
11 Best Nontoxic Face Moisturizers (Editor Reviewed)
FashionGroomSpot editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
I’ve personally tested and researched dozens of clean beauty brands — these are my favorite natural and nontoxic face moisturizers with notes from wear.
When it comes to a natural skincare routine, hydration is our highest priority. This is true whether we’re experiencing dry and dull skin from winter weather or feeling the effects of the hot summer sun. Lathering up in protective creams that nourish our skin and rejuvenate our complexions is one of life’s small pleasures. That’s why I’m thrilled to share our favorite editor-tested and approved natural face moisturizers made with organic ingredients that truly deliver. 🧴
So, what does face moisturizer actually do?
Most moisturizers work through a combination of hydrating the surface layers of your skin and trapping in moisture and nutrients. (Yes, that means applying moisturizer to damp skin is more effective!) Moisturizer can have other unexpected benefits, like helping with acne, since it stops the need for oil production. Curious how face moisturizers compare to serums and face oils? Serums have more active ingredients that are water-based — the small molecules in serums mean they rapidly absorb and penetrate deeply into skin. Face oils have larger molecules and a slower absorption rate, so they’re good for sealing in other products and giving you that glow. Moisturizers are more for sealing in water and protecting your skin barrier. They’re great to use on their own after a cleanser — but you can also use all three products in this order: Serum, moisturizer, and then face oil.
Why choose a nontoxic face moisturizer?
Going for a nontoxic face moisturizer is like quenching your skin with all the good stuff and none of the junk. Nontoxic and natural ingredients like organic shea butter, aloe vera, and plant oils keep your skin happy and hydrated without any irritating and unnecessary chemicals that can throw your skin off (or cause an allergic reaction). Plus, it’s a win-win for both you and the planet because nontoxic moisturizers often use eco-friendly ingredients that are easy on the environment. And let’s not forget the long-term benefits – by ditching the toxic stuff, you’re setting yourself up for healthier skin and overall wellness down the road.
What ingredients should you look for in a natural moisturizer?
All good moisturizers contain three types of ingredients. Humectants draw in and retain water — some of our favorites in this category are hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Occlusives give skin a protective outer layer that seals in water to reduce evaporation. Petroleum jelly, beeswax, and coconut oil are all great occlusives, but these can be too heavy and comedogenic for some — we like more universal occlusives like shea butter and triglycerides. Lastly, moisturizers need emollients to blend it all together and to smooth and soften the look and feel of skin. Common emollients are ceramides, squalane, jojoba oil, amino acids, lipids, vitamin E, and dimethicone. We also like to stay away from common irritating ingredients like fragrance and essential oils.
How do I know that my skincare is clean?
When shopping for skincare and body care products, we love using informative, non-partisan online resources that break down each ingredient so you can see what might be problematic. INCIdecoder takes you ingredient by ingredient for practically any skincare product. And if you want to know more about a specific ingredient, we like the EWG (Environmental Working Group) website — they even have handy “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen” ingredient lists.
“Clean” or “natural” are somewhat arbitrary words when it comes to beauty products since they’re unregulated. But as a rule of thumb, we like to check individual ingredients to make sure they’re not potentially harmful, and support brands with transparent sustainability specs. We keep an eye out for third-party sustainability certifications like B Corp, EWG Verified, USDA Organic, Made Safe, and Fair Trade.
We think about packaging, too — the FSC certification means a product’s cardboard box was made with sustainably harvested wood, and we’re always prioritizing glass or aluminum over plastic packaging, which isn’t as easy to recycle and breaks down into microplastics.
Our methodology & criteria:
FashionGroomSpot was sent these 11 face moisturizers for review and I personally tested them all for their texture, absorbability, and hydrating capabilities as someone with normal-dry skin. To test the moisturizers below, I applied each one at least four times total — twice as part of my morning routine and twice at night, keeping everything else about my routine (cleansers, serums) the same. Some were definite lighter, daytime creams that went well under makeup, while others were richer and better for nighttime — and some fell somewhere in between.

For context, I have combination, acne-prone skin that tends to feel dry, while my T-zone gets oily throughout the day. My skin isn’t particularly sensitive, and I lean towards lighter products during the day and heavy creams at night to combat my retinoid-induced dryness. From lightweight creams to thicker balms, I rated the texture of each product from 1-10, with lighter being on the lower end of the scale and richer textures on the higher end.
- NONTOXIC | These clean face moisturizers are made with high-quality ingredients, including organic and nontoxic additions that won’t irritate your skin and will keep it in its best state, naturally.
- HYDRATING | After testing each of these face moisturizers, I can confirm each will deliver nourishing and vitamin-rich moisture that’s suitable to your skin type for that all-day glow! ✨
- AFFORDABLE | Clean beauty can get pricey, so I’ve made sure to showcase some of my favorite face moisturizers from ethical and eco-friendly brands that are budget-friendly.
I’m confident there is something for everyone on the list. Let us know your favorites in the comments. And if you’re on the hunt for other natural beauty recommendations, check out our guide to organic makeup and organic skincare products.
Table of Contents
Best Overall: OSEA
Best for Dry or Mature Skin: RMS
Best for Sensitive Skin: Ilia
Best Affordable Option: Cocokind
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Jones Road
Best for Normal/Dry Skin: YSE
Best for Purchasing IRL: Three Ships
Best Makeup Primer: Ere Perez
Best Luxe Option: Kora
Best Functional Ingredients: Ursa Major
Best for Combination and Oily Skin: 100% Pure
1. OSEA
Best for | Our overall favorite
Skin type | Normal/dry
Texture | 7.5
It’s no secret our editors (and readers!) are obsessed with OSEA (read our full OSEA review here). And the Atmosphere Protection Cream is just another favorite essential in our bathroom cabinet. It smells like lavender and clary sage and is made with plant-derived ingredients like seaweed and shea butter. The vegan moisturizer is also in antioxidants and protects the skin from environmental pollutants. We love the pump bottle for application and the lightweight, silky finish. OSEA is Climate Neutral Certified and delivers its skincare in recyclable packaging.
Our Editor’s Review | “Osea has been a TGT fave for years, and for good reason. Their formulations have fantastic UX — that’s the major difference between drugstore and higher end creams, I’ve found — with gorgeous textures and packaging that’s just as nice. The advanced protection cream was all that and more. It’s rich, refreshing, and hydrating without feeling too heavy (it works for both day and night, though it reads more like a night cream), it’s great at barrier restoration, it’s has a super subtle floral scent, and it’s stamped with the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. It’s formulated with lipids, amino acids, plant-based retinol, turmeric, and Osea’s signature seaweed — plus their signature frosted glass packaging.”


2. RMS
Best for | A nourishing night cream
Skin type | Dry/mature
Texture | 9
Founded by makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift, RMS has been one of the leaders in the clean makeup space since 2009. They meticulously source the clean ingredients for their beauty products — which include super simple, apply-with-your-fingers products like liquid eyeshadow, cream lip to cheek product, and tinted SPF. They’ve branched out into the skincare space, too, with a handful of equally elegant, uncomplicated products like cleansing balm, kakadu oil, and a satisfyingly rich yet non-greasy Kakadu Luxe Cream.
Our Editor’s Review | “RMS’s Kakadu Luxe Cream is my ideal night cream. It has a slightly thicker texture than Osea’s — owing to its shea butter, which my skin loves — but still sinks in with a silky, non-greasy finish and had me waking up to noticeably hydrated skin in the morning. A little goes a long way, too. It’s enhanced with niacinamide, plant-based peptides, and kakadu plum oil (rich in vitamin C), and it comes in a beautiful light pink glass jar that looks great on my vanity to boot.”


3. Ilia
Best for | Calming & soothing
Skin type | Sensitive
Texture | 6
A TGT favorite for several years now, Ilia blurs the line between makeup and skincare with beautifully (and sustainably) packaged products. “…Not every natural ingredient is good for the skin, nor is every synthetic bad,” according to the brand’s ethos, which has led them to creating some pretty innovative hybrid makeup/skincare products like their iconic skin tint and an eye cream with a subtle shimmer. The brand is Leaping Bunny certified and committed to 1% for the Planet, too.
Our Editor’s Review | “Ilia has a new barrier cream I had been eyeing — and was super excited to try. It was lighter than I expected, reading more like a nourishing day cream than a rich night cream — although it would make a perfect night cream if you prefer something lightweight and refreshing. Also unscented and stamped with the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, it’s a bit lighter than Osea’s cream. It still has a calming, deeping hydrating finish, boosted with soothing colloidal oatmeal and nourishing shea butter.“


4. cocokind
Best for | Affordable daytime moisturizer
Skin type | Combo/oily
Texture | 3.5
If you’re dealing with dry, rough patches from the weather, you’ll want to check out cocokind’s Texture Smoothing Cream. Our editors love this affordable plant-based moisturizer with organic ingredients like celery superseed complex and hydrating squalane. The face cream helps reduce enlarged pores and smoothes skin texture. We love snagging a jar while on a Target run for lightweight moisture that soaks right in. Cocokind is cruelty-free, uses recyclable packaging, and makes products in the USA.
Our Editor’s Review | “We love Cocokind for its affordable formulations and super transparent specs — each product gives you a detailed ingredient and carbon footprint breakdown — and their electrolyte water cream is one of their newer products. It has a calming, lightweight feel that kept me hydrated all day and worked well under makeup. While it was more hydrating than I was expecting, it wasn’t thick enough for nighttime use. But it’s a fantastic summertime day cream for my combo skin, with electrolytes like sodium PCA and zinc PCA that balance hydration and control shine. For a super nourishing night cream, I’ve been using (and loving) the brand’s polypeptide cream for years.”


5. Jones Road
Best for | Lightweight, gel-like moisturizer
Skin type | Oily, acne-prone
Texture | 3.5
Jones Road, Bobbi Brown’s skincare line, reimagines what skincare can be with simple, effective formulations and attractive glass packaging to boot. Brown created the brand with the goal of simplifying makeup application — formulations shouldn’t be difficult to master, and they should work on all skin types and tones. They follow guidelines more stringent than the EU for their clean formulations, and while they specialize in makeup products, they also do a line of streamlined, unfussy skincare in glassy packaging.
Our Editor’s Review | “Jones Road’s oil-free moisturizer is a fantastically simple day cream option. It comes in a glass pump jar, has a super lightweight, gel/cream texture that still left my skin feeling hydrated, and is formulated with brightening niacinamide. But it probably wouldn’t be nourishing enough during the driest winter months. But if you have super dry skin, Jones Road’s miracle cream is for you, with that thick finish my skin craves during dry winter months (although fellow acne-prone folks, I wouldn’t rec using this every day). Solid in the jar, the product has lots of shea butter and melts down when you warm it in between your fingers — it finishes greasy and nourishing like Weleda’s Skin Food, one of my favorite products of all time.”


6. YSE
Best for | Thick cream that feels weightless
Skin type | Normal/dry
Texture | 8
YSE Beauty — pronounced “wise”— is supermodel and actress Molly Sims’ skincare brand. The brand was created for women (especially Gen Xers!) seeking effective, uncomplicated skincare solutions targeting concerns like hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, dryness, and other common effects of aging. Designed to be trend-free, stress-free, and easy to use, catering to women who want results without a complicated regimen — and you know they come by it honestly, if you’ve checked out the founder’s morning routine!
Our Editor’s Review | “I loved the texture of YSE’s Xtremely Rich moisturizer. Its buttery, plush, thick feel melted down on contact with my face to leave a dewy, almost weightless finish — the perfect rich cream for someone with dry skin who doesn’t like the feeling of a heavy moisturizer. Its squalane, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides help hydrate and repair skin from the outside in, leaving your skin feeling smoother and glowier both on application and over time.”


7. Three Ships
Best for | Easy to find in person
Skin type | All skin types
Texture | 6
Another brand on the more affordable side, Three Ships can be found in stores like Credo and Whole Foods, plus they’re B Corp and EWG certified. Their clearly labeled, down-to-earth products are designed to eliminate the need for a 12-step skincare routine — and they’re all dermatologist tested, sustainably sourced, and vegan friendly. The brand specializes in skincare (no makeup for now), and we love how they separate their products by skin type and by benefit, for super easy shopping.
Our Editor’s Review | “Three Ships’ Radiance Grape Stem Cell + Squalane Ultra-Hydrating Cream is more lightweight than the name makes it sound. (And I love being able to pick a product up rather than get it delivered!) It hits that sweet spot between light enough to wear under makeup during the day, but heavy enough to work as a night cream, too, deeply hydrating with a blend of glycerin, squalane, shea butter, and rosehip oil. While its plastic packaging isn’t ideal, it’s part of what keeps it so affordable and easy to recycle — and it has a pump top so you don’t have to dip your fingers in.”


8. Ere Perez
Best for | All purpose moisturizer
Skin type | Normal
Texture | 5
This boutique Australian beauty brand with transparent sustainability specs was started by Ere Perez, who emigrated to Australia from Mexico and combines both of her identities in this makeup, skincare, and beauty tool line that prioritizes powerful natural ingredients and easy-to-use formulations. Their skincare products each emphasize a different effective botanical — like papaya, grape water, or moringa — and you can use the locator on their website to find a store near you that carries their products.
Our Editor’s Review | “I can’t lie — I loved this moisturizer’s butter-yellow packaging almost as much as I loved its texture that’s plumping, refreshing, and light. The moringa all-beauty creme is that perfect all-purpose, non-irritating moisturizer that does well on my skin any time of day — and I think would work for all skin types in all season. It provided a dewy finish on bare skin and priming well for makeup, too. It has a light, fresh scent that smelled a little bit like cleaning products to me, but not enough to make me want to stop using it. Just beware if you’re super sensitive to scent.”


9. Kora
Best for | Luxe packaging and scent
Skin type | Combo/oily
Texture | 4
Not only are Kora’s products certified organic — they also don’t compromise on effectiveness or user experience. They have luxe-feeling packaging, subtly refreshing scents, and beautiful textures, too, so it’s no wonder they’ve been racking up beauty awards lately. The Climate Neutral certified skincare line comprises everything from mists to SPF to body care, and many of their products — including moisturizers — come in refillable packaging to reduce plastic waste.
Our Editor’s Review | “I love how luxurious Kora’s textures, scents, and packaging feels. Their active algae lightweight moisturizer that, while light and gel-like, is impressively moisturizing and sat well under makeup, calming with ingredients like aloe and cica. Kora also makes a turmeric glow moisturizer has a decadent texture that left my skin feeling cocooned and nourished (it’s more of a night cream) with a delicious mint and lemon scent to boot. It’s packed with aloe, rosehip oil, turmeric, shea butter, and plenty of other botanical oils along with lactic acid and lactobacillus to increase ingredient absorption. Acne-prone or sensitive skin types, I’d exercise caution with both of these products — while my skin was just fine, they both contain potentially irritating essential oils.”


10. Ursa Major
Best for | Functional ingredients
Skin type | Dry/mature
Texture | 7.5
Ursa Major is a certified B corp making natural and organic skincare essentials with nature’s very best ingredients. The Fortifying Face Balm — which is vegan and made in the USA — includes organic aloe leaf juice, sunflower & carrot seed oils, and willow bark extract. We love how light and weightless it feels on application and how it reduces redness, hydrates our skin, and smells like a spa. The pump feature makes it easy to apply on the go too. Ursa Major is plastic-negative, gives back to environmental causes, and ships products. sustainable packaging.
Our Editor’s Review | “Ursa Major’s Golden Hour Recovery Cream has the dreamiest texture — it’s rich and buttery, but sinks into skin on application without feeling super greasy or heavy. Designed to be used both morning and night, the cream utilizes the power of botanical actives, like sea buckthorn oil that’s rich in fatty acids, blackcurrant that has vitamin C, and calendula for soothing. (The botanical ingredients give it a gorgeous floral and woody scent, too). While I’m in love with the cream’s texture, scent, and glass packaging, it gives my skin the subtlest stinging sensation on application, so I wouldn’t rec this for sensitive types.”


11. 100% Pure
Best for | Lightweight plant-based moisture
Skin type | Combo/oily
Texture | 3
Our editors love this tiny but mighty tube for hydration on the go! The Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme from 100% Pure combines nutrient-rich sea minerals, vitamins, and oils for skin that glows — especially for faces with skin on the drier side. It’s vegan and mostly organic, as well as made in the USA. As for smell, the floral scent profile reminds us a bit of warm sunshine on those first spring days. Divine! Read our full 100% Pure review here.
Our Editor’s Review | “The brand 100% Pure has a solid lineup of natural, plant-based moisturizers, but my favorite one that I tried was their mushroom peptide moisturizer. It has a thin texture with a lightweight finish, but still felt nourishing between its hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin, and botanical oils — and it has niacinamide and naturally occurring peptides, too. Its name comes from its blend of extracts from 11 different mushrooms (chaga, lion’s mane, and reishi, to name a few), and its no-frills formulation is full of simple, easy-to-read and pronounce ingredients.”


Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!