’s why we tested this one. And it lived up to its claims: our tester said it was noticeably more hydrating than other gels she’d tried. It left her complexion looking and feeling velvety for hours on end. It’s also not in the least bit runny, with a perfectly middle-of-the-road consistency that spreads extremely evenly.
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Credit: Byrdie
Best Vegan Formula
Shani Darden Hydration Peptide Cream
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Oil-free formula is still very hydrating
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Large amount of product
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Heals dry patches
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Doesn’t leave skin looking particularly dewy
Active Ingredients: Squalane, peptides, niacinamide, Hydrosella | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 2.5 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This vegan, cruelty-free formula is oil-free and won’t clog pores—though it still manages to deliver super long-lasting hydration—72 hours worth, to be exact. It absorbed lightning fast into our tester’s skin, alleviating any rough patches and that dry, tight feeling almost instantaneously. Also nice: The bottle is slightly larger than many others we’ve tried.
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Credit: Byrdie
What to Look for in a Moisturizer for Combination Skin
- Humectants: Grant says 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. 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 congestion.
- Lightweight Textures: On that note, Grant suggests that combination skin types seek out a light gel or fluid moisturizer. Look for noncomedogenic moisturizers, as these won’t clog pores or cause breakouts. “Rich creams, balms, and butters are better suited towards extremely dry skin.”
How We Tested Moisturizers for Combination Skin
Byrdie
We spent over 100 hours testing editor and reader-favorite moisturizers to identify the best ones that also worked for combination skin. Our testers used them at home for months in their everyday lives, paying special attention to how each formula felt upon application, how it wore with other products and under makeup, how long the hydration lasted, and whether or not it had added benefits such as reducing fine lines or mitigating redness. The ones that scored the highest during testing made it into this list.
Meet Our Experts
Team Byrdie collaborated with two specialists to better inform our choices:
- Melanie Grant is an aesthetician, facialist, skin expert, and the founder of Melanie Grant Skin Health, a clinic with outposts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Los Angeles.
- C. Nicole Swiner, M.D., is a board-certified family doctor in North Carolina.
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Algar is an experienced writer who covers all things beauty, specializing in in-depth product reviews. Her work has appeared in many multiple national publications.
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s written for Byrdie since 2020, covering hair, makeup, skin, health, wellness, fashion, and more. She also has combination skin and is on a perpetual hunt to find moisturizers that will combat dryness without exacerbating slick spots.
Shannon Stubbs
Ally Hirschlag
Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/best-moisturizers-for-combination-skin