A great everyday moisturizer doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to work. And for a growing number of NewBeauty readers, one gel-cream is checking every box. In a recent skin-care survey of more than 550 NewBeauty readers,* we asked them all about their hydration favorites—and one product rose to the top among a variety of age groups: the Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.
The lightweight, oil-free gel-cream is ideal for all skin types and is powered by an exclusive aloe bioferment (made by concentrating aloe vera 500 times and putting it through a meticulous 10-step fermentation process) and a dual-weight hyaluronic acid complex that helps create a moisture reservoir deep within skin’s surface. An antioxidant blend of vitamins C and E helps protect against daily dehydrators like stress, pollution and lack of sleep, and the formula is allergy-tested, 100-percent fragrance-free and safe for sensitive skin.
BUY ON ULTA — $48
BUY ON SEPHORA – $48
It’s no surprise our readers can’t get enough. A 60-year-old said it leaves her skin “feeling dewy,” while a 52-year-old praised it for moisturizing well “without any greasiness.” A 54-year-old kept it simple, noting the formula is “hydrating and not sticky.” One 30-year-old noted it absorbs fast and layers beautifully—even under makeup—and another 30-year-old added that it locks in moisture so well she uses it almost like a mask on extra-dry days without any breakouts. And a 51-year-old summed up the experience perfectly: when she needs that cool, hydrating gel feeling, it simply feels pleasant.
At $48, it’s the kind of everyday essential that over-delivers at every turn.
Source: BeautyEngine Advanced Research, 2026
