While every step of your skin care routine matters, finding the right moisturizer to keep skin’s hydration levels high is particularly important for people with dry skin. As dry skin produces less sebum compared to normal or oily skin types, it doesn’t retain enough moisture, resulting in a weakened skin barrier that’s more prone to irritation and itchiness. A good face moisturizer can make all the difference by preventing water loss and fortifying the skin barrier to protect skin from external aggressors. The best moisturizers for dry skin are formulated to specifically target skin concerns caused by insufficient oil production including dry patches, flaky skin, facial redness and uneven texture. A skin care routine tailor-made for dry skin should deliver on both hydrating and moisturizing fronts, and choosing the best facial cleansers, serums and moisturizers for dry skin is the key.
Although the terms “hydrating” and “moisturizing” are often used interchangeably, they do not actually share the same meaning. Hydration refers to the water content within skin cells and the absorption of water to skin. Fully hydrated skin has a plump and supple appearance with a natural glow. Moisturizing skin is about preventing transepidermal water loss and sealing in moisture to build the skin’s protective barrier for soft and smooth skin. A good moisturizer for dry skin should provide both hydrating and moisturizing benefits to draw moisture in skin while reinforcing the skin’s natural barrier.
Skin care ingredients that deliver hydrating and moisturizing benefits can be divided into three main categories: humectants, emollients and occlusives. To achieve healthy and hydrated skin, those with dry skin should opt for a facial moisturizer that contains some or all three types of ingredients.
Humectants are hydrating ingredients that attract and bind water molecules. They work by drawing moisture from the environment and deeper layers of skin to the skin surface, like a sponge, thereby holding in moisture and preventing dehydrated skin. Common humectants found in a moisturizer for dry skin include hyaluronic acid, glycerin and urea. There are also humectants derived from natural sources, such as honey and aloe vera. It’s best to apply humectants on damp skin, so that they are more effective at attracting moisture from the surroundings.
Emollients smooth and soften skin while repairing a damaged skin barrier. They fill in gaps and crevices in parched skin to nurse skin back to a healthy state and protect skin from irritants. Thanks to their barrier-building capabilities, emollients help treat eczema and psoriasis, which are common skin issues for people with dry skin. Some emollients to look for in a face moisturizer for dry skin are shea butter, olive oil and colloidal oatmeal. Many fatty acids also exhibit emollient properties, such as stearic acid and linoleic acid.
Occlusives are ingredients that form a protective film over dry skin to seal in moisture and prevent transepidermal water loss. By strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier, occlusives prevent external aggressors from entering skin. Occlusive agents are usually found in oil-based or wax-based face moisturizers. Examples include ceramide, squalane, petrolatum and jojoba oil. Some emollients also have occlusive properties, like shea butter and olive oil. Due to their high oil content, face moisturizers formulated with occlusives are most suitable for people with ultra-dry skin.
Besides ingredients, texture also plays a vital part when it comes to choosing a good face moisturizer for dry skin. Since dry skin doesn’t produce enough oil, the best moisturizer for dry skin is a rich formula infused with lipids to balance skin’s oil-water levels and reinforce the skin barrier. Opt for a rich moisturizer in a thicker consistency such as a moisturizing cream or gel-cream formula, instead of an oil-free moisturizer or lotion that may not supply enough moisture to dry skin. If you have extremely dry skin, reach for an oil-infused facial moisturizer or ointment loaded with occlusives to effectively seal in hydration. Those with dry, acne-prone skin may choose a non-comedogenic moisturizing cream that doesn’t clog pores while supporting the skin’s protective barrier.
When choosing a moisturizer for dry skin, think of your face moisturizer as a shield: it should be able to lock hydrating ingredients in and block external aggressors out at the same time. Below are some of the best moisturizers for dry skin available at YesStyle.
To banish flaky skin and dry patches, use COSRX’s bestselling Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream . The face moisturizer is powered by 3,000ppm of sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid in small molecular size so it penetrates deep into the skin’s dermal layer. With a mix of panthenol, macadamia seed oil and sea buckthorn water, the facial moisturizer provides dry skin with much-needed moisture.
Another cult-fave Korean face moisturizer for dry skin is ETUDE’s Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. It’s packed with a potent blend of moisturizing ingredients, including shea butter, glycerin, sunflower seed oil and madecassoside, to hydrate skin and repair a damaged skin barrier. The moisturizing cream comes in a rich and dense consistency that feels pampering on parched skin to relieve tautness.
Skin loses moisture overnight, so incorporating a night cream into your evening skin care routine is crucial for people with dry skin. For a high-performance night cream that helps retain moisture while you doze off, go for AESTURA’s Ato Barrier 365 Cream amped up with ceramide, allantoin and fatty acids to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and keep skin hydrated throughout the night. Featuring a formula high in lipid content, the hypoallergenic night cream boasts superb moisture retention capabilities.
If you think a facial moisturizer is not necessary for dry skin in summer, think again. Staying under the blazing heat and inside air-conditioned rooms can dehydrate skin, so it’s essential to quench dry skin with a face moisturizer even in hot and humid weather. Torriden’s DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Cream is a lightweight moisturizer suitable for dry skin in summer. The gel-cream moisturizer is formulated with five types of hyaluronic acid to moisturize skin and support healthy skin barrier function.
The frigid air of winter affects dry skin types the most. To avoid an outbreak of itchy and dry patches, reach for a heavy-duty moisturizing cream boosted with moisturizing and barrier-bolstering ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and ceramide, to keep skin’s hydration levels high. Beauty of Joseon’s Dynasty Cream is one of the best moisturizers for dry skin during winter thanks to its nourishing formula containing honey extract, rice bran water and hyaluronic acid. The silky texture forms a hydrating veil over dry skin to fortify the skin's protective barrier.
Dry, sensitive skin types can be challenging to care for, especially when searching for the right facial moisturizer that doesn’t cause skin irritation while still being able to deliver deep hydration to dry skin. Look for a paraben-free and fragrance-free moisturizer enriched with soothing agents to minimize the prospect of a flare-up and calm sensitive skin.
Anua’s Birch 70 Moisture Boosting Cream is a whiz at tamping down irritation and boosting skin’s resilience. Ten types of hyaluronic acid work in tandem with allantoin and betaine to saturate dry skin with moisture. Harnessing the anti-inflammatory and skin-strengthening powers of Vitamin C-rich white birch water, Vitamin E and cucumber extract, the facial cream restores calmness and equilibrium in sensitive skin and acne-prone skin.
Another Korean fave facial moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin, PURITO’s Centella Unscented Recovery Cream features a combo of skin soothers (like 50% cica extract and coconut oil) and hydrators (like shea butter and hyaluronic acid) for calming redness-prone skin and replenishing moisture in dry skin. The vegan face cream has a nourishing texture that leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated upon application.
When dry skin isn’t properly moisturized, skin cells that hold onto moisture become depleted and shriveled, which can exacerbate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Reach for an anti-aging moisturizer formulated with skin-plumping ingredients like adenosine, panthenol and collagen that replenish skin moisture and boost suppleness to fend off signs of aging.
A rich moisturizer designed for dry and mature skin types, MIZON’s Collagen Power Firming Enriched Cream boosts collagen production and moisture levels to produce a supple appearance. Active ingredients like 54% collagen and peptides work in synergy with hyaluronic acid and olive oil to nourish, firm and hydrate skin. The rich, pampering texture instantly charges dry skin with moisture for plump results.
SK-II’s Skinpower Advanced Cream is another face moisturizer suitable for dry, mature skin. Powered by the brand’s patented ingredient Pitera containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, the moisturizing cream promotes cell turnover and evens skin tone for a healthy and rejuvenated look. Other active ingredients like shea butter and stearic acid form a protective film over skin to seal in moisture.
