The Best Face Cream For Dry Skin

If you have extremely dry skin, finding a moisturizer that locks in hydration is essential. You’ll want to look for occlusives that form a protective layer, such as ceramides, glycerin, and shea butter, and avoid ingredients like alcohol, fragrance, and mineral oils that can irritate your skin.

Fortunately, there are many great options. Keep reading for our top picks.

1. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer

The cold weather and constant handwashing to stay healthy from germs can leave your skin feeling tight, flaky and itchy. But your daily moisturizing routine can help keep it at bay. Moisturizers hydrate the outer layer of your skin, known as the barrier, so you don’t lose as much water through it. Choosing the right product is important, though—some are better than others at quenching dry skin.

For true dry skin relief, look for occlusives in the lotion or cream you choose. Occlusives are ingredients that form a seal over your skin, locking in moisture and preventing it from evaporating. A few good options are mineral oil, petrolatum (petroleum jelly) and lanolin. You can also opt for products with fatty acids or natural plant oils and butters, like shea and cocoa.

This GH Beauty Award-winning moisturizer boosts hydration without adding a heavy feel to your face. It’s made with a soothing blend of best face cream for dry skin centella, which helps reduce inflammation and redness, squalane to lock in hydration, niacinamide to refine the skin’s texture and panthenol to soothe irritation. It’s also free of phthalates, parabens, sulfates and fragrance.

2. Tatcha The Water Cream

The Water Cream is a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that’s free of mineral oil, phthalates, parabens and synthetic fragrance. It also features a pore-refining BHA alternative, along with wild rose and leopard lily to balance skin and help control excess oil. It’s rich in antioxidants from Uji green tea, Okinawa red algae and Akita rice to soothe and decongest the skin. And it’s infused with 23-karat gold to impart a subtle, shine-free glow.

The Water Cream is a great choice for dry skin because it’s light and absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue behind. It’s also a good moisturizer for combo-to-oily skin because it’s non-comedogenic and has a pore-refining formula, thanks to heartleaf (an azelaic acid alternative) and our Hadasei-3 Complex of Uji green tea, Okinawa green algae and Akita rice.

3. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

This product is perfect for people with dry skin, as it helps hydrate the face and body. It has three essential ceramides, and hyaluronic acid that help to support the protective skin barrier. It also has a patented MVE Delivery Technology that releases the ingredients slowly over time. It is oil-free, fragrance free, and non-comedogenic.

The fatty acids in this moisturizer (caprylic and capric triglycerides) do something that no other moisturizer can do—they directly inhibit malassezia, which is the yeast that causes things like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and other skin conditions. This is an amazing feature and not something you can say for 95% of the moisturizers in the world.

The texture of this product is light, and it layers really well under makeup and sunscreen. It’s also great for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It comes in a gel, lotion, cream, and ointment form, so you can choose best face cream for dry skin the one that works best for your needs. All of the CeraVe products are formulated with dermatologists, and they’re hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free.

4. L’Occitane Shea Butter Hydrating Cream

Dry skin isn’t just annoying; it can also be a serious health hazard. It’s important to use a moisturizer daily to keep the outer layer of your skin healthy and hydrated. This can help prevent flaking and itching, and can even prevent cracking. For best results, consult a dermatologist for specific advice.

This product is great for those with normal to dry skin. It’s formulated with centella, which is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that can soothe redness and swelling, as well as shea butter, which hydrates the skin. It’s gentle enough for daily use and is free of fragrance, parabens, and phthalates.

If you’re dealing with really dry skin, you might need something a little more intense than this product. Consider trying a cream or ointment instead, as these tend to contain less water and lock in moisture better than a gel or lotion. For really driest areas like the feet, try an ointment, which will provide more protection against moisture loss. A good ointment will usually contain shea butter, glycerin, and possibly other ingredients that are known to help hydrate the skin.

5. La Roche-Posay Hydra Zen

With three moisturizers to choose from in La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane line, it can be tricky to decide which one is the best fit for your skin. Thankfully, this product comes in handy to help you decide: the Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Glow Liquid Moisturizer has a liquid texture with glycerin to ensure skin stays hydrated. It also has 11 amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and rose extract to strengthen the skin’s barrier and prevent signs of stress.

Another bonus: It contains Ceramide-3 to protect against the loss of moisture in the skin, as well as Niacinamide to soothe and reduce the appearance of dark spots. It’s worth noting, however, that it does contain some synthetic ingredients and fragrances, which could be a problem for those with sensitivities or who prefer a more natural ingredient list.

This rich face cream is infused with naturally derived hyaluronic acid from Green Technology and La Roche-Posay thermal spring water to soothe dehydrated skin. It also includes Jojoba oil, aloe vera, and other natural extracts to nourish the complexion. This daily face moisturizer offers 72 hours of hydration and an immediate plump for radiant-looking skin.