Skip to Content

Best Water Based Moisturizer for Dry Skin

This is one of the best-kept secrets of having fresh and dewy looking skin, even if there is a drop in the temperature. Water based moisturizers are a great option for oily skin, and they do not leave a greasy feeling that other creams do. These moisturizers are specially formulated to absorb into the skin, so they do not leave an oily sheen behind.

Moisturizers help improve the skin’s texture, protect the skin, and mask your skin’s imperfections. However, you should be using a moisturizer that is specially formulated for your skin type. When you are dealing with oily skin, washing your face can cause more oil production. This can cause the skin to look lifeless and dull, which is extremely frustrating.

Some water based moisturizers that are formulated for oily skin have acne fighting abilities that can also reduce the size of your pores, fight blemishes, and improve the skin’s overall texture. A lightweight water-based moisturizer will also boost your skin’s hydration levels.

This post may have affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission on purchases through the links (at no extra cost to you). This does not change our opinion but does help support the site. Thank you!

No matter if your skin is oily, normal, or dry, best water based moisturizer is the perfect option for your skin. There are many products on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the best moisturizers for your skin. Luckily, we are here to help.Water based moisturizers have the ability to resist water in the upper layer of your skin which is helpful in getting a flawless look for both dry and oily skin.

Image Product Name Price
  Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Check price
  Philosophy Hope in a Jar Daily Moisturizer Check price
  Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel Check price
  Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream Check price
  Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer Check price


Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

Neutrogena is known for making some of the best moisturizers. Their gel moisturizer will boost your skin’s hydration levels and will absorb quickly into your skin. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream will help smooth the skin and lock in moisture for a long time. Olive extract and hyaluronic acid are the main ingredients of this moisturizer.

Both ingredients are known to be very nourishing, create a moisture barrier and will prevent moisture loss. There are five sizes that you can pick from, so you can buy the size that you need. Regular use has also been found to reduce the signs of aging and dryness.Check the best price

Science of Hydration

Renews skin’s hydration levels by replenishing water

Purified Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid releases hydration back into the skin all day

Olive Extract

Olive Extract helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier

Pros
  • Ultra-lightweight gel-cream formula
  • Combines hyaluronic acid and olive extract
  • Reasonably priced
  • Does not contain any synthetic or unnatural ingredients
Cons
  • Can be irritating to the skin

“This moisturizer has helped treat both my oily and dry patches. I use this as a night time moisturizer and a lip mask. I also use this during the day, if my skin is very dry. It is very nice and leaves my skin soft, but it does not leave a greasy feeling. I wish that I had tried this moisturizer a long time ago.”
Check the best price


Philosophy Hope in a Jar Daily Moisturizer

Philosophy Moisturizer is one of the best oil-free non-comedogenic moisturizers that quickly sink into the skin. It also leaves the skin feeling hydrated. This moisturizer contains AHAs, including glycolic acid which is an effective exfoliator.

It also has amazing repairing and smoothing properties, which makes it a great option for anti-aging. The antioxidants that are in Philosophy Hope in a Jar Daily Moisturizer can also protect against free radical damage. There is a fragrance in this product, so it is not the best option for people who have sensitive skin.Check the best price

Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel

This non-comedogenic, cooling moisturizer will also detoxify the skin. This moisturizer also improves the skin’s texture, brightens the skin, exfoliates, and minimizes your pores. It is a lightweight moisturizer, which makes it a great option for the daytime use.

This moisturizer contains Vitamin C and glycolic acid, which are both known for their antioxidant and anti-aging benefits. Activated charcoal is one of the key ingredients, which helps clarify and detoxify the skin.

Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel is dermatologically tested and is also free of phthalates, sulfates, and parabens, so it great for all skin types.Check the best price

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

Kiehl’s Cream is a water-based face moisturizer. It has a great texture, which it is very lightweight. This moisturizer absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves your skin moisturized, but not greasy.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is a great water-based moisturizer, which is wonderful for acne prone and oily skin. This moisturizer is made with Squalene, which is a botanical lipid that restores and replenishes the skin and has been found to have amazing healing properties.Check the best price

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer hydrates your skin and protects the skin from most environmental damage. This is a very lightweight non-comedogenic moisturizer that has a natural and clean scent. It is made with many natural antioxidant ingredients that consist of turmeric, green tea, and olive leaf.

These ingredients protect against free radicals, which could cause discoloration, sagginess, and wrinkles. This moisturizer is expensive, but it will leave your skin dewy and plump.Check the best price

Budget Pick

Eau Thermale Avene Mattifying Fluid

Avene is a gel based moisturizer that has a very lightweight formula. This moisturizer will control shine, reduce oil production, and help create healthy, glowing skin. This moisturizer will soothe and relax the skin with very powerful ingredients, which will keep your skin beautiful and healthy.

Avene is well-known for their amazing skin care line, which has been around for over 270 years. You can feel confident that you are buying products that are made with high standards and with high-quality ingredients. Eau Thermale Avene Mattifying Fluid is a fantastic option for sensitive skin.Check the best price

Best Water Based Moisturizer Buyer’s Guide

There are many people who think that only dry skin needs a good moisturizer. However, oily skin also needs a good moisturizer because people who have oily skin are more likely to have acne and clogged pores. The excess oil easily makes its way into the pores, which can cause acne and blackheads.

Another reason is that oily and blemish prone skin requires constant care, which includes frequent cleansing. Adding a water based moisturizer to a skin care routine for oily and blemish prone skin could help treat the cause of your skin issues.

The first thing that you should keep in mind when choosing a great moisturizer is to understand what your skin type is.

Skin type

Everyone’s skin is different, so a moisturizer that works for one person may not work for you or could even have side effects for you. When you are looking for new go-to skin care, you should keep your skin type in mind.

Oily skin

When you are dealing with oily skin, it can be worrying to apply moisturizers to your skin. However, you should not be skipping this important skin care step because when you skip moisturizer, your skin will start creating more oil.

This causes a vicious cycle to start. So, you should opt for a lightweight water or gel based moisturizer, which is oil-free and non-comedogenic because it could help control your oil. Depending on your skin, you may only need to apply the moisturizer once a day.

Dry skin

Dry skin is caused by the skin not getting enough moisture, which can lead to the skin becoming oily if it does eventually getting enough moisture. The best option is to use highly hydrating creams, gels, and balms, but they can be very heavy.

You should apply this moisturizer at least a day, but you may need to apply them more than once a day to see a difference.

Combination skin

Combination skin will have patches of dry skin and oily skin. Most people have this skin type and the areas that are oily or dry can move around the face. This can make it difficult to find one moisturizer that works for combination skin.

Applying a lightweight moisturizer during the day, and a heavier one at night can help treat both the oil and dry skin. You may also need to switch the moisturizer that you are using depending on your skin type.

The lasting power of a moisturizer

Something that you should consider when you are looking for a new moisturizer is: Are you looking for a product that will keep you moisturized all day long, or will you be applying the moisturizer throughout the day?

The label may have ‘long-lasting hydration’ printed on it, if it was designed to moisturize the skin all day. The lasting power of a moisturizer will depend on your skin, so it is hard to know how long a moisturizer will last on your skin.

When you are picking a water based moisturizer, you should avoid products that are full of parabens, mineral oils, sulfates and other harmful chemicals. This is why you should always read the labels and try to use non-comedogenic moisturizers that are made with all natural ingredients. You should also be using an SPF regularly. Find out more about how do water based moisturisers work.“Beauty is an experience, nothing else. It is not a fixed pattern or an arrangement of features. It is something felt, a glow or a communicated sense of fineness.”
– D. H. Lawrence

The Benefits of Water Based Moisturizer

There are a huge number of benefits that water- based moisturizers offer, which is why they are good options to add to your skin care routine. Depending on the moisturizer, it could be used as a primer for makeup because the texture is very light, especially compared to oil based moisturizers.

This is also a great option for people who are prone to break-outs. This is not to say that all oil based moisturizers will cause acne. There are many non-comedogenic oil based moisturizers on the market, but using a water-based moisturizer will reduce your chances of breaking out even more.

Water does not bind to the skin like oil, so it is less likely to stick to the inside of the pores, unlike oil.

Water-based moisturizers make a very effective base for makeup, thanks to the light texture and the fact that they absorb very quickly. This can save you time in the morning because you are not waiting for the moisturizer to absorb.

There are also some oils that do not absorb into the skin or take longer to rub into the skin. While water-based moisturizers may offer great benefits, they can also have side effects that you should be aware of.

Side Effects

If your skin is sensitive, water-based moisturizers could cause irritation. The risks of irritation increase when you are using moisturizers that contain ingredients like alcohol, dyes, and fragrances.

These ingredients are known to be skin irritants. However, you can reduce your risk by reading the ingredient lists. You should never apply moisturizers to broken or irritated because this can lead to scarring or infection.

This could lead to permanent damage to your skin. If you are not sure about what the best moisturizer is for you, you should consult your dermatologist.

How to apply Water Based Moisturizer

How a moisturizer works is not just based on the ingredients, it also is how you use the moisturizer. The first step is to apply the moisturizer right after you have cleansed your skin, while your skin is still damp.

This is because your skin will hold onto the most moisture when it is still wet. When the skin starts to dry, the moisture will also evaporate. Applying your moisturizer before your skin dries will help lock in some of that hydration.

You should also always moisturize post-exfoliation. Exfoliators are designed to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Exfoliators can help other skin products work better. When you are applying a moisturizer, a little will good a long way.

To avoid over applying, apply small smears to your forehead, cheeks chin, and nose and lightly rub the moisturizer into your skin. You should also apply your moisturizer to your neck.

Conclusion

Finding the best moisturizer for your skin can take time and money. However, it is not as difficult as you would think. You could ask your friends about what skin care products they use daily. This should be the last first resort, because they may not have the same skin type or issues.

Taking care of your skin means that you need to find the right products and follow a daily skin care routine can help give you a flawless, and radiant complexion in a short time.

You should make sure that you are applying a moisturizer daily. Depending on your skin type, you may need to apply moisturizer both day and night. This should be an important part of your skin care routine.

It is not enough to just to cleanse the skin of grime and dirt. You should make sure that you are taking proper of care of your skin with serums, moisturizers, and face masks. Your skin will thank you for this. This means that you should not be skipping best water based moisturizer, especially if you have oily skin.