As if flakiness, dry patches, and tightness weren’t enough to contend with when dealing with dry skin, it ages easier — and more rapidly. Simply put, dry skin is more likely to show wrinkling and rough skin texture since it doesn’t have the natural moisture necessary to “smooth out” those telltale lines and cracks. 

Perhaps the most vital part of a skincare routine for thirsty skin is a dry skin moisturizer. However, it can be complicated — if not wholly overwhelming — to find one that actually works. The best moisturizer for dry skin can be elusive if you haven’t done your homework. 

What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?

Not sure where to start? No worries. Here at the Derm Review, we’ve reviewed hundreds of products with a scientific lens to ensure you’re creating a skincare regimen that’s safe and effective. Ahead, 20 of the best facial moisturizers for dry skin to help you promote a healthy, glowing complexion.

Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin: The List 

BEST OVERALL
Carrot & Stick The Repair Cream, $60

FULL LIST
Formulyst Super Hyaluronic Water Moisturizer, $29

Cosmedix Phytoharmony Balancing Skin Moisturizer, $60

SK II Essential Power Rich Cream, $235

La Solution 10 de Chanel, $110

Dr. Brandt Hyaluronic Facial Cream, $72

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, $12.99

Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer, $28.94

Exuviance Age Reverse Hydrafirm, $79

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, $265

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Hydrating Cream $29.99

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, $36

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance, $44

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $14.99

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, $58

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream, $32.50

Skinceuticals Emollience, $64

Perricone MD High Potency Classics Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer $75

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Rich Cream, $49

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, $19.80

How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin

There’s no one-size-fits-all face moisturizer for dry skin. While evidence-based ingredients are essential (more on that in a bit), consider the following factors when choosing a dry skin moisturizer.

Your Skin Type

Sure, you’re on the market for a good moisturizer for dry skin — but what else is going on with your skin? Is dryness accompanied by acne and oily, flaky patches? Or perhaps you have dry, sensitive skin, and every product you apply stings. 

If you’re dealing with more than one skin type or condition, you have to pay extra close attention to the ingredients and product consistency. It may take a bit of trial and error to find the best face moisturizer for your skin, so if you continue to struggle, seek the advice of a dermatologist or other skincare professional.

Skin Conditions

If your dry skin is associated with a condition such as eczema or psoriasis, you may need treatment under a physician’s care — maybe even a prescription dry skin cream.

The Climate

Although humid locations have plenty of water in the air, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to moisturize. So whether you live in sunny Florida or you’re taking a tropical vacation, moisturizer is still essential. Moisturizers that contain humectants work best in humid areas because they absorb water from the air and require a high humidity level to be effective. Look for formulas with urea, hyaluronic acid — more on those in a bit.

On the flip side, living in a dry climate can take its toll on your skin — especially if it’s already dry. When choosing a moisturizer for dry skin, consider using an oil-based formula to help retain more water in your skin’s outer layers.

Consider Your Age

Skin changes as we age, and oil production slows down, leading to additional dryness. With that said, you may find you need to change up your moisturizer from time to time — different ingredients, a thicker texture, etc. If you’re going through hormonal changes (menopause, pregnancy), your skin will also experience changes.

Dry Skin Moisturizer Ingredients

Studies have found that how often you moisturize is more important than the ingredients it’s formulated with. However, there’s no denying that some elements work better to relieve dry skin (and dry skin patches) better than others. 

When it comes to finding the best moisturizer for dry skin, check the ingredient label for the following ingredients: hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, squalane, tocopherol (a.k.a. vitamin E), and glycerin — frequently the second or third ingredient in a dry skin moisturizer. 

The most important thing is that the product is well-formulated, using quality ingredients that address your specific skin concerns. Avoid alcohols, fragrances, dyes, and other ingredients that can harm dry skin and exasperate dryness. Look for these hero ingredients instead.

• Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is an incredibly beneficial dry skin moisturizer ingredient. As it’s a humectant, it can hold over 1,000 times its weight in water, so it’s safe to say it’s a super-hydrator of epic proportions. 
• Sodium Hyaluronate: Sodium hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid. It also retains water to a remarkable degree and plumps up your skin but has a smaller molecular weight to allow for deeper penetration. 
• Squalane: Squalane, a substance that mimics a naturally occurring lipid found in human sebum, prevents moisture loss and softens skin.
• Urea: Urea is used in a variety of moisturizers for dry skin to target skin dryness accompanied by itchiness. Urea can also help exfoliate dead skin buildup.
• Ceramides: Ceramides help create a barrier to prevent permeability. This locks moisture into your skin, which helps prevent dryness and irritation.
• Tocopherol: The term “tocopherol” encompasses various vitamin E derivatives. It contains powerful antioxidants and protects cells. Additionally, tocopherol binds moisture in the outer layer of the skin. It affects cell renewal and has anti-inflammatory properties, and reduces skin damage caused by UV radiation. The skin texture is also much smoother.
• Glycerin: Glycerin is another humectant that effectively locks in moisture to keep skin supple and smooth.

Dry Skin Tips 

Achieving healthy, hydrated skin is about more than simply applying the best facial moisturizer for dry skin. Here are some go-to tips to help you battle dryness for the long term.

• Always conduct a patch test before trying a new dry skin moisturizer. Otherwise, you run the risk of making dryness worse should you react to the product.
• If your skin is dry and sensitive, choose a moisturizer or lotion for dry skin that’s void of acids, dyes, and fragrances.
• Avoid using hot water when washing your face, showering, and bathing — tepid water is best.
• Apply moisturizer when your skin is still a little damp after you shower or bathe — but always after your serum, another fantastic skincare product to help fight dryness. 
• Never sleep with your makeup on. The ingredients in cosmetics can dry out the skin — especially when left on overnight when your skin goes into repair mode. 
• Moisturize day and night, more frequently if your skin is extra thirsty. 
• Consider layering a face oil on top of your moisturizer for additional moisture, along with other benefits such as antioxidant protection and a vibrant, glowing complexion.
• Keep your skin — and body, for that matter — hydrated by drinking a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Adjust according to the climate you live in, exercise habits, diet (heavy hand on the salt shaker?), etc.
• Consider using a humidifier at night when you’re sleeping. If it’s the air in the office that’s drying you out, invest in a portable model for your workspace, too.

Does dry skin cause acne? 

Although dry skin is not a direct cause of acne, it can trigger the production of more sebum or oil in your skin due to an imbalance — this likely means you have to switch up your moisturizer. Oil mixed with dry, flaky skin cells and bacteria can lead to a continuous dry skin and acne cycle.

Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin

BEST OVERALL
Carrot & Stick The Repair Cream, $80
A proprietary probiotic formulation keeps the microbiome operating at peak performance and skin looking hydrated and visible issues diminished. Formulated to nurture and protect skin’s microbiome. The microbiome is the ecosystem of microbes that live on the skin surface. Happy microbes equal a healthy microbiome and a healthy microbiome equals healthier-looking, more radiant skin.

FULL LIST
Formulyst Super Hyaluronic Water Moisturizer, $29
Enriched with jojoba seed oil and apricot kernel oil, Formulyst’s Super Hyaluronic Water Moisturizer is formulated with the brand’s innovative Hyaluronic Acid Technology, which helps boost your skin’s natural nourishing powers by attracting atmospheric moisture and transforming it into intense hydration for your skin.

Packed with Hyaluronic Acid that delivers moisture to every layer of the skin, this lightweight formula locks in essential nourishment, beautifying skin and reducing the visible signs of aging. So skin feels softer and smoother and has a healthier, more youthful appearance.

Cosmedix Phytoharmony Balancing Skin Moisturizer, $60

A sure bet for mature, postmenopausal dry skin, this antiaging moisturizer nourishes and hydrates the face with the help of phytohormones —  or phytoestrogens — which are plant hormones that are critical components of plant growth.

In human skin, they have estrogen-like effects. Isoflavones are one of the three categories of phytohormones and have been shown in studies to “significantly” improve skin roughness and dryness, reduce facial wrinkles and improve skin laxity. 

SK II Essential Power Rich Cream, $235
This face moisturizer for dry skin features the brand’s signature trademarked ingredient called Pitera, a substance found in sake (the alcoholic beverage) chock full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and organic acids. Pitera was supposedly discovered when it was noticed sake brewery workers had extraordinarily youthful hands.

Another critical ingredient is panthenol, which is both a humectant and emollient. As a humectant, it helps skin retain water, absorbing moisture from the air and deeper in the skin to bring it up to the surface to hydrate dry skin effectively. 

La Solution 10 de Chanel, $110
Many consider this face lotion the best moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin — whether it’s naturally sensitive or has been temporarily sensitized by overuse of harsh products. It’s only formulated with ten ingredients (hence the name.) 

Highlights include nourishing shea butter, vegetal squalane, and antioxidant-rich needle ta extract, which has lovely soothing properties. This lotion for dry skin is alcohol-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic, anti-pollution, and dermatologist-tested.

Dr. Brandt Hyaluronic Facial Cream, $72
Anyone with dry, mature skin knows that if they skimp out on moisturizer just once, their parched facial features pay the price. While we don’t want to give you an excuse to become lazy with your skincare routine, this peptide-packed moisturizer keeps the skin moist and supple for an impressive 72 hours while targeting loss of tone in the process. 

As the product’s name implies, hyaluronic acid works to hydrate and plump the skin, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, $12.99
This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer by CeraVe is an excellent option for those with dry skin and eczema because it helps to improve the skin’s hydration by restoring its natural barrier. The formula is non-comedogenic (it won’t clog pores), which means you can use this CeraVe lotion on both your face and body. 

A few of the key ingredients in the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion include glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.

Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer, $28.94
This popular drugstore buy penetrates moisture deep into the skin’s surface layers as you sleep, keeping it supple and hydrated for an impressive 24 hours. As if that wasn’t enough, Olay’s proprietary blend of vitamin B3 and a retinol complex works to soften fine lines and wrinkles, firm, lighten dark spots, refine pores, and improve radiance — basically everything dry skin needs. 

Exuviance Age Reverse Hydrafirm, $79
This face moisturizer for dry skin promises to hydrate, lift, firm, and plump up the skin. With time skin tends to become lax, develop fine lines and deep folds, and overall roughen in texture. It also becomes dryer and decreases in oil production. Once again, hyaluronic acid is one of the top ingredients, helping to retain as much moisture as possible to achieve that desirable, highly sought-after plumpness. 

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, $265
The Cream is by far the brand’s most popular product. However, it can be too lightweight for those with dry skin, so the brand formulated The Rich Cream. This moisturizer for dry skin is ideal for normal to dry skin, more mature skin types, and colder, drier climates. It’s formulated with the brand’s pantentedTFC8 (Trigger Factor Complex) technology and emollients like coco-caprylate/caprate, sunflower seed oil, squalane, and argan oil, avocado oil, evening primrose oil, and shea butter.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Hydrating Cream $29.99
This face moisturizer for dry skin is also great for those who experience sensitivity too. It’s been shown to be effective against extreme dryness that includes symptoms like flakiness. Key ingredients include shea butter and squalane. 

Shea butter is a well-known moisturizer that can be used on all skin types. It’s incredibly hydrating, and long-term use can show such benefits as wrinkle reduction and overall softening and smoothing of the skin. Squalane lubricates and protects, improving skin roughness and dryness. It can even prevent loss of hydration, which will only help the skin remain moisturized for longer.  

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, $36
This head-to-toe moisturizer by First Aid Beauty can be used as a daily moisturizer to prevent dry skin and help alleviate dry, itchy, and red skin. The skin is said to be left feeling smooth, hydrated, and comfortable after just a single-use. 

The main active ingredient in First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration is 0.5% colloidal oatmeal, a skin protectant that has been used for centuries to soothe and heal the skin and reduce inflammation and redness. There are also several emollients in the Ultra Repair Cream, including shea butter and squalane. 

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance, $44
Dermalogica has specifically developed a nourishing facial moisturizer to restore lipid balance to dry, depleted skin for optimal barrier performance. The formula contains a BioReplenish Complex that delivers a combination of crucial barrier lipids to help enhance the skin’s natural resilience and support barrier recovery. 

This dry skin moisturizer also includes two forms of hyaluronic acid — sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate — to help enhance the skin’s moisture content and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $14.99
One brand that truly knows how to alleviate dry skin is CeraVe. One of their best moisturizers is the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. This dry skin moisturizer is designed to reinforce the skin barrier by hydrating it with key ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and petrolatum. 

The texture of the cream is formulated to be rich and deeply hydrating without being too greasy – it’s also formulated to absorb quickly. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is meant for “dry and very skin,” According to the company, the patented delivery system continually releases moisturizing ingredients for 24-hour hydration.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, $58
Ultra Facial Cream is the brand’s number one moisturizing cream for dry skin that provides ultra-lightweight 24-hour hydration. It’s recommended for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin. 

This cream contains a high concentration of squalane, which is found in the skin lipid barrier of humans and animals, therefore playing an essential role in skin lubrication and protection. However, the amount made and retained in the skin decreases over time. Topical application of squalane helps replenish the skin’s lipid barrier, resulting in softer, smoother skin.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream, $32.50
One of the most famous moisturizers on the market, this lotion for dry certainly lives up to the hype. This is a dermatologist-developed formulation that keeps skin strong and is equipped to withstand even the driest conditions. 

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate are among the key ingredients, though it also contains cucumber fruit and barley extracts to work as antioxidants. It’s safe to say this is both a moisturizer for dry skin and an anti-ager that can address various skin types and skin concerns. 

Skinceuticals Emollience, $64
This dry skin moisturizer is formulated with three types of algae extracts that help bind water to the skin while providing antioxidant benefits. Further hydration comes from plant oils derived from grape seed, rosehip, and macadamia nut. 

While this is a popular moisturizer for dry skin, note that it contains essential oils (rosemary, lavender, and peppermint), which could cause sensitivity — or worsen an existing sensitive skin type. Conduct a patch test first to ensure this moisturizer for dry skin is right for you. 

Perricone MD High Potency Classics Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer $75
This gel-cream moisturizer for dry skin is formulated with three different forms of hyaluronic acid to moisturize and nourish and revive the skin’s appearance deeply. Micro hyaluronic acid plumps the skin, cross-linked hyaluronic acid delivers continuous hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and barrier HA helps prevent vital moisture loss. Additionally, DMAE helps address the loss of tone over time. 

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Rich Cream, $49
Best moisturizer for dry skin in winter? This is an excellent moisturizer for very dry skin that will also help combat pollutants, environmental exposure (ski trip anyone?), and severe weather or sudden temperature changes. 

The key ingredient is the organic leaf of life — or kalanchoe extract — which helps the skin retain moisture, ensuring suppleness, softness, and plumpness. Moreover, the leaf of life extract also helps to soothe any tightening effect that so often accompanies dry skin and any symptoms of irritation like redness and flakiness. 

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, $19.80
Are you looking for the best drugstore moisturizer for dry skin? One of the most affordable lotions on this list is nonetheless one of the best. Don’t be fooled by its meager price tag — Cetaphil is a cult favorite for a reason. Suitable for all skin types, this moisturizer for dry skin is packed with highly hydrating humectants and emollients to lock in moisture. Key ingredients include glycerin, glyceryl stearate, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E. 

Best Facial Moisturizer for Dry Skin: The Bottom Line

In addition to symptoms like tightness, flakes, and sensitivity, dry skin is more likely to show wrinkling and rough skin texture since it doesn’t have the natural moisture necessary to “smooth out” those telltale lines and cracks. With that said, perhaps the most vital part of a skincare routine for thirsty skin is a dry skin moisturizer. 

When choosing the best moisturizer for dry skin, consider your skin type (as in, do you also have other issues like acne and sensitivity), climate, and age, as the skin produces less sebum (oil) with age. 

Look for formulas with dry skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, urea, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin, to name a few.

What’s the best face moisturizer on the market?
Overall, we suggest Carrot & Stick The Repair Cream. We also recommend using a hydrating serum before. Try Carrot & Stick The Hydrating Serum.

Continued Reading 

Best Face Moisturizers

Sources:
“Moisturizers: Options for Softer Skin,” Mayo Clinic.
“Assessing the Relationship between Vitamin D3 and Stratum Corneum Hydration for the Treatment of Xerotic Skin,” US National Library of Medicine National Center for Biology.