Dermatologist-Approved
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel Face Moisturizer is recommended by Evans who suggests this drugstore classic from Neutrogena. This moisturizer has a plush gel texture that provides extra-plump skin. She also likes the cleanser from the same line for a hydrating boost at the beginning of your skincare routine.
• Best for: normal, oily, combination, acne-prone
• Size: 1.7 fl oz.
Customer review: “Traded in my 90 dollar moisturizer for this after watching reviews on TikTok and I have to say it’s just as good if not better!” —Grace
Best for Pore Refining
Tula Skincare 24-7 Weightless Moisture Day & Night Gel Cream is a blue gel cream packed with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, apple, and watermelon. This weightless texture moisturizer won’t clog pores and has peptides to firm skin and niacinamide to even skin tone, making it an all-around winner.
• Best for: oily, combination, acne-prone skin
• Size: 1.5 oz.
Customer review: “I’m in my mid-40s, with sensitive combination skin, and this gel cream has been absolutely fantastic! My previous moisturizer was a bit too heavy, and this one is just right for day and night use!!!” —Christine
Best Texture
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer has a lightweight, “cloud-like” texture that melts right into the skin. Along with hyaluronic acid, it also contains skin-strengthening ceramides and Pentavitin to help maintain hydration for up to 72 hours.
• Best for: Dry, combination, normal
• Size: 1.6 oz
Customer review: “Worked great on my skin. Product does just about everything it says it will. Super plumping and long-lasting. Doesn’t feel sticky or greasy. Just a bit pricey for me.” —Arackis
Best Refillable
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer feels like a whipped face cream while still being lightweight. This moisturizer contains multiple weights of HA to penetrate deeply into the skin and polyglutamic acid for additional hydration.
• Best for: Normal, dry, combination, oily
• Size: 1.7 oz./ 50 ml.
Customer review: “I love this moisturizer, it is so good. It’s so lightweight yet so moisturizing and cleared up my skin. It never leaves my skin feeling greasy and it’s overall just an amazing product for my acne-prone skin. Honestly one of my favorite I have ever tried.” —Julia731
Best Drugstore Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream is a non-greasy and lightweight moisturizer that includes hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide, and peptides to hydrate skin and soften fine lines at an affordable price.
• Best for: Combination, dry, oily, sensitive, normal
• Size: 1.8 oz.
Customer review: “I am 43 years old, and this face cream makes my skin look and feel so hydrated. It is very light on my skin. I feel like I’m not wearing any cream. A little goes a long way, and there is a lot of product in this jar. It’s an excellent value. I feel like my skin appears more radiant and the texture is more even.” —AvaD1
Best for Skin Texture
Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer promises more hydrated, plump skin with its hyaluronic acid complex, pineapple enzymes, ceramides, and amino acids. This gel cream provides a more even-toned glow.
• Best for: Normal, dry, combination, oily
• Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: “Amazing. Beautiful wonderful. Worth every single penny. For my combo girls, this is PERFECT. Not heavy so won’t leave that greasy feel, just enough to give you that moisturized, dewy feel under makeup. Summer Fridays PLEASE make a bigger jar.” —dcasta
Best for Dry Skin
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream is a rich nighttime moisturizer that hydrates and maintains skin hydration with ingredients like HA, red algae, squalane, and Japanese purple rice. This moisturizer is best for normal to dry skin types.
• Best for: Normal, dry
• Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: “This moisturizer makes my skin feel so dewy and smooth. I am loving the way my skin feels after my nighttime routine and when I wake up in the morning.” —absi1
Best for Face and Body
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is a basic but effective moisturizer that mimics skin’s natural moisture levels with 11 amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerin. This fragrance-free moisturizer comes in a larger size compared to others.
• Best for: Normal, oily, combination, dry, sensitive
• Size: 3.3 oz
Customer review: “This is the best moisturizer I have ever used. I cannot stand the feeling of moisturizer and lotion on my face, it feels like my skin is oily and not clean but this moisturizer absorbs instantly and feels like I have no product on my skin while doing an amazing job with moisturizing the skin.” —ParZan
Best for Long-Lasting Hydration
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator Moisturizer features Auto-Replenishing Technology with activated aloe water and caffeine to hydrate skin for up to 100 hours. This moisturizer also contains vitamins C and E for antioxidant protection.
• Best for: Dry, dehydrated, sensitive
• Size: 1.7 oz
Customer review: “I’m old enough to have tried them all, but I am back to my ‘tried and true’ favorite. Deep penetration to help drying and no oily shine.” —GJKS
Best for Stressed Skin
CosRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream is a gel cream packed with HA and glycerin, making it a great option for dehydrated skin. This moisturizer is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and hypoallergenic, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
• Best for: Dry, dehydrated, sensitive
• Size: 3.53 oz
Customer review: “I love this product!! I have very dry skin and it helps so much. It does take a longer than normal time to absorb but I still love it! Legit my holy grail product.” —Hannah
Can I use one of the best hyaluronic acid moisturizers every day?
Yes, hyaluronic acid can be used daily. “Twice per day or more is fine,” says Evans. It’s best to apply products with hyaluronic acid onto slightly damp skin, so that they can hold in that moisture.
Can hyaluronic acid moisturizers be used with retinol?
According to Evans, you can “absolutely” use these ingredients together. “I recommend that my patients use HA moisturizers first, and then add the retinol on top,” she says. This way, the moisturizer creates a cushion of sorts for the retinol.
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
Lindy Segal is a beauty writer and editor who regularly contributes to BAZAAR.COM, Glamour, People, WhoWhatWear, and Fashionista. She lives in New York City with her Chihuahua mix, Barney.
