The Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin, According to Glamour Editors

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

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

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.

This is technically a body cream and it is thick, which at first was intimidating to someone with skin that is simultaneously dry, sensitive, and extremely acne prone. But I can personally testify that after years of consistently using this before bed, it has never once made me break out. It does leave me with soft, hydrated, excuse-me-where’d-you-get-that-time-machine skin when I wake up. It’s actually my favorite anti-aging product. Plus, a tub of this will last forever. —Macaela MacKenzie, contributor

I genuinely love a handful of moisturizers, but if I could only use one for the rest of my life, it’d be this. The gel-cream formula instantly sinks into your skin, doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, and smooths out fine lines and uneven texture alike. It’s extremely lightweight, but its hydrating abilities are no joke. The fact that it’s oil-free is just the cherry on top. —L.S.

Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Pink Moisturizer is a great option for those who, like me, prefer a light water-based formula over the more rich-and-creamy products. Plus, the refreshing scent will remind you of warm summer days. You might even catch yourself singing Harry Styles’s “Watermelon Sugar High” as you apply it. —Anna Moeslein, deputy editor

When my acne-prone skin really gets stressed, I turn to this lightweight moisturizer as my night cream, which calms with Aveeno’s signature colloidal oatmeal, among other moisturizing ingredients. (Bonus: It doubles as a prebiotic, which basically acts like food for the microbiome.) I’ve also found it to be the perfect counterpart when I’m using retinol or an exfoliating peel, since it can help ease redness. —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

The first time I used the cream, I was legitimately shocked at how much softer my face felt afterward, a result that lasted the entire day. It took less than a week of daily use for my skin to regain its former bounce and glow. I’ve since brought my skin back to its healthiest state, leaving me free to once again experiment with everything sitting in my to-test pile (it’s for work purposes, don’t judge me). Besides, I know that the next time I inevitably go overboard, DeliKate will be right there to save my skin. —Sarah Y. Wu, contributor

I’m a big fan of Eadem’s vitamin C serum—which is known for its ability to boost collagen production—so I was intrigued when the brand debuted this formula. It’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog my pores, but it still delivers firming and hydrating benefits thanks to its blend of squalane, glycerin, peptides, and ceramides. It contains the greatest hits of moisturizing ingredients, all without stifling my skin. —D.P.

I don't need a ton of bells and whistles in my moisturizers—just anything that'll keep my skin barrier functioning properly. This cream delivers on that, with a blend of the eponymous lipids at an optimal ratio for maintaining moisture: 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids, to be exact. Considering it's packed with emollients, the texture is surprisingly weightless and quick to absorb into skin, which keeps it from feeling stifling on my oily skin. Even better? It doesn't seem to have led to any breakouts. —D.P.

I got to speak to Tata herself about the mission of this product: skin care that could give sensitive skin the same improvements as all the potent stuff on the market but without reactivity. I mostly love the texture and smell, which had me plowing through a full bottle. I tested it in all kinds of climates from spring in California to winter in New York City, and it could hydrate appropriately everywhere I went. —Katie Becker, contributor

For skin that tends to not only get dry but irritated, too, this is my holy grail. I love the thick consistency, which melts seamlessly into my skin, plus it has colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, and shea butter for a soothing and hydrating trifecta. And not only does it get my seal of approval, but it has the National Eczema Association's literal seal on its packing, meaning it's safe for the most sensitive of skin types. – Lisa DeSantis, contributor

This is technically considered a mask, I know, but if you're in the market for a serious moisturizer, Kiehl's doesn't mess around. Made with whopping 10.5% squalane, this overnight formula delivers intense hydration and will leaving you waking up with smooth, moisturized skin. I've been known to use this during the day, too, when I'm in need of a hydration boost. Sayonara, flakes and dryness. – L.D.

For an option with SPF, I love this moisturizing cream that promises 48-hour hydration. It's light enough to wear throughout the day, offering a smooth texture that wears well under makeup. Plus it's loaded with has anti-aging benefits from purified peptides. – L.D.

Pricey? Yes. But, I've been using this moisturizer for years and can say it is so worth it. I fell off of it for a little while and when I went back, it was one of those “Why did I ever stop using it?” moments. As a makeup lover, it's super important that my products go on smooth, and being that this was formulated by makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury, for that very reason, it delivers the perfect amount of hydration every time. – L.D.

If you're a fan of the brand's cult favorite Jet Lag mask, this is the leave-on alternative that's suitable for day and night use without having to be washed off. It delivers a rush of instant hydration and continues to hydrate with use for an undeniable glow that screams “healthy skin.” – L.D.

Although I tend to reach for something rich and nourishing in the winter months, sometimes I crave something that feels less occlusive. Cerave's formula doesn't skimp on the moisturizing benefits thanks to niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, but its lightweight gel texture makes it feel like I'm not wearing anything at all. It's a good option for those with oilier skin types as well. – L.D.