The 5 Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin

Last Updated on October 25, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

What are the best moisturizers fordry skin? In the hotter summer months, my skin ain’t that picky. Any lightweight lotion will do. But as soon as the chilly winds roll around, my skin shows sign of cracking. It feels a little tighter in the afternoon. It gets red (and not in that cute blushing way) more easily. It may even get itchy.

Maybe you’re dealing with that on a daily basis. If your skin’s naturally dry, prone to sensitivities, or subject to excess exfoliation, finding a moisturiser that gets the job done feels like looking for that elusive needle in a haystack. Fret not, here are the best face moisturizers for dry skin:

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What To Look For In A Moisturiser For Dry Skin

Got dry skin? Forget the fancy packaging and exotic ingredients. Your skin doesn’t need a moisturiser that costs more than your weekly groceries. It needs ingredients that put moisture back in and stop it from escaping. Here’s what to look for:

Humectants: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea attract water into your skin. Think of them as little moisture magnets. But don’t stop here. If your moisturiser only contains humectants, your skin may still feel dry a few hours later.
Emollients: Ceramides, squalane, shea butter, and plant oils soften rough, flaky skin. Ceramides are part of the natural glue that holds your protective barrier together. When you’re running low, moisture escapes more easily.
Occlusives: Petrolatum, mineral oil, and dimethicone slow down water loss. Not glamorous, but they work.
A creamy texture: You need enough oils and other moisturising ingredients to keep your skin comfortable for hours, not just until lunchtime. But rich doesn’t have to mean greasy.
Fragrance-free formulas: Fragrance won’t make your moisturiser work better. All it does is make it smell nice, while increasing the risk of irritation. If your skin is already dry and sensitive, why take the chance?

Best For Anti-Aging: Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream ($42.00)

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream is loaded with every antioxidant you can think of. These smart molecules patrol your body, looking for free radicals (the nasty buggers that give you wrinkles and dark spots) to destroy. Retinol goes a step further: it also boosts the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm. If you’ve never used it before, be warned: it’s harsh on the skin and can cause dryness and irritation. Luckily, this cream is so rich, its moisturizing mojo will counteract the worst side effects.

The texture is thick, creamy, and silky, but don’t worry: you won’t feel like you’ve smeared butter all over your face. It spreads smoothly, leaving dry skin soft and comfortable without a heavy, greasy finish. The moisture lasts for hours, making it a lovely night cream when your skin is feeling particularly parched. It’s also fragrance-free, a welcome bonus when your skin is already throwing a tantrum. Just don’t expect dramatic wrinkle reduction overnight. Its biggest strength is keeping dry and mature skin moisturised, while with regular use the retinol reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

P.S. If you’re already using a retinol serum, you do NOT need retinol in your moisturizer, too.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, and Sephora

Best For A Damaged Skin Barrier: Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturiser ($42.00)

You’ll know if your protective skin’s barrier has broken down all over the place, trust me. Your face feels tight and dry all the time. It easily turns redder than a lobster. It itches like crazy and everything seems to irritate it. In the worse case scenario, even putting on moisturizer with the slightest touch is enough to make you cry. What’s a girl supposed to do? Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturiser is loaded with ceramides, fatty acids, and natural oils – all lipids and substances that naturally make up your skin’s protective barrier. When you put them back into your skin, they patch up any holes in your barrier, making your skin softer and healthier again.

The texture is rich and whipped, but don’t let that fool you. It sinks in surprisingly quickly without leaving a greasy film behind. The result? Skin that feels comfortable and moisturised without having to walk around with a shiny face all day. It’s fragrance-free, too, which is exactly what you want when you have a compromised skin barrier and your sensitive skin is throwing a tantrum over everything.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice and Sephora

Best On A Budget: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($14.99)

Who says you need to spend a fortune to keep dry skin happy? CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is proof that sometimes the boring stuff works best. No exotic plant extracts, fancy peptides, or ingredients you can’t pronounce. Just a generous helping of glycerin and hyaluronic acid to attract moisture, ceramides to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier, and petrolatum to stop that precious moisture from escaping. It’s everything dry skin needs, without the expensive extras it doesn’t.

The texture is thick. Really thick. But here’s the surprise: it spreads easily and sinks in without leaving your face looking like a greasy frying pan. Better yet, it keeps skin moisturised for hours, so you’re not reaching for another layer by lunchtime. The catch? Use too much and it can pill, especially under makeup. A little goes a long way. It’s fragrance-free, suitable for both face and body, and comes in a huge tub that won’t empty your wallet every time you need a refill. Is it glamorous skincare? About as glamorous as a pair of sensible shoes. But when your skin is dry, tight, and uncomfortable, who cares? It gets the job done. Check out my full review of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream here.

Available at: Look Fantastic, Target, Ulta and Walmart

Best Luxury Moisturiser For Dry, Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 ($155.00)

$155 for a moisturiser?! At that price, it better be good. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 has an interesting trick up its sleeve. As skin ages, it produces less cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids – three fats that keep moisture in and irritants out. But simply adding them back isn’t enough. The proportions matter, too. Scientists found that ageing skin repairs its protective barrier faster when cholesterol makes up the largest share of these three fats. With 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids, Skinceuticals is using the right ration to moisturise skin and repair a broken barrier.

The texture is thick and buttery, yet melts into skin quickly without leaving a greasy mess behind. It’s lovely for dry, mature skin that needs extra moisture, but I have two complaints. First, the price. You can get a damn good moisturiser for a fraction of that. Second, the fragrant essential oils. Why add potential irritants to an otherwise excellent formula? If your skin tolerates them and money’s no object, go for it. Otherwise, save your cash.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Skinceuticals and SpaceNK,

Best For Dry, Acne-Prone Skin: Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Balance ($50.00)

Acne and dry skin. Whoever said you can’t have the worst of both worlds? If you’re using retinoids or benzoyl peroxide to fight breakouts, you know the struggle. They help clear pimples, but they can also leave your skin dry, flaky, and irritated. Studies show that moisturisers with ceramides can reduce this irritation and help your skin tolerate acne treatments better. That’s where Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Balance comes in. It combines ceramides to replenish your protective barrier, glycerin to attract moisture, and ectoin and allantoin to soothe inflammation. And it does all this without piling on heavy oils.

The texture is light and silky, but still moisturising enough to make dry, uncomfortable skin feel better. It sinks in quickly, doesn’t leave a greasy film, and plays nicely with sunscreen and makeup. Plus, it’s fragrance-free. What’s not to love? Well, if your skin is extremely dry, you may need something richer, especially at night. And at $50 for 50ml, it’s not exactly a bargain. But if your skin type leans towards combination skin or acne-prone skin that’s on the dry side and needs moisture without another breakout joining the party, this one makes sense.

Available at: Dr Sam’s, Sephora and SpaceNK

Best For Dry, Flaky Skin: Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream ($68.00)

When your skin starts flaking, a lightweight lotion just won’t cut it. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream brings out the big guns: six African plant oils that soften those rough, stubborn patches and glycerin for hydration. Why is moisture so important? Because when skin gets too dry, dead cells don’t shed as easily and start clumping together. Hello, flakes! Keeping skin moisturised helps those cells shed normally, so your face stops looking like it’s peeling off.

The whipped texture is surprisingly rich and takes a little effort to spread, but once it sinks in, skin feels comfortable without that greasy, sticky finish. It’s fragrance-free, and the airless pump is another plus: no dipping your fingers into the cream or exposing its antioxidants to air every day. It’s pricey, but if flaky patches are driving you crazy, this is the kind of rich moisturiser that makes a difference for your complexion.

Available at: Cult Beauty, Drunk Elephant, Sephora, SpaceNK, Ulta and Walmart

How I Picked The Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin

I don’t care how many fancy ingredients a moisturiser has. If it doesn’t keep dry skin moisturised for hours, what’s the point? For this list, I focused on creams that:

Have the right ingredients: Humectants to attract moisture, emollients to soften skin, and occlusives to keep that moisture in.
Feel good on skin: Rich enough to tackle dryness without leaving your face feeling like an oil slick.
Tackle different needs: Because dry skin can come with wrinkles, acne, sensitivity, or a damaged protective barrier. One cream won’t be the best choice for everyone.
Come in sensible packaging: I’m not recommending an expensive cream packed with antioxidants if they’re going to spend their lives exposed to air in a jar and lose their effectiveness.

The Bottom Line

Dry skin doesn’t need a complicated skincare routine. It needs a damn good moisturiser. One that puts moisture back where it belongs, keeps it there, and doesn’t leave your face feeling tight again by lunchtime.

The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune to get one. Whether you’re dealing with flaky patches, sensitivity, acne, or the first signs of ageing, there’s a cream on this list that’ll give your skin what it needs. Pick the one that suits your skin and your budget.

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