10 Best Moisturizers for Black Skin in 2022
9 min read
According to research, people with black skin lose moisture more quickly than fair-skinned folks. This lack of moisture causes the skin to appear dull and ashy. And it’s important to note that dry skin is more prone to skin concerns such as acne, redness, inflammation, and white flakes.
Luckily, you can address all these concern with the help of a moisturizer. You see, moisturization is the cornerstone of a good skincare routine, and it’s something that you should never skip. It traps water into your skin and prevent moisture from escaping. Plus, it also improve barrier function and prevent your skin from external stressors, like pollution, dirt, and cold air.
If you’re looking for top-rated moisturizers to add to your skincare arsenal, you’re in luck. Our editors have hand-picked the best moisturizers for black skin. Read on to learn more!
Best Moisturizers for Black Skin Reviewed
1. Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cream Moisturizer
If you don’t mind splurging on skincare products, this moisturizer from Peter Thomas Roth is the best option for those with oily skin. Featuring an ultra-lightweight formula, it hydrates your skin without feeling heavy or greasy.
It’s made with 30% hyaluronic acid and peptides to lock the moisture and prevent your skin from environmental damage. Plus, peptides are an anti-aging powerhouse, so this formula will also help delay the onset of aging. You can also expect a visible improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The highlight? Well, it keeps your skin moisturized for up to 72 hours, which is truly impressive. And it’s infused with hydrolyzed silk to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and plump.
The whipped texture goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. And thanks to that lightweight, cloud-like texture, it goes on great under makeup.
2. Shea Moisture African Black Soap Moisturizer
This moisturizing lotion from Shea Moisture contains African black soap extract — a miracle skincare ingredient long-cherished for its healing properties. It combats acne, fades dark spots, and prevents water loss from your skin.
If you have acne- and blemish-prone skin, this moisturizer is a must-have. It balances oiliness, adds hydration, and soothes irritation. The creamy lotion absorbs quickly, so your skin feels soft, smooth, and never greasy.
It contains tons of moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera, jojoba oil, mango seed oil, and willow bark extract. That means your skin will stay hydrated and moisturized all day long.
This product is gentle enough for sensitive complexions as well. It doesn’t contain parabens, phthalates, sulfates, etc. Additionally, Shea Moisture creates skincare products with dark skin tones in mind. So, you know it will work for you. The cherry on the cake? It’s super affordable.
3. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is a go-to facial moisturizer for thousands of people around the world. It has been named one of the best facial moisturizers by major publications such as Allure, The Cut, Elle, and more.
The infusion of hyaluronic acid, amino peptides, and niacinamide deeply hydrate your skin while preventing and correcting signs of aging. The formula keeps your skin hydrated for up to 24 hours. And it also increases moisture retention by 50 percent.
What’s more, this cream works to boost cell regeneration to reveal a youthful complexion. With over 7,000 reviews on Amazon, it’s one of the best-sellers for the brand. The star rating of 4.5 is a testament to its efficacy.
This product has all the ingredients your skin needs to stay young and healthy, making it a great moisturizer for women with color. It even outperforms some of the high-end products. The best part? It comes with an affordable price tag.
4. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer is a savior for people with dry and sensitive skin. It’s made using the gentlest skincare ingredients. The formula hydrates and nourishes your skin while strengthening its barrier.
It’s super lightweight and goes on like a dream. This moisturizer is proven to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Additionally, it’s loaded with SPF 15, so it will protect you from the damaging UVA and UVB radiation of the sun.
This product has got a cult-like following, and it’s praised for its gentle formula. There are no irritating ingredients in the product. And it has absolutely zero scent. So, your sensitive skin will not freak out upon application.
Finally, the formula is non-greasy and non-comedogenic. It will never cause acne. Needless to say, it’s one of the best lotions for black skin available on the market. And even the derms swear by this product.
5. Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer
This drugstore pick from Neutrogena means business. It’s a moisturizer/sunscreen hybrid that will save you time by allowing you to consolidate skincare steps. That’s right! You don’t need to apply sunscreen separately.
It has SPF of 35 baked right in to protect your skin from the sun. The best part? Unlike most sunscreens, it doesn’t leave a white cast.
Enough about sun protection, let’s talk about moisturization. Does it deliver? You bet! The lightweight formula will keep your skin moisturized for as long as 24 hours. Plus, it’s oil-free and non-comedogenic. It will never clog your pores.
What’s more, it layers really well under makeup. Your skin will appear smoother, clearer, and softer post-application. And it’s fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and dye-free. Above all, it’s super affordable.
Related: These Are The Best Face Washes for Black Skin
6. Shea Moisture Daily Hydrating Face Lotion
Made with extra-virgin coconut oil, this facial lotion from Shea Moisture is boon for people with dry complexion. It has the perfect infusion of coconut oil and coconut milk that hydrates and nourishes your face while bolstering the skin barrier.
Furthermore, it’s packed with Acacia Senegal that soothes irritation, promotes wound healing, and locks in moisture. Then there’s shea butter that soothes and tones your skin. This moisturizing lotion will also make your skin soft and supple.
It also repairs the skin from sun damage. Overall, it’s a great product. However, we won’t recommend it if you have oily skin that is prone to clogged pores. You see, it contains coconut oil as its key ingredient.
And coconut oil is highly comedogenic, meaning it has a great potential of clogging pores. And that could lead to acne. And we’re better off without them!
If you don’t have acne-prone skin, you will thoroughly enjoy this product.
7. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Face Moisturizer
If you’re a victim of dullness, uneven skin tone, and dark spots, you should try Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Face Moisturizer. This oil-free lotion moisturizes your skin, evens out your complexion, and improves texture.
It has clinical results backing up its efficacy at reducing dark spots and fixing dullness. The stuff absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy feel.
What’s more, it features natural light diffusers that reflect light, so your skin looks smooth and flawless during the day. And it’s infused with the soy complex that treats pigmentation to reveal visibly brighter skin.
It also contains SPF 15 to prevent sun damage. The formula is gentle enough to be used on sensitive complexions as well.
Still not convinced? It has an impressive rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon. People from all over the world love this product.
8. Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream
If you have dry and flaky skin, your best bet is a formula that’s soothing yet extremely moisturizing. And Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream is something to look forward to. It instantly plumps your skin with its hard-working formula.
The formula is filled with hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, chamomile, lavender, pansy, etc. All these ingredients moisturize your skin and give you a healthy glow. Another great thing about this product is that it contains plant-based ingredients only.
So, if you like natural products, this is the one you should try. There’s no mineral oil, preservatives, parabens, or other irritating ingredients. And the smell is also natural and herbal. But some users may find the smell a bit strong.
Now, this product is surely great for dry skin. But if you have oily skin, this product is not for you. It feels a little greasy on the skin which is something oily complexions should avoid. Users rave about this product.
9. Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer
Although Jack Black is a leading men’s skincare brand, this moisturizer can be used by both men and women. True to its name, it’s a multi-purpose product that can also function as a sunscreen.
It’s chock-full of hero skincare ingredients such as blue algae extract, sea parsley, vitamin E, phospholipids, and more. Jack Black provides long-lasting hydration to your skin and also improves skin texture.
Thanks to sea parsley, it also reduces wrinkles by promoting skin cell regeneration. You can also expect it to treat skin discoloration. The formula is soothing and intensely rejuvenating. Your skin will feel energized and fresh upon application. w
No matter what skin type you are, you are going to love this product. As an added bonus, you’ll also get excellent sun protection with SPF 20. Albeit expensive, it’s still an excellent face cream for black skin.
10. Olay Complete Facial Moisturizer
If you’ve got sensitive, easily irritated skin, then it can be downright terrifying to choose the right product. You try out some new product that your friend convinced you to buy — and it only burned your skin. It’s the story that many people with sensitive complexions share.
Thankfully, Olay Complete Facial Moisturizer is here to save the day. The fragrance-free formula deeply nourishes your skin and delivers 8 hours of hydration.
It’s powered with SolaSheer sensitive technology to shield your skin against harmful UV rays of the sun. The inclusion of aloe and vitamin E conditions your skin.
It’s lightweight and quick-absorbing. What’s more, it’s soothing, highly moisturizing, and non-greasy. Although it has built-in SPF 15, it’s supremely blendable like a regular lightweight product. And that, for us, was the real selling point of this product.
Things to Look Out for When Buying a Moisturizer
Every skin is different. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to skincare. So, you have to take certain things into account before buying yourself a moisturizer. Here are a few of them:
Ingredients
The main purpose of a moisturizer is to prevent dryness by holding water in the outermost layer of your skin. Therefore, it’s important to look for products that contain humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, etc.
Moisturizing ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe, African black soap, and vitamin E are life-saver if you have dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid ingredients such as retinol, salicylic acid, etc.
Non-Comedogenic
The last thing you would want from a moisturizer is clogged pores. And you already know that clogged pores can cause acne, uneven skin tone, and whatnot. Therefore, you should always look for non-comedogenic formulas. These are the ones that moisturize your skin without blocking pores.
Understand Your Skin
If you have oily skin, it’s best that you stick with oil-free lotions. And anything that’s thick and creamy may be problematic for you. Gel-based formulas are an excellent choice for oily complexions.
If you have dry skin, you can use creamy, thick formulas as you please. Oil-based products may be a good choice for you. Then again, it’s important to choose non-comedogenic products.
Even Skin
Black folks have a high melanin content found in their skin. While it has its own advantages like increased sun protection, it’s also something that makes you more prone to dark spots and uneven skin tone.
If these are your concerns, look for niacinamide- and vitamin C-rich formulas as they can help address these concerns. You can also check out these lotions to even out skin tone.
Conclusion
Moisturization blocks transepidermal water loss and helps maintain skin integrity. If you skip it, your skin becomes tight and flaky— and your makeup won’t look flawless. Lack of moisture also puts your skin at risk of irritation and itchiness.
So, if you want your skin to remain healthy and youthful, you should never go without a moisturizer. The face moisturizers for black skin we have reviewed above are the finest available on the market.
We hope this guide helped you find the information you were looking for. If you still have questions, ask away in the comments below. Also, what’s your go-to moisturizer? Do share it with us!
