If you’ve finally reached the point where you’re ready to stop guessing and start finding the best face moisturizers for eczema, you’re in the right place. “When you’re dealing with dry, rough patches, you need a moisturizer that does more than just add hydration. It should help repair the skin barrier and still feel comfortable and lightweight enough for everyday wear,” says Sarah Sung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Seattle. Because when your barrier is compromised, even a so-called “gentle” cream can sting, burn, or leave skin feeling tight and angry.
To find formulas that do more than just moisturize, look for ceramides that restore barrier function, humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid that draw water in, and soothing ingredients (like oatmeal) to calm irritation—all without fragrance, harsh preservatives, or pore-clogging fillers.
Ahead, you’ll find our favorite derm-backed picks that check every box and prove finding comfort and relief is possible.
Our Top Face Moisturizers for Eczema
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Colorscience Barrier Pro Essential Moisturizer
Why it’s worth it: Lightweight, non-greasy hydration is key for eczema-prone skin (since heavy occlusives can trap heat and make skin irritation worse), but, as we previously mentioned, moisture alone often isn’t enough. Colorescience Barrier Pro Essential Moisturizer goes a step further by actively strengthening a weakened skin barrier. “In addition to delivering sheer hydration, it features hyaluronic acid, prickly pear cactus, and squalane, which are known for their hydrating and barrier repair properties,” says Gary Goldenberg, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. And it’s not just any hyaluronic acid: The formula uses a tri-molecular version that draws water into multiple layers of the skin for deeper, longer-lasting hydration. Microbiome-supporting lactobacillus ferment, combined with calming botanicals like snow mushroom, helps ease redness and flaking, leaving dry skin more comfortable, balanced, and better able to handle everyday stressors (like UV and blue light) that tend to trigger eczema flare-ups.
“Ultra light, hydrating and luminating, the Colorescience Barrier Pro cream is my go-to daily moisturizer. Two pumps applied all over my face and neck, it dries down quickly and sits well under makeup. When I’m flaring up, I’ll add an extra pump and add in a few extra spritz of the Colorescience Barrier Pro Serum Spray.” —Kassidy Silva, social director
More to know
- Key ingredients: tri-molecular hyaluronic acid, prickly pear cactus, squalane, snow mushroom, lactobacillus ferment
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Why it’s worth it: One of our six favorite La Roche-Posay products of all time, the 2024 Best of Beauty Award-winning Double Repair Face Moisturizer is a dermatologist-backed staple for eczema-prone skin thanks to its barrier-repairing formula and lightweight feel. It’s made with a blend of ceramides to replenish the skin’s protective lipid layer, niacinamide to calm redness, glycerin for lasting hydration, and the brand’s signature thermal spring water to support a balanced skin microbiome. “It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and can repair the skin barrier in just one hour while keeping it hydrated for up to 48 hours,” says Dr. Goldenberg. Whether you use it on your face or body, it absorbs quickly and won’t clog pores.
“It’s up there with Aquaphor as a product that I can trust to perform no matter how dry or damaged my skin barrier is. It doesn’t go big on fancy fine-line-reducing ingredients or anything; instead, it focuses on hydration. It leaves my skin wrapped in a cocoon of moisture—but not the overbearing and itchy kind! It plays nicely with my angry eczema flare-ups, and has no fragrance so that I can use it on my kids, too.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
- Key ingredients: ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, thermal spring water
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Barrier Repair: Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream
Dr. Althea
147 Barrier Cream
Why it’s worth it: Remember when we said the more hyaluronic acid, the better? Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream takes that literally. The “1-4-7” stands for one key barrier-strengthening botanical (guaiazulene), four types of ceramides, and seven forms of hyaluronic acid—a formula designed to hydrate skin at multiple depths and rebuild a damaged moisture barrier. Additionally, those ceramides are especially important for eczema-prone skin: “They play a critical role in rebuilding the skin’s lipid matrix, preventing moisture loss and fortifying the barrier against irritants,” says Dr. Sung. Rounding things out are avocado extract and soothing artemisia, which help calm redness, sensitivity, and flaking.
Tester feedback from Silva
“Packing in the hydration overnight is one of the easiest ways to take care of my skin during the winter months. I’ll do my full nighttime routine starting with cleanser and a light toner, then add my first lighter moisturizer (currently Colorescience), apply my serums and finish it off with a thick layer of the Dr. Althea Barrier Cream. I use a hefty quarter sized dollop and apply it all over my face, rubbing the excess into my hands. Sealing everything in with the barrier cream leaves my skin plush and dewy by morning. And, it’s right around $25, so my wallet feels better when using a larger amount of the product.” —Silva, social director
More to know
- Key ingredients: guaiazulene, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, avocado extract, artemisia
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Long-Lasting: Sonsie Multi Moisture Cream
Why it’s worth it: Why it’s worth it: Originally launched as The Multi Moisture Mask, this formula recently got a new name—Sonsie Multi Moisture Cream—after people started using it for more than just masking. Now it’s officially a do-it-all hydrator you can slather on your face, body, or leave on overnight. Co-founded by Pamela Anderson, the brand keeps things simple but smart with this cream: It packs 12% glycerin and a very low-molecular-weight (50 kDa) hyaluronic acid that sinks deeper into the skin rather than sitting on the surface. “Humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid attract and hold water within the epidermis, delivering both immediate relief and lasting hydration,” says Dr. Sung. The texture is plush and leaves skin bouncy and calm—among the many reasons it snagged a 2025 Best of Beauty Award.
Tester feedback from Shipin
“Hydrating. Nourishing. Consistent. Sonsie’s cream simply works, day in and day out. That’s saying something for me, who has dry but acne-prone skin, and plenty of allergies that cause dermatitis. Given that I test beauty products for a living, I’m constantly battling eczema breakouts, but I can rely on this ribbony formula to bring my skin back to a healthy baseline. It quells inflammation, feels like a million bucks (so elegant!), and is fragrance-free. It’s a truly elevated daily moisturizer, and I haven’t even talked about the packaging yet, which is a simple aluminum tube that sits beautifully on your counter, but also travels really well (as a frequent flier for work, I always have this in my carry-on). You only need a dab, and it’ll stretch across your whole face, leaving a pretty, glowy sheen. I tend to prefer a lightweight moisturizer in the morning, so I’ll primarily use this thicker cream in the evenings—almost like an overnight mask. And while it is on the heavier side, it never feels suffocating on the skin; it’s no wonder it won a 2025 Best of Beauty Award!” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
- Key ingredients: glycerin, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Budget: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Vanicream
Daily Facial Moisturizer
Why it’s worth it: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer has the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, which is basically a shortcut way of saying: This stuff is really safe for sensitive, reactive skin. “It’s a silky lotion that feels weightless going on, yet hydrates like a cream,” says Dr. Sung. The formula leans on five ceramides and hyaluronic acid to “repair the lipid barrier and bind moisture into the top layer of the skin, so flakes, tightness, and rough patches become way less noticeable,” says Dr. Sung. And because it’s fragrance-, dye-, paraben-, and lanolin-free, and formulated without common allergens, it plays nicely with prescription topicals and everyday makeup. “Its non-comedogenic formula also minimizes breakouts while supporting barrier recovery for irritated skin,” she adds.
Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
“I have uber sensitive skin, so I need a moisturizer that 1) won’t break me out and 2) keep my skin hydrated all day. Which is why I love this Vanicream moisturizing cream. It feels amazing, and just a dab of it keeps my skin fresh all day, without any touchups. I also love how I can use it year-round—not too heavy for the summer but also not too light for the winter (when my skin gets super dry and flaky).” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
More to know
- Key ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Itch Relief: CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream
CeraVe
Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream
Why it’s worth it: CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Cream doesn’t just hydrate—it goes after the itchiness that typically comes with those dry, rough patches. Its standout ingredient, 1% pramoxine hydrochloride, delivers fast-acting relief, so skin can start healing instead of staying irritated. The rest of the formula focuses on long-term barrier repair: “Packed with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, this rich cream replenishes lipids and draws water into the epidermis for up to 24 hours,” says Dr. Sung. She adds that its proprietary MultiVesicular Emulsion (MVE delivery system “gradually releases moisture throughout the day, keeping chronically dry eczema calm and supple.” Even with petrolatum and shea butter in the mix, it absorbs without a greasy feel, making it easy to use on both the face and body.
More to know
- Key ingredients: 1% pramoxine hydrochloride, ceramides, glycerin, petrolatum
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What moisturizer is best for facial eczema?
When dealing with facial eczema, take extra care to check the ingredient lists of your skin-care products. “Ceramides prevent moisture loss and fortify the barrier against irritants,” says Dr. Sung. From there, look for humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to attract water to the skin. Emollients—think shea butter or petrolatum—help “fill in gaps between skin cells, creating a smooth, protective layer,” while colloidal oatmeal can calm itch, she says. A final bonus? Niacinamide, which Dr. Sung says helps “reduce inflammation and support natural barrier function,” so skin stays calmer and more resilient over time.
How do over-the-counter face moisturizers for eczema compare to prescription formulas?
Over-the-counter eczema creams are designed to be gentle, daily barrier builders, relying on ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, and glycerin to hydrate and calm irritation. “The best moisturizers for eczema focus on mild anti-inflammatory effects,” making them ideal for maintenance or milder flare-ups, says Dr. Sung. Prescription treatments, on the other hand—such as topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors—offer stronger inflammation control, but they “carry risk like skin thinning or sensitivity with prolonged use,” she says. Dr. Sung’s advice: start with OTC formulas to strengthen and soothe the skin, and only “step up to prescription options when necessary, and under medical supervision.”
Meet the experts
- Gary Goldenberg, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Goldenberg Dermatology based in New York City
- Sarah Sung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of The Perq based in Seattle
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best face moisturizers for eczema, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team of in-house writers and editors, as well as contributors, along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more about our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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