The Best Lotion for Dry Skin

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

The crème de la crème of creams

This lotion nourishes and hydrates the skin like no other.

Best Overall

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It seems like everybody loves CeraVe’s daily moisturizing lotion, and for good reason. Formulated with nourishing ceramides that help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier, this awesomely effective lotion provides all-day hydration to improve the look and feel of your skin almost instantly. The formula is perfectly breathable, fast-absorbing, and rich, all without feeling greasy. Plus, this lotion is a great budget pick. What’s not to love?

Pros:

• Smooth, lightweight, breathable formula
• Absorbs fairly quickly without feeling greasy on the skin
• Provides long-lasting hydration
• Contains good-for-you ceramides that are found naturally in the skin
• Recommended by dermatologists
• Excellent value

Cons:

• It doesn’t really smell like anything, so if you want a lotion with a fragrance, this might not be the right product

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Healing hydration

Soothe sensitive, dry skin in an instant with this effective, all-around hydrating lotion.

Best For Sensitive Skin

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Aveeno’s daily moisturizing lotion is a fabulous pick for sensitive skin types. This lotion floods your skin with moisture but doesn’t overpower you with harsh ingredients. So for those of us prone to redness or irritation, it’s a game-changer. It’s also non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog your pores. Plus, this lotion is fragrance-free (another win for sensitive skin) and gentle enough for everyday use.

Pros:

• Nourishing, soothing, natural-based formula
• Great for sensitive skin types
• Leaves your skin visibly softer
• Non-greasy and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores

Cons:

• It would be nice if this lotion came in different sizes

OGX Coconut Lotion

Decadently rich and creamy

You'll feel like a queen when you slather on this luxurious lotion.

Most Luxurious

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While OGX’s coconut lotion is incredibly rich and nourishing, it dries very quickly on the skin, preventing the kind of greasy residue some other lotions leave behind. If you have particularly rough, dry skin, then you’ll simply love this lotion. It’s great to use on your entire body, and it even has a light, lovely floral scent, so you don’t have to wear a fragrance afterward. All that, and this lotion’s formula is blended with naturally moisturizing ingredients like vanilla bean extract and rich coconut oil, not icky, irritating chemicals. You’ve got to love that.

Pros:

• Ultra-hydrating blend
• Very fast-absorbing
• Smells lovely, with notes of coconut and vanilla bean
• Great for your entire body

Cons:

• If you have very oily skin, this lotion might not be for you

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

Premium pampering

This high-quality cream is worth every penny.

Best Splurge

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Has there ever been a more aptly named product than Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream? Short answer: we think not. This fast-acting, cult-favorite cream works to hydrate, soften, and plump the skin, so don’t be surprised if you slather it on at night and wake up to a smoother, brighter complexion in the morning. You can use it as a night cream or even as a moisturizing primer before applying your makeup to give your skin some serious oomph.

Pros:

• Contains a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid, a must-have ingredient for hydration
• Also has vitamin C and vitamin E, so skin looks brighter and more glowing
• Visibly plumps skin and may help diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
• Can be used as a primer
• Cruelty-free
• Has a light floral fragrance

Cons:

• The price point may be inaccessible for some

Weleda Skin Food

An oldie but a goodie

Find out why dry-skinned folks have sworn by this lotion for years.

Best Classic

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A dry skin savior to the max, Weleda’s Skin Food is the secret of many makeup artists and skin pros alike. This luxuriously thick, rich cream absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving behind a glowy, luminous, natural-looking sheen. And speaking of natural, this lotion is made with natural ingredients like sunflower seed oil, pansy, beeswax, and calendula oil. Aside from using this lotion to hydrate your parched skin, you can also use it to help heal minor scrapes and burns, calm frizzy hair, and soothe rashes. Say goodbye to rough, dry, bumpy skin for good.

Pros:

• Gives your skin a lovely, healthy glow
• Formula is infused with rich oils and beeswax, so it’s super-nourishing and hydrating
• A multitasking warrior that soothes rashes, spot-treats cuticles, tamps down frizzy hair, and more
• Great value
• You can use it anywhere on your body

Cons:

• The smell is definitely strong

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients should I look for in a lotion for dry skin?

Dry skin sufferers should look for a lotion containing humectants like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin, all of which help retain moisture. Lactic acid is also great for dry skin because it gently exfoliates, improving the skin’s ability to absorb all the creamy goodness.

My skin is super-sensitive as well as dry. What type of lotion would be best for me?

If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to pick a lotion that doesn’t have a fragrance or contain any unnecessary chemicals. Aloe vera is also a good ingredient to look out for since it has natural cooling properties that can help soothe inflamed skin.