According to experts, the best moisturizer for dry skin in 2025

Determining your skin type can be difficult. And it’s even harder when you consider the various factors that cause changes in texture and type – whether it’s environmental factors, including the weather, or the fact that the skin care products you use can change over time. If you have dry skin, it can be more than just a feeling of tightness and dry patches – it can often be a sign of a built-up skin barrier, which is why it’s important to find the best skin care routine for your skin type.

The outer layer of our skin is responsible for a great deal of skin inside and out – environment, lifestyle and harsh skin care products can easily mess it up. The result of dry skin is that it cannot hydrate, soothe and nourish itself.

“Dry skin is caused by a lack of sebum (oil) in the skin, a lack of the skin’s natural moisturizing agents, and a poor barrier.” “This is often associated with dehydration as the skin struggles to retain water.”

Therapist Dr. Sophie Humble explains that beyond the skin barrier, internal and external factors often play an important role. “Dry skin can be the result of environmental factors such as cold weather, low humidity and hot rain or internal factors such as genetics, aging and certain diseases such as eczema or hypothyroidism,” he says. Using harsh cleansers and physical or chemical exfoliants only worsens the condition and dries out and irritates the skin.

Whether your dryness is internal or external, moisturizers are your best friend for reducing discomfort and helping skin repair over time. It can be hard to pick one (not all moisturizers work the way you need them to), so we asked two experts about which ingredients and how to replace them, as well as the best moisturizers for dry skin they recommend.

Meet the experts

• Katie Onezkoh: Beauty and skin educator with 13 years of experience in the beauty industry, teaching through masterclasses, video tutorials, and editorials, and founder of the face community SoloFace.
• Dr. Gail Humble, MD: Doctor and Medical Director of the Antiaging Beauty Institute, has more than 30 published research articles in medical journals on skin care and the aging process.

What skin care products help dry skin?

When it comes to repairing and hydrating dry skin, both experts recommend assessing the skin’s barrier first. Any itching, redness, poor texture or acne breakouts are signs that your acne needs help. “Ceramides are essential for a strong skin barrier, helping to hold skin cells together and promoting water retention,” says Onijekwe.

Cholesterol is also key as a lipid found naturally in the skin barrier, helping to strengthen the barrier and replenish the skin’s natural lipid structure, which is great for dry skin. He also recommends cholesterol, omega fatty acids (found in oils like sunflower and sunflower) and squalene oil, all of which strengthen the lipid barrier and help retain moisture in the skin. Squalane is especially good because it matches the skin’s natural sebum, softening it while being lightweight.

A combination of water-binding moisturizers and lipid emollients is key, Dr. Humble adds. “Look for products that help the skin absorb water, such as those that contain humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Combine them with an emollient like ceramide, shea butter, or squalene to strengthen the barrier and prevent further moisture loss,” she advises. Barriers are the third type of ingredient known to moisturize and create a barrier to lock moisture into the skin.

Dr. Hummel warns about certain ingredients that can worsen dryness. She recommends avoiding alcohol-based products that can strip away too much moisture, fragrances that can cause irritation or sensitivity, and strong exfoliants like AHAs, BHAs, or physical scrubs that can be overused.

What is the best skin care routine for dry skin?

Moisturizer should be at the heart of a dry skin routine and supported by gentle, hydrating steps. “Layering hydration and sealing it in with a barrier and moisturizing cream or oil is the best strategy,” says Onijekwe. She recommends starting with a cream, oil or balm cleanser, followed by a hydrating essence, an antioxidant serum, and then a nourishing cream. Facial oils can also be added underneath moisturizer to boost shine, though Onyejekwe recommends letting it soak in before sunscreen to avoid disrupting this protective layer.

Dr. Humble agrees that gentle brushing and flossing are important. Start with a creamy, non-foaming cleanser, followed by a hydrating toner and a serum containing hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or peptides. Layer on an active ingredient of your choice before applying a rich moisturizer and hydrating sunscreen. At night, use a nourishing cream and/or facial oil twice during the night, once with a hydrating moisturizer, once with a hydrating moisturizer, or hydrating facial moisturizer. A week.”

Caring for dry skin is a common practice, but moisturizers do a lot of the heavy lifting. Read on for the best moisturizers for dry skin, according to experts.

What are the best facial moisturizers for dry skin?

Why you can trust IndyBest USA reviews

IndyBest US is the ultimate destination for product reviews independentAll this is the result of real-world testing. Ava Welsing Kecher is a beauty editor based in Los Angeles. He has decades of experience and knowledge about products that work (and more importantly, don’t). She has consulted and studied with leading skin care experts, including dermatologists, beauty scientists, and estheticians. In turn, she helps people understand the science and makeup of skin—often from her personal experience with skin issues, such as combination dryness and oiliness, sensitivity, and dermatitis.