La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, 3.38oz

Why it's worth it

This lightweight face cream combines ceramide-3, niacinamide and glycerin, so it rebuilds the barrier while calming visible redness. It's oil-free and sinks in quickly, which makes it the one to get if you wear sunscreen or makeup over your moisturizer.

Niacinamide is the ingredient worth having on your face. It's among the most studied topicals in dermatology, with solid evidence for reducing water loss through the skin, softening visible redness and nudging your own ceramide production upward. If your dryness comes with pink cheeks, flushing or early rosacea, that's a more targeted fix than a plain occlusive cream. Ceramide-3 and glycerin handle the rest of the job.

It disappears under everything else you put on. Thick creams pill and slide once sunscreen goes over them. This one absorbs fast and leaves nothing behind, so your morning routine doesn't fall apart. La Roche-Posay says the barrier starts restoring within an hour and hydration holds for two days. It's oil-free and non-comedogenic, so dry-but-breakout-prone skin has a real shot at tolerating it.

From our review of 5 moisturizers for dry, sensitive skin, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +Niacinamide is the ingredient worth having on your face
• +It disappears under everything else you put on
• +The prebiotic thermal water is the brand's signature, and it's not just marketing gloss

What to know

• –The bottle is small and it's a face product
• –Niacinamide isn't universally tolerated