The best face cream for sensitive skin

Why you’ll love it: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is an expert-approved drugstore moisturizer that hydrates as well as its high-end counterparts thanks to hyaluronic acid.

I’m a big fan of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost range, and the Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturizer is no exception. My skin drinks hyaluronic acid like, well, water. Luckily, this lightweight face cream is absolutely loaded with the stuff.

This is one of my favorite summertime moisturizers because of the weightless texture, but it’s hydrating enough to use during any season. It’s also a great pick daytime pick for underneath makeup because it goes on wet but dries down quickly.

The hyaluronic acid has a nice plumping effect that instantly quenches rough, red patches. Oil-free and non-comedogenic, this is a great pick if you get greasy and shiny throughout the day.

Hydro Boost Water Gel is a fan favorite, with 4.3 stars on Amazon, based on 1,600+ reviews and comes recommended by dermatologists and beauty editors at The Strategist, Women’s Health, Reviews.com, and Marie Claire.

Pros: Affordable, lightweight, oil-free

Cons: Strong scent

Buy Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel on Amazon for $16.07 (originally $18.98)

Why you’ll love it: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream is a luxe, airy, moisturizer suitable for all skin types.

The Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream sounds very similar to Neutrogena Hydro Boost on paper. It, too, is a light, airy cream packed with hyaluronic acid, albeit more luxe. When it sinks into the skin it becomes watery before drying down to an undetectable finish.

But if the strong scent of Hydro Boost turns you off or irritates your complexion, this is another fantastic option. The texture is even more weightless and the formula even more soothing. In addition to hyaluronic acid that claims to hydrate for up to 72 hours, the cream contains elderberry extract, ceramides, and silk proteins.

This is an especially great option for those with oily or acne-prone skin that reacts negatively to harsh ingredients.

“I have extremely dry skin and relatively sensitive skin. This is the only moisturizer that I find works. I can be flaky when I go to bed, put this on, and in the morning I am good as [new]. It doesn't clog my pores and interfere with any of my acne medications,” writes one Sephora shopper.

Overall, Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream has a 4.4 out of five stars based on 851 Sephora reviews. It has also been featured by Marie Claire.

Pros: Lightweight, minimal fragrance, works well under makeup

Cons: Pricey

Buy Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream at Sephora for $52

Why you’ll love it: Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream is an oil-based moisturizer that replenishes good fats that help to firm and hydrate the skin.

Like all of the brand’s products, Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream gets its hydrating properties from squalane oil. While probably not ideal for greasy skin types, it’s a godsend for dry, sensitive complexions.

In addition to squalane, this product utilizes omega fatty acids, ceramides, and acai berry sterols to replenish dull skin. These ingredients are useful for soothing redness as well as firming skin and diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is a pricey option at $58 but it boasts a Clean at Sephora label and EWG certified and vegan.

This is a bit thicker than the other moisturizers on this list and, because of the squalane, has a bit of an oilier finish that I don’t find unpleasant when I’m feeling dry. For that reason, it might be a better nighttime or winter moisturizer.

Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream has a 4.6-Sephora rating based on 215 reviews and has also been featured by Vogue.

Pros: EWG certified, vegan, cruelty-free, made with natural ingredients

Cons: Pricey

Buy Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream at Sephora for $58

Why you’ll love it: Glossier Priming Moisturizer is ideal for pre-makeup prep, but it lacks any of the common irritants that make other primers a bust for sensitive skin.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer was one of the first products the millennial-favorite beauty brand released on initial launch, and it remains a fan-favorite. Within the chic pink-and-white tube is a creamy, fragrance-free moisturizer that hydrates and preps the skin for makeup.

Unlike most primers, this fully doubles as a moisturizer that you can use on its own, day or night, thanks to an ingredients’ list that boasts hyaluronic acid, mushroom super hydrator, an anti-redness complex with tea and honey extracts, and an antioxidant blend of Vitamins A, C, and E plus radish root.

The lightweight texture and soothing ingredients help even skin tone and create a smooth base for base makeup to blend over the top. The squeeze tube is also said to be more hygienic than your typical jar packaging since you don’t have to keep dipping your fingers in to distribute the product.

“I'm 36 and this gives me doll-like skin. My pores and fine lines are non-existent and my skin has improved tremendously. So glad I found this,” writes one reviewer on the Glossier site. The product has a 5-star rating on the product review website Beautypedia and a 4.2 rating based on 1,400+ reviews on Influenster.

Pros: Lightweight, works under makeup, fragrance-free, cruelty-free

Cons: Might not be hydrating enough for dry skin

Buy Priming Moisturizer at Glossier for $22