15 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin of 2024

CeraVe’s moisturizing cream is a favorite of dermatologists, who give it high marks for its ability to moisturize and protect the skin barrier. The lotion contains three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep moisture in the skin. While this cream goes on thick, it’s not so dense that it doesn’t blend into the skin. You can use it on your face and body and is a great option for all skin types, especially sensitive. You can’t go wrong with this option.

This rich (not greasy) formula is packed with ingredients that repair the skin barrier and help reduce common signs of aging. It contains a combination of eight peptides to help fade the look of fine lines and wrinkles, ghostberry and Tasmanian pepper offer soothing benefits, and ceramides help retain moisture and support the skin barrier. If you have eczema-prone or very sensitive skin, you’ll also appreciate the reparative benefits of this hydrating formula.

Squalene (with an e) is a moisturizing ingredient sourced from shark livers and found in a lot of skincare formulas. If you’re looking for a more environmentally friendly option, squalane (with an a) is an ingredient that comes from sugarcane and helps nourish dry, flaky skin. The vegan formula also contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and ceramides to repair the skin barrier. It has a rich texture that’s great for very dry or mature skin types, but it isn’t greasy or sticky.

Get glazed doughnut skin with this luxurious moisturizer. It’s packed with Japanese purple rice, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and botanical extracts that offer a beautiful glow. Immediately after use, dehydrated and dry skin feels like it’s had a giant glass of water and looks visibly more plump and radiant. “I swear by this moisturizer,” says Genesis Rivas, Oprah Daily beauty editor. “It has a comforting silky formula that immediately hydrates and leaves a healthy-looking glow.”

You can use this rich, hydrating formula as a moisturizer, makeup primer, or face mask. Whatever you choose, it’ll nourish your skin without feeling too heavy and leave behind a lit-from-within glow. (Note: it does take a little bit to blend into the skin but it’s worth it for the finish and benefits). The formula contains soy proteins, aloe vera, beeswax, and shea butter to hydrate and nourish. It’s a great option for all skin types, including those who are sensitive or dry.

Got a leathery skin situation going on? Reach for this hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic cream, which is available in a large 20-ounce tub for only $16. It’s formulated with moisturizing glycerin, panthenol, and soothing niacinamide. Once you slather it on, it works to replenish and soothe dry, irritated skin. It can even restore your skin’s moisture barrier in a week. The best part is it’s easily accessible at your local drugstore.

Filled with peptides, plant proteins, and ceramides, this clean moisturizer hydrates dry skin while working to reduce signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. It’s also fragrance-free and can be used daily (morning and evening) to help repair, restore, and strengthen the skin barrier. While the texture is lightweight and almost gel-like, it delivers long-lasting hydration and quickly absorbs into the skin without feeling heavy or greasy.

This cream has been clinically shown to reduce rough, dry, and sensitive skin while giving you 48-hour hydration. It’s packed with ingredients like prebiotic thermal water to help balance the skin microbiome, ceramide-3, shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide to help moisturize and even out skin tone. It’s a rich and soothing formula that you can use on your face and body. It’s even gentle enough to use on babies.

The skin below our chin is just as susceptible to dryness as our faces. You can relieve dry, tight, and itchy skin with this budget-friendly formula. The texture is rich but easy to spread and absorbs quickly, so it doesn’t feel heavy. It contains and replenishes ceramides to help skin retain moisture and prevent dry skin from coming back, shea butter to nourish, and oatmeal extract to soothe. Shop it at your local drugstore.

Having eczema can both raise your risk of dry skin and make it more likely that you’ll be irritated by certain lotions. If you experience this common skin condition, you need to be particular about the formulas you apply to your skin. Fortunately, this cream is gentle and designed for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. It contains a mix of ultra-moisturizing and soothing ingredients, like colloidal oatmeal, organic honey, organic aloe vera juice, and beeswax.

If you have dry, combination skin or looking for a formula that will make your complexion look instantly more plump and radiant, you’ll love this option. It effectively hydrates those dry areas without weighing down other parts of your face that produce more oil. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump, amino peptides to firm, and niacinamide to retain moisture. You can find it at your local drugstore for a wallet-friendly price.

While it’s a splurge compared to other options on this list, this moisturizer works overtime to tackle dryness and textured skin, like large pores. The formula contains a hydroxy acid blend that gently exfoliates dull, textured skin for a smoother and more radiant appearance. Over time, it can help minimize the look of existing lines and wrinkles, too. Aloe, chamomile, and evening primrose extracts help nourish and soothe dry skin. Apply it before bed to wake up with a rejuvenated complexion.

Lano Everywhere delivers some serious moisture where you need it most, whether it’s tight and dry cheeks or cracked elbows and feet. It contains lanolin, a natural fat that protects and hydrates your skin. It tends to be a good option for people who prefer a rich, creamy moisturizer or have sensitive skin as you can even use it on babies. While it’s a small bottle for your face and body, a little goes a long way and it’s TSA-friendly.

Vanicream is loved by dermatologists for its simple formulas that work. This daily facial moisturizer is perfect for when you feel dry and taut. While moisturizing, it’s still lightweight and easy to blend into skin. The formula is made with five ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and glycerin. It’s a great pick for those who are very sensitive because it’s fragrance-, dye-, paraben-, and gluten-free. Not to mention, it doesn’t clog your pores and cause breakouts.

We know it’s a splurge, but this formula targets dryness on all skin levels. Not only will the lightweight water cream plump and hydrate skin immediately after use, but it also works to restore hyaluronic acid production deep within the skin’s layer to improve the skin’s ability to hold water over time. It contains five forms of hyaluronic acid, a collagen complex, and antioxidants to protect skin from oxidative stress. In a clinical study performed by the brand, users said they looked three years younger by week 12.