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A proper skincare routine starts with two things: a cleanser for the skin and a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. But it can’t just be any old moisturizer — it needs to be one that’s designed for your skin type.
And when you have dry, flaky skin (especially in the cold winter months), it’s essential that you use a hydrating moisturizer on your face, on your ankles, and everywhere in between.
If your current moisturizer isn’t getting the job done, here are our 19 favorite moisturizers for dry skin.
Hydrating Moisturizers for the Face
You should always pay attention to the products you put on your face. These are some of our all-time favorite face moisturizers that you can use day and night to give your face a smooth, soft feeling and create a dewy glow!
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer
If you’re looking for luxurious, intense hydration without an astonishing price tag, check out Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer. This product has been a favorite of models and celebrities for decades — and that’s because it works!
The Ultra Facial Moisturizer includes the botanical lipid squalane along with the humectant glycerin to provide long-lasting hydration on all skin types. It’s an excellent choice for dry skin, flaky skin and even sensitive skin.
Sick of those dry, cracked hands from constant hand washing and hand sanitizer? This product may be designed for the face, but it’s also a great way to get rid of dry, cracked hands.
Available at Kiehl’s, $22+
La Mer Crème de La Mer
La Mer’s Crème de La Mer is not like any other moisturizing cream you’ve ever used. If your budget is not an issue, this is the face cream you want to be applying daily.
Crème de La Mer is incredibly rich and hydrating, making it ideal for people with dry skin. It will leave your skin feeling super soft and it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Available at La Mer, $95+
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Chantecaille Bio Lifting Cream+
High-grade products don’t come cheap, but Chantecaille’s Bio Lifting Cream+ is worth every single penny. And that’s because it’s way more than a moisturizer for dry skin. Full disclosure: if you get hooked on this one, you better have the funds for it. It’s rather expensive.
The Bio Lifting Cream+ is 85% natural, made with plant stem cells that reduce fine lines plus lift and plump the skin. It’s an anti-aging cream that provides excellent hydration and provides a bit of aromatherapy with its rosewater base. It smells incredible!
Available at Amazon, $342
Tatcha The Indigo Cream
If you have sensitive skin that can also get dry, The Indigo Cream by Tatcha is a great option. This fragrance-free cream is loaded with natural ingredients, including Japanese indigo extract, colloidal oatmeal and anti-aging Hadasei-3.
Like the name and tub it’s packaged in, this rich cream moisturizer is blue. It’s perfect for anyone suffering from eczema, dermatitis or skin allergies.
Available at Tatcha, $85
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Dermatologists have formulated the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to deliver excellent moisture into the skin. The ceramides help to restore a protective skin barrier, while the hyaluronic acid helps your skin hold moisture in.
This nourishing cream is oil-free plus fragrance-free and is meant for both the face and body.
Available at Ulta, $15.49+
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra-Rich
Boost your collagen levels and minimize the signs of aging with the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra-Rich. It includes cocoa butter and marine algae that deliver powerful hydration for day and night. An added benefit of this moisturizer is that it also reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Available at Elemis, $100+
Olay Regenerist
Looking for an affordable moisturizer that you can pick up at your local drugstore? The Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich Face Moisturizer is it!
Recommended for dry skin and mature skin, this product is formulated with peptides, glycerin and other powerful ingredients to keep the skin hydrated all day long.
Of all the products on this list, this one might be the most accessible. Should you become a Regenerist addict and run out of the product before replenishing your stash, you can pick it up in a ton of different retailers without having to wait for overnight shipping.
Available at CVS, $38.99+
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bareMinerals Butter Drench Restorative Rich Cream Moisturizer
Soak your skin with hydration with the bareMinerals Butter Drench Restorative Rich Cream Moisturizer. This cream includes peptides, ceramides and amino acids to make the skin look and feel smoother. It also contains bergamot and eucalyptus that make it smell really good.
Available at Macy’s, $38
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream
Goat milk, polypeptides, aloe and grape seed oil are just some of the powerful ingredients in the Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream. This Kate Somerville product is excellent for various skin types, but it’s especially effective on dry skin and skin with an uneven tone.
Available at Amazon, $65
L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Comforting Cream
Organic shea butter makes the L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Comforting Cream a treat for the skin. Perfect for tackling dry areas and dry patches, this moisturizer is super creamy, so it’s ideal for dry and dehydrated skin.
Available at L’Occitane, $34
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Nourishing Moisturizers for the Body
Tired of those dry ankles and elbows? Moisturizers aren’t just for the face. The drier your skin, the more important it is to moisturize your entire body.
Here are some of the best products for dry skin, whether on your feet, arms, legs or toes!
Kiehl’s Crème de Corps
Hydrate your skin from your head to your toes with the Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Moisturizer. Made with cocoa butter, this cream is ideal for dry skin. It includes squalene, beta-carotene and an array of other powerful ingredients to provide the skin with all-day moisture.
This moisturizer is on the thick side, so a little bit goes a long way!
Available at Kiehl’s, $37+
La Mer Reparative Body Lotion
The La Mer Reparative Body Lotion doesn’t just moisturize the skin; it actually repairs and restores moisture lost over time. It’s infused with all sorts of therapeutic ingredients, including La Mer’s Miracle Broth and replenishing waters. It also feels super luxurious on the skin!
This one is on the pricey side, but it fills the skin with moisture and gives it a brighter, more luminous look. Just consider yourself warned: one drop of this Creme De La Mer product, and you’re definitely going to want to buy more and more and more!
Available at La Mer, $200
Origins A Perfect World Intensely Hydrating Body Cream with White Tea
Origins is known for its natural, nourishing products, and the Intensely Hydrating Body Cream is no exception. This body cream is ultra-rich with white tea to give the skin a youthful, vibrant look. It also includes shea butter to get rid of flaky, dry patches and give the skin a soft look and feel.
Our suggestion? Rub it all over the body — from your shoulders to your wrists to your hands to the tips of your toes!
Available at Origins, $42
Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter
The Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter is a great way to combat dryness. 100% fragrance-free, this moisturizer is ideal for use all over the body, especially on flaky elbows and dry kneecaps. It’s also an affordable option so you can use it liberally without the guilt!
What we love most about this product is that it’s super creamy and absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s perfect for slathering on as soon as you step out of the bath.
Available at Macy’s, $34
Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
Make your skin feel super smooth with the Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration. This creamy moisturizer provides hydration for even the driest, most damaged skin, including skin with eczema. But it’s also safe for sensitive skin — it’s even safe for babies!
This formula includes colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, ceramides and antioxidant boosters. One application, and your skin will feel incredible.
Available at First Aid Beauty, $34+
Philosophy Fresh Cream Body Lotion
If you’ve never used Philosophy products before, there are two things you need to know about the brand:
One: their products are super gentle on the skin. Two: they do what they say they do.
The Philosophy Fresh Cream Body Lotion is lightweight and quick-absorbing. It has a silky feel and a super fresh scent, plus it includes shea butter, antioxidants and olive fruit oils. It’s an excellent option for anyone with dry skin looking for an affordable and effective way to moisturize their skin.
Available at Philosophy, $22+
Burt’s Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa and Cupuacu Butter Body Lotion
The Burt’s Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuacu Butter Body Lotion is one of the most affordable options to make this list. But that’s just one reason to love it …
This body lotion absorbs into the skin quickly to soften the skin almost instantly. It includes various botanicals and is 98.9% natural, making it an effective way to add moisture to the skin, reduce that dry feel and hydrate the skin thoroughly.
Available at Amazon, $8+
Aveda Beautifying Body Moisturizer
Organic shea butter, olive oils and safflower oils are just some of the powerful ingredients in Aveda’s Beautifying Body Moisturizer.
We absolutely love the way this moisturizer feels, soothes the skin and smells. It includes a unique blend of lavender, rosemary and bergamot (which makes it smell extraordinary!) It also provides all-day hydration.
And because it’s Aveda, you can rest assured that it’s vegan, cruelty-free and manufactured with sustainability in mind.
Available at Aveda, $32
Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Lotion
If it’s a mega-rich body moisturizer you’re looking for, look no further. It’s time to try the Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Lotion. This product instantly provides hydration to the skin (and it has a lovely scent) that makes it perfect for use on your entire body.
Pro-Vitamin B5 helps to condition and nourish the skin, while the addition of Vitamin E provides antioxidant benefits.
Available at Peter Thomas Roth, $18
Bonus Tip: Apply Your Moisturizer to Damp or Wet Skin
Whether you’re applying moisturizer to your face or body, it’s always best to apply it to damp skin.
Why?
Because damp skin absorbs products more efficiently, plus wet skin is more permeable than dry skin. You’ll get more out of your products if you apply them to the skin while it’s a little wet.
The next time you step foot out of the shower, resist the urge to dry yourself off completely. Instead, pat dry and have that moisturizer ready to apply. You’ll definitely see (and feel) the difference!
What Are the Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin?
The beauty market is filled with moisturizers at every price range and for every type of skin. But if you have dry skin, you’ll need a potent product that can lock moisture in.
Many of us have relatively moist skin in the summer, but get dry skin in the winter. So even if you have a moisturizer that you love to use from spring to fall, you might want to switch to a more powerful hydrating cream in the cold winter months.
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you should suffer from a flaky forehead, scaly elbows or dry arms and legs!
The best moisturizers on the market are expensive, but there are some affordable options as well. And though our favorites listed above are tried and true winners, we always recommend buying a small size to try it.
It’s always best to make sure you like a product before spending a heap of money on a giant bottle or tube!
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Our 19 Favorite Moisturizers for Dry Skin:
- Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer
- La Mer Crème de La Mer
- Chantecaille Bio Lifting Cream+
- Tatcha The Indigo Cream
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra-Rich
- Olay Regenerist
- bareMinerals Butter Drench Restorative Rich Cream Moisturizer
- Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream
- L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Comforting Cream
- Kiehl’s Crème de Corps
- La Mer Reparative Body Lotion
- Origins A Perfect World Intensely Hydrating Body Cream with White Tea
- Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter
- Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
- Philosophy Fresh Cream Body Lotion
- Burt’s Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa and Cupuacu Butter Body Lotion
- Aveda Beautifying Body Moisturizer
- Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Lotion
Jessica Heston
view postJessica Heston
After 15 years in the fashion industry, this Philadelphia native ditched her corporate career to focus on writing full time. Jessica is a TV junkie, whiskey lover and true crime addict. She finds inspiration from Broadway musicals, Hitchcock films and The Beatles. She is happily married without children, which she credits as the reason for her professional success, youthful attitude and solid eight hours of sleep every night.
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