Best Skincare Products for Dry Skin: A Simple Routine That Works

The best skincare products for dry skin are simple ones: a gentle cleanser, something watery that draws in moisture, a cream that holds it there, and sunscreen in the morning. Five steps, seven picks below, and most of them are drugstore and fragrance-free.

If your face feels tight by lunchtime or flakes under makeup, this routine is for you. It's built on the American Academy of Dermatology's (AAD) dry-skin advice and on what each ingredient actually does.

Quick picks

Why dry skin feels dry

The top layer of your skin works like a brick wall. Skin cells are the bricks, and fats such as ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids are the mortar. A 2017 review of moisturizers explains that when that mortar runs low, water escapes more easily and skin turns dry. That outer layer is what people mean by your skin barrier.

Dry air makes it worse. The AAD says low humidity commonly leads to dry skin, and that in winter, indoor heating can rob skin of moisture.

Good moisturizers use three kinds of ingredients, according to the same review:

• Humectants pull water into the skin's outer layer. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol and urea are humectants.
• Emollients are mostly lipids that fill the gaps between skin cells, so skin feels smoother and softer.
• Occlusives form a water-repelling layer on top that slows water loss. Petrolatum is the classic one. The review says it can cut water loss by more than 98% at concentrations as low as 5%.

Here's the part most routines miss. The review notes that humectants alone can increase water loss, so they usually need an occlusive over them. That's why a hyaluronic acid serum is step two, not the last step.

Skincare routine for dry skin, step by step

Morning: cleanse, serum or toner, moisturizer, sunscreen. Night: cleanse, serum or toner, then a richer cream. Products go on thinnest to thickest, which is the order Cleveland Clinic recommends.

Fewer products is fine. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Sean McGregor warns that "it's easy to overdo it if you're using too many products." If your skin is unhappy, cut back to cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.

Step 1: A gentle cleanser for dry skin

Use lukewarm water and a small amount. The AAD says to use enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but not so much that you see a thick lather. Pat your face dry rather than rubbing it.

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Best for: normal to dry skin that feels tight after washing. Drugstore.

What we love

• CeraVe says it's made for a "gentle yet thorough cleanse that won't leave skin feeling tight or dry."
• It removes makeup as well as dirt and oil, according to the brand, so it can be your only cleanser.
• Free of added fragrance, non-comedogenic, and it carries the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance.

Keep in mind

• It's a lotion-style wash, so it doesn't foam much. That's by design, but it can feel like it isn't "doing" anything at first.

Key ingredients: three ceramides (NP, AP, EOP), hyaluronic acid, glycerin.

How to use: wet your face with lukewarm water, massage it in with gentle circles, rinse well and pat dry.

Check price on Amazon

Step 2: A face serum for dry skin, or a hydrating toner

This is your humectant layer. Choose one, not both. Apply it to slightly damp skin, then follow with moisturizer within a minute or so.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)

Best for: a budget-friendly hydrating serum that works morning and night. Drugstore.

What we love

• The Ordinary says it has five types of hyaluronic acid plus ceramides, and calls it "particularly beneficial for dry skin types."
• It's a light serum that the brand says dries to a non-tacky finish, so it layers under cream without pilling.
• Alcohol-free and oil-free, according to the brand's ingredient highlights.

Keep in mind

• There are two versions with almost the same name. The "with Ceramides" one is the newer formula; check the label.
• On its own it isn't enough for dry skin. Always seal it with moisturizer.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid (five forms), ceramides, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5).

How to use: a few drops after cleansing, morning and evening, before any heavier cream.

Check price on Amazon

LANEIGE Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer

Best for: anyone who wants a hydrating toner for dry skin instead of a serum. Mid-range.

What we love

• It's a milky toner, not a watery one. LANEIGE describes it as delivering "the nourishing benefits of a moisturizer in a lightweight, milky texture."
• Made with White Leaf Tea Water, which the brand says is rich in amino acids, plus a ceramide and peptide complex.
• NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown loves the milky texture and says it "almost feels like water yet it has some weight to it."

Keep in mind

• Brown also warns that "a little goes a long way, so you risk looking greasy when you go overboard."
• LANEIGE says it's not tested to be non-comedogenic, and the brand page doesn't say whether it's fragrance-free. Check the box if that matters to you.

Key ingredients: White Leaf Tea Water, ceramides, peptides.

How to use: pat onto skin after cleansing. Layer two or three times on very dry days.

Check price on Amazon

Step 3: A moisturizer with ceramides

This is the step that does the most work. The AAD says creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions, and that you should apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

Best for: a plain, fragrance-free moisturizer that sits well under sunscreen. Drugstore.

What we love

• Vanicream says it's made with "hyaluronic acid and 5 key ceramides which help to hydrate and retain the skin's moisture."
• It has no botanical extracts or essential oils, and NBC Select lists it as fragrance-free. It carries the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance.
• NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson calls it "one of the very few products that I will always buy again when it runs out."

Keep in mind

• It's a lightweight lotion. On very dry skin in winter, you'll likely want a richer cream at night (step 5).
• NBC Select notes the tube is small.

Key ingredients: squalane, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, five ceramides.

How to use: after your serum or toner, morning and night. The brand says it works under makeup and sunscreen.

Check price on Amazon

Step 4: Sunscreen in the morning

Dry skin still needs daily SPF. The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and at least 1 teaspoon for your face. It goes on after moisturizer, as the last skin care step. Our guide to moisturizer or sunscreen first covers the order in detail.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

Best for: dry skin that wants moisture and SPF in one morning step. Drugstore.

What we love

• Broad spectrum SPF 30, combining zinc oxide with chemical filters, plus ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, according to CeraVe.
• Free of added fragrance.
• Wirecutter has recommended it since 2018 and says it "nicely balances moisture and sun protection."

Keep in mind

• Wirecutter notes a classic sunscreen scent, and it's not water-resistant. For swimming or sweaty days, use a water-resistant sunscreen.
• Use the full teaspoon the AAD recommends, even though it's a moisturizer too.

Key ingredients: homosalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, zinc oxide (actives); ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide.

How to use: apply liberally 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply at least every two hours outdoors.

Check price on Amazon

Step 5: A richer night cream

Night is when you can use the heavy stuff, because nobody minds a little shine on a pillowcase. Look for occlusives such as petrolatum or shea butter near the top of the ingredient list.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Best for: very dry skin, and anyone who wants one tub for face and body. Drugstore.

What we love

• It combines three ceramides and hyaluronic acid with dimethicone and petrolatum. CeraVe calls petrolatum "an occlusive ingredient that helps seal in moisture."
• Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, according to the brand, with the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance.
• NBC Select named it the best overall moisturizer for dry skin. Former associate reporter Bianca Alvarez says it's "very easy to spread, and a little goes a long way."

Keep in mind

• The jar is messy to scoop, as NBC Select points out. A pump version exists.
• It's rich. On oilier areas, use less.

Key ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, petrolatum.

How to use: a pea-to-almond-sized amount on damp skin as your last step at night. The brand says it's fine for face and body, day or night.

Check price on Amazon

Skinfix Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream

Best for: a splurge cream for dry skin that feels luxurious but stays fragrance-free. Splurge.

What we love

• Skinfix describes it as "a buttery rich cream" and says it was developed with dry skin in mind.
• The brand lists a 3% lipid complex (ceramides, sterols and fatty acids), 3% peptides, and an 8% humectant blend of hyaluronic acid, glycerin and red algae. Shea butter is high on the ingredient list.
• Skinfix says it's free of fragrance, essential oils and silicones, and that it's non-comedogenic.

Keep in mind

• It's a splurge, and we found no named independent review of it, so the details here come from the brand.
• The full jar takes refill pods, but the mini and XL sizes don't.

Key ingredients: ceramides, cholesterol, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, rice peptides.

How to use: 1–2 pumps on clean skin after serum, as the last step at night (or in the morning, under sunscreen).

Check price on Amazon

How to choose skincare products for dry skin

Fragrance free moisturizer for dry skin: does it matter?

Yes. The AAD recommends products labeled fragrance-free for dry skin. "Unscented" isn't the same: the AAD says those products can contain chemicals that hide other smells, and these can irritate dry, sensitive skin.

Look for these ingredients

The AAD's list for dry skin includes glycerin, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, petrolatum, shea butter, jojoba oil, lanolin, mineral oil and lactic acid. Ceramides are worth adding to that list. The 2017 moisturizer review counts them among the fats that hold the skin barrier together.

Pick cream over lotion

Creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions, according to the AAD. Lotion is fine in the morning under sunscreen. At night, go richer.

Skip what dries you out

The AAD suggests that people with dry skin stop using products with alcohol, fragrance (including deodorant soaps) or retinoids. If you use a retinoid on purpose, talk to your dermatologist about how to fit it in.

Don't overbuild the routine

Three steps you'll do every day beat eight you'll do twice a week. If something stings, take it out.

Best skincare for dry skin: comparison

Very dry, cracked or itchy skin that doesn't get better is a reason to book a visit. The AAD says that if dryness continues after you've followed its tips, it's time to see a board-certified dermatologist, because an underlying condition may be the cause.

FAQs

What is a good skincare routine for dry skin?

Cleanse gently, apply a hydrating serum or toner, then a ceramide moisturizer, and finish with SPF 30 or higher in the morning. At night, swap the sunscreen for a richer cream. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp, as the AAD suggests.

Do I need a hydrating toner for dry skin?

No, it's optional. Cleveland Clinic's Dr. McGregor notes that some toners can cause dryness. If you like the step, choose a milky, hydrating toner over an astringent one, and use it instead of a serum, not as well as one.

What's the best moisturizer for dry skin in winter?

A cream rather than a lotion, with an occlusive such as petrolatum or shea butter. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is our drugstore pick. The AAD also suggests running a humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep, and cleaning it regularly.

Is a face serum for dry skin worth it?

It helps if you follow it with moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin pull water into the skin, but the 2017 moisturizer review notes that humectants alone can increase water loss. Serum first, cream on top.

How long until dry skin feels better?

If home care is working, the AAD says you tend to see improvement within about two weeks. If you don't, or it gets worse, see a dermatologist.

Gentle cleanser, damp skin, a real cream, and sunscreen every morning: that's most of the work done.