15 best moisturisers for dry skin 2024
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Having tested hundreds of skincare formulas, I can tell you that finding the best moisturisers for dry skin is no mean feat. And as someone who has dry and sensitive skin, I consider myself a bit of a harsh critic, too. After all, it takes more than just a few hydrating ingredients and a thick consistency for a cream to be considered “the best” for dry skin types, especially when it comes to long-term benefits.
I've had to learn first-hand that dry skin needs a special approach, whether it's concerning dry patches, flaking or peeling. Plus, more often than not, the consistency of a cream is too greasy for my liking, the formula doesn't layer well underneath makeup, the list goes on…
It also doesn't help that external factors such as pollution, windy weather and sunburns often leave our skin even more dull, dry and irritated. Let's not forget that those of us with dry skin may also be dealing with skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea too – making an even bigger case for a tailored skincare routine.
To help you pick, I've curated a round-up of the best moisturisers for dry skin for every budget and preference – from those with brightening properties and SPF 30 protection to oil-free formulas and lightweight consistencies. I've also consulted with some of the best dermatologists and skincare experts in the biz to answer all of your moisturiser-related FAQs, so be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this page for the full lowdown.
Best moisturisers for dry skin at a glance:
- Best overall: Farmacy Beauty Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer
- Best with SPF: Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C-Tetra Cream
- Best to wear under makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
- Best for dewy skin: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
What do dermatologists recommend for very dry skin?
“As the weather turns colder, skin tends to become drier and more sensitive,” shares Dr Alexis Granite, CeraVe’s consultant dermatologist. Dr Granite also advises to really take the time to massage your chosen product in, ideally for at least 30 seconds to really maximise the effects. “And if you find yourself reaching for it several times a day, you might want to consider a richer product,” she adds.
How we tested the best moisturisers for dry skin:
Throughout the years, the GLAMOUR team has collectively tested over a hundred moisturisers for dry skin – including rich creams for lasting hydration. We've judged all formulas – including cult classics as well as newer launches – based on consistency and whether they managed to lock in the moisture for a long period of time, all while keeping in mind conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Find out how we test here.
The best moisturisers for dry skin, tried and tested…
Best moisturiser for dry skin overall
Why we love it: This 2-in-1 moisturiser combines the brightening effects of vitamin C with the protective properties of an SPF 30 day cream. It comes with a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that shields your complexion from environmental aggressors and leaves your skin feeling fresh and smooth all day long.
Key ingredients: 7% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
Best priming moisturiser for dry skin
Why we love it: Made with an innovative formula that floods your complexion with long-lasting hydration, this must-have moisturiser from Charlotte Tilbury definitely deserves its name. It's particularly great for priming your skin for makeup and transforming dull, tired skin and giving your skin a more glowy and dewy appearance after each application. After all, it's an absolute favourite among celebrities, influencers and skincare experts for a reason.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, oat extract and glycerin.
Best plumping moisturiser for dry skin
Why we love it: Now, if there's a moisturiser that needs no introduction, it's the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream. Featuring a rich, plumping formula, this cream will not only keep your skin nice and hydrated throughout the day but it will also boost its ability to retain moisture in the first place. It includes a special blend of hyaluronic acid and Okinawa algae as well as the antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice. We're sold.
Key ingredients: Japanese purple rice, Okinawa algae blend and botanical extracts.
1/15Best lightweight moisturiser for dry skin
Farmacy Beauty Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer
Why we love it: Despite being incredibly lightweight, this creamy moisturiser packs a seriously hydrating punch – formulated with honey, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and golden cupuacu butter beads. It nourishes, plumps and moisturises on multiple levels within the skin and repairs your skin barrier in the proceess.
Key ingredients: Plant-based ceramides, antioxidant-rich buckwheat honey and sweet fig.
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- 2/15
Best moisturiser for stressed, dry skin
Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream
Why we love it: Tired of stressed and dry skin? Say no more – this face cream has everything you need to achieve the silky smooth skin you deserve while also keeping it shielded under a strengthened moisture barrier. It also contains camomile and allantoin, which are both known for their soothing abilities.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, camomile, allantoin, squalane and glycerin.
- 3/15
Best daily moisturiser for dry skin
Why we love it: It would hardly be a round-up of the best moisturisers without the iconic Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, right? Thought so. Formulated with high-grade skincare ingredients such as squalane and glycoprotein, this product promises up to 24 hours of hydration to keep your skin nice and smooth throughout the whole day (and night). Oh, and did we mention that it has a non-greasy formula too?
Key ingredients: Glacial glycoprotein and squalane.
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4/15Best affordable moisturiser for dry skin
Why we love it: If in doubt, always choose CeraVe because you can’t go far wrong. Not only is it one of the most budget-friendly brands on the market, but its products are incredibly effective, and they just work – mostly down to the fact that everything is developed by dermatologists. This cream is bolstered with both ceramides and hyaluronic acid, moisturising and hydrating while protecting your skin cells. Plus it’s fragrance-free, making it suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types.
Key ingredients: Ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
- 5/15
Best moisturiser for dry, sensitive skin
Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream
Why we love it: Designed to help soothe sensitive skin, this new release from Drunk Elephant is filled to the brim with lipids, ceramides, natural minerals, and potent antioxidant compounds. This helps it alleviate dryness, providing you with long-lasting hydration that firms the skin and reduces any unwanted redness.
Key ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, evening primrose oil and squalane.
- 6/15
Best face moisturiser for dry skin under £20
La Roche-Posay Toleraine Creme
Why we love it: Loved by beauty editors, dermatologists, and skin experts for a very good reason, this little tube of magic works wonders throughout the year. Thick but not greasy, it’s fragrance-free and packed with prebiotics to protect the skin and prevent moisture loss. It relieves dry, tight, stinging and irritated skin almost instantly while also re-hydrating and soothing any sensitivity.
Key ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, vitamin B3, and thermal water.
- 7/15
Best ceramide-infused moisturiser for dry skin
The INKEY List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser
Why we love it: Infused with a selection of potent ceramides, this affordable moisturiser from The INKEY List does not disappoint. Not only does it deliver a steady stream of hydration, but it also helps your skin restore its elasticity and provides a pleasant youth-boosting effect.
Key ingredients: Ceramides and glycerin.
- 8/15
Best moisturiser for dry, flaky skin
Murad Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Cream
Why we love it: Suitable for all skin types, this innovative day cream from Murad is clinically proven to strengthen, nourish and repair your skin’s barrier at the cellular level. This is especially great for those who suffer from dry, flaky skin, as this product can help your skin find its radiance and keep moisture sealed in for up to 24 hours at a time.
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, squalane, glycerin, refined bilberry seed oil, allantoin and hydrogenated rapeseed oil.
- 9/15
Best moisturiser for dry, inflamed skin
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream
Why we love it: This nourishing and hydrating cream from Kate Somerville is specially formulated for sensitive, eczema-prone and acne-prone skin to help alleviate inflammation. It provides a cool, calming effect, thanks to a combination of ingredients such as aloe vera, milk proteins, avocado oil and jojoba oil. 10/10 would recommend.
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, avocado oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, witch hazel flower water, rice bran extract and vitamin E.
10/15Best soothing moisturiser for dry skin
Why we love it: The Weleda Skin Food moisturiser is one of the brand's best sellers, and it's easy to see why. It doubles as a body cream and thanks to its potent and deep-penetrating formula, it's also one of the best skincare products for dry skin in general. It's ideal for tackling dry patches, nourishing and hydrating your skin, without resulting in an oily, greasy feel.
Key ingredients: Organic sunflower seed oil and wild pansy, chamomile, calendula and rosemary extracts.
- 11/15
Best premium moisturiser for dry skin
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Why we love it: When it comes to skincare, there's nothing that screams “luxury” just as much as Augustinus Bader. This intense hydrating moisturiser is made to help stimulate your body's natural collagen production and also contains a wide range of helpful vegan-friendly ingredients, including a blend of natural oils, soy bean, rice proteins and more.
Key ingredients: Argan oil, avocado oil, evening primrose oil, hydrolyzed rice protein, squalane and glycerin.
- 12/15
Best hyaluronic acid moisturiser for dry skin
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream Face Moisturiser with Hyaluronic Acid
Why we love it: Ideal for sensitive, dehydrated skin, Vichy’s moisturiser is packed with shea butter and hyaluronic acid alongside the brand’s mineralising thermal water. It has a velvety finish on the skin making it a good choice to wear under makeup, or as the final step in your night-time routine. It works to help ensure skin looks and feels as healthy and as radiant as possible – which is exactly what we all want, right?
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, mineralising water, shea butter and plant sugar mannose.
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When should you moisturise?
First, remember that regardless of your skin type, it's important to moisturise all year round. And with winter fast approaching, moisturising is more important than ever, especially for the dry-skinned. After all, it’s the time of year in which skin goes into overdrive – skin barriers are easily depleted, and all moisture is zapped in the blink of an eye, both of which are most often caused by the combination of the bitterly cold British weather (yikes) and the constant need to have the central heating on at all hours of the day.
How to choose the right moisturiser for dry skin
The ideal moisturiser (or lotion) for dry skin will include a mixture of emollients such as ceramides, occlusives such as fatty acids, and lanolin (all of which help hydrate the skin and repair your natural skin barrier while locking in the moisture) as well as humectants, including glycerin, squalane and hyaluronic acid, all of which are essential active ingredients for the ultimate hydration cocktail.
Good-quality moisturising lotions are also known to include other high-grade skincare ingredients, such as retinol, vitamin E, green tea extract, niacinamide, aloe vera and vitamin C – all contributing towards not only nourishing your face, but also to help with various skin conditions (such as acne, rosacea and eczema), tackle breakouts, calm itchy and flaky skin and even reduce appearance of fine lines.
Which brand of moisturiser is best for dry skin?
When it comes to choosing the one, it all comes down to your personal preferences and budget. Are you after a quickly absorbing lightweight formula that doesn't cost a fortune? Check out the BYOMA Moisturizing Gel-Cream. You also can't go wrong with the CeraVe Moisturising Cream, which is a firm fav in the GLAMOUR office. A good mid-range option is the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, featuring a water-gel cream consistency and is packed with skin-loving proteins and nutrients that maintain your skin's natural elasticity. But if you're budget allows you to splurge, we recommend considering the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore, which contains a trifecta of skin lipids – pure ceramides, natural cholesterol and fatty acids.
For more beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on X @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Feeling inspired to upgrade your skincare routine? Check out our guides to the best moisturiser for combination skin, face masks, anti-ageing creams, night creams, hyaluronic acid serum and vitamin C serums, face toners and eye creams.
