Dealing with dry skin? We’ve got you covered. When you have dry skin, keeping your skin highly moisturized without it looking or feeling greasy is the number one goal. Luckily, there are a number of moisturizers out there that do exactly that. With the right ingredients, products and tips, your skin is about to look and feel better than it ever has before. Say goodbye to dry, flakey skin and hello to a hydrated, silky smooth complexion. Take a look at the 8 best moisturizers for dry skin.
5 Dry Skin Tips and Hacks
1. Apply a moisturizer immediately after showering or washing your face to trap existing moisture into your skin. Do this within a few minutes for the best results.
2. Drink lots of water and don’t overdo it with coffee, alcohol and caffeine, which are diuretics that can dry out the skin.
3. Use a gentle scrub two to three times a week to remove dry, dead skin cells. This will allow serums and creams to penetrate more effectively.
4. Avoid harsh cleansers with drying ingredients like fragrances or additives. Use a gentle cleanser so you don’t strip your skin of its natural oils, which are needed for overall moisture.
5. Limit showers to 5 to 10 minutes and use warm water instead of hot, which adds to surface dehydration.
3 Things to Look for in a Moisturizer if You Have Dry Skin
1. Emollients, like Ceramides
Ceramides help repair the skin’s barrier. They lock moisture into your skin, which helps prevent dryness and irritation. Human skin is naturally made up of ceramides, however they’re lost over time, which can result in dull, dry skin. Ceramides in skin care products are also beneficial for those who suffer from eczema and psoriasis.
2. Humectants, such as Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid
Humectants draw and seal moisture into the skin. Glycerin acts as a moisturizing agent in most skin care products. It traps moisture in your skin, keeping it hydrated. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in our skin, but as we age, it reduces. In skin care products it increases moisture and improves skin barrier and water preserving functions.
3. Thick, Goopy Texture
If you have dry skin, look for thick and goopy face creams because they’re oil-based, have a thicker consistency and provide more hydration than lotions. An oil-based moisturizer will add oil back into your skin, so is ideal if your skin is super dry. If you have dry, acne-prone skin, look for water based skin care products instead of oil.
8 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin
1. Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
Although it’s marketed as a body cream, you can also use Vanicream for your face. It’s free of lanolin, parabens and fragrances that often irritate dry, sensitive skin, and it’s loaded with ceramides which strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. It provides relief from irritated, flaky or itchy skin and has a velvety texture your face will love.
2. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
If you have dry, acne-prone skin, this oil-free moisturizer will help hydrate and restore your skin. Formulated with a high concentration of prebiotic thermal water, ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin, it’s perfect for hydrating dry skin associated with redness. It’s especially beneficial if you’re treating your acne with drying ingredients like benzoyl peroxide.
3. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
This is a light-weight moisturizer that has all the power of a heavier, creamy formula. It contains squalane, which hydrates and softens the skin without leaving it greasy or oily. It’s also formulated with avocado, apricot kernel, olive fruit and sweet almond oils to rejuvenate and refresh the skin.
4. Weleda Skin Food Ultra Rich Cream
This plant based formula is the ultimate moisturizer for dry skin. It contains all-natural ingredients and is chock full of fatty acids and vitamin E, which naturally moisturize and soften the skin. It also contains pansy, which soothes irritation and calendula flower extract to help repair damaged skin.
5. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry
This gel cream is formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to quench your dry skin and give you a soft and smooth complexion. It provides rapid hydration, leaving your skin smooth and supple by restoring its natural barrier against moisture loss.
6. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM
This is an excellent nighttime moisturizer that hydrates and repairs your skin while you sleep. It’s packed with ingredients that soothe dry and irritated skin, such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It also contains niacinamide, which acts as an anti-inflammatory to calm down any redness or tenderness. On top of that, it’s lightweight and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores.
7. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
This moisturizer provides instant relief and long term hydration for dry, distressed skin. It’s made with dimethicone, a compound known to reduce water loss without leaving a greasy feel or clogging pores. It also features hydrating ceramides, soothing colloidal oatmeal, and rich shea butter. It’s free of fragrances and alcohol, so it’s great for those with sensitive skin, even those who suffer from eczema.
8. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
This face cream is wonderful not only for dry skin but also anti-aging. It’s infused with lipids such as pure ceramides, natural cholesterol and fatty acids that are depleted in the skin over time. These ingredients restore the skin’s barrier and support natural repair processes. It pumps hydration into your skin, while addressing fine lines, firmness and uneven skin tone.
If you have dry skin, these tips and moisturizers are just what you need to hydrate, soften and rejuvenate your skin!
