The best moisturizers for dry skin to stay hydrated in 2025

Key ingredients: Hyaluroset™ complex, squalane, edelweiss extract | Size: 1.7 oz | Fragrance: No | Skin type: All

When it comes to an all-around amazing moisturizer to dry-skin readers, this is it. The Outset, founded by Scarlett Johansson and Kate Foster, centers around gentle hydration, and this lightweight yet long-lasting hydrating moisturizer serves the brand’s mission well. It’s made with The Outset’s proprietary Hyaluroset™ complex, a hyaluronic acid alternative that plumps skin and smooths fine lines, plus olive-sourced squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and antioxidant-rich edelweiss extract. There are other plant-based ingredients, including sunflower, coconut and avocado oils that all have nourishing fatty acids and antioxidant properties, packing a big punch in the skin-benefitting department.

There’s a laundry list of reasons why I love this moisturizer, in addition to the thoughtful ingredients. The texture is perfect — it has that comforting cream feel but sinks in nicely without ever feeling heavy. It is formulated to be as “clean” as possible (vegan, fragrance-free, minimal) and supports the skin barrier while being wearable day (under makeup) or night. I also really love packaging. For one, its minimalist glass bottle feels luxury, but it’s also refillable. However, the big selling point is its pump dispenser. A lot of dry-skin moisturizers (including other faves on this list) tend to either come in a tub or tube, both of which can be messy. The pump is easy to use but also a more hygienic option.

“This is my new favorite moisturizer! I bought the skin care survival kit a few months ago which included the moisturizer,” wrote a happy five-star reviewer on Amazon. “I loved it so much that I bought it again separately. It is so hydrating, does not irritate the skin and is very moisturizing and lasts all day. Highly recommend! Very satisfied!”

Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, dimethicone. | Size: 8 oz (and bigger) | Fragrance: No | Skin type: Normal to dry

If your budget is tight but your dryness is serious, this is the reliable workhorse you want to keep within reach. Developed with dermatologists, this formula doesn’t rely on any gimmicks. It simply does its job, thanks to a combination of ceramides, HA, dimethicone and petrolatum. Between those four ingredients, it restores and maintains the skin barrier, conditions the skin and makes it feel softer, locks in hydration and prevents the dreaded TEWL (transepidermal water loss).

“CeraVe Moisturizing Cream contains effective moisturizers that trap in moisture and prevent evaporation over the skin barrier,” says Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist and director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Practice in New York City. A budget buy like this proves that dry skin doesn’t always need luxury; it just needs consistent barrier support and good ingredients.

On Amazon, CeraVe’s cream has a whopping 137K reviews — and 84% rate the product five stars, including this happy customer: “I’ve tried countless moisturizers over the years, but CeraVe Moisturizing Cream truly stands out. The texture is rich and creamy without feeling greasy, and it absorbs quickly, leaving my skin soft, smooth and hydrated all day. I love that it’s formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which have made a noticeable difference in my skin’s health. It’s works beautifully on both my face and body and never causes irritation. I also appreciate that it’s fragrance-free, making it perfect for anyone with skin sensitivities. My dry patches are gone, my skin feels supple, and I no longer deal with that tight, uncomfortable feeling after cleansing.”

Key ingredients: Petrolatum, sorbitol | Size: 16 oz (varies) | Fragrance: No | Skin type: Dry, irritated, eczema-prone or sensitive

There’s beauty in simplicity, and Vanicream’s iconic moisturizer is proof. It’s been recommended by almost every dermatologist I’ve ever interviewed as a potent hydrator tricky-to-treat skin. Vanicream skips all the usual irritants — like added dyes, lanolin, parabens and fragrance — and even excludes potentially triggering ingredients like botanical extracts or essential oils.

At application, the formula feels thicker than some of the other moisturizers on this list, but it spreads easily and quickly blends absorbs. It’s also non-comedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about clogged pores. Still, your skin gets wrapped up in a comforting cocoon that locks in hydration for hours. 

Compared to other sensitive-skin moisturizers with fancier ingredients and packaging, Vanicream might not seem as glamorous, but when your face feels tight, red or reactive, in my experience, it saves the day.

“Awesome product. Doesn’t clog pores, highly moisturizing. Absorbs easily. Doesn’t pill off under makeup. Mixes well with oils for additional purposes,” wrote one of Vanicream’s five-star fans on Amazon. “I have incredibly sensitive and highly allergic skin, and Vanicream is non-offensive in every way. Love it!”

Key ingredients: Guaiazulene, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and kale leaf, avocado fruit, Japanese mugwort and peony extracts | Size: 1.69 oz | Fragrance: No | Skin type: Extremely dry, sensitive, damaged

A damaged barrier can happen to any of us, despite our best efforts to avoid over-exfoliating or using harsh products in our quest for good skin. The aftermath can look like excessively dry, damaged and irritated skin that requires extra help. Dr. Althea’s 147 Barrier Cream (the dry-skin counterpart to the K-beauty brand’s viral 345 Relief Cream), is beloved for its balanced mixture of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids — a combination that’s backed by science as necessary for barrier repair.

The “1-4-7” translates to the inclusion of one barrier-strengthening ingredient (guaiazulene), four ceramides and seven types of hyaluronic acid. Add in several other ingredients that strongly contribute to moisturizing, barrier repair and soothing, and you’ve got a deeply restorative formula that feels plush but not greasy. Coming out of the tube, it’s thick, but has that easily spreadable and soakable texture. It wears well under makeup and doesn’t feel heavy at all, (even though it’s got heavy-duty ingredients).

Shoppers love this cream for healing their damaged skin. “This barrier cream has completely transformed my skin in less than a week,” states one satisfied Amazon user. “I damaged my skin barrier recently when I had a terrible reaction to benzoyl peroxide. No remedy was working until I tried this barrier cream. Instantly calmed/soothed my skin, visibly calmed redness and soothed my dry/itchy skin. After applying it about three times a day for about five days, my skin is almost completely healed from the reaction. Very lightweight and hydrating. Perfect for sensitive/reactive skin. Will definitely purchase again!”

Key ingredients: Glycerin, aloe vera, shea butter, beeswax, vegetable emollients| Size: 3.38 oz | Fragrance: No | Skin type: All, especially sensitive

Derms, makeup artists and celebs (Lady Gaga, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lily Collins, to name a few) have all sworn by Embyrolisse for decades, and this fragrance-free, sensitive version is a lifesaver for dry or reactive skin. It does everything the original does — hydrates, plumps, comforts and soothes, giving that signature “French pharmacy glow.” I loved the original for its wearability underneath makeup. I was impressed by how I didn’t need to use my primer, provided a dewy, cushiony base and gripped my foundation nicely without pilling or greasiness. (Read my Embryolisse Lait-Crème review here).

This “sensitive” counterpart is fragrance-free, so it does not contain the OG’s floral scent. It also has undergone pediatric testing, making it safe for children and babies, in case you’re a mom who likes to share her skin care. A mix of hydrating glycerin and nourishing shea butter softens skin instantly, while aloe calms any redness or irritation. Ultimately, this is skin care and primer in one — which is fantastic for anyone who wants to declutter or minimize their routine. Your makeup looks better and your skin actually feels better. A win-win!

An Amazon shopper also had a great experience wearing makeup underneath Embryolisse: “My foundation applies so much smoother and looks more natural when I use this as a base. It prevents dry patches and helps makeup last longer.”

Key ingredients: Ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin, prebiotic thermal water, silica, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene | Size: 3.38 oz | Fragrance: No | Skin type: All

There’s no doubt that French skin care icon La Roche-Posay consistently nails the “dermatologist-approved but beauty-editor-worthy” balance. This SPF 30 version of their beloved Toleriane Moisturizer brings hydration and barrier repair to your morning routine without the white cast or stickiness of typical sunscreens. While ceramide-3 and niacinamide strengthen and soothe the skin, the brand’s signature thermal water provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

For dry skin types, the texture is a total win. It’s creamy enough to relieve tightness but light enough to wear comfortably under makeup. I loved the texture and wearability so much that I wore this for a straight week, which is huge considering how loyal I can be to my usual sunscreens. If you want to simplify your morning lineup (because who doesn’t), consider this the ideal multitasker.

Over 27,000 shoppers on Amazon have tried this SPF version, with many deeming it the best of the best. “I’ve tried dozens of morning moisturizers over the years, from basic drugstore lotions to high-end creams. La Roche‑Posay Toleriane Double Repair UV SPF 30 has hands‑down become the BEST morning moisturizer I’ve used,” wrote one five-star review. “If you care about real results, sensitive skin comfort AND solid sun protection, this product delivers on every front.”

Key ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, allantoin | Size: 2 oz. | Fragrance: No | Skin type: Dry, eczema-prone

If you’re one of the millions of eczema sufferers in the U.S., dry skin isn’t the only thing you have to worry about when you’re looking for a good moisturizer. First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream is a cult classic that’s genuinely earned its reputation. It does more than just hydrate — it soothes, repairs and calms the itchy, inflamed texture that eczema or chronic dryness brings.

Colloidal oatmeal provides the anti-itch relief and supports a stronger skin barrier while shea butter and squalane restore suppleness and reinforce the skin’s lipid film. Plus, allantoin, licorice root and feverfew calm and quiet redness. It’s also been recognized with a Seal of Acceptance by both the National Eczema Association and the National Rosacea Society. As its name suggests, you can think of this as your emergency-kit cream when dealing with an eczema breakout or simply when your skin has had enough.

There are over 18,000 shoppers on Amazon who have added this baby to their cart, with many lauding it for being an effective eczema treatment. Wrote one reviewer: “I’ve been using this lotion since 2019 and it’s the one thing that helps my dry/eczema skin. I love it! It’s magic in a tube!”

Key ingredients: Proprietary Bioactive Hydrolipid Fusion™ (skin-identical ceramides and lipids), Hydro-HA 7 (seven multi-weight HA molecules), natural moisture factors, linoleic, linolenic and phyto-cholesterol | Size: 1.76 oz | Fragrance: No | Skin type: All

I’ve seen the future, and it’s Dr. Diamond’s Hydr/o. Seriously, though, this moisturizer is coming from another level, bringing “heavyweight hydration” to dry skin, no matter if it’s been through retinoids, peels, cold air, stress…literally everything. As the first actual moisturizer from the brand co-founded by celebrity facial plastic surgeon Jason Diamond, it blends advanced lipids, peptides and growth-factor-like technology to rebuild and rehydrate from the inside out.

To get really skin care nerdy, this moisturizer was designed to go beyond surface hydration by using a patented Bioactive Hydrolipid Fusion, which is made up of a blend of skin-identical lipids and water that absorbs deeply to restore the skin’s barrier from within. This high-energy process binds oil and water together into a “bioactive” form that helps skin retain moisture more effectively and strengthens its natural protective function. (Think oil and water can’t mix? Think again!)

If you’re into aesthetics, the jar is sleek and stylish, but the texture feels like silk meeting serum — on the skin, it’s perfectly bouncy, instantly smoothing and deeply nourishing. Obviously, at $300, this is a serious investment, but if your dry skin craves performance over price, this “next-gen” moisturizer is the one that earns every penny.