Say Goodbye to Clogged Pores and Dry Skin With the Best Moisturizers for Combination Skin (2024)

TL;DR

After thorough testing, we think the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Refillable Moisturizer is the best moisturizer for combination skin types. It's nourishing without feeling too heavy on the complexion and works to support the skin barrier. 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.

Our Top Picks

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, we found that it wasn’t too heavy, and that one pump absorbed beautifully, noticeably increasing hydration. Credit a combination of African oils that nourish and moisturize, along with a trio of skin-strengthening ceramides that help promote and maintain a healthy skin barrier.

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, we were pleasantly surprised at 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. To that point, it left our skin feeling (and looking) nice and smooth, though not in the least bit oily.

Key Ingredients: Skullcap, vitamin E, Avocadin | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination | Size: 1.69 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We 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, we also found that a little goes a long way, allowing you to get plenty of bang for your buck out of one jar. That holds even more true when you consider that there are antioxidant-rich ingredients in the formula as well.

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.

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 world of skincare, and for good reason. 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.

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 battling discoloration, reach for this winner. It contains radiance-boosting niacinamide, coupled with three different ceramides for hydration purposes. We found that it left our complexion feeling extra smooth and perfectly prepped for makeup, which is always a benefit in our book.

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 to be found in this moisturizer, all meant 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. There’s also a fermented mushroom complex in the mix, targeting inflammation, puffiness, and wrinkles; maybe that’s why we were particularly impressed with how it helped minimize our under-eye bags while also deeply hydrating our skin.

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: No

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 still feels extremely light and never in the least bit greasy. This formula contains not one, not two, but five different types of HA (as it’s called) to help really step up the hydration game. So it’s no surprise that we found that it struck the perfect in-between, imparting just the right amount of refreshing moisture without feeling too thick or greasy.

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 great for those with combination skin because they are typically lighter (to help avoid greasiness) while still packing hydration. It’s why we tested this one, which we found to be noticeably more hydrating than other gels; it left our 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.

Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, borage seed oil | Skin Type: Combination, oily, acne-prone | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Combination skin and acne-prone skin often go hand-in-hand, which is where this moisturizer comes into play. The niacinamide in the mix helps to control and balance out oil production. Meanwhile, the fatty acids in the borage seed oil combat breakout-induced redness. To that point, we noted that it also felt soothing going on and struck the perfect balance of moisturizing and smoothing the skin without leaving behind telltale residue. Along with soothing the skin and combatting redness, this is great for balancing out oil production, a win if you’re prone to breakouts.

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 skin, alleviating any rough patches and that dry, tight feeling almost instantaneously. Also nice: The bottle is slightly larger than many others.

FAQ

• What are the benefits of moisturizers for combination skin?

  “It’s a common misconception that oily skin—even combination skin—should be starved of moisture,” Grant explains. “The right moisturizer should replenish and rebalance, helping to improve texture, luminosity, and skin clarity.”

  If you skip out on all moisture, any dry spots will become drier, whereas areas prone to excess shine will get confused and create even more oil—a lose-lose situation. That’s why a light but effective moisturizer for combination skin is paramount. If you have oily skin, though, you'll want to opt for a high-end or drugstore moisturizer for oily skin.

• How often should you use moisturizers for combination skin?

  Grant explains that moisturizers for combination skin should be used morning and night as the final step in your skincare routine (except for sunscreen during the day).If you want to streamline your morning routine, opt for a moisturizer with SPF.