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To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories Cleanser For Oily Skin
By Lisa DeSantis , Lindsay Schallon , and Deanna Pai
Every good skincare routine should include a moisturizer. Whether your skin type is dry or oily, keeping your face and body moisturized is key in supporting the skin barrier. Factor in all the different skin concerns and conditions you might have, and choosing the right moisturizer can seem daunting.
In case you haven't figured it out already, not all moisturizers are created equal. However, this is a good thing, because not everyone needs the same benefits from a moisturizer. For those with dry skin, you need something that's going to seal in moisture and prevent irritation. Especially in winter months, when conditions like subzero temperatures and hot radiators can dry you out even further.
Even if you don't have the tell-tale signs of dry skin (think flaky, itchy, and patchy) it doesn't mean you're totally in the clear. “All skin types can be prone to dryness at some point,” explains Melanie Palm, MD, a dermatologist in San Diego. “If you typically have normal or oily skin but experience periods of dryness from time to time, it’s likely due to external conditions like climate changes, washing with hot water, or using certain products or ingredients that cause your skin to dry out.”
If any of this sounds familiar to you, you'll likely benefit from a moisturizer with lots of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin or moisture-retaining lipids. Knowing what your skin needs is a good starting point, but how do you find out which moisturizer is right for you? To help you out, we've created this list of our all-time favorite moisturizers for dry skin.
First, you need to know whether your skin is dry or dehydrated. It’s actually easier to determine than it sounds. Is your face prone to breakouts, and does it usually feel oily (especially in your T-zone) but look dull and tight in certain spots (like your cheeks)? It’s likely your skin is dehydrated, meaning it needs more hydration (water) and is still producing oil.
Meanwhile, if you’re experiencing itchiness or irritation, scaliness, flaking, rough texture, and redness, says Dr. Palm, those are classic signs of dry skin, something people with eczema or psoriasis know well.
This will help you figure out what kind of consistency you’ll need in a face moisturizer. “Even if you don’t typically suffer from dry skin, your regimen might still benefit from just adding a heavier moisturizer during the colder months,” Dr. Palm says. Oily but dehydrated types can stick with a lighter gel-cream or lotion. (And before you ask, yes: Oily skin types still need a moisturizer in their skin-care routine.)
Because you'll likely be experiencing cold temps outside and cranked-up heat inside, chances are that you'll need a moisturizer that's more, well, moisturizing than what you use in the summer. Sometimes adding an oil on top of your moisturizer can help to level it up, but in general, it's smart to swap to a richer consistency that has more hydrating ingredients in it during the winter months.
“Those prone to dry skin might consider switching out their usual skin care products for formulations containing glycerin, ceramides, triglycerides, free fatty acids, squalane, and hyaluronic acid,” she says. “All have hydrating properties to help combat dryness during the winter.” Not all moisturizing ingredients are created equal: Humectants (such glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe) attract and retain water, whereas emollients and occlusives (which include squalane and ceramides) fortify skin’s moisture barrier to prevent water loss—keeping it inside the skin.
If you’re extremely sensitive, avoid potential irritants like alcohol, which can dry out your skin further, and opt for paraben and fragrance-free formulas. Also a good idea: incorporate a formula that contains colloidal oatmeal, says Elyse Love, MD, a dermatologist at Glamderm in New York City. It's known to soothe the skin, which can get especially dry and irritated in the colder months, plus it's a good choice for those with eczema.
If you’re wearing it for daytime, pair your pick with at least SPF 30, which is the minimum sunscreen protection recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. (The sun can exacerbate already-dry skin.) This stands true for winter, too. Even if it seems cloudy and you're not going to be spending time outside, it's still super important to keep your skin protected. And if you're a skier or are participating in any other outdoor activity when there's snow on the ground, your chances of getting sunburned and drying out your skin are multiplied, so a rich moisturizer plus SPF is key, whether they're in the same formulation or you're applying separately.
That’s obviously a lot to consider when you’re standing in an aisle full of face creams, so let us do the heavy lifting for you. We asked Glamour staffers to share which moisturizers they pile in their carts and stock their top shelves with. Consider this our hydration Haul of Fame.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
I just started a new prescription tretinoin for my acne, and while it’s helping eliminate breakouts, it’s also really drying me out. This cream is like a moist hug (sounds gross, but trust me) for my parched skin that instantly hydrates and calms my face. It’s not heavy or greasy and doesn’t sit on top of skin; instead it melts in, leaving me with a cushiony complexion. I really piled it on and was amazed at how quickly it absorbs. It has a clean-smelling scent that I don’t mind and comes in minimalist packaging that looks cute on my nightstand. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor
This intensive moisturizer works wonders for my skin, especially in dry climates. I brought this with me to a weekend getaway in the desert and it's like my skin never even knew I was there. This ceramide formula also works for highly sensitive skin and even those with rosacea. —Andrea Navarro, commerce writer
I have to admit, I wasn't always a night cream girl. I was married to the idea of using face oils overnight for the past few years, because creams always felt a bit too heavy on my skin. However, when this formula landed on my lap, I was sold. While it's rich, it doesn't weigh heavy on the skin as I sleep at night. I have combination skin and it really quenches the drier areas of my face, like my cheeks and nose. I wake up with supple, smoother-looking skin every time. —Andrea Navarro, commerce writer
It takes a lot of people to swear by something for it to top Amazon’s yearly best-seller list, but once you try this rich face cream, you’ll understand why everyone is obsessed. It’s a simple, no-frills moisturizer (no fragrance, no fancy texture) that relies on ceramides and hyaluronic acid to target and banish dryness. In fact, derms highly recommend it for people with skin conditions like eczema (hi, me) because it’s so effective. —Shanna Shipin, contributing editor
I regularly refer to Skin Food—which has been around for almost a century—as the $20 La Mer. It’s a thick miracle cream that deeply hydrates, restores, and protects skin with plant oils and extracts, and sinks right in. I use it after cleanser and serum when my skin feels extra rough or dry, but I also keep a mini tube in my makeup bag and dab it over foundation for a dewy glow that rivals any highlighter I’ve tried. —Perrie Samotin, digital director
Tatcha and I are in one of those on-and-off relationships that I just can’t quit. I’ve been trying to work the Dewy Skin Cream back into my rotation, but the antioxidant- and purple rice-packed formula is heavy on my dry skin and causes irritation to the keratosis pilaris on my jawline when I apply it every single day, morning and night—so I’m only using a smidge once every two days right now. The dewy skin it imparts is what keeps me coming back for more—few moisturizers leave your face feeling so plump and hydrated upon application. —Talia Abbas, senior commerce editor
Everything you’ve heard about Crème de La Mer is true. It smells as extravagant as it feels (it’s lusciously thick), and it deeply hydrates like none other to keep my skin soft and supple all day long. Most other moisturizers that claim to do that wear off after 30 minutes. With La Mer, I can also get by on less makeup because of how amazing it makes my skin look—hydrated, dewy, and fresh. It’s worth every cent. —Jessica Radloff, West Coast editor
This is the best moisturizer out there, period. It’s recommended by nearly every makeup artist on the planet and makes me feel like a very chic French woman. It’s incredibly moisturizing yet never leaves my skin feeling greasy, just hydrated and plumped up. It almost has a smoothing quality to it, so it’s great under makeup and makes an excellent lip balm in a pinch. I panic if I don’t have a tube on hand. —Bella Cacciatore, contributor
This is the best moisturizer out there, period. It’s recommended by nearly every makeup artist on the planet and makes me feel like a very chic French woman. It’s incredibly moisturizing yet never leaves my skin feeling greasy, just hydrated and plumped up. It almost has a smoothing quality to it, so it’s great under makeup and makes an excellent lip balm in a pinch. I panic if I don’t have a tube on hand. —Bella Cacciatore, contributor
I’ve heard about the magic of Augustinus Bader’s The Cream since its debut. It’s celeb-loved and Glamour-approved, so I was excited to try it once I got my hands on it. While I loved the smoothing benefits and instant glow I got from The Cream, I found the formula to be too heavy for my oily skin. When I first tried The Light Cream, I immediately noticed the difference in the two formulas’ textures. Unlike The Cream, which is thick and opaque, The Light Cream is a moisturizer-serum hybrid, with a more liquid-like consistency. Once I applied it to my face, my skin literally drank the product up. I was shocked by how deeply moisturized my skin felt, eliminating dry patches and flakes but leaving no trace of greasiness or excess oil. My skin looked matte and glowing, but still felt plump and hydrated. —A.Y.
I’ve been using the Hydro Boost range since college. It’s the one line in the drugstore that I know will work for my dry, acne-prone skin no matter what, and this new moisturizer is no exception. It’s so lightweight that I don’t worry about it clogging my pores, but it still packs a major punch of hydration because of all the hyaluronic acid in the formula. Despite being a beauty editor, I sometimes skip sunscreen (I know, I know), so I love that this is an easy way get that SPF 50 on my skin every single day. —B.C.
I once read a report that said—shocker—most wrinkle creams don’t work, but in a study, Olay Regenerist worked slightly better than the others tried, even the department store stuff. Since then I’ve been loyal to the red containers, including this Ultra Rich version that’s like nothing I’ve ever tried. It’s a little denser than your standard thick, cold-cream-like formula, thanks to shea butter, and hydrates like a champ. —P.S.
I get extremely severe eczema flare-ups: Flaky, red, patchy, cracked, oozing, and swollen don’t even begin to cover its effects. Half my forehead will suddenly look red and puffy, then wet and weepy at the inevitable slightest scratch. The one thing I swear by when my skin is in need is this soothing cream. It’s thick like buttercream frosting, and the oil-based formula needs to really be massaged in, but its healing abilities have been unparalleled for me. It’s my ride-or-die. —Alexandra Ilyashov, contributor
Drunk Elephant is 100% worth the hype. This moisturizer feels amazing when applied; it’s not gooey or filmy. I have extremely finicky skin, so it’s rare that a moisturizer (no matter how fancy) won’t give me mini whiteheads, but this one leaves only baby-soft skin behind. I love to use this cream in the morning before I apply makeup. My skin feels totally refreshed. —Lauren Brown, senior visuals editor
With combination skin, it takes trial and error to find a moisturizer that doesn’t exacerbate either of the extremes (i.e., greasy to dry). I love the Lipikar Balm from La Roche-Posay because it creates the perfect balance for me. It has no smell, it’s hydrating without being too heavy, and I’ve noticed my skin has been clear and bright—thank you, niacinamide. Add in that it’s $20 for a huge bottle and that you can also use it on your body, and this product really goes the distance. —Alexa De Paulis, contributor
Make Up Remover Balm My friends, family, and colleagues are probably tired of me saying this, but Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin Cream is hands down the best moisturizer for dry skin. I’ve had eczema since I was a baby and have searched for the Goldilocks face moisturizer that isn’t so thick it suffocates my skin but is still strong enough to calm my flare-ups. This nourishing cream, when used with the Ceramidin Toner, is part of my one-two punch for repairing and soothing my flaky skin. —S.S.