These moisturizers help prevent dry, flaky skin year-round. There’s nothing worse than dry, flaky skin—whether it’s from cold winter weather or from using a particularly harsh skin-care product on your face. Luckily, the best moisturizers for dry skin can quickly hydrate even the driest skin.
But first: What exactly causes dry skin? Part of it has to do with your skin type—some people are naturally drier than others, and it’s largely genetic. Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, chlorine in swimming pools, and aging can also contribute to a dry, dull complexion.
“As you age, your skin becomes thinner, so it retains less water,” explains Meghan Feely, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey and New York City and an instructor in clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai. Of course, if you have dry skin, it’s important to use a good moisturizer to hydrate your skin and restore your skin barrier.
But finding the right moisturizer—especially one for your skin type—can be a daunting task. Here are the best dermatologist-recommended moisturizers for dry skin (from drugstore finds to luxurious ones!) for instant
shine.
CeraVe Moisturizer: “Ceramides are emollients that can help repair the skin barrier in conditions like eczema,” says Dr. Feel. They’re the foundation for all CeraVe products, including the popular moisturizer recommended by so many dermatologists we spoke to.
Perfect for all skin types, the gentle, nonirritating formula can be used all over the body and is packed with ingredients to provide intense hydration for even the most dehydrated skin. Bonus: You’ll get 16 ounces of product!
Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Hyaluronic Acid Cream: If your mature skin needs some extra plumping, this ultra-hydrating, lightweight cream from Glow Recipe is perfect for you. It’s packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid
and antioxidant-rich plum to plump and brighten skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
“This moisturizer leaves my skin plumped and refreshed! “I use it every morning and my skin looks amazing all day,” raves one reviewer, noting that it gives “the most beautiful dewy glow.”
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Moisturizing: According to Dr. Harth, simethicone is one of the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin. “It’s a man-made compound that’s known to reduce moisture loss without leaving a greasy feeling or clogging pores,” he says.
First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream contains this ingredient along with hydrating ceramides, soothing colloidal oatmeal, and enriching shea butter. Since it’s fragrance- and alcohol-free, it’s perfect for people with sensitive skin — even those with eczema or extremely itchy skin can use it.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factor + HA Daily Moisturizer: There’s a reason this $10 product won Best Night Cream at the 2020 Health & Beauty Awards. “I love it so much because it’s so affordable,” says Dr. Harth.
“It does a great job of incorporating key ingredients like hyaluronic acid into a cosmetically elegant formula without being too heavy.” I put it on at night after taking my tretinoin. ”
It also contains ceramides and triglycerides to support a healthy moisture barrier. Plus, the tube packaging is travel-friendly and keeps the product sealed and hygienic. (No sprouting fingers tumbling in the glass.) Clarins
Hydra-Intense Cream This high-quality cream from Clarins contains soothing botanicals, shea butter, and dimethicone to help dry skin retain moisture. Illustrator. Testers raved about the silky-soft finish, good hold under makeup, and pleasant wearing comfort. Pros: It’s noncomedogenic and free of sulfates and parabens.
If you like your creams a little thicker (but not too heavy), this rich, luxurious formula is perfect for you. How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin. Beware of irritants: Alcohol can dry out skin, says Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and a member of the Preventive Medicine Review Board. Sulfates, dyes, and fragrances can also be harsh and irritating, causing more trouble than they’re worth. In general, if you experience redness, itching, or other discomfort after using a moisturizer, opt for a simpler product.
Find a Moisturizer: Many ingredients can soothe the skin while hydrating it. It may take some trial and error to find the ones that work best for your skin, but ingredients to look out for are: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, urea, botanicals
oils, aloe vera, shea butter, glycerin, squalane, soy, colloids, oatmeal, and B vitamins. Know Your Skin Type: If your skin is very dry and sensitive (or you have a skin condition), a richer cream or lotion may achieve the desired effect. People with oily or acne-prone skin will benefit from a lighter, gel formula.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
