Cooler weather calls for a number of change-ups — heavier coats, heartier meals and most importantly, heavier moisturiser for dry skin. Winter beauty tips come in abundance around this time of year, and one that you’ll always hear us endorsing? Recruiting a rich day cream formulated with hydration heavyweights like glycerin, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to ensure you’re giving your dry skin the best possible chance at a better, glowier life.
Here, we’ve rounded up nine of the best moisturisers for dry skin to help you on your way to healthy, hydrated skin. So take your pick and prepare for the plumpest complexion of your life.
The best day creams for dry skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Riche Facial Moisturiser
If your skin is not only dry, but also sensitive and easily irritated, opt for La Roche-Posay’s soothing and hydrating day cream. What the moisturiser lacks in fragrance and alcohol, it makes up for in glycerin and protective ceramides.
“The thick, white lotion is quite rich, however feels very soothing on itchy, irritated skin, relieving the itch almost instantly. It didn’t leave any residue once absorbed and is fragrance free.” – PoshBec
Read more La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Riche Facial Moisturiser reviews
$23.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Go-To Very Useful Face Cream
Lather this day cream on and load up on hydration. The Very Useful Face Cream is exactly that: very, very useful, especially when it comes to dry winter skin. It harnesses the power of ingredients such as vitamin E and amla berry, known to have 30x more antioxidants than oranges, to nourish your complexion and comes in particularly handy when you’re trying to combat and replenish stubborn dry patches.
$78 at Go-To Skin Care
Natio Daily Defence Face Moisturiser SPF 50+
If you’re looking for a protective moisturiser with SPF that won’t dry your skin out, this is it. The Natio Daily Defence day cream is enriched with aloe and vitamin E to protect your skin against environmental damage whilst hydrating and nourishing. This lightweight SPF-moisturiser hybrid is perfect for those looking to minimise their skin care routines; but if you want a little more coverage without the extra step, you can always opt for a moisturising BB cream.
“I wear this daily, throughout both summer and winter. It is the perfect anti-ageing product with such a high screen and even though it is SPF 50+, it does not feel thick or heavy like a usual sunscreen.”
Read more Natio Daily Defence Face Moisturiser SPF50+ reviews
$16.99 at Chemist Warehouse
esmi Skin Minerals Nourishing Moisturiser
The esmi Skin Minerals Nourishing Moisturiser works to enhance the skin’s moisture levels and leave it feeling nourished, soft, and smooth. The key ingredients in this day cream soothe and nourish dry skin in summer or winter, and help to improve barrier protection and moisture retention.
Have you tried the esmi Skin Minerals Nourishing Moisturiser? Leave a review and let us know what you thought…
$80 at Sephora
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
Clinique’s Moisture Surge gel-cream is a cult favourite for a reason. It delivers an instant moisture boost and provides 100 hours of non-stop hydration, even after cleansing the face. The day cream is formulated wth hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water to help your skin create its own internal water source for continuous hydration.
“It is super hydrating and for this, I decided to test out the clam of it lasting 100H by skipping the moisturiser for 3 days (I was also quite busy with work and uni so I did skip my usual skin routine on a few days). The immediate effect of using the product is that it instantly hydrates and leaves skin in a good position to put makeup on. The longer term effects are skin is brighter and clear even after a few days without it.” – Bettina44
Read more Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator reviews
$70-$133 at Myer
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream
Plump, firm and brighten dry, ageing skin with this collagen-packed moisturiser. It’s formulated with peptides and niacinamide to sculpt your face and strengthen the skin’s barrier, making dry patches a thing of the past. Glycerin also goes a long way in this day cream to hydrate your compexion and minimise the appearance of fine lines.
$69 at Sephora
Cetaphil® Optimal Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream
There’s something to be said about old and faithful supermarket skin care products. Namely that they always deliver and never disappoint. In true Cetaphil style, they’ve sacrificed the bells and whistles in place of a formula that does what it says. Offering intense hydration and restored glow in as little as one week, this is the formula to help your dry sensitive skin survive winter unscathed.
“The hydration seems to last throughout the day. Like all Cetaphil products, I love that it’s fragrance-free and packed with dry skin loving ingredients.” – Lucy16
Want to know more? Read Cetaphil® Optimal Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream reviews here…
$18.69 at Chemist Warehouse
Dermal Therapy Very Dry Face Cream
There’s dry skin, and then there’s ‘don’t touch anything except Dermal Therapy’ dry skin. Enriched with colloidal oatmeal (the ultimate irritation saviour) and hyaluronic acid, this rich moisturiser will deliver visible results in just 24 hours.
“Its a nice creamy texture and goes on well, only leaving a small amount of grease, which after a while also disappears. Dermal has a good reputation so I was not worried about any bad effects. I would add that people with very dry skin like mine should give it a go.” – Shaper
Want to know more? Read Dermal Therapy Very Dry Face Cream reviews here…
$6.99, Chemist Warehouse
BIODERMA Sensibio Soothing Ultra-Nourishing Defensive Rich Moisturiser
It’s French, it’s pink and it’s got our seal of approval as one of Bioderma’s best products within their extensive range. Using a unique defensive technology, the moisturiser will arm dry skin with the power to defend itself against environmental and lifestyle factors that trigger dehydration and irritation.
Have you tried the BIODERMA Sensibio Soothing Ultra-Nourishing Defensive Rich Moisturiser? Leave us a review and tell us what you think…
$27.49, Chemist Warehouse
John Plunkett’s Skin Treatments JP Psor-Asist Cream
Suffering from seriously dry, flaky skin but normal moisturisers don’t seem to be nourishing enough? We’ve got the fix! With an active coal-tar solution to help to soothe itchy dry skin, this scaly-skin solving treatment helps to treat the irritating symptoms that come with dry skin and psoriasis.
Want to read more? Read John Plunkett’s Skin Treatments JP Psor-Asist Cream Reviews here…
$33.59 at Healthy Life
Main image credit: Getty
What is your favourite moisturiser for dry skin?
I don’t have a favourite but love the look of these ones -There are so many lovely moisturizers for dry skin these days it is have to choose
I have dry skin. Cetaphil and LRP are great.
I just bought cetaphil cleanser and my dry skin feels literally soft. https://whatsthe-trend.com/cetaphil-skin-cleanser-review-2022/
I’m using QV’s daily face cream at the moment. It has a SPF 30 in it. I’m liking it but will probably need to use something with a higher SPF once summer hits.
Currently using Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator love it. ❤️
Some really great moisturisers really do like BIODERMA Sensibio Soothing Ultra-Nourishing Defensive Rich Moisturiser sounds really good brand.
QV Nourishing Cream
Love reading these for inspo
I’m only on day three of using DermalMD Lightening Serum and I’m in love and already noticing a difference. My sunspots are already lightening up and my skin feels so smooth. I use it at night after I wash my face. I put two squirts all over my face and I do not experience any burn. When I wake up my skin is so soft and glowing. My daughter noticed a difference and she didn’t even know I was using a new product. I will be using this fir as long as I can get my hands on it. Finally a product that works.
I’ve been using a Cetaphil cream on my hands and I no longer have issues with dryness since using it. Great for your elbows too.
I really like the Cetaphil moisturiser
I love the Clinique moisturiser – even though the gel-cream texture feels really lightweight, it does provide a great moisturising boost to my skin and leaves it feeling smooth and soft.