The 7 best moisturizers for dry skin, from drugstore to splurge

Key takeaways

• Dry skin tends to do best with a cream rather than a lotion or gel. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says people with dry skin should start with a cream or ointment.

• Look for a mix of humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, emollients, and occlusives like petrolatum or dimethicone. Ceramides are a common addition.

• Our top pick is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: fragrance-free, with three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum, for $14.99.

• For a lighter face cream, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair is fragrance-free and oil-free. The SUPER Hydrator from U Beauty is our splurge pick, with five types of hyaluronic acid and a blend of plant oils.

• Apply moisturizer to damp skin, within a few minutes of washing, so it has water to hold in.

What dry skin needs from a moisturizer

Most moisturizers combine three kinds of ingredients. Cleveland Clinic says “a good moisturizer will contain ingredients from all three of these classes”: humectants that draw water in (hyaluronic acid, urea, sorbitol), occlusives that slow its escape (petrolatum, dimethicone, lanolin), and emollients that soften (shea butter, mineral oil). A 2016 review reports that petrolatum at 5% or more cut water loss from the skin by more than 98%, far more than lanolin, mineral oil or silicones, which only reduced it by 20% to 30%.

Texture matters too. The AAD explains that a cream is thicker and has more oil than a lotion or gel, and that an ointment is the thickest of all. It says someone with dry skin “is going to want to start with a cream or ointment and bypass lotions altogether,” and suggests looking for ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It also advises avoiding products with alcohol, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and fragrance.

If your skin feels tight but still gets oily, it may be dehydrated rather than dry. Our guide to dry vs dehydrated skin explains the difference.

We compared each product on its published ingredient list, not on hands-on testing. We looked at its humectants, emollients and occlusives, whether it has ceramides, whether fragrance is listed, its texture and the price.

1. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: best overall

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is a rich, fragrance-free cream for face and body with three ceramides (NP, AP and EOP), hyaluronic acid, glycerin, dimethicone and petrolatum. CeraVe says it’s non-comedogenic and allergy-tested and that it suits normal to dry skin for ages 3 and up.

Key features:

• All three ingredient types. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid draw in water, and petrolatum and dimethicone help hold it there.

• Three ceramides plus cholesterol. They’re lipids found naturally in the skin.

• National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. It’s listed in the NEA’s product directory.

Tradeoff: it’s thick, so some people find it heavy for daytime on the face, especially under makeup.

Best for: very dry skin on the face and body, on a budget.

Price: $14.99 on CeraVe’s site.

2. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer: best lightweight face cream

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is a lightweight cream with ceramide NP, niacinamide, glycerin, squalane and La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal water. La Roche-Posay labels it fragrance-free, oil-free and non-comedogenic, and says it’s suitable for sensitive skin and provides up to 48 hours of hydration.

Key features:

• Light cream texture. It suits dry skin that doesn’t want a heavy layer on the face.

• Niacinamide and ceramide. Our guide to what niacinamide does covers the research on it.

• Fragrance-free. La Roche-Posay says so on the product page.

Tradeoff: it has no petrolatum, so very dry or flaky skin may want something richer, at least at night.

Best for: dry or sensitive skin that wants a light daily face moisturizer.

Price: $24.99 for 100 ml.

3. U Beauty The SUPER Hydrator: best splurge

The SUPER Hydrator is U Beauty’s daily face moisturizer, and U Beauty describes it as “luxe-yet-lightweight.” It pairs a multimolecular complex of 5 unique types of Hyaluronic Acid with Squalane, Shea Butter, Peptides and Argan, Avocado and Grapeseed Oils, all powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™. U Beauty says it helps visibly soften and smooth skin for a dewy-looking finish.

Key features:

• Humectants and plant oils together. 5 types of Hyaluronic Acid sit alongside Shea Butter, Squalane and several plant oils.

• Published study figures. In an independent 30-volunteer instrumental study, 97% of participants saw increased hydration after 30 days of consistent use, twice a day, according to U Beauty.

• Airless pump. Two to three pumps cover the face, morning and evening.

Tradeoff: at $168 it’s the most expensive pick here. It also contains a fragrance ingredient, methyldihydrojasmonate, and lists Glycolic, Mandelic and Lactobionic Acids, so patch test first if your skin tends to react easily.

Best for: people who want a lightweight, dewy-finish moisturizer and don’t mind the price.

Price: $168 for 50 ml.

4. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane: best everyday cream

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane is a lightweight, non-greasy face cream with 4.5% squalane, glycerin and what Kiehl’s calls glacial glycoprotein and pro-ceramides. Kiehl’s says it’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and reports 72-hour hydration in an instrumental study.

Key features:

• 4.5% squalane. Squalane is a lightweight emollient.

• Fragrance-free. Kiehl’s says so on the product page.

• National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. It’s listed in the NEA’s product directory.

Tradeoff: it’s lighter than the richest picks here, so very dry skin may need more at night.

Best for: dry to normal skin that wants one cream for day and night.

Price: $39 for 1.7 fl oz.

5. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration: best for eczema-prone skin

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration is a thick face and body cream with 0.5% colloidal oatmeal as a skin protectant, plus shea butter, squalane, ceramide NP and allantoin. First Aid Beauty says it’s safe for sensitive skin, and in a 21-person clinical study it reports a 2x immediate increase in skin hydration.

Key features:

• Colloidal oatmeal. It’s the product’s listed skin protectant, at 0.5%.

• Several seals. It’s recognized by the National Eczema Association, National Psoriasis Foundation and National Rosacea Society.

• Face and body. It comes in sizes from 2 oz to 12 oz.

Tradeoff: it contains eucalyptus leaf oil, an essential oil, so it isn’t fragrance-free.

Best for: dry, itchy or eczema-prone skin on the face and body.

Price: $20 for 2 oz.

6. Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream: best dewy finish

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream is a rich face cream with fermented rice, Okinawa algae, squalane and hyaluronic acid. Tatcha recommends it for dry and combination-to-dry skin and says it’s non-comedogenic. Tatcha reports it boosted skin moisturization by 225% after one use.

Key features:

• Dewy finish. Tatcha pitches it for a glowy, plump look.

• Rich cream in a jar. Tatcha calls it a rich moisturizer, and it comes with a gold spoon for scooping.

• Several sizes. It comes in a 15 ml travel size and a refill.

Tradeoff: it contains fragrance, listed as parfum along with citral, limonene and linalool.

Best for: dry skin that wants a glowy finish and doesn’t react to fragrance.

Price: $74 for 50 ml.

7. Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream: best for rough, very dry patches

Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream is a thick cream first made in 1926, with sunflower seed oil, lanolin, sweet almond oil and beeswax, plus pansy, chamomile and calendula extracts. In a 129-person in-use study, Weleda reports that 90% agreed it visibly improved the feel of dry, flaky skin after four weeks of daily use.

Key features:

• Very rich. Lanolin and beeswax make it one of the heaviest options here.

• Face and body. It’s often used on hands, elbows and heels too.

• NATRUE-certified natural. Weleda says so on the product page.

Tradeoff: it contains fragrance, alcohol and several fragrance allergens, including limonene, linalool and geraniol, so patch test first if your skin tends to react easily.

Best for: rough, very dry patches on the face and body.

Price: $22.99 for 2.5 fl oz.

How to get the most from a moisturizer

• Apply it to damp skin. The AAD says to moisturize right after washing, while skin is still damp, and Cleveland Clinic suggests doing it within three minutes.

• Keep showers short and warm. The AAD recommends five to 10 minutes with warm, not hot, water.

• Layer from thin to thick. Serums go on before moisturizer. A hyaluronic acid serum under a cream adds a humectant layer, and our guide to skincare routine order shows where each step goes.

• Go richer at night. A lighter cream suits daytime and makeup, and a thicker one can go on before bed.

• Watch for stinging. If moisturizer burns or stings, your skin may be irritated. Our guide to barrier repair creams covers simpler options.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of moisturizer is best for dry skin?

A cream or ointment. The AAD says people with dry skin should start with one of those rather than a lotion, and look for ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

What ingredients should I avoid if I have dry skin?

The AAD suggests avoiding products with alcohol, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and fragrance.

What is the best drugstore moisturizer for dry skin?

Our top pick is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, which is fragrance-free, has three ceramides and petrolatum, and costs $14.99. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair is a lighter option for the face.

Should I moisturize morning and night?

Yes, for most dry skin. Apply it after cleansing in the morning and evening, and again if your skin feels tight during the day.

Can I use a body cream on my face?

Sometimes. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream and Weleda Skin Food are all sold for face and body. Very rich creams can feel heavy on the face, so try a small area first.