Many people are unaware you can use a lower percentage of urea on the face.
Aside from the many exfoliating and barrier creams on the market, you can try urea face cream if you’re dealing with dry, rough, or lacklustre skin. These little-known skincare superheroes can work wonders for your complexion, providing intense hydration and a radiant glow. Urea is a natural ingredient found in our skin, but our skin loses it as we age. With their unique ability to attract and lock in moisture, urea face creams act as your skin’s personal hydration boost. Say goodbye to dry patches and hello to supple, nourished skin!
But that’s not all – urea face creams offer more than just hydration. They also possess gentle exfoliating properties that sweep away dead skin cells, unveiling a smoother and more youthful appearance. Plus, urea’s soothing properties can relieve you if you have sensitive skin or suffer from eczema or rosacea.
Below is the quick summary:
- Best Overall: ALTRUIST Dermatologist Dry Skin Repair Cream 10% Urea
- Best For Sensitive Skin: Cerave Moisturizing Cream for Diabetics With Urea
- Great For Night Use: Eucerin 5% Repair Urea Smoothing Face Cream
- Best Asia Urea Face Cream: ZEROID Richenic Cream Urea 5% Intensive Care
- Best For Exfoliation: UREA LABS 10% Urea Cream
- Also Great: Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream
- Sukoyaka Suhada Urea Moisture Face Cream
- Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel
- Stratus Urea 10 Cream
- Sebamed 5 % Urea Relief Face Cream
The Best 10 Urea Face Cream
If your dermatologist recommended you to use a face cream with urea or if you’re ready to transform your skincare routine and unlock the benefits of urea, below I explore the best urea face creams on the market.
1) Best Overall: ALTRUIST Dermatologist Dry Skin Repair Cream 10% Urea
The ALTRUIST Dermatologist Dry Skin Repair Cream with 10% Urea is a true game-changer when it comes to combating dry, dehydrated skin. This exceptional moisturizer has become a staple in the skincare routine for many who love incorporating urea into their facial routine. And the good thing is that it’s incredibly cheap!
The star ingredient is Urea comes in a concentration of 10%, which is mild for the face yet delivers powerful hydration like no other. It has a remarkable ability to attract and retain moisture, providing intense hydration to even the driest of skin types. From the moment you apply this cream, you’ll notice an instant surge of hydration that lasts throughout the day.
What sets ALTRUIST Dermatologist Dry Skin Repair Cream apart is its lightweight and non-greasy formula even having 10% urea in it. It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving no residue behind. This is a significant plus for those who prefer a light feel or want to use it as a base for makeup. The cream glides on smoothly, enveloping the skin in a comforting blanket of moisture without any greasy or heavy sensation. Or else you are the type that prefers heavy cream on the face; the lightweight texture should be a problem.
The only down part is that this product is mostly more available in the UK than in the USA. The Amazon store that sells it in the UK is from the official site, unlike the USA one, which is not official, and is yet costly.
2) Best For Sensitive Skin: Cerave Moisturizing Cream for Diabetics With Urea
The Cerave Moisturizing Cream for Diabetics with Urea is a specialized skincare product for individuals with diabetes. It is formulated to provide intense hydration and help manage dry and rough skin, a common concern for people with diabetes. However, anyone experiencing skin dryness can use it, especially those with super sensitive skin, because of its great formulation.
This face lotion helps to moisturize and protect dry skin. It helps restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. The Urea in it, a naturally occurring substance, helps retain moisture in the skin. It acts as a humectant, drawing water to the skin and preventing moisture loss.
Aside from Urea, it also contains Cerave star ingredient; ceramide, which is mostly in all their skincare products. Ceramides are essential lipids (fats) found in the skin’s barrier. They help to strengthen and restore the skin’s natural protective barrier, keeping it hydrated and protected.
It also has hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that can hold up more of its weight in water. It helps to attract and retain moisture in the skin, keeping it plump and hydrated. While the petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly, is an occlusive ingredient that forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface. It helps to prevent moisture loss and keeps the skin hydrated.
The down part of this lotion is that Cerave didn’t list the percentage of urea present in this lotion. However, while advertising this product, they state it’s 5% urea yet it’s not listed on the label .
3) Great For Night Use: Eucerin 5% Repair Urea Smoothing Face Cream
Another fantastic 5% Urea face cream worth trying is the Eucerin 5% Repair Urea Smoothing Face Cream. In fact, this cream can be your perfect urea night face cream. No doubt, Eucerin is one skincare brand that has mastered the act of incorporating urea into every of its skincare products. Starting from their body lotion to their face cream. Whether you need a urea product that cures your atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, or severe dry skin, this product might just be what you’re looking for. It’s likewise great for oily-sensitive skin and can be used on the hands or legs aside from the face.
It has a creamy texture that absorbs quickly without feeling greasy. The cream contains 5% urea, which moisturizes the skin and gently removes dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also has ceramides that strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, preventing moisture loss; thus, you wake up to a refreshing face in the morning. It’s also interesting to know that it’s possible to pair it with your tretinoin just in case you have irritation from it or are trying to avoid it. The key point is to do a patch test before proceeding.
It also contains lactic acid that gently exfoliates the skin, promoting cell turnover and improving its texture and tone.
4) Best Asia Urea Face Cream: ZEROID Richenic Cream Urea 5% Intensive Care
When Dermatologist Dre recommended the ZEROID Richenic Cream Urea 5% Intensive Care, she was right about it. The ZEROID Richenic Cream is a Korean product that contains 5% urea; as we all know is a natural humectant known for its ability to attract and retain moisture in the skin. The cream replenish and lock in hydration, and provides a long-lasting moisturization to dry and dehydrated skin. Users often report that the cream effectively hydrates their skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple, and nourished.
It contains a natural ingredient Centella asiatica extract, a well-known anti-inflammatory agent for eczema. It is likewise known to support and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function. This can also benefit individuals with compromised or sensitive skin, as it helps prevent moisture loss and protect the skin from external aggressors.
5) Best For Exfoliation: UREA LABS 10% Urea Cream
While 10% urea is the recommended maximum urea percentage, you can use on the face to prevent skin irritation. The 10% Urea Cream from Urea Labs is best if you want a urea cream that offers more exfoliation and hydrates you. It also contains salicylic acid, which is known for its exfoliating properties.
The high percentage of Urea combined with the salicylic acid effectively exfoliates moisturizes and softens dry, rough, or calloused skin. This helps slough off dead skin cells and improve skin texture. It can also aid in treating conditions such as eczema or psoriasis on the face, as it helps restore the skin’s natural barrier function.
When using this cream, even if your skin can tolerate 10 percent urea, it still shouldn’t be a cream you use daily but sparely to avoid over-exfoliating your skin. This urea face cream isn’t recommended for sensitive skin because of the high 10 percent urea in it. It also contains tea tree oil, which can irritate their skin.
6) Also Great: Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream
The Hada Labo Tokyo skin plumping gel cream is Japanese product packed with hydrating ingredients to boost skin elasticity and hydration. Unlike other urea present in some urea face creams, this cream contains hydroxyethyl urea which is derived from urea and is known for its super hydrating benefit and skin elasticity. Thus, the urea effect in this cream is super mild. However, most user praise the the plumping effect they get after using this face cream.
Aside from urea, it contains hyaluronic acid, ceramide, collagen, and green tea extract, which help to moisturize the skin, repair the skin, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The gel cream has a smooth texture (like a lightweight water texture) that absorbs quickly without leaving a heavy or sticky residue.
Another notable feature is its suitability for various skin types, including oily and combination, due to its lightweight formula and non-comedogenic properties. It is also fragrance-free and free from parabens, making it suitable for those who prefer unscented products.
7) Sukoyaka Suhada Urea Moisture Face Cream
If you want an Asia face cream with standard urea and not only a hydroxyethyl urea, then check out the Sukoyaka Suhada Urea Moisture Face Cream. This face cream’s dry and flaky skin. It helps plumps and promote a smoother face. Aside from the standard urea present in it, it also contains hydroxyethyl urea (also present in the Hada Labo Tokyo) that works as an intense moisturizer and humectant, meaning that it helps the skin to cling onto the water and thus makes it hydrated and elastic.
It also contains ceramide 3, sodium Hyaluronate, sodium acetylated hyaluronate, and glycerin, all of which have hydrating and moisturizing properties that moisturize the skin and likewise protect the skin barrier. The cream also has a lightweight and non-greasy texture that absorbs easily into the skin. It is often praised for its smooth application and quick absorption without leaving a heavy or sticky residue.
One down part of this face cream is that all the instruction and information on this cream is written in Japan. It can be difficult for a non-Japanese person to read or understand. Also, there is no listed percentage of the urea present in it. Even if you translate the Japanese language on the label, they still didn’t state the percentage.
8) Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel
If you like the Hada Labo Tokyo skin-plumping gel cream and you’re looking for a super moisturizing product with Hydroxyethyl Urea, then you can check out their sister product, the Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel.
The Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel is a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that can be used on all skin types. It is formulated with multiple types of hyaluronic acid, which can help attract and retain moisture in the skin. These include sodium acetylated hyaluronate, sodium hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, and hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronate. It also contains hydrolyzed collagen, which can help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This gel moisturizer has a smooth, silky texture that absorbs quickly into the skin, although it can be a bit sticky for those with oily skin. Depending on your skin’s needs, it can be used as a standalone moisturizer or a sleeping pack. And the exciting thing is that it is free from fragrance, mineral oil, and colorants.
9) Stratus Urea 10 Cream
Another 10 percent urea cream you can check out is the Stratus urea 10 cream. Although it’s more of a hand, elbows, or feet, it is versatile enough to be used on the face, especially if you have been using urea products before. It benefits dry skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or xerosis. The cream’s hydrating and exfoliating properties can alleviate itchiness, reduce redness, and promote overall skin comfort.
I will advise you shouldn’t use this product consistently since it’s high in Urea and it might irritate the skin. A 10 percent urea cream won’t be recommended for people with sensitive skin because it can cause more irritation instead of preventing it. Another down part is that it contains fragrance; this might be a turnoff for people who dislike face cream with fragrance.
10) Sebamed 5 % Urea Relief Face Cream
The Sebamed Face Cream for Dry Skin, 5% Urea, is a moisturizer formulated for dry and sensitive skin. It is designed to provide long-lasting hydration while improving the skin’s natural protective barrier. The cream absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy residue.
Aside from having urea as its main natural moisturizing and hydrating ingredient, it also contains glycerin, which is a humectant that helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. There is also panthenol in it which serve as Vitamin B5 that helps to soothe and hydrate the skin.
The down part? This product would have been a great deal if it didn’t have a fragrance that turned off customers from repurchasing it.
Also Check Out: Best Vitamin C Body Wash
Benefits of Urea on the Face
Urea offers several benefits when used on the face. Here are some of the critical advantages of incorporating urea into your facial skincare routine:
- Hydration:
Urea is a natural humectant that can attract and retain moisture. When applied to the face, urea helps to hydrate the skin, preventing dryness and maintaining optimal moisture levels. This is especially beneficial for individuals with dry skin.
- Exfoliation:
Urea has mild exfoliating properties that help remove dead skin cells from the face’s surface. By gently sloughing off these dead cells, urea promotes smoother and more radiant skin. Regular use of urea-based products can improve the overall texture and tone of the facial skin.
- Skin Barrier Support:
Urea helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function. It aids in maintaining the integrity of the skin’s protective layer, which is crucial for preventing moisture loss and protecting the face from external irritants and pollutants. A strong skin barrier leads to healthier and more resilient skin.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties:
Urea possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm and soothe the skin. It can be particularly beneficial for individuals with sensitive or irritated skin, as it helps to reduce redness and inflammation. Urea-based products can provide relief for conditions such as rosacea or eczema.
Wrap Up
When shopping for the best urea face cream, it’s important to note that while urea offers numerous benefits for the face, individuals with specific skin conditions or sensitivities should consult with a dermatologist before incorporating urea-based products into their skincare routine. Additionally, using products containing urea in the appropriate concentration and as directed to avoid any potential adverse effects is crucial.
