17 Affordable Moisturizers
Get more balm for your buck with these low-cost, high-quality lotions and creams
Moisturizers for Extra-Dry and Mature Skin
Mark Platt
Moisturizers for Extra-Dry and Mature Skin
If your skin feels especially tight, go with a cream rather than a lotion — the greasier the better, says Sylvia Brice, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado in Denver. To minimize fine lines and improve skin texture, look for alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs (including glycolic and lactic acids), and retinol (but those with sensitive skin should use it with caution). Sunscreen—at least SPF 15 for your face—will protect skin from further damage.
Cerave Moisturizing Cream, $15
Greasy formulas aren’t easy to wear — especially if you’re trying to shimmy into jeans. The hyaluronic acid and glycerin (both humectants, which attract water) help keep skin supple without feeling slippery.
Vaseline Intensive Care Firming & Radiance Age-Defying Lotion, $6.50
This multitasking body formula, in a generous 20-ounce bottle, includes wrinkle-minimizing retinol and lactic acid and provides SPF 5 sun protection.
Pond’s Mend & Defend Intensive Protection SPF 15 for Face, $9
Besides protecting your face from sun damage, this rich-as-whipped-cream day lotion includes humectants to help skin retain moisture, as well as white-tea and grapeseed extracts full of antioxidants.
Nivea Body Extra Enriched Lotion, $5
This tried-and-true staple contains a generous helping of mineral oil, coupled with glycerin and antioxidant vitamin E, making it especially good for maintaining the skin’s moisture level.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, $10
Dermatologists give this lightweight lotion a collective stamp of approval for its gentle but effective moisturizing ability and protection against both A and B ultraviolet rays.
Burt’s Bees Carrot Nutritive Night Crème, $12
This nourishing face cream contains natural skin softeners (including sweet almond, avocado, and carrot-seed oils) and a high concentration of glycerin to keep moisture in.
Moisturizers for Sensitive and Itchy Skin
Mark Platt
Moisturizers for Sensitive and Itchy Skin
If you have easily irritated skin, focus on what not to apply. “Bland is better,” says Sandy Tsao, a dermatologist in Boston. Stay away from lanolin and exfoliants, such as AHAs, and make sure the label says “fragrance-free.” To soothe the prickly patches that often result from dry skin, look for itch relievers such as lidocaine and oatmeal, says Jeffrey Dover, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.
Curél Continuous Comfort Fragrance Free Lotion, $7.50
The list of ingredients sticks to the basics — petrolatum, glycerin, and shea butter — leaving little chance for irritation. “It’s thick but soaks in quickly,” said one tester.
Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, $4.50
Made for newborns, this lotion features colloidal oatmeal, a natural ingredient recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a skin protector. It’s also long-lasting.
Lumene Blue Sensitive Tender Drops Soothing Moisture Cream, $10
Linseed oil, with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, eases irritation and leaves facial skin well hydrated. One tester raved about her skin’s silky texture.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Soothing Relief Anti-Itch Moisturizer, $8
Camphor (an oil extracted from an Asian evergreen tree) produces an immediate sensation of coolness, while lidocaine provides longer-lasting itch relief. It’s safe for use over the entire body.
Eucerin Calming Creme, $7.50
Mineral oil, a potent and nonirritating moisturizer, is combined with colloidal oatmeal to help ease the symptoms of inflamed skin. Some pediatricians recommend it for children who suffer from eczema.
Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with SPF 15, $9
This oil- and fragrance-free facial moisturizer provides ample hydration, but it’s light enough not to clog pores. It also filters out both A and B ultraviolet rays.
Moisturizers for Problem Areas and Breakout-Prone Skin
Mark Platt
Moisturizers for Problem Areas and Breakout-Prone Skin
A combination of dry skin and acne can be annoying: How do you treat one without worsening the other? Go with a lotion, not a cream, says Sandy Tsao. And make sure it is noncomedogenic (doesn’t clog pores). Protect hands with products that contain thick emollients, which trap water within the skin, and apply them throughout the day. For dry feet, a heavy cream containing a chemical exfoliant, such as urea or lactic acid, will help soften calluses.
Olay Quench Rapid Repair Hand Lotion, $5
The main emollient, jojoba oil, helps to heal the skin’s moisture barrier and hydrate chapped, dry hands. One tester gave it a moisturized thumbs-up. “My skin felt smooth, not tacky,” she said.
Dove Nourishing Hand Cream, $6
This effective salve has sweet almond oil and shea butter to moisturize and a clean scent. It is also quickly absorbed. “It helped with my dry cuticles,” declared one tester. “And the best part? No slippery hands.”
Profoot Heel Rescue Superior Moisturizing Foot Cream, $7
You want your feet hydrated, but you certainly don’t want to slip around in your socks. The nongreasy formula lets you put on hose right after application, while the urea and mineral oil help smooth out rough heels and soften skin.
Pedifix Mango Magic Foot Lotion, $7
If you want to reduce product clutter, this versatile foot lotion can perform double duty as a body moisturizer. In addition to urea and mineral oil, it contains aloe vera, vitamin E, and lanolin.
Clean & Clear Oil-Free Dual Action Moisturizer, $6
Salicylic acid is abundant in acne-fighting products, but too much can be harsh on dry spots. The small amount in this lotion is effective against acne without pulling moisture from dry areas.
February 2006
www.realsimple.com
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