It may not be as trendy as the latest PDRN serum or sleek gadget, but if there’s one skincare step that’s giving workhorse vibes, it’s definitely moisturizer. From shielding skin from dry, cold weather to strengthening the skin barrier, proper hydration and moisture (which are two different things, both important: In layman’s terms, hydration is more surface-level, lending an immediate softening, plumping effect to skin, while moisturizing locks in hydration via oils/butters to prevent evaporation.) is an essential step in your routine, and one worth investing in.
I personally learned (the hard way, might I add) that neglecting moisturizer is honestly, one of the worst things you can do to your skin. As an acne-prone gal, I spent more years than I’d care to admit robbing my face of hydration in the hopes it would curb my breakouts, when in reality, it only exacerbated them since my sebum production skyrocketed as a result of dehydration.
As beauty editors, we test hundreds of moisturizers a year, and as such, know a thing or two about the ones that actually work and the ones worth skipping. Ahead, the 12 best moisturizers for dry skin that really quenched our thirst.
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Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Moisturizer
This everyday moisturizer is the GOAT — no, really: It’s made with goat milk, niacinamide, and botanical extracts to quench dryness and promote radiant, glowing skin.
Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Moisturizer, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Sofie Pavitt Face Omega Rich Moisturizer
If you’re dry and acne-prone, I truly cannot recommend a better moisturizer than Sofie Pavitt’s Omega Rich Moisturizer. The texture is divine — silky, creamy, but not heavy or greasy — and my skin drinks the stuff right up.
Sofie Pavitt Face Omega Rich Moisturizer, $, available at Sephora
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer with Niacinamide
Another excellent formula available at most drugstores is La Roche-Posay’s soothing moisturizer, which counts ceramides, thermal water, and niacinamide among its powerhouse ingredients.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer with Niacinami, $, available at Ulta Beauty
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Rich Moisturizer
When I need intense, long-lasting moisture during the driest of cold, arid weather, this is what I reach for every time. It’s thick, but not greasy, which I know sounds impossible — but not for The Ordinary. Plus, the ceramides work wonders to support a healthy, happy skin barrier.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors Rich Moisturizer, $, available at Ulta Beauty
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer
When freezing temperatures and icy winds make my skin feel like it’s about to fall off, I turn to this. Applying it feels like instant relief, thanks to a trifecta of moisturizing, hydrating ingredients. First up are ceramides, which act like glue between skin cells, keeping skin soft and healthy rather than rough and flaky. Then there’s shea butter, which dermatologists praise for its deeply moisturizing properties, alongside glycerin. Glycerin is both a humectant (meaning it draws moisture into the skin) and an emollient, helping to keep that moisture locked in. Even though it’s a souped-up moisturizer, it never breaks me out. I must be on my fifth tub by now.
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer, $, available at Sephora
U Beauty The Super Hydrator
If you’re going to invest in a high-end moisturizer, make it this one. In winter, cleansing my skin can leave it feeling so tight and rough it’s as though it might crack, but when I use this consistently, that never happens. U Beauty promises hydration for up to 48 hours, and it’s all down to five sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules that hydrate every layer of the skin. It doesn’t stop there, though. Skin-strengthening peptides and smoothing shea butter support repair and deliver deep moisturization. Two pumps is enough to cover the entire face, and while it takes a moment to absorb, the glow is truly unrivaled.
U Beauty The SUPER Hydrator, $, available at U Beauty
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration
For very dry skin, it has to be First Aid’s Ultra Repair Cream. It feels like wrapping your skin in silk, instantly calming thanks to oatmeal and allantoin. If I’ve overdone it on the Differin, this is the only thing that helps repair my skin barrier. But don’t just take my word for it — its five-star reviews speak volumes, with users praising the comforting whipped texture, its ability to soothe even eczema, and the fact that it contains no added fragrance or perfume, so it won’t aggravate sensitive skin.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration, $, available at First Aid Beauty
Aestura ATOBARRIER365 Cream Moisturizer with Ceramides & Niacinamide for Skin Moisture Barrier Repair
I’ve used Aestura’s Autobarrier Cream down to the last drop multiple times—it’s that good. Beneath the simple packaging, it feels and performs just like a high-end moisturizer. I’d expect nothing less — it’s Korean, after all. This cream cocoons dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin with ceramides, which act like scaffolding to reinforce the skin barrier without leaving a greasy residue. Fatty acids and glycerin mimic the skin’s natural moisturizing lipids, topping up hydration where it’s needed most. For best results, use it morning and night.
Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream, $, available at Sephora
Caudalie VinoHydra Sorbet Cream Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
If your skin is showing subtle signs of dryness — like flakiness around the mouth or tightness on the cheeks — but you hate that most dry-skin creams feel suffocating, you have to try Caudalie’s VinoHydra Sorbet Cream Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid. It’s more of a lotion than a thick cream, but don’t underestimate it. A blend of hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich grape water, and soothing chamomile extract is complemented by nourishing glycerin and shea butter. Even though it’s packed with all the goof stuff, I find it sinks in quickly, leaving behind a hint of dew. Even better, it’s non-comedogenic, so it’s unlikely to clog pores.
Caudalie VinoHydra Sorbet Cream Moisturizer, $, available at Sephora
Vichy Minéral 89 100H Rich Cream Fragrance-Free
I’ve lost count of how many dermatologists have told me they rely on this cream; it’s often one of the first they mention when I ask for recommendations for dry skin. It sits in a comfortable space between a lightweight lotion and a rich face mask, spreading easily and quenching skin instantly. I love that it leaves skin feeling bouncy to the touch, thanks to ultra-moisturizing squalane and vitamin E, along with hydration-boosting niacinamide. It’s dependable, effective, and reasonably priced.
Vichy Minéral 89 100H Rich Cream Fragrance-Free, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
What’s luxurious but not overly rich, perfect for dry skin but not too heavy for oily skin, and gives you an otherworldly glow without highlighter? (That’s not a riddle — it’s just this cream.) Beauty director Jacqueline — who has acne-prone skin — always has a tub of this on hand for sub-zero temperatures. “It’s the only thing that quenches my parched skin without triggering breakouts. If your makeup tends to cling to dry patches like it does on me, I can vouch for this as an excellent smoothing primer. It makes my skin gleam without appearing oily.”
Tatcha Chilli Oil on Everything 250ml Pourer Jar, $, available at Tatcha
Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40
This tried-and-true moisturizer has everything: SPF 40, pollution protection, and long-lasting hydration to guarantee you have the softest skin at any of Stefon’s clubs.
Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40, $, available at Sephora
Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream
There are a lot of things you can fake with the help of a few beauty products, but the plump, hydrated skin you get with regular use of this ceramide-rich moisturizer is the real deal.
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream, $, available at Sephora
BeautyStat Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream
Consider this plain moisturizer a cold compress in a bottle. A blend of ceramides, probiotics, and fermented mushroom extract, it coddles skin on contact — without leaving a greasy film that makes you break out.
BeautyStat Cosmetics Probiotic 24HR Moisture Boost Cream Moisturizer, $, available at Ulta Beauty
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