Cooler weather calls for a number of change-ups — heavier coats, heartier meals and most importantly, heavier moisturiser for dry skin. Winter beauty tips come in abundance around this time of year, and one that you’ll always hear us endorsing? Recruiting a rich day cream formulated with hydration heavyweights like glycerin, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to ensure you’re giving your dry skin the best possible chance at a better, glowier life.
Here, we’ve rounded up nine of the best moisturisers for dry skin to help you on your way to healthy, hydrated skin. So take your pick and prepare for the plumpest complexion of your life.
2024’s Top 3 Dry Skin Moisturisers
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Riche Facial Moisturiser, $36.95, Adore Beauty
- Go-To Very Useful Face Cream, $78, Go-To Skin Care
- Natio Daily Defence Face Moisturiser SPF 50+, $21.95, Myer
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Riche Facial Moisturiser
From $36.95 at Adore Beauty
If your skin is not only dry, but also sensitive and easily irritated, opt for La Roche-Posay’s soothing and hydrating day cream. What the moisturiser lacks in fragrance and alcohol, it makes up for in glycerin and protective ceramides.
Want to read more? Read La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Riche Facial Moisturiser reviews here…
Key features:
- Non-irritant formula
- Enriched with hydrating glycerine and ceramides
- Microbiome-balancing prebiotic formula
Available at:
- $36.95 from Adore Beauty
- $36.95 from La Roche-Posay
- $36.95 from Priceline
Go-To Very Useful Face Cream
From $78 at Go-To Skin Care
Lather this day cream on and load up on hydration. The Very Useful Face Cream is exactly that: very, very useful, especially when it comes to dry winter skin. It harnesses the power of ingredients such as vitamin E and amla berry, known to have 30x more antioxidants than oranges, to nourish your complexion and comes in particularly handy when you’re trying to combat and replenish stubborn dry patches.
Key features:
- Antioxidant-rich Coenzyme Q10 formula
- Enriched with brightening Amla Berry Extract
- Buttery feeling texture
Available at:
- $78 from Go-To Skin Care
- $78 from MECCA
Natio Daily Defence Face Moisturiser SPF 50+
From $21.95 at Myer
If you’re looking for a protective moisturiser with SPF that won’t dry your skin out, this is it. The Natio Daily Defence day cream is enriched with aloe and vitamin E to protect your skin against environmental damage whilst hydrating and nourishing. This lightweight SPF-moisturiser hybrid is perfect for those looking to minimise their skin care routines; but if you want a little more coverage without the extra step, you can always opt for a moisturising BB cream.
Want to read more? Read Natio Daily Defence Face Moisturiser SPF50+ reviews here…
Key features:
- Aloe vera and vitamin E rich formula
- Non-greasy feel
- Deeply nourishing and protective design
Available at:
- $21.95 from Myer
- $21.95 from Priceline
- $18.99 (usually $21.95) from Chemist Warehouse
esmi Skin Minerals Nourishing Moisturiser
From $79 at Esmi
The esmi Skin Minerals Nourishing Moisturiser works to enhance the skin’s moisture levels and leave it feeling nourished, soft, and smooth. The key ingredients in this day cream soothe and nourish dry skin in summer or winter, and help to improve barrier protection and moisture retention.
Want to read more? Read esmi Skin Minerals Nourishing Moisturiser Reviews here…
Key features:
- Shea butter rich design
- Infused with 24k gold flakes
- Enriched with skin-boosting bakuchiol
Available at:
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
From $62 at Myer
Clinique’s Moisture Surge gel-cream is a cult favourite for a reason. It delivers an instant moisture boost and provides 100 hours of non-stop hydration, even after cleansing the face. The day cream is formulated with hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water to help your skin create its own internal water source for continuous hydration.
Want to read more? Read more Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator reviews here…
Key features:
- Oil-free moisturiser
- Can also be applied as a hydrating mask
- Works to help maintain moisture levels for 100 hours
Available at:
- $62 from Myer
- $62 from Adore Beauty
- $62 from Clinique
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream
From $72 at Adore Beauty
Plump, firm and brighten dry, ageing skin with this collagen-packed moisturiser. It’s formulated with peptides and niacinamide to sculpt your face and strengthen the skin’s barrier, making dry patches a thing of the past. Glycerin also goes a long way in this day cream to hydrate your compexion and minimise the appearance of fine lines.
Key features:
- Peptide-rich formula
- Colloidal oatmeal helps to soothe skin
- Enriched with skin plumping niacinamide
Available at:
- $72 from Adore Beauty
- $72 from Look Fantastic
- $72 from Sephora
Cetaphil® Optimal Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream
From $29.99 at Adore Beauty
There’s something to be said about old and faithful supermarket skin care products. Namely that they always deliver and never disappoint. In true Cetaphil style, they’ve sacrificed the bells and whistles in place of a formula that does what it says. Offering intense hydration and restored glow in as little as one week, this is the formula to help your dry sensitive skin survive winter unscathed.
Want to know more? Read Cetaphil® Optimal Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream reviews here…
Key features:
- HydroSensitiv™ Complex works to soothe and hydrate
- Vitamin E-rich formula
- Works to defend against the 5 key signs of skin sensitivity
Available at:
- $29.99 from Adore Beauty
- $24.95 (usually $29.99) from Healthy Life
- $29.99 from Priceline
Dermal Therapy Very Dry Face Cream
From $18.99 at Amazon Australia
There’s dry skin, and then there’s ‘don’t touch anything except Dermal Therapy’ dry skin. Enriched with colloidal oatmeal (the ultimate irritation saviour) and hyaluronic acid, this rich moisturiser will deliver visible results in just 24 hours.
Want to know more? Read Dermal Therapy Very Dry Face Cream reviews here…
Key features:
- Ulta-hydrating urea-rich formula
- Enriched with ceramides and hyaluronic acid
- 4-in-1 formula
Available at:
- $18.99 from Amazon Australia
- $16 (usually $19) from Woolworths
- $12.99 (usually $18.99) from Chemist Warehouse
BIODERMA Sensibio Soothing Ultra-Nourishing Defensive Rich Moisturiser
From $32.99 at Adore Beauty
It’s French, it’s pink and it’s got our seal of approval as one of Bioderma’s best products within their extensive range. Using a unique defensive technology, the moisturiser will arm dry skin with the power to defend itself against environmental and lifestyle factors that trigger dehydration and irritation.
Want to read more? Read BIODERMA Sensibio Soothing Ultra-Nourishing Defensive Rich Moisturiser Reviews here…
Key features:
- Defends against external aggressors
- Ultra-rich formula
- Fragrance-free formula
Available at:
- $32.99 from Adore Beauty
- $24.95 (usually $32.99) from Oz Hair and Beauty
- $22.45 (usually $32.99) from Amazon Australia
John Plunkett’s Skin Treatments JP Psor-Asist Cream
From $33.59 at Healthy Life
Suffering from seriously dry, flaky skin but normal moisturisers don’t seem to be nourishing enough? We’ve got the fix! With an active coal-tar solution to help to soothe itchy dry skin, this scaly-skin solving treatment helps to treat the irritating symptoms that come with dry skin and psoriasis.
Want to read more? Read John Plunkett’s Skin Treatments JP Psor-Asist Cream Reviews here…
Key features:
- Coal Tar solution helps to soothe skin
- Precipitated Sulfur and natural fish oil encourage ‘normal’ skin cell turnover
- Salicylic acid sloughs away dead skin
Available at:
- $26.95 (usually $33.59) from Healthy Life
E45 Face Moisturiser
From $14.99 at Chemist Warehouse
This UK-fave moisturiser is ready to show off its hydrating powers. With long-lasting effects (we’re talking 24 hours of hydration), the antioxidant-rich formula is full of skin-boosting ingredients. Hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids work together with a blend of nourishing oils to leave your skin feeling oh-so-hydrated. Oh, and it’s even got dermatological-backing. Yep, major news.
Want to read more? Read E45 Face Moisturiser Reviews here…
Key features:
- Nourishing sweet almond and jojoba oil-rich formula
- Enriched with antioxidants
- Provides 24 hour hydration
Available at:
- $10.39 (usually $14.99) from Chemist Warehouse
What ingredients should you look for in a dry skin moisturiser?
If your skin is perpetually dry and/or dehydrated, trying to find the holy grail moisturiser that actually does what it says on the pack can be tough. So, it’s best to keep your eyes peeled for hard-hitting hydrating ingredients instead. The best for dry skin? Glycerine, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, urea and niacinamide.
Main image credit: @reesewitherspoon
What is your favourite moisturiser for dry skin?
I don’t have a favourite but love the look of these ones -There are so many lovely moisturizers for dry skin these days it is have to choose
I have dry skin. Cetaphil and LRP are great.
I just bought cetaphil cleanser and my dry skin feels literally soft. https://whatsthe-trend.com/cetaphil-skin-cleanser-review-2022/
I have dry skin and moisturizers are a must !
I’m using QV’s daily face cream at the moment. It has a SPF 30 in it. I’m liking it but will probably need to use something with a higher SPF once summer hits.
QV is a good product.
Currently using Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator love it. ❤️
Some really great moisturisers really do like BIODERMA Sensibio Soothing Ultra-Nourishing Defensive Rich Moisturiser sounds really good brand.
QV Nourishing Cream
Love reading these for inspo
Yes I do too !!
I’m only on day three of using DermalMD Lightening Serum and I’m in love and already noticing a difference. My sunspots are already lightening up and my skin feels so smooth. I use it at night after I wash my face. I put two squirts all over my face and I do not experience any burn. When I wake up my skin is so soft and glowing. My daughter noticed a difference and she didn’t even know I was using a new product. I will be using this fir as long as I can get my hands on it. Finally a product that works.
I’ve been using a Cetaphil cream on my hands and I no longer have issues with dryness since using it. Great for your elbows too.
I really like the Cetaphil moisturiser
I love the Clinique moisturiser – even though the gel-cream texture feels really lightweight, it does provide a great moisturising boost to my skin and leaves it feeling smooth and soft.
Weleda is great
My skin has been so dry this winter!
What a lovely sunny smile she has.
I’ve tried the dermal therapy one, it’s really good for an overnight moisturiser
Great Brand !!
I’ve used a couple of these. I need a moisturiser with oil in it.
My skin is drier here where I’m living now – maybe it’s just because there’s been no rain for weeks?!
I have used the Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator and although expensive it was very nice to use.
Some great powerful products here. Would l to try all
I need that La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Riche Facial Moisturiser in my life!
I’m a very happy user of the Dermal Therapy Very Dry Face Cream
There are some “new to me” brands in this list, but they’re all the more expensive ones!
I don’t have a favourite but there are quite a few I really like.
thanks for this great list – there’s some great affordable options to try!
The Cetaphil cream is nice.
Lots of lovely moisturisers to choose from
Aveeno is great for dry skin.
I use the Bioderma active soothing cream and I like the cream hydrates my skin even in this cold weather.
E45 moisturiser great on dry skin.
I haven’t heard of some of these brands before