18 Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin
If you’re someone who suffers from dry skin then you know it can be one of the hardest skin problems.
Cold weather and wind can also aggravate dry skin, leaving skin feeling tight, flaky and oh-so-uncomfortable.
But fortunately if you’re predisposed to dry skin you don’t have to just suffer through it these days, with brands like Kiehl’s, E45 Skincare, CeraVe and Avèneoffering incredible products that suit any budget.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of moisturisers available, it’s impossible to test every product out there. To help you find the best moisturiser to combat dry skin, we tested a bunch of well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best moisturiser for your face and body. We also got advice from specialist dermatologist and founder of Southern Dermatology, Dr Ryan De Cruz.
OUR TOP PICKS
In this article
EDITOR’S PICKS: BEST MOISTURISERS FOR DRY SKIN
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, from $62, Kiehl’s
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
I’ve tried a lot of moisturisers, and while I’m not committed to a particular product, I do have a selection of my absolute favourites that I’ll always rotate between – and they sit at both ends of the price spectrum.
This is arguably one of Kiehl’s best selling and most easily recognisable products. When I got the chance to try the Ultra Facial Cream, I jumped at the opportunity to try it given it’s such a cult product.
The lightweight moisturiser is formulated with glacial glycoprotein, an ingredient derived from sea glaciers that works to improve moisture and hydration, squalene which is a lipid that restores your skin’s barrier and glycerin, which is a powerful humectant that draw moisture to the skin.
I’ve been using the Ultra Facial Cream morning and night and I love the way it makes my skin look and feel. My skin is totally hydrated, soft and supple, which is especially helpful during the cooler weather when my skin starts to look a little lack lustre.
The cream feels super lightweight – I’m not a fan of super thick creams – and is great for use morning and night.
Bonus points because the Ultra Facial cream is also free from fragrance and parabens, making it suitable for all skin types.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream, $21.99, Chemist Warehouse
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, Editor
If I was going to be stranded on an island and could only bring one beauty product with me it would be this moisturiser.
I first started using it back in 2018 when I was on acne medication which left me with severely dry skin and this was the only moisturiser that made a difference.
It can be applied all over the body, however, nowadays I prefer to use it just on my face at night, applying a thick layer that leaves me with plump, soft skin when I wake up in the morning.
Want another reason to buy this moisturiser? It also regular gets mentioned as a (much) cheaper dupe for La Mer’s Crème de la Mer, a $535 moisturiser beloved by celebrities like Beyonce and Kim Kardashian.
Like Crème de la Mer, CeraVe’s Moisturising Cream contains glycerin as well as skin-loving ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, $22.95, Chemist Warehouse
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
The multipurpose cream from La Roche-Posay can be used all over the body or to target specific dry patches of skin, as well as roughness and redness.
It contains five per cent panthenol, also known as vitamin B5, shea butter, glycerin, madecassoside and copper-zinc-manganese.
If your skin is really dry or your skin barrier is screaming for some extra attention, this is the best cream to use. I recommend applying it like an overnight hydrating mask as it’s super thick and tends to leave a white cast. But when you wake up in the morning, you’ll notice how healthy, plump and juicy your skin looks.
Elizabeth Arden Original Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, $32, Myer
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, Editor
A cult classic for decades, the original Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream got a bump in notoriety this year after a certain royal wrote about its restorative properties for frostbite in a very delicate area.
And while I can’t attest to its ability to heal frostbite (we’ll have to take you at your word, Hazza) I can say that it works wonders for dry skin all over the body.
At $32 this tube of goodness can be used as a lip balm, an eyebrow gel, a top layer on your face for slugging and as a balm for your heels and elbows, making it great value for money.
The first time I used it on my feet I was concerned that they would leave my soles feeling tacky and sticky.
But to my amazement it absorbed quickly and left me with silky smooth heels.
My personal favourite is using it on my nails and cuticles as I find that applying it before bed really helps extend the life of my manicures (which in this economy is much needed).
While at first it feels similar in texture to balms like Pawpaw Ointment, what sets the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream apart is that it absorbs into your skin for gorgeous, hydrated skin.
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate, $30.07, Fresh Beauty Co.
What You Need To Know
Known as the “24-hour miracle cream” this is a cult French beauty product for good reason. First up, it’s incredibly versatile: You can use it as a moisturiser, make-up remover, primer or even layer it up as an overnight mask.
With an average rating of 4.8 stars from over 20,000 Google Reviews, it has a fair share of devoted fans.
“Where has this been all my life?” one shopper who wrote a five star review asked.
“It does not have a very thick texture but is fairly fluid making it easy to absorb into the skin.
“At the same time, it still manages to be a very rich cream, so even my dry skin feels really moisturised, supple and soft, and I can achieve this result very quickly because it goes on so easily.”
BEST AFFORDABLE MOISTURISER FOR DRY SKIN: UNDER $30
E45 Moisturising Lotion for Dry Skin, $12.49, Chemist Warehouse
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
A “go-to” for those with sensitive skin, the E45 Moisturing Lotion has finally made its way to Australian shelves.
As the temperature drops and the winter chill sets in, I struggle with super dry skin all over my body – my legs and hands especially.
I’ve been trialling the E45 Moisturing Lotion for the last month or so to combat this problem, and I can certainly vouch for its ability to inject your skin with just the right amount of hydration.
It works fantastic on both the face and body, and my favourite thing about this moisturiser is how it feels on my skin. It is so incredibly lightweight and non-greasy, leaving my skin super soft and hydration.
My skin absolutely slurps it up – no need to wait around for it to absorb, you can pop your clothes straight on and go about your day. And who doesn’t love an affordable price point of under $13? Win!
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturizer, $20.99, Amazon Australia
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
As a dry skin girl, keeping my skin moisturised and hydrated is a very important step in my skincare routine, and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturiser is a moisturiser that I truly swear by.
Since it’s a gel, it’s lightweight, feels cool and refreshing, and absorbs very easily into your skin – providing intense hydration minus the sticky and heavy feeling that most moisturisers and creams tend to leave. A little goes a long way with this guy, plus it works great for skin prep before makeup as it leaves my skin super smooth and plump!
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, Shopping Writer
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturizer is a great option for when you’re needing a quick dose of hydration. The gel is super lightweight and I love how it feels on my face after a long day. It’s nothing fancy but for the price, it is honestly such a great buy and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap and cheerful hydrating moisturiser.
Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream, $26.25, iHerb
What You Need To Know
Founded in 1900, Eucerin has over 100 years of work in the skincare industry and plenty of glowing reviews to boot — it has over 51,000 five star ratings on iHerb alone.
Ingredients include Eucerin’s coenzyme Q10, vitamin E and betacarotene, with the moisturiser non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and alcohol-free.
“I can’t tell you how much I love this product. It is rich and thick without being greasy. I have been using it for almost three months now and I can notice a world of difference,” one five star review reads.
BEST PREMIUM MOISTURISERS FOR DRY SKIN
Very Luxe Face Cream, $79, Go-To
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, Editor
Quite frankly I’ll use whatever Zoe Foster Blake tells me to put on my face, so when her brand Go-To released this new heavyweight moisturiser I jumped at the chance to try it out.
It works to deeply nourish and restore dry skin with hero ingredients ceramides, pink algae and vegan collagen.
Zoe said she created Very Luxe Face Cream because she wanted a cream that could help target concerns that she had as a “dry-skinned woman in her forties”.
“I wanted something more nourishing, something deeply hydrating that firmed, softened and visibly plumped up my lines,” she wrote on Instagram.
“It’s a rich, quickly absorbed cream for dry, thirsty skin, mature skin, and because actually skin age matters less than skin condition and type, anyone who loves the velvety feel of a deeply replenishing and sumptuous moisturiser … it has made a visible, compliment-y level difference to my complexion – something I especially notice when I fly/travel/lose sleep. I don’t get those dry skin dips anymore. My skin remains consistent.”
Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser, $70, Sephora
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
Containing eight peptides, eight amino acids, three ceramides, collagen and hyaluronic acids this moisturiser promises to instantly boost skin hydration. I’ve gone through many jars of the Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser because I am utterly obsessed with how it feels on the skin.
It’s super thick and luxe, but doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin. It absorbs almost instantly and works hard to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier.
Plump Fiction Anti-Ageing Moisturiser, $139, Dr Naomi
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, Editor
This moisturiser from leading cosmetic doctor Naomi McCallum does exactly what the name suggests, leaving you with gorgeously firm and hydrated skin.
Plump Fiction is ideal for anyone wanting to combat anti-ageing with peptides, hyaluronic acid and plant epidermal growth factors targeting fine lines and improving skin elasticity.
Evereden Nourishing Baby Face Cream, $58, Sephora
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, Editor
Don’t be fooled by the name — this moisturiser is designed for all ages and is a must if you have dry skin. Formulated by three American dermatologists and mums, the Evereden Nourishing Baby Face Cream will calm skin while leaving it lovely and hydrated afterwards.
I loved using this moisturiser at night as it sat well on top of my other skincare products and I woke up with plump skin in the morning. Ingredients like sunflower seed, grape seed and jojoba oil left my face feeling nourished and calm.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, $68, Sephora
What You Need To Know
If there ever was a brand that fit the expression “TikTok made me buy it”, it would be First Aid Beauty. Ultra Repair Cream is one of their top rated items, with over 8000 five star reviews at Sephora and an average 4.6 star rating from 25,000-plus reviews on Google.
Customers love its skin-loving ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and the fact that it’s fast-absorbing while having a gorgeous “whipped texture”.
TikTok users say the moisturiser, which can be used on the face and body, is a “game changer” and a “life saver”, with one describing it as “the moisturiser that changed my life”.
BEST DRY SKIN MOISTURISERS FOR DAY-TIME
Benefit Smooth Sip Lightweight Smoothing Moisturiser For Pores, $69, Myer
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, Editor
I have the honour of being a bit of a shiny-faced gal during the day, despite suffering with dry skin — cute! I like to use mattifying moisturisers to combat this but I find most of them either don’t give me the hydration I need or tend to pill too much for my liking. But not this bad boy from Benefit’s new skincare line which is designed to help you put your best face forward when it comes to your pores.
Not only does this moisturiser make my skin feel plump and soft but it stops me from getting too shiny as the day goes on.
Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 72H Lipid-Replenishing Hydrator Moisturiser, $70, Myer
What You Need To Know
Clinique’s Moisture Surge range has always been a popular choice for dry skin and this stronger version of the original Moisture Surge moisturiser is great if you need some extra TLC.
The oil-free cream gel contains hyaluronic acid, cica and activated aloe water to leave skin feeling hydrated.
BEST DRY SKIN MOISTURISERS FOR NIGHT-TIME
Weleda Skin Food, $27.95, THE ICONIC
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, Deputy Editor
Whenever my skin is parched – I’m talking desert like conditions – I always reach for my Waleda Skin Food. It’s just a lovely thick and very hydrating cream, which my dry skin will suck up. I use it on my face and body, particularly rough areas like my elbows, and my skin always feels so moisturised and nourished after using it. While this is not my everyday moisturiser as it’s a bit too heavy and thick for that, when my skin is feeling really dry and dehydrated (so basically the whole of winter), this is my go-to. It’s important to mention that the cream is scented, which I’d described as a herbal fragrance. It’s not too overpowering but if you prefer unscented moisturisers, this may not be for you.
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, Shopping Writer
Weleda Skin Food is my saving grace for my dry skin. My friend recommended it to me when I first started using acne medication and I could not love it more. It is super rich and makes my skin feel super protected when I put it on at night. Fair warning, it is very thick. When I first popped it on, I was honestly shook. I had never used anything as thick as it before and it was honestly a bit off-putting. But you quickly get used to it and now I don’t know how I could live without it.
Hada Labo Absolute Smoothing & Moisturising Cream, $35.95, Adore Beauty
Tried and Tested by Susannah Hardy, Parenting Shopping Writer
I have very dry skin and usually opt for rich, thicker moisturisers, so when I had the opportunity to try Hada Labo’s moisturising cream, with its lightweight consistency, I wasn’t sure if it would do me much good. I was completely wrong.
It’s soft, waterlike texture, more like a gel, goes on easily and is absorbed quickly. I only needed the smallest amount, day and night – and over the last couple of weeks, my skin has felt more plump and hydrated.
Definitely keen to try other products in the Hada Labo range, especially at this price point.
Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Renewal Firming Cream, $72.99, Chemist Warehouse
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
As someone with sensitive and dry skin, I’m very hesitant to try out new moisturisers (cue war flashbacks to my irritated skin days) but this guy truly left my skin looking and feeling healthy, moisturised and plump
Even though it’s technically a ‘morning’ moisturiser, I typically use it at night before bed since there’s no SPF in it and I would wake up with super smooth and soft skin.
WHAT CAUSES DRY SKIN?
“Skin dryness results from evaporation of water through the skin barrier, in what is known as ‘trans-epidermal water loss’,” specialist dermatologist and founder of Southern Dermatology Dr Ryan De Cruz says.
“This occurs when the outermost layer of the skin is excessively leaky, primarily due to reduced skin barrier proteins and lipids known as ceramides.
“When deficient in ceramides and other lipid particles, our skin cells separate out and water molecules evaporate into the air.
“This constant leakage of water causes dehydration which presents as dull, flaky, irritable skin.”
HOW SHOULD YOU APPLY MOISTURISER?
“Moisturiser is best applied with clean hands to skin that is slightly damp, e.g. after a shower or a bath,” Dr De Cruz advises.
“It should be applied generously and regularly to help rehydrate the skin and trap in water molecules.”
Moisturiser should be applied to the skin after cleansing and on top of any active serums, he said.
“It is the perfect ‘final layer’ of a morning skin care routine, as it soothes the skin, and traps in the active ingredients one is trying to infuse into the skin,” Dr De Cruz said.
Unlike actives such as retinol, you also shouldn’t be concerned about using too much moisturiser and causing a negative reaction.
“There is no such thing as ‘over-moisturising’ – in fact most people do not apply enough moisturiser, and certainly not frequently enough,” Dr De Cruz.
WHAT TYPE OF INGREDIENTS SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A DRY SKIN MOISTURISER?
According to Dr De Cruz, less is best when it comes to ingredients as “in simple terms – the shorter the ingredient list, the better”.
“The ingredients with the greatest amount of clinical research include ceramides, shea butter and niacinamide (vitamin B3) which combine perfectly to rehydrate dry skin, and soothe skin irritation,” Dr De Cruz said.
“I recommend avoiding moisturisers with multiple different fragrances, as these may cause skin allergy and irritate the skin.
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“Similarly, moisturisers that are full of preservatives and unnecessary ‘filler’ ingredients with no evidence to support their use, should be avoided.”
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Originally published as Best moisturisers for dry skin
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