What to Look For in a Face Cream For Women

There are many face creams for women available in the market that moisturize, boost radiance and even reduce signs of aging. However, the one that works best for you depends on your skin type and needs.

Unlike serums, which are lightweight and absorb quickly, these face moisturizers offer longer-lasting protection. They’re a great choice for those with oily or sensitive skin.

Moisturizing

A face moisturizer should 100% decide whether it will be oily, dry, or sensitive — and should also take into account your skin concerns (hyperpigmentation, uneven tone, anti-aging). If you’re oily, you may want a lightweight gel formula, while those with extra dry or flaky skin should look for thicker creams that have ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and squalane. For those with sensitive skin, gentle and fragrance-free products are essential.

This is the perfect face cream for women who have both sensitive and mature skin since it contains ceramides, a soothing ingredient that helps repair and protect your skin barrier while softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s formulated with shea butter and jojoba oil to boost hydration, and has a light texture that feels great on the complexion and won’t clog pores.

The only downside is that it comes in a tub rather than a squeeze tube, but the high-end brand’s commitment to sustainability means you get more product for less. This is a richer cream that’s designed to support your skin barrier and replenish lost lipids, so it’s best for the winter when your skin can be drier and needs those extra emollients to stay plump and hydrated. This is also a good choice for those who have dermatitis and psoriasis since it’s made without fragrance, mineral oil, and other common allergens.

Anti-Aging

Using face cream is one of face cream for women the most important skin care steps you can take, as it keeps your complexion soft and supple. And it helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles from developing, as well as age spots and sun damage. Luckily, there are a plethora of options on the market that are made with nourishing ingredients and powerful anti-aging ingredients to keep your complexion looking fresh and youthful.

For a cream that is packed with powerful ingredients but has a light feel, look no further than this product from French beauty brand L’Occitane. It contains shea butter to hydrate and boost collagen, as well as soy proteins to firm and tone. It also has a light, non-comedogenic formula that will not clog pores or cause breakouts.

The anti-aging ingredients in this cream include a slow-release form of retinol to smooth fine lines, fade dark spots and minimize the appearance of pores, as well as glycolic acid and vitamin C for brightening. This product is also rich in ceramides to protect your skin barrier and squalane to smooth rough skin texture.

This cream has a natural, gentle and light-feeling formula that is ideal for new moms and babies. It is enriched with ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil and wheat germ oil that nourish the baby’s delicate skin. It also has bakuchiol (buh-KOO-chee-all), which is derived from the ayurvedic herb turmeric, to reduce discoloration and redness and help protect against sun damage.

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, a face moisturizer that’s lightweight, hypoallergenic, and has a minimal ingredients list is important. Avoiding ingredients like fragrance, dyes, and preservatives can help reduce irritation. You should also choose a formula designed specifically for your skin type to prevent breakouts and other issues caused by mismatched products. It’s also a good idea to patch test any new face cream on the inside of your elbow before applying it to your face.

Look for a cream that has soothing ingredients like niacinamide, aloe, and shea butter. Also consider looking for a formula that contains hydrating ingredients, such as squalane and hyaluronic acid. «While serums and treatments are great to incorporate into your routine, you need to start with a solid base of face cream,» says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner.

Another tip, he adds, is to skip lotions and look for a richer cream that will provide hydration, soothe, and repair your skin barrier. You should also avoid resurfacing acids, such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid, which can disrupt the skin’s barrier and cause redness.

While having sensitive skin isn’t a diagnosis, it does signal that your skin has a weaker barrier and may react more readily to certain ingredients or colder weather. Using the right face moisturizer can help to keep it calm and glowing all day and night.

Oily Skin

A moisturizer for oily skin should be lightweight in texture, as heavier formulas can clog pores and make your complexion look shiny. A gel or water cream is ideal for this skin type, since they can penetrate the surface to hydrate without leaving a best moisturizer for dry skin greasy residue. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid (which is known to absorb excess oils), squalane (which resembles sebum and prevents moisture loss), and other oil-controlling additions.

Associate editorial director Shannon Bauer recommends this oil-free face lotion, which features a blend of humectants like shea butter and hyaluronic acid and skin-clearing antioxidants like vitamin E and purslane as well as detoxifying green tea extract and skin-refining black willow bark. The formula also includes pore-minimizing and oil-absorbent niacinamide, and the potent but gentle formula is non-comedogenic and paraben-free.

Another favorite of Bauer’s is this ultra-lightweight gel cream from Tatcha, which combines timeless Japanese skincare rituals and clinically proven ingredients. The hydrating formula whips together the brand’s Hadasei-3 complex and Japanese leopard lily to refine the appearance of pores, reduce excess oil production, and calm complexions.

The rich, decadent cream is a fan-favorite of Byrdie editor-in-chief Hallie Gould because it helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while restoring a radiant glow. The nourishing blend of anti-aging antioxidants, including collagen-boosting CoQ10 and skin-renewing skullcap extract, plus the rich oils ensure long-lasting hydration and softness.