I never needed to think about my skin type until I started going through premature menopause, and then hit the big 4-0. Suddenly, I was experiencing dry skin, and looking for products to combat it. More than two years (and more than 40 moisturisers) into that search, I’ve finally found the best products, and my skin is looking better than ever – plump, smooth, and radiant.

Dry skin has several causes, but essentially, it’s a failure of the skin’s barrier function. Aesthetic doctor Dr Ahmed El Muntasar explains that this failure is caused by environmental and medical issues. External factors could be “the weather, low humidity, using the wrong products or very harsh products on the skin, and over-stripping or exfoliating the skin”. But it can also be caused by “medical conditions – things like psoriasis and thyroid problems, eczema, and simply just ageing.”

No matter how simple or elaborate your skincare routine, everyone needs to be using the right moisturiser for their skin type. A moisturiser for dry skin needs to be both hydrating and occlusive, so it should pull moisture into the skin and then stop it from escaping again.

In my role as a beauty writer, I’m constantly testing new products, so I know the telltale signs of a great moisturiser for dry skin, and for those that are not so effective. Below, I’ve shared the moisturisers that have genuinely impressed me after weeks of tests.

How I tested

I tested all of these creams during bouts of dry skin. I tested each product for at least two weeks and applied it twice a day – once in the morning and again in the evening. I assessed them by the following criteria:

• Formula: Dr El Muntasar advised that a good moisturiser for dry skin should contain “glycerin, urea, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, linoleic acid, and thick sealing ingredients such as shea butter”. I kept this in mind while I assessed the ingredients in each product. I wanted formulas that would rehydrate the skin while preventing further dehydration – this is achieved by repairing and fortifying the skin barrier to retain moisture.
• Application: I noted how easily each moisturiser was applied, and how it sat on, or was absorbed by, my skin.
• Texture: I assessed the consistency of the formulas and whether they were comfortably rich enough to nourish and seal moisture into my skin, but not so thick that they felt clogging or comedogenic.
• Appearance of the skin: Judging how each moisturiser made my skin look was an important, though not so scientific, criterion. I looked for both an immediate improvement and a longer-term improvement in my skin, assessed how plump and dewy it was, and how radiant it appeared. I also assessed how each cream improved how my makeup applied on top of it, as we all know, there’s no greater exposure of dry skin than when you put your base on top of it.
• Feel of the skin: I considered how hydrated and comfortable my skin felt after application and throughout the day and into the evening.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

Laura K Pearson is a beauty expert who has been testing and writing about skincare for more than 20 years. Her expertise covers everything from scientific ingredient deep-dives to shopping guides to the products that will give you the ‘glass skin’ look. She has interviewed countless leading skin experts and doctors on ingredients, formulations, and trends. She has tested dozens of moisturisers, so you can trust her when she says that these are the best for dry skin.