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Looking for dewiness that just won’t quit? Is your skin in post-treatment recovery and needs some intense soothing? Or, perhaps your skin is exceptionally parched and in need of relief? The best water creams are the cream of the crop when it comes to skin care that makes dryness quake in its scaly little boots. But what are water creams, exactly? Let’s hear it from the pros.
True to its name, water creams aim to do one thing and one thing only: hydrate. “Water creams are lightweight moisturizers with more of a gel-like texture than your typical cream,” says Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Water creams absorb quickly and offer lightweight hydration that lends a dewy look to the skin.” Sound dreamy? It gets even better. In the sea of water creams on the market, the best ones combine humectants and emollients to bolster the health of any skin type, including oily and sensitive skin. Even better, the best water creams improve skin texture, balance out oil production, and refine pores for that coveted glass-skin glow. If you’re prone to acne or have sensitive skin, a water cream may be the way to go.
Our picks for the best water creams of 2025
But, which water cream belongs in your skin care stash? We’ve started the legwork for you, soliciting recommendations and tips from board-certified dermatologists. Ahead, browse the best water creams, as recommended by top dermatologists, celebrity estheticians, and ELLE editors who are all hooked on the glow.
Pros
- Oil-free
Cons
- May not be best for super sensitive skin
Tatcha’s beloved water cream feels like silk as it seeps into the skin, leaving the face feeling just as smooth. Enriched with Japanese wild rose to moisturize and refine the pores, the cream also has Tatcha’s signature blend of Japanese superfoods. Dubbed Hadasei-3, the antioxidant-packed ingredient plumps and hydrates the skin while improving barrier function. It’s a signature element of all Tatcha formulas, which may explain why celebrities like Meghan Markle, Jennifer Aniston, and Kim Kardashian have all espoused loyalty to the Japanese brand.
Key ingredients: Japanese wild rose, Hadasei 3, glycerin
Who it’s for: Oily skin, enlarged pores
Size: 1.7 oz
Sephora rating: 4/5 stars
Our expert says: “This is a great product if you are looking for a super hydrating cream that will support your skin’s barrier, which is your outermost layer of skin. The skin barrier quite literally seals in moisture, so it’s good to support that with good hydrating creams. Tatcha’s Water Cream is great for those who have oily skin types and are seeing clogged pores. It’s also good for pores and can help minimize them. An important ingredient to call out in this product is glycerin, which will hydrate the skin and directly improve the skin’s barrier. Furthermore, this product is formulated without oils, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, parabens, or phthalates. Plus, it is also a great product if you are looking to improve texture, boost radiance, and soothe your skin.”—Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, Florida
Johnson & Johnson Hydro Boost Water Face Cream with Hyaluronic Acid
Pros
- Imparts a dewy glow
Cons
- May feel greasy on skin
This drugstore classic feels rich and creamy as it’s scooped out of the jar. However, once it comes into contact with the skin, the cream instantly transforms into a lightweight salve with a gel-like texture. Best suited for normal to dry skin, the formula floods your face with hydration, thanks to a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid. What's more, it’s lightweight and cool to the touch, and has an instantly soothing effect on irritated skin.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acidWho it’s for: Normal to dry skin
Size: 1.7 oz
Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars
Our expert says: “This is great for normal to dry skin. It’s very hydrating, yet it absorbs quickly and feels light on the skin. I like its gel-like texture, and that it’s fragrance-free.”—Brooke Jeffy, MD, board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona
Pros
- Refillable
Cons
- Some users find the botanical scent a little strong
Infused with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and the humectant beta-glucan, Laneige’s refillable cream is like a cheerleader for the skin barrier. Tackling dryness, dullness, and laxity, it protects the skin from environmental aggressors—all that, in a super-hydrating yet lightweight formula. If you’re curious about its namesake ingredient, here’s the scoop: Blue hyaluronic acid, a proprietary ingredient for the K-beauty brand, undergoes a 10-step microfiltration process that reduces its molecules to approximately 2,000 times smaller than typical hyaluronic acid. The ingredient’s minuscule size helps it penetrate he skin fast, where it offers long-lasting hydration. “I recommend this one for anyone with super dry skin,” says Muneeb Shah, DO, board-certified dermatologist and founder of REMEDY. “It delivers a boost of moisture, leaving skin feeling plump and dewy all day.”
Key ingredients: Blue hyaluronic acid, ceramides, probiotic lysate, beta-glucan
Who it’s for: Dry or sensitive skin
Size: 1.6 oz
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
Our expert says: “Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer has a creamy, rich texture with peptides, squalene, and hyaluronic acid, which is perfect for dry skin. It’s also formulated with cica to soothe irritation, which is great for sensitive skin.”—Brooke Jeffy, MD
Pros
- Delivers hydration to 10 layers of the skin
Cons
- Some users report a tacky feel upon initial application
Designed to deliver hydration deep within the skin, Belief’s Aqua Bomb is a K-beauty classic that’s dermatologist-tested and ELLE editor-approved. One of our all-time favorite Korean moisturizers (and that’s saying a lot), the cream cools and plumps the skin upon contact. Plus, it contains niacinamide to regulate oil production.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Napiers Original formula, Aqua formula
Who it’s for: Normal and oily skin types
Size: 1.7 oz
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
Our expert says: “This is great for normal to oily skin. It has squalane and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, and niacinamide to reduce dullness.”—Brooke Jeffy, MD
Pros
- Refines pores
Cons
- May not be moisturizing enough for dry skin
Made with niacinamide to reduce excess oil and shine, this Skinfix moisturizer has a mattifying effect on oily skin. Think of it as the great pore-refiner of water creams—your ace in the hole for blurring while bolstering the skin barrier. With a lightweight gel-like feel, the water cream contains a heptapeptide blend that supports the skin barrier by stimulating collagen and elastin production. Saccharide isomerate, another key ingredient, has a soothing effect on the skin.
Key ingredients: Saccharide isomerate, heptapeptide blend, niacinamideWho it’s for: Oily and combination skin
Size: 1.7 oz
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
Our expert says: “The lightweight, non-greasy texture absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling soft and plump. It’s ideal for those looking for a moisture-boosting cream that also strengthens the skin’s barrier.” —Muneeb Shah, DO
Pros
- Delivers immediate hydration
Cons
- Can take a while to sink into the skin
Celebrity esthetician Kate Somerville whipped this cream up to mimic the effects of her microchannelling facial, a treatment she delivers in her L.A. clinic to pep up dull and tired skin. (Her A-list clients swear by it after a flight or a big night out.) Infused with exclusive AquaPort Technology to deliver deep hydration, the cream also contains a rosemary peptide complex to revive tired skin.
Key ingredients: AquaPort Technology, rosemary peptide complex, blue-light-activated algae extract
Who it’s for: Dry, combo, or normal skinSize: 1.7 oz
Sephora rating: 4.7/5 stars
Our expert says: “This is a great product that will hydrate and plump the skin. It’s perfect for those experiencing dullness or dry skin, as it will immediately hydrate the skin deeply. If your skin is dehydrated, look for hyaluronic acid as an ingredient—hyaluronic acid hydrates skin for dewy, glowy results and will address skin fatigue immediately. This product also contains glycerin, which supports skin barrier health. It’s free of parabens, formaldehydes, and phthalates. The formula is lightweight and a cream formulation, which makes it ideal for skin types that are dry, dull, and experiencing uneven skin texture.” —Anna Chacon, MD
Pros
- Improves the look of pores
Cons
- Some users report a slightly medicinal smell
An ELLE editor (and Gwyneth Paltrow!) favorite, Goop’s ultra-hydrating cream is a brightening salve for aging skin. Infused with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and botanical extracts, the moisturizer flicks the light back on in tired, dull skin. While revving up the skin’s glow, the product also manages to improve the look of pores and skin texture.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, moringa extract, cactus stem extract, niacinamide
Who it’s for: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz
Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars
Our expert says: “This is a great product that is really good for your skin’s barrier. It’s a cream formulation that suits a range of skin types, is super hydrating, and will help your skin look more radiant, brighter, and smoother. One key ingredient to highlight in this product is niacinamide. This is a beneficial ingredient that helps improve the appearance of any discoloration in your skin, addresses texture issues, and controls excess oil. It also restores the skin’s barrier by locking in moisture and helps improve skin texture. It also has clean ingredients, so no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oils.”—Anna Chacon, MD
Meet the Experts
Anna Chacon, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, Florida
Brooke Jeffy, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Muneeb Shah, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of REMEDY.
What is the purpose of a water cream?
It’s all in the name: hydration. “Water creams are designed to give your skin a burst of hydration while keeping things light,” says Dr. Shah. “They’re perfect for oily or acne-prone skin, or anyone who just wants moisture without the heaviness of traditional creams.” What’s more, “They keep your skin looking plump, smooth, and hydrated without any greasy feel.”
Can I use a water cream at night?
“Water creams can be used both day and night,” Dr. Shah says. However, they’re not for everyone as an overnight solution. “They tend to be less hydrating in terms of preventing transepidermal water loss,” he warns. “Some patients do prefer a richer cream at night.”
Of course, you could always layer a water cream under something slightly more thirst-quenching for the skin. “If your skin is very dry, top a water cream with a cream that contains occlusives [such as oils and butters] to really hydrate overnight,” Dr. Jeffy instructs.
What should you look for in a water cream?
Because these formulas are focused on imparting hydration, you should gravitate toward ingredients that plump and soothe. “When choosing a water cream, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan, ceramides, and glycerin,” says Dr. Shah. “These are all great for keeping your skin hydrated,” Jeffy adds that those with sensitive skin should seek out a water cream that’s fragrance-free.
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com contributor Jenny Berg consulted several skin experts to find the best water creams for all skin types.
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