This $21 Moisturizer Hydrated Skin Better Than 10 High-End Creams (2024)

Skincare experts agree that you don't have to break the bank to effectively hydrate your face and body. In fact, some of the top-performing moisturizers in Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab testing (and recommended by dermatologists) can be found at the drugstore.

GH Beauty Lab scientists have a long history of testing face and body moisturizers like lotions and creams for their hydration efficacy. In the Lab, each product's label is first masked to eliminate brand bias. Formulas are dispensed in precisely-measured doses and applied onto a standardized area of clean skin that's been exposed to no other skincare products for three days prior. Lab scientists then use the Corneometer device, which measures hydration levels in skin, to gauge moisturizing effects immediately after application and six hours later to determine whether they last.

Body and face moisturizers are also distributed to and evaluated by consumer testers across the country, who rate them on ease of use, including spreadability, absorption, look and feel on skin and of skin after use, and scent. In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent body lotions test, 5,040 Corneometer data points were recorded and 1,062 consumer survey questions were tallied.

Here, the best moisturizers for face and body proven to hydrate skin in GH Beauty Lab testing, including formulas with SPF and for all skin types, from oily to dry, mature, acne-prone, and more.

The GH Beauty Lab’s gold standard face moisturizer is this Good Housekeeping Seal star from Olay, which contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. In Beauty Lab hydration tests using the Corneometer device, it outperformed 10 prestige brand face creams that cost up to $400 or more. The formula boosted skin’s hydration by 68% three hours post-application, one of the highest moisturization scores in Lab history, and maintained the top spot after 24 hours. On average, it hydrated skin nearly 360% more than a cream that cost $440 for the same amount.

With antioxidant vitamin C and gently exfoliating lipohydroxy acid, this bargain GH Seal star and Beauty Award-winning Garnier day lotion boosts skin's radiance and evens tone as it hydrates. A test of 34 women confirmed that over 22 days of use, the lotion increased cell turnover, revealing brighter skin, and 91% of testers’ skin appear healthier after eight weeks, according to Lab evaluations.

This glycerin-based Vaseline formula set the bar for best body moisturizer in the GH Beauty Lab’s body lotions test, boosting skin hydration at near-record levels. It increased moisturization by a massive 60%, according to measurements with the Lab’s Corneometer device. Despite intensively softening, testers reported that it soaked in fast. “It left my skin very moisturized throughout the day,” one noted.

Added sunscreen can sometimes mean sacrificing moisturization benefits — but not so with this GH Seal holder and Beauty Award-winning Olay lotion, made with skin-softening ingredients like glycerin and broad-spectrum SPF 30. In GH Beauty Lab testing, it raised skin moisture levels by 31%, more than any facial SPF 30 previously evaluated.

The water-like, refreshing gel texture of this unique GH Seal star Neutrogena moisturizer is perfect for skin prone to shine and greasy spots. Oil-free, non-comedogenic (not pore-clogging), and made with hydrating hyaluronic acid, the formula kept skin moisturized for 12 hours, study data showed.

A top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s body lotion test, fragrance-free Dove was best at making skin look and feel hydrated over time, key for thin, crepey skin. The formula boosted skin’s moisture by an impressive 57% in Lab calculations with the Corneometer machine, and 100% of testers said that it left their skin looking hydrated, without flaking or ashiness. “My skin stayed smooth all day, even after washing several times,” one said.

Roc’s formula was a top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day cream test for smoothing skin texture and lines. Lab digital imaging revealed that the non-greasy cream improved skin’s texture by 11%in four weeks; it also rated highly for diminishing wrinkles and firming. “It left my skin feeling plump,” a tester reported.

The ultimate multi-tasking moisturizer for both face and body, Aquaphor is a GH Seal holder, Beauty Lab go-to, and dermatologist-recommended. Packed with rich hydrators like panthenol and glycerin, clinical studies prove that the salve decreases skin dryness, irritation, and even cracking without clogging pores.

The best of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day cream test, L’Oréal topped Lab and tester assessments for tackling top skin concerns: reducing UV spots, evening tone, and moisturizing. In Lab measurements, the vitamin C and glycolic acid cream increased skin’s moisture levels by 28% and reduced hyperpigmentation spots by 11% in four weeks. Testers found it absorbed fast and left a silky finish. "My skin stayed hydrated throughout the day,” a user commented.

The ultimate choice for the moisturizer-averse, GH Seal holder Neutrogena is a light, mild oil-free formula that reduces shine on oily and breakout-prone areas while delivering balanced hydration. GH Beauty Lab evaluations verified that the glycerin-based lotion hydrates skin for up to four hours and soaks into skin quickly, leaving a soft, grease-free finish that won't clog pores, which can exacerbate acne.