NewBeauty Awards: Skin Hydrators

THE BEST MOISTURIZER

Falling somewhere between a serum and a rich cream, silky-smooth Beautycounter Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream ($79) douses skin with moisture and diminishes lines without feeling tacky or heavy.

THE BEST MOISTURIZER WITH SPF

Neutrogena Bright Boost Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($20) may be sheer, but it sure means business in the brightening department thanks to the illuminating effects of vitamin C.

THE BEST GEL-CREAM MOISTURIZER

Imagine 100 tiny water balloons bursting on your skin, and the water getting trapped under the surface, plumping everything up—that’s INSTYTUTUM Hydrafusion 4D HA Hydrating Water Burst Cream ($65) in a nutshell.

THE BEST MOISTURIZER FOR ULTRA-DRY SKIN

Like Gatorade for a dehydrated complexion, fragrance-free (and new to the U.S.) Curel Japan Intensive Moisture Facial Cream ($30) restores skin’s natural ceramides to significantly improve its barrier function.

THE BEST MOISTURIZER FOR BREAKOUT-PRONE SKIN

Formulated with the brand’s pure Australian tea tree— a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide—Dr. Jart+ Teatreement Moisturizer ($32) hydrates and calms pesky breakouts without clogging pores or overdrying skin.

THE BEST FACE OIL

Pat nongreasy, fast-absorbing, Farmacy Honey Grail ($48) into clean skin or mix it into foundation. Either way, the blend of buckwheat honey and flower oils give skin instant hydration a seriously luminous sheen.

THE BEST NIGHT CREAM

All of our testers agreed Naturally Serious After Dark Natural Peptide Sleeping Cream ($52) is basically “beauty sleep” in a jar. Come morning, skin feels pillowy-soft and looks ready to take on the day.

THE BEST SLEEPING MASK

Deeply nourishing, firming and brightening, Sulwhasoo Timetreasure Invigorating Sleeping Mask ($200) is one of the only products that actually gives us “I woke up like this” skin.

THE BEST FACE MIST

Whether it’s in the morning, midday or night, a spritz of ultra-fine Youth to the People Adaptogen Soothe and Hydrate Activated Mist ($42) hydrates and calms skin with hyaluronic acid and reishi.

THE BEST HYDRATING ESSENCE

Enriched with the brand’s signature organic olive oil, watery-light DHC Olive Virgin Oil Crystal Skin Essence ($36) imparts a subtle dew and helps all of the products you apply after it absorb better, too.

THE BEST MULTIPURPOSE BALM

We don’t even have room to list all of the ways 90-year-old Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($24) can be used to hydrate and highlight, but one thing is certain: It’s a beauty essential.

THE BEST NECK CREAM

The ultimate solution for tech neck, NEOSTRATA Triple Firming Neck Cream ($88) utilizes a patented, peptide-rich complex to instantly hydrate skin as it tightens and strengthens so deep-set bands are less visible.

THE BEST MAKEUP PRIMER

Oil-free Benefit The POREfessional Hydrate Primer ($32) delivers the best of both worlds: It blurs pores and infuses skin with hyaluronic acid for a glass-like finish that makes foundation look a million times better.

THE BEST LIP BALM

It’s easy to get addicted to LANO The Original Lanostick’s ($17) buttery texture and deep-conditioning mix of lanolin, natural oils and waxes—we’re not at all surprised that it continues to sell out.