This $18 Face Cream Moisturizes Better Than a $400 Formula (2024)

This iconic Olay cream outperformed almost a dozen competitors — even one priced at $440! — in GH Beauty Lab moisturization testing. Lab scientists were blown away by how well this GH Beauty Award winner kept skin moisturized over a 24-hour period, increasing hydration levels by 50% in calculations with the Corneometer device, which measures skin moisture levels.

The formula is boosted with anti-aging ingredients like peptides and niacinamide. "It felt like satin on my skin," a tester enthused, and many praised that it "absorbed quickly." While many testers liked the "pleasant" fragrance, one called it "too highly scented."

Lightweight lotion, heavy-duty hydration: Fragrance-free CeraVe outperformed many formulas in the GH Beauty Lab's face moisturizer test at hydrating skin — for a bargain price. Made with nourishing ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, it also ranked well for absorbing fast (some user didn’t like that the product was thin, however).

The formulation, which can also be used on the body, increased skin’s hydration by a near-record 48% in Lab measurements with the Corneometer machine. It earned points with users for easy absorption and for leaving skin feeling soft. “I didn’t have any dry or flaky skin,” a tester remarked. A second raved: "It was very moisturizing but not greasy and left my skin feeling hydrated for hours."

The cult classic Kiehl’s cream — infused with hydrating squalane, glycerin and six botanical oils — lived up to its reputation, excelling in Beauty Lab face moisturizer testing for providing strong skin hydration with a rich texture testers loved. In measurements with the Corneometer device, it raised moisturization by an impressive 47%.

It also ranked highly for not causing redness or irritation and leaving skin feeling plump. Among testers, 90% agreed that the formula’s texture wasn’t too heavy, greasy or tacky, but some found it left residue on skin. Many said they would buy the product or continue using it. “It kept my skin hydrated all day!” one exclaimed. Another called it "the best I've used in a long time — I usually buy medical-grade moisturizers and this is much better."

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The affordable, fragrance-free Aveeno face cream — which contains glycerin, fatty acids and the brand’s signature calming oat flour — was a star in the Beauty Lab's face moisturizer test at smoothing skin and soaking in speedily, thanks to its water-light formula. It scored highest in several respects, including for not irritating or causing redness. A full 100% of users agreed that the it absorbed quickly and left skin feeling hydrated and smooth.

The cream also tied for best texture, ranked high for soothing skin and upped moisturization by 23% in Lab testing. It “felt very sheer” and “didn’t leave a residue like others,” two testers said. One reported: "I have rosacea and it did not irritate my skin at all." They did note that the bottle was tricky to open without having cream squirt out.

Enriched with a plethora of softening ingredients (shea butter, glycerin, plant oils, hyaluronic acid) as well as antioxidant vitamins C and E, Philosophy’s luxurious moisturizer got the highest rating in Beauty Lab testing for soothing both skin and senses. The lotion ranked tops for its herbal aroma and ability to soothe skin and leave it feeling plump. It also tied for the best texture, which a tester described as “very light.”

In Lab assessment, the formula boosted skin’s hydration by 28%. Testers also reported that it wore well under makeup, though some said it felt tacky when applied. “My skin feels more vibrant and better than ever,” a user raved. Another said, “I’ve tried dozens of face creams, and this is a keeper.”

A GH Beauty Lab favorite and GH Seal star, this luxe-feeling RoC cream is based on the research-verified ingredient retinol, which speeds up skin cell turnover to reduce dark spots and wrinkles starting in as little as seven days.

In clinical tests, volunteers’ skin looked 32% smoother and more radiant after one week of daily use. The formula improved the look of wrinkles and dark spots by 46% over eight weeks and kept skin moisturized for a full 24 hours, Lab data analysis revealed. Note that while the product is mild, retinol can still irritate sensitive skin types.

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With an extensive list of antioxidant, age-fighting actives tailored to mature skin, this Good Housekeeping Seal star and Beauty Award-winning Mary Kay formula is not your average moisturizer. In a study involving 50 women, there was significant improvement in skin firmness and forehead lines after two weeks, per GH Beauty Lab data evaluation.

The lightweight, oil- and fragrance-free cream also comes in versions for combination-to-oily and oily-to-dry skin types. Note, though, that it could be too light for those with extremely dry skin. "I love that this can be used as your one moisturizing and treatment product on busy days for both morning and night," GH's beauty director says.

The best of the GH Beauty Lab's anti-aging day cream test, this L'Oréal Paris brightening lotion with SPF 30 delivers a big bang for your buck, effectively evening out skin tone, reducing dark spots and hydrating. Lab tests found it raised skin's hydration 28% and decreased UV spots by 11% in four weeks.

Two caveats: It could irritate in contact with eyes and a few users reported breakouts. "In addition to the moisturizing effect, it decreased the appearance of my wrinkles, improved my skin tone, and my skin appeared brighter and more radiant," a user said. Another commented: "My skin stayed hydrated througout the day."

A gold standard and GH Beauty Award winner, the classic Clinique lotion stands the test of time, effectively hydrating even very dry skin for hours in GH Beauty Lab assessment despite a light feel. Measurements with the Lab’s Corneometer device showed that it increased skin's moisture by an impressive 43% on average over 24 hours after application.

"This is one of the few moisturizers that deeply hydrates my dry skin over time so the visible flaking is gone," GH's beauty director says. Some reviewers reported breakouts and that it left their skin greasy, though.

With its featherlight refreshing gel texture, Neutrogena's innovative hyaluronic acid moisturizer, a GH Beauty Award winner, quenches parched skin instantly and all day long without feeling heavy on oily skin or acne-prone complexions. GH Beauty Lab data evaluations showed the oil-free and noncomedogenic (not pore-clogging) formula kept skin hydrated for 12 hours.

"It quickly rebalanced my oily, acne-prone skin and brought back much-needed moisture, but didn't cause any breakouts," says GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn.

RELATED: Best Moisturizers for Oily Skin

This GH Beauty Award-winning Olay lotion is the rare formula that provides both sun protection and the real hydrating effects of a regular moisturizer at the same time. GH Beauty Lab tests found it increased skin moisture levels by 31% — more than any facial SPF 30 previously evaluated. While a few reviewers noted reactions to the product, testers praised the lotion for being "fast-absorbing" and "non-greasy."

RELATED: Best Face Moisturizers with SPF

Rich in nourishing glycerin and triglycerides, Eau Thermale Avène's cream was created with minimal ingredients and without common irritants like fragrance to help soothe the most sensitive skin. Both GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann and GH's beauty director use it in their routines to relieve inflammation like redness and eczema.

While it may be overly thick for those with oily, acne-prone or combination skin, it provides much-needed relief for sensitivity and extreme dehydration."This is my go-to when my skin is reacting and I need a moisturizer that will feel deeply coddling to help calm it," GH's beauty director says. "It's so gentle, I can use it right on flare-ups."

RELATED: How to Get Rid of Redness

Instantly quench and relieve a dehydrated face by smoothing on Aveeno’s formula, a GH Beauty Award winner that melds a next-generation water-based gel texture and nourishing, anti-inflammatory colloidal oat, often used to treat eczema.

While Wizemann found that the light moisturizer “melts in with no greasiness or tackiness," some users noted it pilled when they applied it. "It cools and calms dry, irritated skin patches on contact,” she revealed. “My skin looked better the next day: less red and not rough.”

This Caudalie cream, packed with naturally-derived botanical oils, waters and extracts, came out on top in GH Beauty Lab night cream testing for seriously hydrating (boosting levels by 43%) and improving skin's texture.

Testers also gave it perfect marks for not being greasy or irritating (one noted that it felt a bit sticky after it dried, though). "It moisturized my skin into the following morning," a user marveled. A second agreed that "the product was very moisturizing and you wake up looking refreshed."

Lightweight and gentle, RoC was a star in GH Beauty Lab day cream testing for smoothing wrinkles, lines and skin texture. Lab digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer showed the SPF formula improved skin texture by 11% after four weeks of daily use, though it wasn't as moisturizing as other formulas in Corneometer measurements.

"It left my skin feeling plump and looking smooth and glowing," one tester raved. Others praised the texture, saying it "felt very light" and "absorbed very quickly."

Soften skin in your sleep with this mild Philosophy cream made with hyaluronic acid, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s night cream test for its powerful moisturizing properties. It raised skin moisturization by 34% and firmness by 29% in four weeks, per Lab measures, and 95% of testers said it didn’t irritate.

Many testers raved about the "luxurious" texture, although some said it took time to soak into skin. "My skin looked better after the first night I used this," one marveled. Another commented that it left skin feeling "soft and moisturized."

This Perricone MD SPF moisturizer was one of the top hydrators in GH Beauty Lab day cream testing and the only winner made with mineral-only sunscreen. Beauty Lab scientists measured a 30% increase in skin's moisturization levels. It also outperformed the rest at reducing the look of pores, by 8%, and improved skin texture by 10% in four weeks according to calculations with the Visia Complexion Analyzer.

A few drawbacks include that some testers thought it felt sticky on skin and could interfere with makeup. But it still earned praise from many: "It made my skin feel dewy and fresh," a tester remarked.

GH Beauty Lab scientists have a century-long history of testing skincare products for efficacy, including face moisturizers. When skincare products make moisturization or hydration claims, Beauty Lab experts use the Corneometer device to gauge how well (or not!) a formula moisturizes skin. The machine (shown here) is used to measure the hydration levels of testers' clean skin before application of a precise dose of moisturizer and again six hours after (unless otherwise specified) to determine whether and how much the product has increased skin's moisture levels.

Beauty Lab scientists also distribute face moisturizers to consumer testers to use in their skincare routines. After a set time period, they report their feedback on factors such as absorption, texture, scent and the look and feel of skin after use. This data is then collated to find the best moisturizers on the market. In the Beauty Lab's most recent face moisturizer test, formulas were evaluated on 240 testers and Lab experts tallied 4,089 data points (2,160 consumer survey questions plus 1,920 skin moisturization measurements) to identify the winning products.