The Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin – *This article includes mentions of DoorDash partner merchants or brands, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands.
Baby it’s cold outside. My humidifier hums, but it’s nearly impossible to escape the dry air in the winter and my skin feels it. I have been known to have scratchy and uncomfortable “crocodile” spots on my legs and back. So I went in search of moisturizers that would really help me.
The Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin
“This time of year, it’s extremely important to find a good moisturizer,” says Victoria L. Hatfield, a certified dermatology physician assistant practicing in Washington, DC. “Cold weather and prolonged stays inside cause soaps and hand sanitizers to constantly dry out our skin, so we need to repair the skin barrier and keep it hydrated.” Moisturizer to the rescue!
Best Lotions For Your Skin
From lush body butters to cult-favorite pharmaceutical lotions, I tried 16 skin quenchers, searching for the best products to soothe and hydrate my dry winter skin. My method was simple: take a shower and spread lotion onto freshly dried skin. I wanted to see how they smelled, felt and lasted all day. What was happening to my skin a few minutes later and several hours? Now these soft, hydrating products (the top eight) will soften my skin (and, maybe, yours) all winter long.
This is my official favorite! My mother has been using it since her dermatologist recommended it for her dry skin years ago, and she passed the sage advice on to me. Hatfield is also a fan. It has a thick, creamy consistency and feels instantly soothing when it touches my arms after a shower. It’s made with both ceramides and hyaluronic acid, making it highly effective at locking in moisture all day. Although it would be a bit much, let’s say, in the summer. It’s convenient, fragrance-free, and a great tool for when you need to correct dry skin conditions.
Hatfield uses Vanicream for himself and her family, including her two young children. “It’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and packed with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help repair and restore the skin barrier,” she explains. “It’s safe for children, safe to use with allergies, and safe to use from head to toe.”
I got it because it smelled fresh, bright and delicious. Made with vitamin E, shea butter and hydrating plant oils, it applies lightly but still quenches my skin’s thirst. I really liked the persistent but subtle citrus scent. This is my pick for skin that isn’t super dry, but could still use a facelift.
Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin
When my skin was frustratingly and mysteriously irritated several years ago, this was my dermatologist’s choice, and it’s been one of my bath staples ever since. Enriched with prebiotic oats and clinically proven to soothe stressed, blemish-prone and dry skin, this is another lighter option that still provides moisture. It is fragrance-free and delicate.
Rosehip seed oil, almond oil and vitamin E are part of this winning formula. It has a slightly heavy floral scent that I have to be in the mood to wear, a bit like walking into the perfume section in a department store. The light and thin texture belies its great hydrating power; leaves my skin as soft as can be. Even though the scent is a little heavy for my taste, I love the feel and the way it makes my skin feel.
I’m adding First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream to the go-to CeraVe category when dryness becomes severe. This thick lotion, made especially for dry, stressed and eczema skin, offers its soothing formula. Now I keep it on hand for my rough elbows and heels. Fragrance-free and made with clean ingredients, it’s a lifeline for dry skin.
This drugstore staple is infused with shea butter and claims to leave skin happy and supple for 48 hours. I liked the subtle, clean scent, although if you’re avoiding mineral oil or perfume, this lotion has both. The consistency was nicely situated between runny and overly rich, but it had a slight stickiness that I didn’t like upon first application. Yet the next day, as promised, my skin looked amazing.
Best Moisturizers For Glowing Skin, According To Dermatologists 2024
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Caitlyn Martyn is a New York-based beauty and style associate editor for . Caitlyn has covered topics on makeup, skincare, haircare, fashion, and wellness for outlets such as , InStyle, WhoWhatWear, Mindbodygreen, Well + Good, and more.
Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based writer with 10 years of experience in the beauty field. She covers everything skincare-related, from ingredients to acne tips.
Daily Moisturizing Face Cream For Dry Skin, Oat
Onyeka Obioha, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, as well as a member of the Skin of Color Society.
No matter the part of your body, dry skin can be a struggle, especially when there are dry, flaky patches, flakes, and itchy patches on your face. A good facial moisturizer, however, can rehydrate dry skin, soothe inflammation, and improve rough texture. Not sure how to find the right one for you? Start by looking for rich formulas that contain hydrating ingredients like butters and oils (rather than water).
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marie Hayag, M.D., you should also make sure the moisturizer you choose contains all three types of hydrating ingredients: humectants (which attract water and trap it in the skin), emollients (which smooth and soften ) and occlusives (which create a seal on the top of the skin to retain moisture). Of these three, note that occlusives are especially important for those with dry skin.
To help you narrow down your options, we researched the best moisturizers for dry skin and then tested a few. We tested 35 moisturizers in our New York lab, ranking them based on texture, absorption, dryness, and overall value. After testing and consulting experts, we arrived at these top picks to give you the best show.
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward option, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is the way to go. Not only does it work well for dry facial skin, but it can also be applied to any other part of the body. Despite being one of the lighter options on this list, it packs a lot of moisture, all thanks to a formula loaded with hyaluronic acid and five ceramides.
We found that it absorbed into the skin immediately, making it suitable for wearing under makeup throughout the day. It also boasts the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval, so you can rest easy knowing that no matter how you use it, any dry, itchy patches will be treated gently and efficiently. While it’s great on its own, it’s not very thick, so those with ultra-dry skin might benefit more if they layered a richer cream on top.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin | Skin type: dry, combination, sensitive | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-free: no
Cetaphil Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a must-have, drugstore moisturizer for two main reasons: It’s recommended by most dermatologists and can be tolerated by even the most sensitive skin types. It’s hard to find an affordable formula that’s lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic, and effective on dry spots, which is why we’re so impressed with this one as it ticks all of these boxes. It may feel a little watery when you apply it, but we don’t think this detracts from its hydrating benefits.
The 22 Best Face Moisturizers: Picks For Oily, Sensitive, And Dry Skin
Thanks to nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and humectants, which help plump the skin and provide it with plenty of hydration. Best of all, it’s super hygienic. Its air-tight pump ensures you won’t contaminate it with dirty fingers (or risk getting anything in it).
Do you want to hydrate your skin without shelling out big bucks? There’s no better option than this amazing buddy wallet (which, truth be told, is so good that it can beat many of its more expensive counterparts). The stars of this formula are moisture-locking hyaluronic acid and three types of ceramides that work together to ward off dryness on both your face and body. And, since it comes in a huge tub, you don’t have to use it sparingly. Take the amount you need and rub it on dry skin.
While we love that the tub contains lots of creamy goodness, we’re not big fans of how unsanitary (and potentially messy) it can get. To keep it as clean as possible, be sure to wash your hands before using it to avoid contaminating the cream with dirty fingers. However, the feel and hydrating power of this cream still gets top marks in our book. We love that it instantly dissolves any dryness