What does natural face moisturizers actually mean, besides carrying a lofty connotation of being a little better and a lot more expensive? Technically, the FDA has no standard regulation for the term but that hasn’t stopped brands from using it endlessly in the marketing of their products. So we asked New York City-based dermatologist Shereene Idriss to better explain what exactly “natural” products are. “Natural skin-care products are all about being as ‘pure’ as possible, without the added chemicals and fillers that allow a product to maintain longer shelf life,” she explained. Which is to say the best natural products will have minimal ingredients, most of them botanically-based, and few preservatives, synthetics, or added dyes and fragrances. It’s good to be a skeptic, but it’s even better to have great skin. Ahead, 12 natural face moisturizers we can get behind.
1. Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer
Farmacy
Eat—I mean, apply your greens! This lightweight gel is packed with moringa seed extract sourced from a family farm in Coachella Valley, which acts as a protective barrier against harmful pollutants. Papaya extract works as a gentle exfoliant to help with texture and radiance.
2. Burt’s Bees Daily Face Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin – 1.8oz
Burt’s Bees
Lookfantastic
Don’t sleep on this drugstore favorite. Designed for sensitive skin, this soothing formula is unscented, cruelty-free, and certified clean.
3. Clarifying Moisturizer
Tata Harper
Sephora
Not only does this moisturizer hydrate skin, but it also eliminates redness and breakouts, thanks to powerful BHA botanical blend and tazman pepper berry.
4. Baba Bomb Moisturizer
Tarte
Dermstore
Thirsty skin will drink up this whipped moisturizer. Made with avocado, babassu, and green tea, this formula promises hydration for 24 hours.
5. Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream
PEACH & LILY
Ulta Beauty
Matcha isn’t just for lattes. K-Beauty brand Peach & Lily enlisted the hero ingredient for its antioxidant-rich properties, that help firm skin and boost radiance.
6. Ultra Hydrating Face Cream
Nourish Organic
Fun fact: Nourish Organic was one of the first USDA-certified organic skincare products. The brand uses plant-based chemistry to deliver hydration from moroccan argan oil and improved in skin elasticity from shea butter.
7. Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer
Glow Recipe
Sephora
Thirsty skin will love this cooling gel-emulsion that is made from a mix of watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid. Dewy summer skin in a bottle.
8. Superfood Air Whip Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
Youth To The People
Sephora
A nutritious salad but for your face. The leafy green superfoods, like kale and spinach, provide the ultimate antioxidant boost while hyaluronic acid provides the moisture to restore and balance dry skin.
9. Nutrient Moisturizer
Juice Beauty
Farm to face. This creamy moisturizer is filled with carrot root, marigold flower extract, and linseed seed oil to lend the skin natural healing.
10. Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme
100% Pure
Packed with nutrient-heavy sea minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, you’ll get hydration and radiant skin, not chemicals and fillers.
11. Honey Moisturizer
Mario Badescu
Ulta Beauty
Honey extract and peanut oil—an ingredient strangely rich in antioxidants—work together to moisturize the skin for a nourished and healthy complexion.
12. Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme
Herbivore
Revolve
All Herbivore products are completely natural and free from dyes, toxins, and synthetic preservatives. This creamy whip also boasts rose water, aloe vera, and white tea to soothe the skin and calm redness.
13. Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer with Ceramides
Drunk Elephant
Sephora
If you’re looking for intense moisture, this is the face cream for you. It’s packed with six plant-based African oils and a ceramide complex to help maintain long-lasting hydration.
14. Cactus Water Moisturizer
Boscia
Dermstore
Queen of the Night cactus is a rare ingredient known for its ability to survive the harshest of climates by storing up water for non-rainy days. When used in this hydrating cream, the dogged extract provides the ultimate dose of moisture for smooth, supple skin.
15. Skin Food
Weleda
Long live this cult-favorite! The secret to natural face moisturizers and hydrated skin lies in this little green bottle. The cream is also multi-purpose; you can use it on your face during the winter or on dry patches all over your body year round.
16. Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer
Victoria Beckham Beauty
The perfect primer and all-natural moisturizer in one Posh Spice-approved product! The formula, created by Augustinus Bader, contains black tea, enzymes, algae, and avocado oil to create a smooth canvas for makeup application.
17. The Dewy Skin Cream
Tatcha
Violet Grey
Meghan Markle’s brand of choice, Tatcha, launched this all-natural face moisturizers skin cream just last year. The luxurious cream is packed with Japanese rice bran, ginseng, and Okinawa algae to make the formula super hydrating. You can also use this as a makeup base if you’re looking for a bit of extra glow.
