Have you ever looked in the mirror only to notice flaky patches on your forehead, cheeks, and around your nose? Such is often the reality of having dry skin. While it’s impossible to fully rewire your natural skin type, there are moisturizers specially designed to drench dry skin in much-needed hydration. That said, not all moisturizers are created equal, so it's important to find one that will fully quench your dry skin's thirst.  

To make finding an ideal moisturizer for dry skin a bit easier, InStyle pulled together a group of 22 testers to analyze 35 best-selling moisturizers for dry skin. They ranked each based on five key indicators — including consistency, absorption, value, the effect on dryness, and the overall appearance left behind after use. In doing so, they found that DHC Olive Virgin Oil Essential Cream is a top-notch moisturizer for dry skin. Though, depending on your preferences, you may want something a bit more tailored. That’s why we didn’t stop at just one product suggestion. 

Ahead, uncover the best moisturizers for dry skin.

Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin Overall

DHC DHC Olive Virgin Oil Essential Cream

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  5/5

While the packaging of this moisturizer isn’t the most compelling, the formula inside most certainly is. Made with organic olive oil, squalane, and beeswax, this moisturizer is incredibly hydrating, while also working to help balance oil production, reduce the appearance of pores, and brighten skin.

“The consistency is quite thick but it's so creamy and blendable,” our tester shares, noting that although it’s quite oily upon application it quickly sinks into the skin. “I am quite impressed by the texture and compatibility with my skin — there’s a significant difference in moisture levels. I feel more hydrated and look like I've woken up from a deep, rested slumber [thanks to the plumping benefits this product delivers].”

In short, our tester found her new go-to in this fan-favorite moisturizer, and the only thing she’d change is the jar size — she wishes it came in an oversized tub so that she could slather it all over her body. Yes, it’s that good. 

Key Ingredients: Organic olive oil, Squalane, and Beeswax  | Size: 1.7 oz. | Texture: Silky, oily, and thick | Scented: Free of added fragrances

Best Budget

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  4/5

• Value

  5/5

Beloved by over 13,000 Ulta shoppers, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream was a no-brainer for our sample selection — and once tested, it was clear that it deserved a spot in the top 10. According to one tester, the moisturizer goes on smoothly and absorbs almost instantly, all without any residual film, tackiness, or greasiness. 

“My skin actually feels hydrated and soft, and I want to put it on my whole body,” she exclaims. That said, she admits that she thought it might do more than just hydrate, given its National Eczema Association seal of approval. “There wasn't any difference in redness or the appearance of my pores,” she admits. Her other complaint? It’s not cruelty-free. Still, she assures us that it’s definitely worth the cost. And at just $18, it's a true bargain considering the moisturizing benefits.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid | Size: 12 oz. | Texture: Smooth and fast-absorbing | Scented: No

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  InStyle / Tamara Staples

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  InStyle / Tamara Staples

Best Multi-Use

Alleyoop Dream Team

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  4.5/5

• Value

  4.5/5

Alleyoop is all about making ultra-convenient, easy-to-use beauty products. What started as makeup and tools eventually evolved into skincare. The Dream Team 3-in-1 Moisturizer, Eye Cream & Mask is a triple threat against dehydrated skin. It’s vegan, paraben-, and cruelty-free, and loaded with complexion-perfecting ingredients like softening and moisturizing squalane, plumping and hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing macadamia nut oil, and smoothing and hydrating coconut oil. 

“It's just the right consistency — not too thick, not too watery — and lightweight, with three pumps being enough product to cover my face,” our tester reveals. “It starts absorbing into the skin right away, with no stickiness or oiliness after.” Because of that, she says that it’d be a great option to wear under makeup — though, only if you use a pump or two. Any more than that could potentially lead to a cakey complexion. Makeup aside, our tester says the moisturizer does its job and does it well. “My skin feels way less tight than it did [before applying it],” she explains. “It's smooth to the touch and feels plumper, softer, and more hydrated than before.” 

Key Ingredients: Squalane, Hyaluronic acid, Macadamia nut oil, and Coconut oil | Size: 1.68 oz. | Texture: Smooth and fast-absorbing | Scented: No

Best for Sensitive Skin

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  5/5

Formulated without fragrance, dyes, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde, or preservatives, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is a godsend for sensitive skin. With ceramides and hyaluronic acid at the forefront, this comfortable and lightweight moisturizer is designed to hydrate the skin and help it retain moisture by reinforcing the skin barrier. “It’s a great product to layer under a rich cream during the winter or to use by itself in the summer,” says one tester. “When testing, my skin felt comfortable and hydrated, albeit a little sticky.” She assures that the sticky feeling melted away after a few moments, though, and her skin was left feeling soft and smooth for hours on end. 

Key Ingredients: Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid | Size: 3 oz. | Texture: Rich but lightweight | Scented: No

Best for Redness

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  4/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  5/5

When you think of taking care of sensitive, redness-prone skin, you likely don’t imagine using a scented moisturizer. That said, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré defies the norms with its delightful rose scent paired that's with an aloe vera and shea butter-infused formula. “My skin feels soft and plump to the touch,” our tester raves. “The moisturizer hid/calmed my redness (from rosacea), as well as smoothed the uneven texture on my cheeks."

Her only complaints are that the packaging itself isn’t anything special and it goes on a bit thick. Though, she admits that it does absorb effectively and almost immediately. 

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera and Shea butter | Size: 2.54 oz. | Texture: Thick yet lightweight | Scented: Yes

Best for Hyperpigmentation

Buttah Skin CocoShea Revitalizing Cream

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  4/5

• Absorption

  4/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  5/5

Buttah CocoShea Revitalizing Cream is formulated with moisture-locking cocoa and shea butters, plumping hyaluronic acid, and deeply-hydrating vitamin E to banish all your dry skin blues. Due to the natural butters, our tester found the cult-favorite moisturizer to be a bit gooey, but she loved it nonetheless. 

“The consistency is very interesting and it takes a few rubs to completely absorb into my skin, which I think is a result of the gooey-like texture,” she admits. More importantly, though, she says that after applying the rich moisturizer, her face didn’t feel the slightest bit dry. “My forehead and chin usually experience the most dryness, but after using this moisturizer those spots look hydrated and silky,” she marvels. 

Her one concern is the scent. While it’s free of added fragrances, it has a natural aroma that’s quite noticeable. “As a person with sensitive skin that usually avoids products with heavy fragrance, I was initially alarmed,” she admits. Though, after testing, she found that the unique texture, pretty packaging, effective hydration, and overall restorative nature of the product make it well worth it. 

Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, Shea butter, Hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin E | Size: 2 oz. | Texture: Rich and smooth | Scented: Free of added fragrances

Best Non-Comedogenic

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  4/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  4/5

If your biggest worry with finding a deeply hydrating moisturizer is that the formula will inevitably overwhelm your complexion, fear not: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is non-comedogenic and widely touted as a must-try skincare product. “It’s beautifully lightweight and deeply hydrates skin without any heaviness,” one tester shares. “It’s not greasy or thick, it absorbs fast, and it immediately left my skin feeling softer.” 

While the consistency of this ceramide-, niacinamide-, and glycerin-infused moisturizer is a highlight of the product, our tester admits that for the cooler months of the year, a slightly thicker feel may be better. Nevertheless, due to how hydrating it is and how well it layers under makeup, she attests that it’s a top-notch non-comedogenic, fragrance-free moisturizer. 

Key Ingredients: La Roche-Posay thermal spring water, Ceramide-3, Niacinamide, and Glycerin | Size: 2.5 oz. | Texture: Smooth and lightweight | Scented: No

Best Plumping

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream

This ultra-lightweight whipped gel moisturizer has a watery consistency that refreshes the skin before sinking in for a dewy, balanced-looking visage. Given it’s deeply-hydrating nature, our tester did find that it’s a bit sticky immediately after application, so it’s definitely best to wait a minute or two before applying SPF or makeup over top. Texture aside, the moisturizer is infused with hyaluronic acid, and polyglutamic acid (which boosts the efficacy of hyaluronic acid), as well as balancing and brightening plum and ice willowherb. While quite gentle, it’s formulated with fragrance but considering the moisturizer has earned over 100,000 Sephora likes, it’s safe to say the scent isn't a deterrent. 

Key Ingredients: Polyglutamic acid, Hyaluronic acid, Plum, and Ice willowherb | Size: 1.7 oz. | Texture: Wet and lightweight | Scented: Yes

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  InStyle / Tamara Staples

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  InStyle / Tamara Staples

Best Brightening

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  4/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  4/5

Hundreds of shoppers tout Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer as the answer to their dull, dry skin woes — and our testers agree. “There was a significant change in my skin's texture after the product sat for 15 minutes — it felt soft to the touch and looked healthier than ever,” one reviewer shares, applauding the shea butter-, borage seed oil-, and ceramide-infused moisturizer. While it quickly absorbs into skin, it does leave a slight film behind. Though it doesn’t pill or feel uncomfortable — it’s just noticeable on the skin. Our tester’s only other complaint is that it slightly stings on contact with sensitive areas. Still, she finds it to be a top pick for daily use.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Borage seed oil, Ceramides, and Omegas 3, 6, and 9 | Size: 1.7 oz. | Texture: Thick and fast-absorbing | Scented: No

Best with SPF

Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Moisturizer

Our Ratings

• Feel

  4.5/5

• Absorption

  4.7/5

• Wear

  4.7/5

• Hydration

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

It should come as no surprise we've included another popular multi-tasking product from Rihanna’s highly successful beauty line. Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen with Niacinamide is a must, whether you’re looking to combine two steps of your skincare routine or simply hoping for optimal hydration plus a little extra UV protection. The reasoning? This SPF-infused moisturizer is smooth to the touch, spreads onto skin like butter, and absorbs quickly and weightlessly for an end result that doesn’t feel tight or tacky. What’s more, one of our testers found it to be quite cooling. “My skin feels super dewy and supple after applying this product,” she marvels. “Even my driest spots both look and feel hydrated.”

Best of all, this moisturizer-meets-SPF truly goes on invisibly. “What I love the most about this Fenty moisturizer is the fact that it incorporates SPF, yet still manages to keep my skin vibrant and glowy instead of leaving a white cast like many SPF products leave,” our tester adds.

Key Ingredients: Kalahari melon, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 9%, and Octisalate 4.5% | Size: 1.7 oz. | Texture: Lightweight and fast-absorbing | Scented: No added fragrance

Best K-Beauty Moisturizer

Then I Met You Renewing Rich Beauty Cream

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  3.5/5

• Value

  4/5

What We Love: It feels luxurious and soothing—and the ingredients are all-natural.

What We Don’t Love: The slightly smoky scent.

If you’re a stan of Korean beauty products —particularly one with dry skin — add this moisturizer to your beauty arsenal ASAP. We found it deeply hydrating in our lab tests with a refreshing cooling sensation. We noticed the biggest difference in the forehead and chin areas, which absolutely drank up this moisturizer. We’d compare this to a cross between a gel and a cream, with a silky smooth finish that felt delightful on our faces. We noticed a slight dewiness to our skin after applying, but nothing too overwhelming, making this one of our top picks for everyday use. And the fact that the ingredients are vegan, cruelty-free, and all-natural? We’re delighted.

If you’re sensitive to scent, this rich moisturizer for dry skin carries a tinge of smoke from the ginseng. During testing, we also noticed that the amount of product seemed a bit low in the packaging, but we’d still deem this a good mid-high price range moisturizer option. 

Key Ingredients: Black ginseng, Panax ginseng root water, Panax ginseng seed pil, Red ginseng, Squalane, Baobab, Hyaluronic acid | Size: 1.69 oz | Texture: Luxurious and silky | Scented: No added fragrance but smells smoky due to ginseng

Best Texture

Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream

Our Ratings

• Feel/Consistency

  5/5

• Absorption

  4/5

• Dryness

  5/5

• Appearance

  5/5

• Value

  3/5

What We Love: The lighter-than-air texture is a dream to apply.

What We Don’t Love: The formula changed in summer 2023, and jury’s still out on the new version.

During our original testing, our tester raved about the whipped texture of this gel-based moisturizer. “I was shocked by how well this moisturizer worked,” she raved. “Without making me feel oily or leaving a residue, my skin felt so dewy and glowy and completely moisturized.” She noted that the moisturizer seemed to fill in fine lines and give her a subtle glow, which made her feel confident she could rock this moisturizer with some light concealer versus a full face of makeup. Consider using it as a makeup primer (especially if you have combination skin). 

Since our lab testing, Youth to the People has reformulated the Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer. While the ingredients are the same, the proportions have been updated to focus more on hydration and strengthening the skin barrier. We’re still testing the new version, and we’ll update here once we’ve reached our verdict. 

Key Ingredients: Kale, Spinach, Green tea, Alfalfa, Vitamins C and E | Size: 2 oz | Texture: Lightweight gel | Scented: No added fragrance

Best for Morning Skincare

EltaMD AM Therapy Face Moisturizer

What We Love: The niacinamide and vitamin C brighten skin tone and protect the skin from free radicals.

What We Don’t Love: The pump was a little difficult to use at first.

We love a one-step skincare routine in the mornings, and if your skin wakes up feeling tight and pulled across your face, we’d highly recommend this Elta moisturizer for dry skin. Not only did it skin’s moisture levels by up to 50 percent, but it also features some key ingredients for your morning skincare routine. Vitamin C and niacinamide team up to brighten and even skin tone and protect your skin from free radicals and environmental damage. It was lightweight and had a slight cooling effect on the skin without being sticky. Plus, it blended into our skin easily without leaving any kind of cast. 

This moisturizer took about five minutes to fully absorb into our skin, which was longer than other moisturizers we tested. We also had a little trouble working the pump at first, but that eventually resolved itself. Knowing the EltaMD has one of the most popular sunscreens around (and one that’s beloved by dermatologists to boot), we were a little bummed that this moisturizer didn’t include SPF as well. 

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, Hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin C | Size: 1.7 oz. | Texture: Lightweight gel | Scented: No added fragrance

Our Testing Process

In pursuit of the best moisturizers for dry skin, we began by rounding up 35 of the most highly-rated products on the market, taking into consideration every price point. Then, the InStyle team of testers put every moisturizer to the test, ranking each on a scale of 1 to 5 in five categories: Consistency, absorption, dryness, appearance, and value. To ensure the most accurate evaluation, our testers used advanced technology to read their skin’s moisture levels before and after application, and each moisturizer was worn for a full day to determine just how effective it is. By the end of the process, the team was able to set aside less stellar formulas to make way for the 10 best moisturizers for dry skin. 

What to Keep in Mind

Key Ingredients

According to board-certified dermatologist and Jergens® Glow Collective member, Angela J. Lamb, M.D., a top-notch moisturizer for dry skin should include deeply-hydrating ingredients, such as emollients like shea butter and/or cocoa butter. “Both keep water from evaporating off of the skin barrier,” she explains. (Buttah Skin CocoShea Revitalizing Cream contains both of these super ingredients.)

Meanwhile, double-board-certified dermatologist Kristy Bailey, M.D., who is the Medical Director and Founder of FCP Dermatology, touts ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol as great ingredients to keep an eye out for. What she recommends avoiding, however, is fragrance and potentially-irritating ingredients like exfoliating acids. 

Size

When you fall in love with a new skincare product, whether it's body lotion or hand cream or something for your face, you want it to last — especially if you’ve invested in it. As such, when shopping for your moisturizer for dry skin, keep in mind how often you plan to use it and how long you want it to last to ensure you buy a large enough product. If you find yourself reaching for moisturizer multiple times a day, opt for a larger product like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.

Scent

Touching on Dr. Bailey’s suggestion, fragrance is something to be highly aware of when shopping for a new moisturizer. While people with sensitive skin are most prone to irritation from fragrance, people with dry skin have a proclivity for their complexions becoming sensitive, so it’s certainly something to be aware of before adding a new product into your routine. Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is a safe option because it’s formulated specially for sensitive skin. 

Your Questions, Answered

Are gel moisturizers good for dry skin?

Gel moisturizers are often thought to be best type of moisturizer for oily skin, as they’re less likely to clog pores or overwhelm already-shiny skin. That said, Dr. Lamb points out that gel moisturizers are fine for dry skin. “That is, if they are formulated correctly, but they are inferior to cream-based moisturizers for the winter,” she admits.

According to Dr. Bailey, dry skin generally fares better with thicker formulas overall. so keep that in mind when you're shopping for moisturizers at the drugstore, for example.

Is oil-free moisturizer better for dry skin?

The opposite, actually! “You want something that contains oils or some sort of fatty acids to provide the appropriate moisture,” Dr. Lamb says. Our best overall winner DHC Olive Virgin Oil Essential Cream is rich in olive oil, and our favorite pick for those with dry skin.

Why Shop With Us

Rebecca Norris has covered beauty for over eight years. For this story, she spoke with a group of 22 testers, as well as board-certified dermatologists Kristy Bailey, M.D. and Angela J. Lamb, M.D. to determine what makes a high-quality, performance-driven formula. With testing insights and expert input in mind, she presents the best moisturizers for dry skin.

What Is InStyle Picks?

Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it's really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle picks are products we love, and we've put them to the test to be sure you will too.

Want more product recommendations? From best-in-class concealer to the black pants you need for work, check out all of our InStyle Picks content.

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