Our Experts Swear by These Moisturizers That Won't Irritate Even the Most Sensitive Skin (2024)

If you have sensitive skin, nothing is more important than moisturizing to soothe, hydrate and restore skin's dry, compromised barrier. But you have to be careful to choose the best moisturizer that won't further irritate your already angry skin. "Sensitive skin is usually irritated by products or environmental factors," says Marina Isakov Peredo, M.D., a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital. Whether you're suffering from irritation, dry skin or rosacea, "They all have inflammation in common, which occurs when the skin’s outer barrier layer is damaged due to lack of hydration, overexposure to the sun or contact with irritants."

To quell sensitivity and uncomfortable skin itchiness, Dr. Peredo explains, "It's important to treat dehydrated skin with certain specialty products that make it less sensitive. Moisturizing regularly is the best thing you can do to calm sensitive skin and help strengthen its protective moisture barrier." Luckily, our scientists at the Good Housekeeping Institute have just the picks to guide your search thanks to rigorous testing led by our Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab.

Soothe particularly dry complexions with Aveeno's cooling water-based formula and anti-inflammatory colloidal oat. As a GH Beauty Award winner, the face moisturizer impressed our experts with its lightweight texture that “melts in with no greasiness or tackiness and calms dry, irritated skin patches on contact.” Our expert, who struggles with rosacea, adds: “My skin looked better the next day: less red and not rough.” We also enjoy the brand's Daily Moisturizing Face Cream for sensitive skin types, naming its oat formula one of the best face moisturizers for dry skin.

Calm a reactive complexion instantly and all day long with Neutrogena’s hypoallergenic, fragrance-, dye- and alcohol-free moisturizer. The brand also touts a non-comedogenic formula, which means it won't clog pores. In clinical studies, the formulation hydrated sensitive skin for up to 24 hours. The water-based formula also absorbed fast and left skin feeling smooth and soft. While we appreciate its lightweight texture, some online reviews said it felt thin when layering on skin.

A gold standard, the gentle, fragrance-free, allergy-tested Clinique lotion developed by a dermatologist stands the test of time, effectively hydrating skin for hours in GH Beauty Lab assessment despite its featherweight feel. Lab measurements showed that it increased moisture by an impressive 41% over six hours after application. Some online reviewers noted that the formula left skin feeling a tad greasy.

Backed by our GH Seal and a winner in our anti-aging night cream test, Olay's retinol moisturizer aims to please. A majority of testers (95%!) agreed that it didn’t cause irritation or redness, despite its retinol ingredient. Plus, it showed a 20% increase in moisturization over six hours and a 27% increase in firmness after four weeks of use, according to our Cutometer device, which measures skin laxity.

A Beauty Lab scientist staple moisturizer for reducing facial redness, Avène relieves sensitive or compromised skin with high levels of fatty acids. "This is my staple moisturizer, specially designed to help sensitive or compromised skin bounce back," GH Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann says. "It absorbs quickly and calms and moisturizes my skin with no greasiness." It's worth noting that a few online reviewers noted formula separation. To nix this problem, simply run the tube under warm water and squeeze it around to help mix it.

With a perfect score for not causing breakouts, stinging or burning skin, Vichy easily took the title as our best sunscreen pick. The peptide-filled formula came out on top for not causing redness and irritation. One tester enjoyed its non-greasy texture that felt moisturizing, while another said it made skin look and feel "more healthy and vibrant after [use]." The formula's scent met mixed reviews as some were put off by it.

The winner of the GH Beauty Lab's moisturizers for dry skin, glycerin-based Vaseline achieved one of the highest skin hydration levels the Lab has ever recorded. It increased moisturization by an impressive 60%, according to Lab measurements. The formula is unscented, so it's less likely to irritate than fragranced formulas. "It soothed my skin," a tester reported. Other online reviews pointed out that the new smart pump design makes it difficult to reach the last bits of lotion at the bottom.

Diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in one fell swoop. Formulated with niacinamide, the serum's in-Lab results showed that it brightened skin and improved hyperpigmentation. Best of all, testers unanimously agreed that it did not irritate skin out of all the anti-aging serums they tried. “This is one of the best products I have ever used," one tester said. "I saw almost immediate results with fine lines," another added. Just keep in mind that this serum is a bit costlier than other serums.

Moisturize from head to toe with CeraVe's body cream that doubles as a face cream. Made with hydrating hyaluronic acid and moisture-locking ceramides, it's designed to give skin a smoother, plumper-looking complexion, while "creating a protective skin barrier," says Dr. Peredo. The fragrance-free formula also touts the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, which means its ingredients are verified as suitable for eczema-prone skin types. Take note that this cream comes in a jar, so you'll have to scrape it out with your fingers.

Quench parched skin with La Roche-Posay's hydrating formula that 95% of testers agreed absorbed quickly into skin sans greasiness. Another favorite facial moisturizer for dry skin, its "creamy" formula is packed with ceramides and glycerin for all-day smoothness and softness. "I buy medical-grade moisturizers and this, to me, is much better than what I’ve been using," a tester said. Though one tester praised its fragrance-free formula for soothing red, itchy, irritated skin, another said it caused an acne breakout after four days of use.

Minimize stretch marks and scars with this fast-absorbing blend of vitamin A and vitamin E, which evens out complexions in both the face and body. In a clinical evaluation by dermatologists, participants with sensitive skin exhibited almost no skin reaction over 96 hours after application — the formula caused less skin irritation than pure water. Studies also revealed that it improved skin dryness and reduced water loss in skin. Some online reviewers reserved it for nighttime use as they said it felt too heavy and oily for daytime wear.

A winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s facial sunscreens test, CeraVe’s lightweight lotion moisturizer with SPF earned a perfect score for not irritating, causing redness or burning or stinging on skin. The oil-free moisturizer is formulated with ceramides to repair a compromised skin barrier. In addition to protecting skin from the sun, which can cause irritation and redness, it effectively softens, too: 92% of testers agreed that it left skin feeling hydrated. Others found it felt sticky on more humid days, however.

Calling all rosacea and acne-prone skin types: Kiehl's cica cream calms irritated skin. If the skincare ingredient sounds familiar, that's because the healing herb (a.k.a. Centella Asiatica) is renowned for its anti-inflammatory powers. One Lab pro raved that it soothed skin and toned down redness. We also appreciate that the cream is hypoallergenic and contains no irritating fragrance or alcohol. However, it is a pricey pick.

With moisturizing glycerin and skin-protecting resveratrol, this Caudalie cream, a GH Beauty Lab winner for best night cream, came out on top for smoothing skin’s texture — without causing inflammation. It earned a perfect score for not irritating skin, and it also increased hydration levels by 43% over six hours, according to Lab measurements. Six testers reported how “smooth” the cream felt as it went on and made their faces feel. “It moisturized my skin into the morning,” one raved. “I woke up looking refreshed,” another said. For those who don't enjoy fragrances, some Sephora reviewers said the formula smelled too strong.

Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, Aquaphor’s iconic all-purpose ointment is proven to heal skin, including on the face. Its fragrance-free blend of ingredients, like nourishing panthenol and glycerin, helps protect the skin’s barrier and prevent water loss, Beauty Lab data evaluation showed. Clinical studies found that the salve was effective for healing wounds, and 91% of consumer testers agreed that it repaired extremely dry, cracked skin.

Made of only one ingredient, nilotica, a special form of organic shea butter in silky, spreadable form, this rich LXMI balm is a holy grail of GH's beauty director who suffers from eczema on her face. Because it's made solely of shea butter (no fragrance, preservatives, dyes or even water), it causes zero irritation and helps coddle even the most painfully red, bumpy, inflamed skin. Use it to spot treat irritated areas or apply it all over to protect and seal moisture in skin. A little bit goes a long way as some online reviewers said it felt a bit greasy at times.

A winner of the GH Beauty Lab's face oils test, Jurlique rated high among testers for not irritating skin, thanks to gentle extracts of safflower, macadamia and avocado oils. Testers said the botanical blend “diminished red, splotchy areas” and made skin feel “balanced, even and clear.” When sensitive skin is particularly dry, know that this oil also raised skin's moisture levels by 9%. A few testers noted some difficulty controlling the drops when they came out of the bottle, so it may be a bit messy to apply.

Treat sensitive eye-area skin with this luxurious Lancôme formula, the best eye cream of the GH Beauty Lab's test. It earned a perfect score for not causing irritation or redness around the eye area and not stinging or burning eyes. Formulated with vitamins C and E, it worked best at hydrating undereyes, increasing moisture levels by 41% over six hours. "It moisturized well and left my eye area feeling soft and smooth," a tester noted. However, it is over $100.

When shopping for moisturizers for sensitive skin, the Beauty Lab's experts recommend looking for formulas that are hypoallergenic (meaning made without ingredients that are potential allergens), and free of potential irritants, like fragrance and alcohol. Also seek out keywords like "calming," "soothing," "redness-reducing," "anti-redness" and "sensitive skin" on product packaging, which indicates the product is formulated for those with reactive skin types.