Which rich moisturizer should you use under sunscreen?

What makes a good rich moisturizer?

Start with a cream rather than a lotion if your skin is consistently dry. A cream has more oil than a lotion or gel and helps preserve more water in the skin. An ointment is thicker still and more effective for dryness, but you do not have to start with the thickest option available.1

Look for ceramides, fatty substances that help hydrate skin, or hyaluronic acid, another moisturizing ingredient. Avoid fragrance if your skin is dry. Richness is a texture choice, not a reason to buy the most expensive jar; effective moisturizers exist across price ranges, despite the jar's ambitions.13

If only parts of your face are dry, moisturize those spots rather than applying a rich cream everywhere. Oily areas can need a lighter gel or no separate moisturizer. For otherwise normal skin with seasonal dryness, a lotion can be enough.1

How to layer moisturizer and sunscreen

1. 1Cleanse gently. Avoid rough scrubbing, which can irritate skin and damage its moisture barrier, the outer layer that holds moisture in.
2. 2Apply your moisturizer. After a shower, applying cream while skin is still damp helps trap water and makes thicker textures easier to spread.
3. 3Finish with sunscreen every morning. Choose broad spectrum protection, which covers UVA and UVB rays, with SPF 30 or higher.
4. 4Maintain protection outdoors. Choose water resistance for outdoor activity and reapply sunscreen every two hours.

You can use moisturizer again in the evening without the sunscreen step. A practical alternative is a thinner morning moisturizer and a thicker evening one.6

Would a moisturizer with SPF be simpler?

A moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher can combine hydration and sun protection. CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is one example for normal to dry skin, but it is a lightweight lotion rather than a rich cream. Its formula includes ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and has no added fragrance.37

CeraVe tells you to apply this SPF 30 lotion liberally to clean skin every morning as the final skincare step, 15 minutes before sun exposure. Apply makeup after the lotion has fully absorbed. Reapply at least every two hours, and use a water resistant sunscreen for swimming or sweating. A combined product still needs sunscreen quantities and reapplication, not just a small amount used as moisturizer.57

What if your skin is sensitive or still feels dry?

Introduce one new product at a time so you can identify what helps or causes trouble. For very sensitive skin, patch test on your inner arm before applying a new product to your face. Avoid adding duplicate active ingredients: if you already use a retinol serum, you probably do not need retinol in your moisturizer too.26

For excessive dryness, choose a moisturizer you can use at least twice daily. Do not exfoliate dry, peeling skin to remove the flakes. If moisturizing does not help, or dryness becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or persistently stinging, see a dermatologist. A dermatologist can also help if choosing products remains difficult or you have other skin problems.14