December 19, 2025
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: You can’t have a complete skincare routine without an effective face moisturizer. Moisturizing regularly helps keep your skin’s natural moisture barrier properly hydrated, which is critical if you want smooth, healthy-looking skin. Of course, there’s little benefit in just slathering on the first face cream you can find. For skin that looks (and feels) its best, you want to seek out a moisturizer that suits your skin type and unique skin concerns, whatever they may be.
Admittedly, with so many formulas out there, finding the ideal moisturizer for your skin can be intimidating. To help, we’ve compiled a list of our best facial moisturizers for every skin type and concern.
- Best Moisturizer for All Skin Types: Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane or Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30
- Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin Types: Ultra Facial Oil-Free Moisturizer
- Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin Types: Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream
- Best Moisturizer for Mature Skin: Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Face and Neck Cream
- Best Moisturizer for Dull Skin: Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment
- Best Nighttime Face Moisturizer: Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Botanical Cloud Cream
- Best Men’s Moisturizer for All Skin Types: Facial Fuel Daily Energizing Moisture Treatment For Men
Read on to dive in further and learn how to choose the best Kiehl’s moisturizer for your skin.
First: Determine Your Skin Type
Choosing the best moisturizer for your skin first requires understanding what type of skin you have. There are several different skin types (and subtypes), but the most common are: dry, oily, sensitive, blemish-prone, and combination. If you need help figuring out yours, check out our article, How To Determine Your Skin Type. Once that’s out of the way, you can find Kiehl’s best face moisturizer for your needs below.Best Daily Moisturizer For All Skin Types: Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
There are many different types of moisturizers, so we’ll start with a formula that’s suitable for all skin types: our cult-classic
Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane.
Why Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane Is Our Best Pick
This hydrating staple (our #1 best-selling face cream worldwide) features sugar-derived squalane, a Kiehl’s signature ingredient. It absorbs quickly, leaving the skin feeling hydrated for up to 72 hours. Our iconic moisturizer also helps replenish and protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier. We recommend applying a dime-sized amount to clean skin morning and night for soft, healthy-looking skin.
For extra UV protection, reach for Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30, which boasts the same hydrating benefit, but with an added dose of broad-spectrum sunscreen to keep your skin looking its best.
Seasonal Moisturizing Tip for All Skin Types:
The best moisturizer for you may not be consistent all year round. Many people benefit from using a heavier face cream in the winter, when your skin is more likely to dry out, and using a lighter facial lotion in hot or humid weather.
Best Moisturizer For Oily Skin: Ultra Facial Oil-Free Moisturizer
While you may be hesitant to moisturize oily skin for fear that doing so will just make it oilier, all skin needs hydration. For long-lasting hydration that won’t weigh down your oily skin, we recommend Ultra Facial Oil-Free Moisturizer.Why Ultra Facial Oil-Free Moisturizer Is Our Best Pick
This non-comedogenic gel cream provides a refreshing burst of moisture that leaves your skin feeling hydrated and fresh for up to 24 hours. With consistent use, it also helps visibly minimize the appearance of enlarged pores and shine for a healthy, balanced appearance.
Best Moisturizer For Combination Skin: Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
If your skin has both dry and oily areas, you likely have combination skin. The best way to care for it is with a moisturizer that provides lightweight hydration, such as Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream.Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
Made with concentrated calendula extract, this ultra-light moisturizer provides all-day hydration to help soften the skin. Additionally, the soothing formula helps boost radiance after just one week, while continued use helps improve the appearance of dry fine lines, redness, and unevenness for fresher, more radiant-looking skin.Best Moisturizer For Damaged Skin: Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream
If sensitive skin isn’t cared for properly, redness, flaking, and discomfort can occur. And that’s when you need to call in the big guns. We recommend Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream for these situations.Why Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream Is Our Best Pick
Made with colloidal oatmeal, this reparative formula for dry skin helps restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Additionally, it works to alleviate the symptoms of irritation, such as redness and discomfort. Use it as needed to help soothe and strengthen dry, damaged skin.Best Moisturizer For Mature Skin: Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Face and Neck Cream
If visible aging is your main skin concern, we recommend reaching for a wrinkle cream, like Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Face and Neck Cream.Why Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Face and Neck Cream Is Our Best Pick
This supercharged formula, which contains phytomimetic vitamin A (a gentle retinol alternative) and chaga mushroom, helps target several different signs of skin aging. It’s clinically demonstrated to visibly reduce wrinkles and smooth skin’s texture within just four weeks.* Over time, it also helps boost elasticity and evens skin tone to reveal a visibly firmer, more radiant appearance.***Results based on a 12-week clinical study of 53 panelists in the US. **Based on 96% agreement after continuous use in a consumer study.
Best Moisturizer For Dull Skin: Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment
Sun exposure, airborne pollutants, and the natural aging process can all contribute to dull, uneven-looking skin. To promote a more uniform skin tone, we recommend Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment, which contains activated vitamin C and glycolic acid.Why Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment Is Our Best Pick
This effective formula provides continuous, 24-hour hydration while helping to smooth and brighten dull skin. It’s clinically demonstrated to help correct the appearance of skin discolorations and improve skin texture and can be used morning and night for visibly clearer skin.**Results based upon a clinical study of the upper layers of the skin.
Best Nighttime Face Cream: Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Botanical Night Cream
While you can use the same moisturizer in the morning and evening, we love reaching for a slightly richer face cream at night—for many, that added boost of hydration can go a long way. If you’re interested in adding a night cream to your nighttime skincare routine, we suggest Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Botanical Cloud Cream.Why Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Botanical Night Cream Is Our Best Pick
Formulated with a blend of omega-rich fatty acids and botanical extracts, this rejuvenating moisturizer helps visibly plump the skin and replenishes your skin’s natural lipid barrier.* Massage a pea-sized amount of the lightweight, whipped moisturizer onto your face as the last step of your nighttime skincare routine for more radiant, youthful-looking skin come sunrise.*Based on a consumer study of 55 participants at four weeks.
