Best Moisturizers in Pakistan

The best moisturizer in Pakistan is the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, a light ceramide lotion that works for normal to dry skin on both face and body. For sensitive skin that irritates easily, the Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion is the safer pick, and oily skin does best with the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel.

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion: best overall, for normal to dry skin
Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion: best for sensitive skin
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: best for oily and combination skin
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream with Urea: best for rough and bumpy skin
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA: best affordable pick surface hydration

1. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

This moisturizer is for anyone who wants hydration without a complicated routine. It is light, oil-free and sinks in without any greasy feel. Use it at night after cleansing, or as the last step after your serum. In the morning it goes on before sunscreen, which is worth doing if your sunscreen leaves your skin feeling dry.

Three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid hydrate the surface and repair the barrier underneath, and MVE technology releases them slowly so the hydration lasts a full 24 hours. Made for normal to dry skin, and you can use it on your face and body.

Pros

Three essential ceramides help repair the skin barrier
Hyaluronic acid holds moisture through the day
Oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it will not clog pores
Fragrance-free and accepted by the National Eczema Association
Works on face and body, so one bottle goes further

Cons

Too light for very dry skin in winter

Best for: normal to dry skin, face and body.

Buy CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

2. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

Sensitive skin usually reacts to what is in a product, not how thick it is. This one is built around that problem. It is fragrance-free and lightweight, and the blend of niacinamide, panthenol and glycerin calms skin while holding hydration in, with avocado oil added to soften.

Cetaphil tested it to restore a weakened moisture barrier within a week, and hydration lasts up to 48 hours. It is aimed at five things sensitive skin deals with: dryness, irritation, roughness, tightness and a weak barrier. Use it morning or night, and it works on the body as well as the face.

Pros

Niacinamide and panthenol calm irritation and support the barrier
Clinically tested to restore the moisture barrier in one week
Fragrance-free, paraben-free and hypoallergenic
Non-comedogenic, so it will not block pores
Absorbs fast and never feels heavy

Cons

Very dry skin may find it too light in winter

Best for: normal to dry, sensitive skin, face and body.

Buy Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

3. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 50ml

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is one of the lightest moisturizers you can buy, which is what makes it work for oily and combination skin. It goes on light, absorbs quickly and leaves no shine or sticky feel. Hyaluronic acid is doing the hydrating here, holding water in the skin without any oil. It is safe on acne-prone skin, and in hot, humid weather it is far easier to wear than a thick moisturizer.

Apply a thin layer of Hydro Boost Water Gel with your fingertips on a clean face. Unlike CeraVe and Cetaphil, this one is meant for the face and neck only. If you use it on your hands and feet, it will finish very quickly.

If your skin is dry and you still want this one, go for the Hydro Boost Gel-Cream instead. It is the richer version, made for normal to dry and sensitive skin.

Pros

Light gel texture that absorbs quickly
Hyaluronic acid hydrates without adding oil
Non-comedogenic and safe for acne-prone skin
Sits well under makeup and sunscreen
Comfortable in hot, humid weather

Cons

Contains fragrance, so very reactive skin should patch test first

Best for: normal to oily and combination skin.

Buy Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

4. CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream with Urea

This one is different from the rest. It has 10% urea, which hydrates and softens rough skin at the same time. Along with urea it also contains 0.5% salicylic acid and 0.5% LHA, a gentler form of salicylic acid. Both exfoliate and clear away dead skin.

That combination is why it works on rough, bumpy patches that a normal moisturizer cannot fix, including keratosis pilaris, the small bumps people get on their arms. Three ceramides keep the barrier protected while the acids do their job. It is a rich cream, but it absorbs and does not feel greasy. Use it on the face and body. CeraVe advises keeping it away from the eye area.

Pros

10% urea hydrates and softens rough skin
Salicylic acid and LHA exfoliate gently
Three ceramides protect the skin barrier
Works on rough, bumpy skin and keratosis pilaris
Rich but absorbs without feeling greasy

Cons

Contains exfoliating acids, so start slowly if your skin is not used to them

Best for: dry, rough and bumpy skin, face and body.

Buy CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream

5. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

An affordable moisturizer that does one job and does it well. It tops up the things your skin already makes to stay hydrated, amino acids, fatty acids, ceramides, urea and sodium PCA, with hyaluronic acid to pull in extra moisture. Nothing foreign is being added, it is only replacing what your skin has lost, which is why it suits every skin type.

The texture is light and there is no oil, alcohol, silicone or fragrance in it. Apply it at the end of your routine, after your serums, morning or night.

Pros

Replaces the hydrating ingredients skin naturally loses
Suits all skin types, including sensitive
No oil, alcohol, silicone or fragrance
Light texture that layers well over serums
Accepted by the National Eczema Association

Cons

Light texture, so very dry skin may want something richer
Can pill if layered over silicone-heavy products

Best for: all skin types, as a final hydrating step.

Buy The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

How to Use a Moisturizer

Moisturizer is the last step of your skincare routine, after cleansing and after any serum. In the morning, sunscreen goes on top of it, never underneath.

Apply it to slightly damp skin, right after washing your face. A pea sized amount covers the whole face for a lotion or gel. Spread it with your fingertips and do not skip your neck.

If your skin feels tight an hour later, the moisturizer is too light for you. If it feels greasy or your makeup slides off, it is too rich. Either way the fix is a different texture, not a different brand.

For the full breakdown, read our guide on how to use moisturizer properly.