There is no single best routine, but there are three building blocks that work for nearly everyone: a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer matched to your skin type, and a daily sunscreen. Our overall pick for the widest range of skin is the CeraVe lineup paired with a La Roche-Posay sunscreen, because both brands are fragrance-free, barrier-friendly, and easy to find at drugstore prices. If we had to build one routine to recommend to a friend who doesn't know their skin type yet, we would start with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (or its lighter PM Lotion), and La Roche-Posay Anthelios.
Our picks at a glance
- CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser — gentle, ceramide-rich, non-stripping wash — best for dry and normal skin.
- CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser — niacinamide-based gel-foam that clears excess oil — best for oily skin.
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream — rich ceramide and hyaluronic acid cream — best for dry skin.
- CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion — lightweight ceramide and niacinamide lotion — best for combination skin.
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream — water-light gel hydration — best for oily skin that hates heavy creams.
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios — non-comedogenic broad-spectrum SPF — best for daily sun protection across all types.
How to choose
A good routine is mostly about matching texture and active ingredients to your skin, not buying more products.
- Know your skin type. Dry skin feels tight and may flake; oily skin gets shiny and is prone to clogged pores; combination skin is oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and normal-to-dry on the cheeks.
- Match the cleanser to the skin. Dermatologists generally suggest creamy or hydrating cleansers for dry and sensitive skin, and foaming or gel cleansers for oily skin that need to lift excess sebum.
- Match the moisturizer texture. Look for humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin), emollients (ceramides, squalane), and for dry skin, occlusives (petrolatum, dimethicone). Oily and combination skin do better with lightweight, non-comedogenic gels or lotions.
- Look for the workhorse ingredients. Ceramides repair the barrier, niacinamide calms skin and helps regulate oil, and hyaluronic acid pulls in water. These appear across the picks below for good reason.
- Always include daily SPF. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is the single highest-value step in any routine, regardless of skin type.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
A non-foaming, fragrance-free cleanser built around three ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It removes dirt and light makeup without leaving skin tight or stripped.
- Pros: Gentle enough for daily AM and PM use, supports the skin barrier, widely available, budget price ($).
- Cons: Doesn't remove heavy makeup or sunscreen in a single pass; can feel insufficiently "clean" to oily-skin users.
- Best for: Dry, normal, or sensitive skin that gets irritated by foaming washes.
- Skip it if: Your skin is very oily or acne-prone and you prefer that squeaky-clean feeling.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
A gel-to-foam cleanser with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. It cuts excess oil while still leaving the barrier intact, which is the balance oily skin usually struggles to find.
- Pros: Effective at clearing surface oil, includes calming niacinamide, fragrance-free, budget price ($).
- Cons: Can be drying if overused; not ideal for genuinely dry or flaky skin.
- Best for: Oily and combination skin, especially in a warm climate or for morning use.
- Skip it if: You experience tightness or flaking after washing.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
A thick, jar-packaged cream with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and petrolatum, using a slow-release delivery technology for long-lasting hydration. It is one of the most consistently recommended barrier creams in the drugstore aisle.
- Pros: Deeply hydrating, repairs dry and compromised skin, fragrance-free, mid-budget price ($).
- Cons: Too heavy and potentially pore-clogging for very oily faces; can feel greasy under makeup.
- Best for: Dry skin, winter months, and body use too.
- Skip it if: You have oily or breakout-prone skin and feel greasy after applying.
