Facial Moisturizers: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentA group of 20 individuals undergoing treatment for rosacea, a chronic skin condition characterized by flushing and very sensitive skin, tested the efficacy of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream in reducing sensitivity and increasing moisture levels. Cetaphil was applied twice daily to one-half of their face after applying topical medication to both sides. Results show that Cetaphil contributes to the restoration of the skin barrier and reduces dryness, roughness and skin sensitivity. The drawbacks of this study are the small number of participants and the fact that only one moisturizer was tested. It isn't clear whether other moisturizers would have yielded the same results. It is clear, however, that Cetaphil is appropriate for and beneficial to sensitive skin.

Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org, in partnership with L'Union FŽdŽrale des Consommateurs-Que Choisir (Consumers Union's French counterpart) tests 12 wrinkle creams for effectiveness, moisturizing ability and overall tolerance. All of the products tested show results for some of the testers, and none at all for others, but most results are barely visible to the naked eye. All of the creams, however, are considered to be effective moisturizers in general.

Our AssessmentAllure editors, along with cosmetics chemists and dermatologists, test thousands of products and choose 190 as the best in their categories. The downside is that none of the nonwinning products are identified. Recommended facial moisturizers include a mix of old and new products from Aveeno, Garnier Nutritionist, Kinerase, Olay and RevaleSkin, among others.

Our AssessmentInStyle editors list top beauty picks based on industry experts' favorites. The winning moisturizers are categorized by skin type, and a brief description is given for each. Most categories include a night cream and a daytime moisturizer with SPF. Top picks include products from Olay, Aveeno, Cetaphil and Eucerin, among others. However, editors don't say which moisturizers didn't make the cut.

Our AssessmentEditors of Better Nutrition magazine recommend several natural and organic skin care products -- including five moisturizers and serums -- for their annual beauty awards. Top products are paraben- and phthalate-free. Products from Derma E, Home Health, Reviva Labs, Mychelle Dermaceuticals and Avalon Organics make the list, but it isn't clear if any of them were tested.

Our AssessmentEditors of TotalBeauty.com, along with users, review and test thousands of beauty products each year and rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. Products are tested for quality, reality of product claims and value. Editors also consider product availability, smell and packaging. Only a handful of facial moisturizers are rated by TotalBeauty.com editors, but thousands are rated by users. Moisturizers from Olay, Laura Mercier, Neutrogena and Clinique rate the highest.

Our AssessmentEditors enlist the help of beauty professionals to pick top beauty "problem-solvers." Winning products are listed under four categories: hair, makeup, face and body. Moisturizers from Aveeno, Olay, La Roche-Posay, Origins and Patricia Wexler make the list of winning products, but no explanation of judging criteria is given.

Our AssessmentBestcovery.com, a consumer-review website that relies on experts to recommend products in several categories, lists four top-performing facial moisturizers. Each product is given a brief description and appears to have been tested by the author, but the moisturizers aren't compared to other products.

Our AssessmentThis article offers skin care tips for women in their 30s, 40s and 50s along with product recommendations to minimize the signs of aging. Day and night moisturizers and eye creams are suggested for each age group. Various anti-aging ingredients are also discussed. Products are not rated or compared, however, and it isn't clear whether any of them were tested.

Our AssessmentAbout.com's beauty guide, Julyne Derrick, offers a comprehensive recommended list of moisturizers for every skin type, for both face and body. Every skin type is covered, although only a short description of the pertinent features of each product is given. Products aren't rated against each other, and judging criteria, if any, are unclear. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentApproximately 1,000 facial moisturizers are reviewed by members of this website. Product reviews can be sorted in a multitude of ways, making it easy for users to find the highest consumer rated products as well as those that are reviewed most often. Some products receive hundreds of reviews, and others receive only a few. Among those with many reviews, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, Desert Essence 100% Pure Jojoba Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream receive the highest ratings. Tinted moisturizers from Laura Mercier, Neutrogena, Tarte and MAC also do well in reviews.

Our AssessmentConsumers can read and post reviews for products sold at Drugstore.com, which include several personal care items. Most of the moisturizers listed are reviewed at least once, but a few of them are reviewed upward of 150 times. Of those that are reviewed the most often, CeraVe, Complex 15, Cetaphil, Alpha Hydrox, and Philosophy moisturizers rate the highest. Top tinted moisturizers include Philosophy the Supernatural Poreless Flawless Tinted SPF 15 and Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer.

Our AssessmentMore than 300 mid- to high-end facial moisturizers are listed for sale at Sephora.com. Most receive high overall ratings from several reviewers. Those with the most reviews and the highest ratings include products from Philosophy, Clinique, Josie Maran and Korres. Tinted moisturizers also receive several reviews. The downfall to this website is that products aren't sortable by overall rating or number of reviews, making it time consuming to search for the most favored moisturizers.

Our AssessmentThis website, sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, produces this cosmetic safety database. The database lists thousands of beauty products and gives them a hazard score. Products with a score of 0 to 2 are considered a low hazard, a score of 3 to 6 is moderate and a score of 7 to 10 is a high hazard. Each product has its own page with a listing of the hazards that its ingredients are linked to (or suspected of having a link to), such as cancer, reproductive problems and allergies. In addition to hazardous ingredients, the website also states whether a company engages in animal testing. Out of more than 3,000 facial moisturizers/treatments, fewer than 1,200 products are given low hazard scores. Most fall in the middle "moderate hazard" range. Although this site is very informative, it does not consider the effectiveness of any products that it rates, and it does not consider the likelihood of skin irritations. But it's a great source for investigating specific ingredients.