Compared to other ceramide moisturizers, this one has a lighter consistency, which makes for a nice base layer under makeup. But the lightweight texture didn’t translate to less hydration. The blend of ceramide NP, niacinamide, and glycerin increases skin hydration, and left our editor’s dry skin feeling noticeably smoother and more supple. Free of oils, parabens, and added fragrances, it’s suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Our editor with sensitive skin didn’t experience any negative reactions after using this moisturizer. The four most common skin types are normal, dry, oily, and combination. Normal skin feels balanced, dry skin can get tight and flaky, oily skin can get greasy and shiny, and combination skin often gets oily in the T-zone (along the forehead and nose). Finding the right moisturizer for your skin type and lifestyle may take some trial and error, says dermatologist Gloria Lin, MD-FAAD. But the dermatologists we spoke to generally recommend heavier creams for dry skin, oil-free moisturizers for oily skin, and combination products for combination skin. and below: We don't recommend ceramide moisturizers with this rating; you won't find any on our list. Soothe and comfort your skin every day with La Roche-Posay's Double Repair Face Moisturizer. Suitable for sensitive skin types, this facial moisturizer is powered by prebiotic thermal water that helps diminish dryness and free radical damage for a more youthful, healthier-looking complexion. Key Ingredients: Ceramide-3: an essential ceramide naturally found in skin. Prebiotic Thermal Water: with hydrating, soothing and antioxidant properties. Glycerin: a moisturizing agent that naturally attracts water to skin. Niacinamide: a form of vitamin B3 with soothing properties. ingredients The details: This brand-new Double Repair option is formulated to provide all-day hydration without the shine and helps to repair the skin barrier after one hour. The addition of silica and perlite help control excess oil, keep skin shine-free all day and minimize the appearance of pores. It will leave all skin tones with even the most sensitive skin feeling refreshed with a matte finish. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

The moisturizer is also oil-free, fragrance-free, and sensitive-skin-friendly. So it’s great for a range of skin types. Paris has combination skin and uses the tinted version of this moisturizer every day. But it wowed us when we tested it on dry skin, too.

Meet the powerhouse ingredients

Great for sensitive skin, innisfree’s Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid Cream is made without parabens, sulfates, or synthetic colors. And it contains less than 1 percent of synthetic fragrance. It’s also an effective moisturizer, leaving our skin looking dewy and feeling hydrated shortly after we put it on.

The epidermis is also known as the skin barrier because it ensures that harmful substances stay on the outside while also preventing a process called transepidermal water loss that leads to dry skin, explains Dr. Oliver. This explains why ceramides are often recommended for people with dry skin, but ceramides can also be helpful for those with aging skin or even inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, Dr. Oliver adds. All skin types can be sensitive from time to time or all the time, which is why selecting suitable products for your skin’s unique needs is so important. Normal, dry, oily and combination skin types require different levels of hydration, and other skin concerns—such as excess oil or shine—can come along with each. When we tested Shiseido’s Waso Mega Hydrating Moisturizer on oily skin, it proved hydrating—but it made our skin feel oilier. The moisturizer was also slow-absorbing and prone to pilling, but we think it’d be effective for combating dryness. During our test, the moisturizer proved lightweight, easy to apply, and fast-absorbing. And it balanced out our skin, boosting moisture by 22 percent while reducing oil by 7 percent. After using the moisturizer, our skin felt hydrated and refreshed. But we didn’t notice an immediate difference in our complexion. And we’re curious to test this moisturizer long-term to see how well it works on blemishes and discoloration over time. La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water: Sourced from France, this naturally mineral-rich water has a high concentration of selenium, which is a potent antioxidant.Ultimately, ceramides keep external invaders away while keeping moisture sealed in to encourage skin that looks and feels healthy and soft. La Roche Posay's moisturizer doesn't contain these ingredients, so it's a dream for my sensitive skin. And while it leaves out a lot of the bad stuff, it also contains beneficial ingredients as well. Like ceramides, which help restore your skin's moisture barrier somoisture doesn't evaporate. There's also niacinamide, or vitamin B5, to help with redness and the appearance of pore size; hyaluronic acid, which keeps helps skin retain up to 1,000 times its weight in water; and prebiotic thermal water, which definitely sounds like it's from a fairy tale, but actually keeps more of the good bacteria on your skin to help fight the bad bacteria that can cause acne.

Since skin barrier function is universally important, ceramides in skin care can benefit all skin types and conditions, says Rhonda Klein, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut. Those with skin prone to dryness, eczema, psoriasis, or the signs of aging may benefit most from using a ceramide moisturizer, she adds, but everyone can (and should) incorporate them. Though they have chemical differences, they all offer similar benefits to the skin, Dr. Klein says. Among these three, one isn’t necessarily better than the others. A moisturizer is generally the last step of most skin care routines since its job is to seal in moisture. However, there are some exceptions. During the daytime, you can use a moisturizer after cleansing but before applying sunscreen. The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30 contains sunscreen, so it would be the final step in your daytime routine. In the evening, you can apply facial oils after moisturizing with ceramides.We also like that this top-notch moisturizer is budget-friendly. And since a little goes a long way, the 1.5-ounce tub of cream should last you a while. Since ceramides complement one another, Dr. Oliver recommends looking for a moisturizer that contains more than one type of ceramide. Drunk Elephant’s Lala Retro Whipped Cream and EADEM’s Cloud Cushion Plush Moisturizer with Ceramides + Peptides each contain all three main types of ceramides for triple the potency. Drunk Elephant’s Lala Retro Whipped Cream left our skin 9 to 23 percent more hydrated than at the start of our test. But because the cream was so heavy and greasy, we had to wait a while to see results—and for the price, we’d rather buy something else.