If You Have Black or Brown Skin, Estheticians Say Your Moisturizer Needs *This*

"This moisturizer contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. It is suitable for sensitive skin and very affordable, and it has multiple formulations. A day version with SPF and a standard without SPF is often recommended by skin-health professionals." — Thornton

Pros: Relatively inexpensive, contains skin barrier-supporting ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, suitable for sensitive skin.

Cons: Contains silicones.

Customer Review: "This is my favorite moisturizer with SPF. I discovered this brand in a pharmacy store in Paris a few years ago and use their other products too. Hope to get to their spa one day!"

This moisturizer from Thornton's skincare brand Klur is great for those who may struggle with acne and dark spots. It's an overnight retinol cream that's gentle (yet powerful) while lifting pigment and speeding up skin cell turnover. In addition to retinol, it also contains 19 anti-inflammatory plant ingredients and peptides to firm the skin and calm redness.

Pros: Contains retinol to help speed up skin cell turnover, has 19 anti-inflammatory plant ingredients, and contains peptides to tighten aging skin.

Cons: Expensive.

Customer Review: "Obsessed with Klur's Sculpture + A. … I use this a few nights a week, and it is truly magic in a jar. I have two young toddlers that exhaust me 24/7 and have added at least 10 years to my face in the last year. Whenever I use this product, I wake up the next morning looking a little more youthful around the eyes, and my skin looks healthier with a nice subtle glow. Grateful this product exists as it has become a new staple in my routine!"

Fenty's SPF 30 moisturizer locks in hydration; helps fade dark spots; and smooths out enlarged pores with ingredients like niacinamide, Kalahari melon, hyaluronic acid, and aloe.

Pros: Contains SPF 30 to protect, niacinamide to help fade dark spots and provide excess-oil control, and hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate the skin.

Cons: Contains chemical sunscreen filters.

Customer Review: "Started using Total Cleans'r, Fat Water Toner Serum, and Hydra Vizor with SPF in Dec 2022 almost consistently morning and night and my skin glows. I get plenty of sun so lucky to have found this face combo!"

This lightweight water-based gel moisturizer from the Inkey List stops moisture loss in the skin with ceramosides and a betaine complex while simultaneously reducing excess oil production and fading dark spots with 5% niacinamide.

Pros: Budget-friendly, contains 5% niacinamide to provide oil control and fade dark spots, includes ceramosides and a betaine complex to reduce moisture loss and hydrate the skin.

Cons: May not be hydrating enough for extra-dry skin.

Customer Review: "This is very light and watery, a gel-like texture that feels cool and comfortable. Great for quick and simple moisturizing, but even better if you like to layer heavier creams on top of lightweight moisturizers!"

Featuring a hyaluronic acid complex, amino acids, and pineapple enzymes, this formula from Summer Fridays aims to provide antioxidant protection to the skin, deeply hydrate, and gently smooth out skin texture and dark spots. 

Pros: The hyaluronic acid complex in the formula hydrates the skin, pineapple enzymes smooth out skin texture and fade dark spots, and amino acids provide antioxidant protection.

Cons: May not be suitable for hypersensitive or extra-dry skin.

Customer Review: "I was so excited to [try] this and it did not disappoint. It gives my skin such a glowy look. I have fairly sensitive skin and it worked great for me. A little goes a long way and there's a good amount of product in the jar. Will definitely buy again."

If you're acne prone, this moisturizer is an absolute lifesaver. It provides just the right amount of hydration your skin needs with hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, and moringa and papaya help remove impurities from the skin and calm redness. I used this moisturizer for years when my skin was really oily and absolutely loved it.

Pros: Fragrance-free, balances oil production in the skin, provides long-lasting hydration with hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, and includes moringa and papaya to remove impurities from the skin.

Cons: May not be hydrating enough for extra-dry skin.

Customer Review: "I stumbled upon it on accident and have been so surprised by how much my skin enjoys it. My skin has been chronically dry and sensitive and I'm amazed this doesn't break me out. It feels greasy going on but in a light, refreshing way. It is so moisturizing. New staple!"

Dry skin will greatly benefit from this moisture-rich cream from Shani Darden. It's also great if you use any brightening acids in your skincare routine to lighten dark spots or even out your skin tone. Peptides support healthy collagen production in the skin, hydrosella provides up to 72 hours of hydration, and squalane replenishes the skin's moisture barrier. I love this moisturizer because it's also great for acne-prone skin. It's the best moisturizer I've used for dehydration and it's completely noncomedogenic. It's never once broken me out so for that reason, I'll cherish it forever.

Pros: Peptides firm skin and support healthy collagen production, squalane repairs the moisture barrier, and Hydrosella provides up to 72 hours of hydration.

Cons: Expensive.

Customer Review: "Very hydrating and soothing to my skin. Rich enough but not greasy. I noticed a difference even after the second day. I have sensitive normal to dry skin, 58 years old, and I'm not expecting a miracle out of any product. Although this peptide cream made a difference. My skin looks more glowing and rejuvenated."

OAM's vitamin C–rich moisturizer adds so much radiance to the skin. It can also help even out your skin tone and fade dark spots in record time with niacinamide. Additional moisture also comes from peptides, squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. 

Pros: Rich in vitamin C and niacinamide, adds radiance and hydration to the skin with squalane, peptides, and hyaluronic acid.

Cons: Large amount of vitamin C may not be suitable for extra-sensitive skin.

Customer Review: "This moisturizer is so velvety and smooth on my skin. I love the ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, resveratrol. It keeps my skin bright and hydrated. My skin feels so soft and glowy after applying the moisturizer. Gifted by OAM Skin."

With a 10% vitamin C complex and 10% peptide complex, this moisturizer is a master skin firmer and brightens like no other. Ceramides and squalane also support hydration levels and reinforce the skin barrier.

Pros: Contains 10% vitamin C, a 10% peptide complex, and ceramides and squalane to support hydration levels and reinforce the skin barrier.

Cons: Pills slightly under makeup.

Customer Review: "Really impressed! Super hydrating, I wake up with soft skin, and it's a very light consistency, which I love. My face is noticeably more hydrated. Great $$ too."

This barrier-enhancing cream is great for dry or mature skin since it contains a peptide complex, vitamin E, green tea, bakuchiol, and ceramides. Bakuchiol is a great retinol alternative and is a bit gentler on the skin, so it's also great for those who are sensitive and could use an extra dose of hydration.

Pros: Contains barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and peptides, contains a complex to restore health to a hormonally imbalanced complexion, and features bakuchiol, a retinol alternative.

Cons: Expensive.

Customer Review: "After using Dr. Zenovia Skincare Peptide + Ceramide Repairing Moisturizer over the past few weeks, I can say I have noticed a positive difference in the quality of my skin. My skin feels firmer and looks brighter. The aroma and the texture of the product is light but very pleasant. I experienced no negatives from this product. As I'm approaching 30, I really appreciate products like this that help me keep my skin looking youthful."

Philosophy's rejuvenating moisturizer contains encapsulated retinol as its star ingredient. It helps firm the skin, reduces fine lines and dark spots, and helps with skin cell turnover. It does contain SPF 30 sun protection, but since this contains retinol, I would use an additional sunscreen with this.

Pros: Contains SPF 30 sun protection, contains encapsulated retinol to help with fine lines and dark spots, and supports healthy collagen production.

Cons: Expensive.

Customer Review: "I love this product! My skin feels great! I’ve been using this for years and it’s fantastic!"