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6 Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin (and How to Pick the Right One)

Dry skin happens when the skin barrier can't hold onto water the way it should, letting moisture escape faster than it's replaced. The right moisturiser doesn't just sit on top of dry skin, it works on rebuilding that barrier so your skin can hold moisture on its own again.

How to Pick the Right Moisturiser for Your Dry Skin

Before you pick a product, answer three quick questions about your own skin:

How severe is the dryness? If your skin is flaking, itching or prone to eczema-style flares, you need a ceramide-rich balm built for barrier repair, not a light daily cream. If it's more general tightness and dullness, a standard emollient cream will usually do the job.

Is it your face, your body, or both? Facial skin tends to need something lighter that won't feel heavy under makeup or sunscreen, while body dryness, especially on elbows, hands and heels, can handle a thicker, more occlusive formula without any downside.

What's the climate doing to your skin right now? Dry skin in winter or air-conditioned environments usually needs a richer, more occlusive product than the same skin in summer. If a moisturiser that worked fine a few months ago suddenly feels insufficient, the season has probably changed more than your skin has.

Once you know the answer to those three, check the ingredient list for one thing: does it pair a humectant (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) with something occlusive (ceramides, petrolatum, dimethicone)? Humectants alone can actually leave skin drier in low-humidity conditions, since they pull moisture in but don't seal it. The picks below are grouped so you can match your answers above to the right texture.

1. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume 500ml

Best for: very dry, eczema-prone skin

This is the strongest pick on the list for genuinely compromised skin. The Lipigenium complex replaces three essential ceramides and lipids that make up the skin barrier's natural cement, while also working on the skin's microbiome, which plays a bigger role in flare-ups than most people realise. If your dryness comes with itching, tightness or occasional eczema flares, start here. Shop Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume 500ml.

2. Cetaphil Moisturising Cream 550g

Best for: everyday dry to very dry skin

A genuine dermatology staple, and for good reason. It's formulated to restore the moisture barrier within a week of use, combining sweet almond oil with vitamins B3 and E in a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic base. The large format also makes it one of the better value picks if you're moisturising both face and body. Shop Cetaphil Moisturising Cream 550g.

3. Avène Revitalising Nourishing Cream 50ml

Best for: dry and sensitive combination skin

When dryness comes with reactivity, this is the formula built for both at once. Berry extract delivers lipids to rebuild the barrier while Avène's Thermal Spring Water calms irritation, giving you barrier repair and sensitivity support in a single step rather than layering two separate products. Shop Avène Revitalising Nourishing Cream 50ml.

4. Weleda Skin Food 75ml

Best for: very dry, rough patches like elbows and heels

This one's earned its cult-classic status over 90 years for a reason. It's a thick blend of plant oils, lanolin and beeswax built for genuinely rough, dry patches rather than general all-over hydration. It's heavier than the other picks here, which makes it less suited to a daily face routine but a strong option for hands, elbows and heels that need real reinforcement. Shop Weleda Skin Food 75ml.

5. Bioderma Atoderm Creme Ultra 200ml

Best for: daily face and body hydration

This sits a notch lighter than the Intensive Baume but still firmly in emollient-cream territory, making it a practical everyday option rather than a rescue treatment. The Skin Barrier Therapy complex works to replenish lipids gradually with regular use, and it's versatile enough to use on both face and body. Shop Bioderma Atoderm Creme Ultra 200ml.

6. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Gel-Crème 500ml

Best for: dry skin that dislikes heavy creams

Some dry skin still doesn't tolerate rich, occlusive-heavy formulas well, especially in humid climates or on the body in summer. This gel-cream leans on glycerin and niacinamide for a lighter, faster-absorbing hydration that still targets dryness and irritation without the heaviness of a traditional balm. Shop Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Gel-Crème 500ml.

The Bottom Line

The texture that works for your dry skin depends on how compromised your barrier actually is and what climate you're dealing with. If your skin is genuinely flaking, itching or flare-prone, start with a ceramide-rich balm like Bioderma's Intensive Baume. If you just need reliable daily upkeep, Cetaphil's Moisturising Cream or Bioderma's Atoderm Creme Ultra will do the job without overcomplicating your routine. Rough patches on hands, elbows or heels respond well to something heavier and more traditional like Weleda Skin Food. And if richer creams feel too heavy on your skin or in your climate, the lighter gel-cream gives you the same barrier-support ingredients in a format that won't sit on top of your skin all day.

Browse the full moisturisers for dry skin collection at Oz Hair & Beauty to compare more options by texture, brand and budget.