11 Best Moisturizers Under Makeup

Our picks, explained

1

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Best moisturizer-primer hybrid

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturizer & Makeup Primer, 1.01 Fl Oz

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Embryolisse is sold as a moisturizer and a makeup primer in one, so a single step can replace two. The cream contains shea butter, aloe vera, beeswax, and essential fatty acids, and the listing says it leaves a natural dewy finish that helps foundation blend evenly. It is described as suitable for dry, sensitive, normal, and combination skin.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.6 / Excellent

Job fit

4.5 / Great

Value

4.5 / Great

Comfort

4.5 / Great

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Is this right for you?

Best for

Dry or sensitive skin that wants a dewy base

Finish

Rich cream

Notes

Sensitive-skin fit

Why it makes the list

• Works as both moisturizer and primer
• Includes shea butter and essential fatty acids

What to keep in mind

• The dewy finish may not suit anyone who wants a matte base

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2

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Best for color-correcting prep

Deepmind 3 In 1 Primer for Face Before Makeup

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This product combines primer, color correction, and SPF 50 in one swirled formula, which makes it a different kind of pick from the moisturizers here. The listing says it uses three color-correcting pigments to even out skin tone and calls the texture light and non-greasy. It is also described as compact enough for travel, and it can be worn alone or under makeup.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.6 / Excellent

Job fit

4.5 / Great

Value

4.5 / Great

Comfort

4.5 / Great

See price Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Travelers who want primer, tone correction, and SPF together

Finish

Tinted primer

Why it makes the list

• Combines primer, color correction, and SPF 50
• Compact size suits travel

What to keep in mind

• It is listed as a primer and isolation cream, so it may not replace a full moisturizer

See price Buy on Amazon Product page

3

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Best drugstore lotion

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin

$20.15

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion when dry skin still wants makeup — ceramides and HA in a simple lotion that absorbs more cleanly than a thick night cream.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.3 / Great

Job fit

4.2 / Good

Value

4.7 / Excellent

Comfort

5.0 / Excellent

$20.15 Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Dry skin needing ceramide lotion under makeup

Finish

Lotion

Notes

Anti-dryingHydratingMoisturizing

Why it makes the list

• Ceramides + HA
• Lotion slip under makeup
• Widely available

What to keep in mind

• Can pill if you use too much
• Not the lightest water gel

$20.15 Buy on Amazon Product page

4

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Best budget daily moisturizer

e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Daily Hydration Moisturizer, 2.5 fl. oz

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This is a lightweight cream that the listing describes as non-greasy and fast-absorbing, which matters under makeup because a cream that sinks in quickly leaves less slip on the surface. It is made with aloe, jojoba oil, and vitamin E, and it is positioned for all skin types. It works as an everyday moisturizer first and a layering base second.

Our ratings

Overall

4.8/5 · Excellent

Pigment

4.9 / Excellent

Job fit

4.8 / Excellent

Value

4.8 / Excellent

Comfort

4.8 / Excellent

See price Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Anyone wanting a simple, affordable everyday moisturizer

Finish

Cream

Notes

Sensitive-skin fit

Why it makes the list

• Non-greasy, fast-absorbing feel
• Made with aloe, jojoba oil, and vitamin E

What to keep in mind

• It is not marketed as a primer, so it adds no grip for makeup

See price Buy on Amazon Product page

5

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Best primer-moisturizer hybrid

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base

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This 2-in-1 formula combines the cushion of a moisturizer with the grip of a makeup primer, so one step covers both hydration and prep before foundation. The texture is described as rich yet lightweight and fast-absorbing, which means it should settle into skin quickly instead of sitting on top. A blend of hyaluronic acid, squalane, shea butter, and vitamins B, C, and E is meant to hydrate and plump for a fresh-looking glow.

Our ratings

Overall

4.7/5 · Excellent

Pigment

4.8 / Excellent

Job fit

4.7 / Excellent

Value

4.7 / Excellent

Comfort

4.7 / Excellent

See price Buy on Amazon

Is this right for you?

Best for

Anyone wanting moisturizer and primer in one step

Finish

Cream

Why it makes the list

• Replaces two steps with one
• Fast-absorbing yet rich texture

What to keep in mind

• The 0.5 fl oz size is small

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6

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Best calming base

Tower 28 Daily Skin Barrier Redness Recovery Moisturizer 1.86 oz

$24

Tower 28 SOS Daily Skin Barrier moisturizer when redness shows through makeup — ceramides and HA in a calming cream that still works as a daytime base.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.1 / Good

Job fit

4.0 / Good

Value

4.8 / Excellent

Comfort

5.0 / Excellent

$24 Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Reactive skin needing calm before makeup

Finish

Cream

Notes

Anti-rednessAnti-wrinkleHydrating

Why it makes the list

• Barrier calm
• Ceramides + HA
• Makeup-day friendly cream

What to keep in mind

• Not the absolute lightest gel
• Premium price

$24 Buy on Amazon Product page

7

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Best ceramide calm cream

PHYSIOGEL Redness Reducing Cream – Ceramide Moisturizer for Dry, Sensitive & Redness-Prone Skin

$23.90

PHYSIOGEL Redness Reducing Cream when dry redness ruins your base — ceramide moisturizer for dry, sensitive, redness-prone skin that still needs a makeup-ready cushion.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.3 / Great

Job fit

4.2 / Good

Value

4.5 / Great

Comfort

4.8 / Excellent

$23.90 Buy on Amazon

Is this right for you?

Best for

Dry, redness-prone skin under makeup

Finish

Cream

Notes

Anti-rednessHealingHydrating

Why it makes the list

• Ceramide focus
• Redness-prone brief
• Cream cushion

What to keep in mind

• Richer than a water gel
• Let it set before foundation

$23.90 Buy on Amazon

8

Best oil-free gel-cream

GA-DE Aqua Jolt Oil-Free Hydration Gel Cream

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GA-DE Aqua Jolt Oil-Free Hydration Gel-Cream when combo skin needs slip without oil — aqua gel-cream moisture for a cleaner finish under makeup.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.6 / Excellent

Job fit

4.5 / Great

Value

4.5 / Great

Comfort

4.5 / Great

See price Buy on Amazon

Is this right for you?

Best for

Combination skin wanting aqua gel-cream

Finish

Gel-cream

Why it makes the list

• Oil-free gel-cream
• Aqua-light finish
• Shine-managed feel

What to keep in mind

• Brand less common in some stores
• May be light for dry skin

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9

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Best plumping cream

TULA Protect + Plump Face Moisturizer

$64

TULA Protect + Plump when under-makeup moisture should look juicy — peptides and hyaluronic acid in a face moisturizer for firmer-feeling, hydrated skin before makeup.

Our ratings

Overall

3.8/5 · Fair

Pigment

3.9 / Fair

Job fit

3.8 / Fair

Value

3.9 / Fair

Comfort

3.8 / Fair

$64 Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Makeup days wanting hydrated, plump look

Finish

Cream

Notes

Anti-agingAnti-wrinkleFirming

Why it makes the list

• Plump + hydrate cue
• Peptides + HA
• Face cream format

What to keep in mind

• Higher price
• Richer than a pure gel

$64 Buy on Amazon Product page

10

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Best sensitive AR cream

Bioderma AR+ Cream, Facial Redness Relief Lotion for Sensitive Skin

$29.99

Bioderma Sensibio AR+ Cream when sensitive redness shows through foundation — facial redness relief lotion-cream for reactive skin that still needs a wearable base.

Our ratings

Overall

3.9/5 · Fair

Pigment

3.9 / Fair

Job fit

3.8 / Fair

Value

4.0 / Good

Comfort

4.1 / Good

$29.99 Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Sensitive redness-prone makeup days

Finish

Cream, Lotion

Notes

Anti-rednessCalmingHydrating

Why it makes the list

• Sensitive redness focus
• Cream-lotion wearability
• Makeup-day calm

What to keep in mind

• Not the lightest gel
• Availability varies by retailer

$29.99 Buy on Amazon Product page

11

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Best dry-skin cream base

Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream - Facial Moisturizer Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil 3.4 Fl oz

$27.76

Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream when dry skin pills on gels alone — shea and jojoba facial cream for a nourished base; use a thin layer and wait before foundation.

Our ratings

Overall

4.5/5 · Great

Pigment

4.3 / Great

Job fit

4.2 / Good

Value

4.7 / Excellent

Comfort

5.0 / Excellent

$27.76 Buy on Amazon Product page

Is this right for you?

Best for

Dry skin needing shea-jojoba cushion under makeup

Finish

Cream

Notes

Anti-dryingHydratingMoisturizing

Why it makes the list

• More cushion for dry skin
• Shea + jojoba
• Gentle cream

What to keep in mind

• Can pill if overapplied
• Richer than oil-free gels

$27.76 Buy on Amazon Product page

How we made this list

We shortlisted 11 picks for moisturizers under makeup. Each one had to clear the same bar: a clear job fit for this skin concern, an Edyt Score from our editorial breakdown, and enough formula detail to rank it against near-duplicates.

1. Define the job. We kept the shortlist on this specific intent — not a generic “best in category” dump.
2. Score the formula. Rankings use Edyt’s editorial breakdown (ingredients, target fit, clean-formula notes when available).
3. Wear and feel. Preference went to products that match how people actually use them day to day, not just first-swipe claims.
4. Cut near-clones. When two SKUs told the same story, we kept the stronger score or clearer use case.

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