The Best Moisturizers on the Market

From Cheap to Steep & For Every Skin Type

When choosing a moisturizer, the perfect one will fit three requirements: It smells best, feels best and goes on without feeling greasy on the skin. A quality moisturizer should never irritate or burn skin.

Here I run down the best moisturizers on the market today from cheap to steep and for every skin type: Dry, oily, combination and more. This list includes the yearly picks by the staff of 'InStyle' magazine plus the tried and true picks selected by other beauty experts. This is no random list -- every moisturizer here has passed with high marks the exacting standards of the best makeup artists, beauty editors and dermatologists in the business.

Key: $=up to $10; $$=up to $20; $$$=up to $30; $$$$=up to $40 & over.

Best moisturizers for dry skin, from cheap to steep (Ingredients to look for: Glycerin, dimethicone and hyaluronic acid)

• Eucerin Extra Protective moisture lotion SPF 30
  With this product, you get not only a great moisturizer but you get SPF protection too. Don't use this moisturizer before bedtime, however, you'll want to stick with one that doesn't include sun protection because you don't want added ingredients your skin doesn't need during the night. $
• Dove Sensitive Essentials Day lotion This is a great basic moisturizer. $
• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer I've used this moisturizer for years. It's thick as a shake, but absorbs quickly & doesn't leave my face feeling sticky. $$
• Lancome Absolue Night treatment This heavy-duty moisturizer contains glycerin -- a great humectant. The wild yam extract, sea algae & soy restore moisture. $$$
• Sonya Dakar Hydrasoft Lotion This ultra-light moisturizer from Dakar's exclusive line that's popular with celebrities quickly absorbs into skin leaving it baby soft without the greasiness many oil-based products leave you with. Key ingredients include Frankincense extract & Vitamin E. $$$$.
• Creme de la Mer Moisturizers truly don't get better than this. But be ready to hand over your salary. $$$$$$

More great bets: Oil of Olay ($), Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion ($$) [link url=http://erclk.about.com/?zi=19/r2d] Chanel Precision Rectifiance Intense Anti-Age Retexturizing Cream SPF 15 ($$$) & Clarins 'Blue Orchid' moisturizer ($$$$).

Best moisturizers for oily skin, from cheap to steep (Ingredients to look for: Oil-free & noncomedogenic -- non-pore-clogging)

• Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion UV Defense Combination/Oily It's sheer, oil free & has sun protection. A good, solid moisturizer. $
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 15 This is a basic, good moisturizer, with the added benefit of having sun protection. You might be better off using a different moisturizer for bedtime -- no need for those added ingredients when sleeping. $$
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluide Soothing Protective Nonoily Emulsion Dermatologists swear by this springwater-based formula because it contains no irritants that can trigger breakouts. Instead, ingredients including squalene & glycerine help soothe overdried skin. Call (888-577-5226 for doctors). $$$
• Lorac Oil-free Moisturizer Finally, a moisturizer with a simple name. You'll find this pick soaks right up & plumps up skin. $$$

More great bets: L'Oreal Pure Zone Oil-Free Moisturizer ($), Shiseido Pureness Moisturizing Gel ($$) & Chanel Precision Hydramax Oil-Free Hydrating Gel.

Best moisturizers for normal/combination skin, from cheap to steep (Ingredients to look for: Stick with gel formulations).

• Aveeno Positively Smooth Facial Moisturizer Aveeno Positively Smooth Facial Moisturizer A great basic moisturizer that also has a great scent. $$
• Clarins Hydration-Plus Moisture Lotion SPF 15 This is one of Clarins' best-selling moisturizers. And it's no wonder why -- I've yet to find one person who's used this say a bad thing about it. Instead, they flaunt the benefits: Goes on grease-free, makeup went on easily afterwards... $$
• L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Moisturizing Day Care SPF 15 Shea butter will keep your skin soft as a baby's bottom. With added Vitamin A & sunflower oil, this moisturizer is great for skin that tends to be on the dry side. $$$
• Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing gel Clinique's classic yellow moisturizer now comes in an oil-free gel formula. $$$

More great bets: Shu Uemura Daily Emulsion ($$), Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 2.5oz ($$), Aveda Hydrating Cream($$$)

Best moisturizers for sensitive skin, from cheap to steep (Avoid anything scented or colored, the fewer ingredients, the better).

• Dove Sensitive Essentials Day lotion This light lotion has no scents or dyes and absorbs quickly. $
• Eucerin Extra Protective moisture lotion SPF 30 With this product, you get not only a great moisturizer but you get SPF protection too. Don't use this moisturizer before bedtime, however, you'll want to stick with one that doesn't include sun protection because you don't want added ingredients your skin doesn't need during the night. $
• Benefit Vita Hydrating Cream for Sensitive/Dry Skin This moisturizer has few ingredients, yet keeps skin soft & supple. $$
• Decleor Corrective Care for Sensitive Skin You'll find this product calms down high-strung skin. $$$$

Extra tip for rosacea sufferers: If you suffer from extreme redness, the dermatologists' pick is Clinique CX Redness Relief Cream. The soothing antioxidants, such as green tea extract (with caffeine) constricts blood vessels to relieve that annoying redness. It's worth its $75 pricetag.

source from http://beauty.about.com