Moisturisers for Dry Skin

Choose a richer cream or balm over a light gel. Thicker textures hold on to moisture for longer, so skin feels comfortable for more of the day. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are good ingredients to look for. If your skin is dry and sensitive, go for a fragrance-free formula.

Dry skin is a skin type, and it doesn't make enough oil. Dehydrated skin is short of water, and any skin type can be dehydrated. Dry skin feels tight and can look flaky. Dehydrated skin often looks dull, and fine lines show up more. You can have both at once. Have a look at our products for dehydrated skin.

Twice a day is a good rule, once in the morning and once at night. Apply it while your skin is still slightly damp after cleansing, as that helps it hold on to moisture. If your skin feels tight during the day, it's fine to add a little more.

Cold air holds less moisture, and central heating dries the air indoors even more, so your skin loses water faster. Long hot showers make it worse because they strip away natural oils. A richer cream in the colder months and a lukewarm rinse usually help.

You can, but it's rarely practical. Body skin is thicker and needs much more product, so a face cream gets expensive quickly. Body lotions and creams are made for larger areas. Our body creams are a good place to look.

Urea is part of your skin's own natural moisturising factors, and it draws water into the skin. At higher strengths it also loosens rough, flaky skin. Lower strengths suit everyday use. Around 10% is for very dry, rough areas, mostly on the body. Start lower if your skin is sensitive.

Keep it simple. Look for fragrance-free formulas with a short ingredient list, and add one new product at a time so you can see how your skin responds. Patch test first. Our products for sensitive skin are a good starting point.

Not always. Dry skin is very common and usually settles with regular moisturising. Eczema causes red, itchy patches, and it needs medical advice. A moisturiser can help keep skin comfortable, but it isn't a treatment. If your skin is itchy or cracked, or hasn't improved after a couple of weeks, see your pharmacist or GP.