10 Best Skin-Care Products for Dry Skin

While most of us anticipate (and welcome!) the sartorial shift from summer to fall, our complexions are frequently caught off guard by chillier temperatures. Dry skin and dehydration can crop up during any season, but it is most common in fall and winter—which is when you’d ideally reach for the best skin-care products for dry skin. “Skin that flakes, cracks, and feels rough to the touch can all be signs of dry skin,” explains Kseniya Kobets, MD, board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in Westchester, New York. You may also notice cracked lips, dark circles, and even breakouts.

Yes, dry skin craves moisture, but simply slapping on a moisturizer is often not enough to resolve the issue. “During drier months and in drier climates, it’s important to focus on protecting your skin barrier to help hydrate your skin and prevent moisture loss,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Think of your skin barrier as a shield that covers you from your scalp to your feet, preventing water from getting out of the skin and external irritants from getting in. When your skin barrier is strong, skin is better able to stay soft and hydrated.

Vogue’s Guide to the Best Skin-Care Products for Dry Skin:

• Best Face Moisturizer: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore, $155
• Best Ointment: Aquaphor Healing Ointment, $20 $19
• Best Hyaluronic Acid: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Boosting Serum, $125
• Best Cleanser: Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser, $18 $15
• Best Toner: Paula’s Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner, $29 $28
• Best Essence: Ilia The Base Face Milk, $58
• Best Sunscreen: EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40, $41
• Best Korean Formula: Aestura Ato Barrier Cream, $32
• Best Vitamin C: La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum, $45
• Best Mask: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, $32

Perhaps, ironically, many ingredients we use in the name of improving our skin can actually damage the skin barrier. According to Tracy Evans, MD, MPH, board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology in San Francisco, alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and benzoyl peroxide, as well as retinoids, can all lead to dry skin. However, these potent actives can still be a part of your skin-care routine, should you so desire—when used in moderation and sandwiched between nourishing buffers. Here, with the help of our experts, we share the best products for dry skin to keep your complexion soft, even, and glowing, no matter what life throws your way.

In This Article

Best Face Moisturizer: Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore

• Why We Love It: This intensely nourishing pick features a rich, indulgent texture and a blend of ingredients—multiple forms of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids—known to fortify the skin barrier. A little dab goes a long way to leave skin softer and smoother; we especially enjoy using this formula before bed to prevent water loss while we sleep. Read more about the ceramide-rich formula.
• Key Ingredients: Ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids
• Size: 1.6 oz.

Best Ointment: Aquaphor Healing Ointment

• Why We Love It: If you’re a fan of the slugging technique, consider using this drugstore classic to do so. In addition to petrolatum, which acts like a moisture-trapping forcefield on the skin, it contains hydrating glycerin and moisturizing lanolin for a well-rounded and budget-friendly solution to a parched complexion. (It’s also a great multitasker—try it on chapped lips, rough cuticles, and even flyaways.)
• Key Ingredients: Petrolatum, glycerin, lanolin
• Size: 14 oz.

Best Hyaluronic Acid: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Boosting Serum

• Why We Love It: This serum uses multiple forms of hyaluronic acid to help rehydrate skin and plump up fine lines, even promoting the production of your skin’s natural HA for a lasting moisture boost. It’s also formulated with ceramides and niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and leave your complexion looking brighter and smoother.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides
• Size: 1 oz.

Best Cleanser: Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Why We Love It: Both Saedi and Kobets recommend this cleanser for those with dry skin due to its very mild formulation, which won’t leave the skin feeling stripped the way some other face washes can. Rather, it helps replenish moisture with humectants and ceramides as it breaks down grime for skin that’s clean, fresh, and soft (never tight or dehydrated).
• Key Ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid
• Size: 16 oz.

Best Toner: Paula’s Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner

• Why We Love It: This milky toner deeply infuses skin with moisture without weighing it down, smoothing rough texture and revitalizing dull tone for more glowy and even-looking skin. In addition to a blend of lipid-rich plant oils, the hydrating formula boasts antioxidants like ferulic acid and licorice root extract, the latter of which not only defends skin from free radicals, but also helps soothe irritation and redness.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, evening primrose oil
• Size: 4 oz.

Best Essence: Ilia The Base Face Milk

• Why We Love It: For an extra dose of moisture, consider incorporating this essence into your routine, which acts like a hydrating primer before your favorite richer creams: Several forms of hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin while lipids and fatty acids lock in that hydration. We also like using this product as a two-in-one hydrating serum and moisturizer before working out as it leaves our skin feeling soothed without smothering it—perfect for sweatier conditions.
• Key Ingredients: Squalane, argan oil, hyaluronic acid
• Size: 3.4 oz.

Best Sunscreen: EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40

• Why We Love It: Saedi is a big fan of EltaMD’s sunscreen range and particularly likes this product’s moisturizing formula, which melts into skin to leave it hydrated while protecting it from the damaging effects of the sun. “There is also a tinted version that gives just enough coverage during the summer months to help you skip foundation,” she adds.
• Ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Best Korean Formula: Aestura Ato Barrier Cream

• Why We Love It: “If your dry skin comes with redness and irritation, this is a good moisturizer to reach for,” says Saedi. That’s because the Korean brand’s formula works to repair the barrier, thus helping prevent water from escaping your skin and irritating factors from penetrating it. It does so with a blend of lipids, including encapsulated ceramides that help retain moisture for up to 120 hours with just one use. If you use a retinoid in your routine, consider using this formula as the “bread” of a “retinoid sandwich” to create a nourishing buffer between your skin and the potent active.
• Key Ingredients: Ceramides, cholesterol, squalane
• Size: 2.7 oz.

Best Vitamin C: La Roche Posay Vitamin C Serum

• Why We Love It: Vitamin C is famously one of the most powerful tools in the fight against hyperpigmentation and sun damage, but not all formulas can be used comfortably by those with dry skin—the ingredient can be irritating to some complexions. Kobets likes this serum from La Roche-Posay because in addition to 10% vitamin C, it contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, as well as thermal spring water to help restore skin’s microbiome. “I love that it’s easily available at the pharmacy,” she adds. If your dry skin is also sensitive, keep in mind that the formula also features salicylic acid; Kobets recommends slowly incorporating this vitamin C serum into your routine to build up tolerance.
• Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, salicylic acid, neurosensine
• Size: 1 oz.

Best Mask: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

• Why We Love It: This iconic formula floods skin with moisture while you sleep courtesy of a velvety, nonmessy cream packed with nourishing squalane as well as probiotic extracts and niacinamide, which help support the skin barrier and boost luminosity. We also enjoy the delicate, clean-floral scent, but those with skin that is sensitive to added fragrance should consider patch testing before committing to full-face application.
• Key Ingredients: Probiotic extracts, squalane, niacinamide
• Size: 2.3 oz.

What causes dry skin?

Ultimately, dry skin is a sign that your skin barrier needs support. “Changes in the lipid barrier can result in chronically dry skin,” Evans explains. There are many factors that contribute to dry skin, especially as temperatures drop. “For many of us, colder, drier air can remove moisture from the skin, which is why it is more common to have dry skin during the winter, and hot showers and heaters don’t help either,” explains Saedi. External irritants and allergens, such as fragrance and preservatives in skin -care and personal care products, as well as the overuse of exfoliating products, can also leave skin dry, says Kobets. Lastly, your immune system can play a role—the aforementioned dry skin triggers can activate your body’s inflammatory response, which can lead to eczema.

What is the best skin-care routine for dry skin?

You’ll want to infuse your skin with hydration and nourishment throughout every step of your routine. “Stop using harsh soaps that contain stripping detergents and destroy the skin barrier, and instead, start using hydrating cleansers,” says Kobets. Once you’ve washed your face, layer on a hydrating serum, which can help pull water into skin, then slick on a nourishing cream. Our experts recommend immediately applying a moisturizing formula that contains ceramides to help seal in the moisture. “Ceramides strengthen the bonds between the cells in the top layer of the skin, preventing moisture loss,” explains Saedi. You’ll also want to limit your use of products that can be drying, such as resurfacing acids and retinoids.

What do dermatologists recommend for dry skin?

If your skin is flaky and dry, do not take that as a sign to double down on exfoliating. “Resist the urge to scrub away dryness,” Saedi warns. Treating your skin with care will help limit the redness and irritation commonly associated with dry skin, especially during drier months. Evans adds that it’s key to cleanse with warm, but not hot water. Hot water strips your skin of its natural oils, leaving it more susceptible to dryness, especially if you’ve been using a harsh cleanser. You can also keep a face mist in your bag: “When your skin feels light or extra dry, a moisturizing or spring water spray can help give your skin an added boost of moisture throughout the day as needed,” suggests Saedi.

What ingredients treat and prevent dry skin?

There are three main ingredient categories to look for when shopping for products for dry skin. The first is humectants. “These are hydrating ingredients that hold on to and deliver moisture,” explains Kobets, citing hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and glycerin as examples. Then you have emollients like ceramides, squalane, and shea butter, which prevent that moisture from escaping the skin. Lastly, you have occlusives, such as dimethicone and petrolatum. “These ingredients can be added on top to help lock moisture into dry skin, especially for mature skin types,” she adds.

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