The best moisturisers for dry skin – as reviewed by our beauty team

Reviewed by: Naomi Jamieson, Aleesha Badkar & Sennen Prickett

RRP: £67 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, algae, fermented superfood complex

Naomi: Loved for its luxe texture, comfortable feel and undeniably glowy results, Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream is mega-popular for a reason (several, actually). My skin is stubbornly dry; for years, no matter what I used, the flaky and textured patches around my nose and cheeks remained annoyingly loyal, until the day I added Dewy Cream to my daily rotation. With its luxuriously thick consistency, it glides onto the skin and not only imparts the most glorious dewy finish (as its name promises), but also deeply hydrates my temperamental complexion.

Despite its thickness, a little goes a long way, with its blend of algae, hyaluronic acid and Japanese purple rice instantly soothing, plumping and locking moisture into skin. It leaves mine looking so radiant and fresh – a finish that even shines through my makeup – warding off any tightness, while my dry patches look and feel noticeably reduced. It's seriously like a glass of water for tired and lacklustre skin.

Buy if: Gorgeous texture, leaves skin dewy not greasy
Avoid if: Requires a bigger budget to repurchase

Reviewed by: Jess Beech

RRP: £25.25 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E

In my opinion, the Avène Hydrance AQUA-GEL is a perfect everyday moisturiser with a 3-in-1 caring formula. It's fresh and lightweight, meaning my puffy morning face loves it when I slather this on.

Don’t let the thinness of this formula fool you, however. This is seriously hydrating, with a formula that incorporates thermal spring water and vitamin E to leave skin soft and comfortable. It sinks in nice and quickly, meaning I found I didn’t have to wait long before applying my make-up over the top of it. This also makes it great for dry–combination skin.

Buy if You want something lightweight and quick absorbing
Avoid if: Your skin isn't combination and you need richer nourishment for extremely dry skin

Reviewed by: Jess Beech & Aleesha Badkar

RRP: £8.95 for 30ml | Key ingredients: Sunflower oil, extracts of chamomile, calendula and pansy

Jess: A cult classic skincare buy, Skin Food Light brings immediate comfort to dry skin. Loved by everyone from Victoria Beckham to Rosie Huntington-Whitely (as well as woman&home team members), it’s easy to see how Weleda’s Original Skin Food gained cult status.

If, however, you find that too heavy for use on your face, give the light version a whirl. I found it absorbs faster than its predecessor but still harnesses the same skin-soothing power thanks to calendula and chamomile extracts. I'd recommend using it as your daily moisturiser or as a mask for a quick fix.

Buy if: You want something affordable, fuss-free and effective
Avoid if: You'd prefer the richer original version

Reviewed by: Jess Beech & Aleesha Badkar

RRP: £42 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, rose of winter

Jess: A reformulation of the brand's best-selling vitamin C moisturiser, this one also incorporates shea butter to really nourish skin – something I can attest to.

This indulgently rich cream applies like silk to instantly illuminate and deliver an energising burst of moisture. Gliding on beautifully, this is a treat to use, making my skin look instantly perkier thanks to the illuminating peachy-hue.

But the real attraction here is the vitamin C, working hard to even out skin tone and deliver glow. Proving you don’t have to compromise on other skincare concerns when dryness strikes.

Buy if: You want a silky cream that helps to boost radiance
Avoid if: Your skin isn't particularly dull; you have other concerns alongside dryness

Reviewed by: Fiona McKim

RRP: £10.99 | Key ingredients: 0.5% Symbright®, fermented clary sage, kakadu plum extract, vitamin C

Forget the slightly dull-looking plastic tube of this moisturiser from The Inkey List, because what's inside is solid gold for hydration and skin-tone improvements. Ingredients-wise, we've got good old humectant glycerin, plus antioxidant-packed fermented clary sage, and kakadu plum extract, both of which work to combat pollution and UV-induced dullness. It may be that fermented botanical that lends this moisturiser a slight sharp tang on the nose although, for many, it will be far preferable to artificial perfume. The cream itself is slippery and almost gel-like on the skin, which gives this a modern feel and leaves a light dewiness behind.

Buy if: You're looking for a great value cream
Avoid if: You'd find the sharp smell off-putting

Reviewed by: Fiona McKim

RRP: £58 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Napol cactus fruit extract, glycolic acid, lactic acid, AHAs

Not only is this formula effective for hydrating the skin, with hyaluronic acid in a quenching water base, but it's also a very rigorous exfoliator, thanks to a combination of not one, but two alpha hydroxy acids, plus fruit enzymes. These work together to shift dry old cells from the skin's surface, which immediately and noticeably boost skin texture and glow.

While it has been carefully formulated (it has a sensible balance between moisturisers and acids) we wouldn't recommend using this twice a day. In an ideal world, this would be your every-second-night cream, subbed in with something basic that's all about nourishment.

Buy if: You've got textured skin
Avoid if: You're more sensitive to exfoliants

Reviewed by: Jess Beech

RRP: £75 for 50ml | Key ingredients: 20+ seed oils, hyaluronic acid

Votary’s very first cream is aimed at fragile and sensitive skin. Thankfully finding itself on my desk during a cold spell when I first tested, this has quickly become a dry skin saviour for me.

Texture-wise, it's creamy enough to feel luxe but not so heavy that my makeup slides off with time. Forming a barrier on skin, it shields from both cold or dry air, locking in moisture.

All Votary products are nice and gentle, with a focus on natural ingredients, making them suitable for stressed-out, sensitive and acne prone skin.

Buy if: You want something thick and nourishing but not greasy
Avoid if: You don't have a big budget for repeat buys; it's pricey for the size

Reviewed by: Fiona McKim & Aleesha Badkar

RRP: £28 | Key ingredients: Glacial glycoprotein, olive-derived squalane

Fiona: If your face is mostly well-behaved, but occasionally gets caught up in a spot of congestion, dehydration, or reactive bother, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream would be a truly useful moisturiser to have on standby. It deeply hydrates with its blend of hyaluronic acid, olive-derived squalane, and occlusive polymers, which ticks off any moisturising needs. The best thing about this cream is its unobtrusive nature and ability to gel with just about any other product—skincare or makeup—happily working to hydrate, either alone or after five other steps. It feels glorious, all slippery and glossy, and smells of nothing because it's unfragranced (great news if your skin is having a sensitive moment).

Buy if: You've got unpredictable skin
Avoid if: You prefer a fragranced cream

Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen

RRP: £17 for 52ml | Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid

This is an oldie but a goodie and comes with a drugstore price tag that’s very bank balance friendly. All of CeraVe’s products contain three ceramides to support skin barrier function and are completely fragrance-free. We love the ultra-light texture of this daily lotion; it sinks into the skin easily without feeling heavy or greasy.

It’s also non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores, and contains hyaluronic acid for hydration and niacinamide to calm and improve skin texture. Plus, the formula’s clever technology means that moisture is released into the skin both instantly and throughout the day.

Buy if: You want SPF included in your moisturiser
Avoid if: You'd prefer something from a "higher-end" brand