Find Out What Are the Top 10 Best Creams for Dry Skin

You have dry skin, hurray! - says people with combination and oily skin.

But deep down, we know, dry skin is a pain: the stretchy feeling, the cracks, the constant need to moisturize and the first few to get wrinkles and laugh lines. Put those fear aside, we’re here to show you how to revamp your skin and give it the supple, dewy appearance you crave.

There are multiple reasons for dry skin: maybe you’re not drinking enough water, or you might be washing too often, with water too hot and a cleanser that is aggressive to your skin. Or maybe you are exfoliating too much, or moisturizing too little. You might need to change to a thicker moisturizer, or moisturize at the right time, i.e. when your skin is still moist, as the whole idea behind moisturizers is to lock moisture in. Or maybe it’s genetic, and you have a predisposition for dry skin. Dermatologists say that in these cases a cream with ceramides, a moisturizing protein, may prove effective.
 

 Apart from ceramides, there are many other ingredients, that seem to work fantastically well with dry skin, namely hyaluronic acid, urea, lactic acid, aloe vera, glycerin, plant oils (almond, olive, argan, etc.), shea and cocoa butter and B vitamins. But it all comes down to trial and error, so it is up to you to experiment and discover what suits you and your skin.  
 

We’re presenting two options in each category, the first one if you’re on a budget, and the other a bit more high-end if you feel like splurging a bit. You will notice that the active substances are usually different, but both are prepared to leave you radiant and dewy in no time.

Facial skin is particularly exposed to the elements, so give it the TLC it needs, especially in cold weather. Sudden changes in temperature, air-conditioning and heating systems all contribute to making your skin feel thirsty and dull. On a dry face you want to go for a rich creamier texture and reapply as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that moisturizing is just one part of the skincare routine. Don’t skimp on the moisturizing facial soap or lotion, or the toner altogether. Just remember to keep off products with alcohol content as they will leave your skin feeling drier and drier.

This cream is developed with dermatologists, boasting a unique formula with three essential ceramides (1,3,6-II), providing 24-hour hydration and helping restore the protective skin barrier. This cream also contains hyaluronic acid, which help to retain skin’s natural moisture.

This rich face cream uses botanical extracts of organic leaf of life, a succulent plant known for its water retaining properties. It helps super-thirsty skin retain its hydration levels, while at the same time calming and soothing the skin. Very dry skin regains its suppleness, and feels comfortable with this rich cream, that acts as a shield against the dehydrating effects of weather, pollution and stress.  

The skin on your body, though not as exposed as the skin on the face, still feels the impact of changes in temperature and environmental moisture. Treat it gently by using a cleanser with an acidic PH, which is closer to the skin’s PH (usually 5,5), and opt for a gentle moisturizing cleanser for your daily hygiene. Limit your exfoliation to once or twice a week, and favor showers in warm-to-cool water to hot prolonged baths. Once out of the shower, pat dry and apply moisturizer immediately rather than later, thus locking that needed moisture on your skin.    

This moisturizing lotion from Aveeno uses colloidal oatmeal as primary ingredient, renowned for its anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties, and rich emollients, such as urea, that attract and hold water in the top layer of skin. Aveeno claims that this lotion is clinically proven to improve the health of dry skin significantly in two weeks. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturized for 24 hours. It’s also fragrance free, non-greasy and noncomedogenic.

This ultra-rich body cream uses shea butter, extracted from the shea nut and naturally rich in vitamins A,D,E and F and natural emollients, such as lanolin, and boasts fantastic regenerating properties as main active ingredient (25%), that, together with moisturizing extracts of linseed, marshmallow, sweet almond, honey and apricot oil, claims to keep your dry to very dry skin intensely nourished and protected from dryness for up to 72 hours.

Another problem area, and for me personally my worst nightmare, is the heel. It dries, it flakes, it cracks, it bleeds, it’s bad. And let’s face it, pedicures are expensive and time-consuming. Most of the time, that smooth silky feeling vanishes pretty quickly. I’ve tried the “peeling socks”, and, quite frankly, after up to 2 weeks of really gross skin, you get baby feet, only to start the process all over again in 3-4 weeks. So, finding a good foot cream was paramount for me. Added to that some bamboo silk socks to keep moisture in the skin at night (as opposed to the bed sheets), and I’ve seen some significant improvements. 

This is a concentrated foot cream, which means a little goes a long way. It uses allantoin as an emollient to heal, relieve and repair extremely dry and cracked skin on your feet. Apply it to exfoliated skin at bedtime and after bathing. I recommend a larger amount at bedtime, after which you should put on some socks (cotton or bamboo silk) to keep the area hydrating through the night. After bathing, use sparingly as feet get rather slippery. Most people start seeing improvements on their cracked heels within a few days.

This is a 2-step system rather than a simple cream. You get a foot smoothing board to exfoliate the rough skin of your feet and the moisturizing cream with cupuaçu butter, a Brazilian super fruit that boasts incredible moisturizing properties. In this foot moisturizer, cupuaçu butter teams with açai, another Brazilian super fruit renowned for its antioxidant properties, and coconut oil, which promotes conditioning and encourages skin penetration. The formula is non-slippery, so using it in the PM and the AM is quick and easy. 

Eyelids are one of the driest areas of your skin, as they have little or none natural hydration, which over time leads to unwelcome crowfeet. However, they are also one of the most sensitive zones, and require additional care when moisturizing. Avoid using your skin moisturizer on this area as it may lead to allergies and irritation. Find a specific eye cream that caters to your specific needs, and be prepared to try on a few until you find the one you are really pleased with. Eye make-up is also an issue here, as if your eyelids are dry and papery, powder make up, be it eye shadow, or plain concealer, will only increase the feeling of dehydration and the appearance of wrinkles. Go for the liquid kind and add a drop of eye cream if necessary, to improve smoothness.

This is a rejuvenating treatment in a jar, as it brightens, firms, hydrates, lifts and tightens the delicate area around your eyes. This cream uses ingredients like Vitamin C, renowned for its brightening properties, Vitamin E, for its skin repairing characteristics, Rosehip Seed Oil, well-known for its firming and lifting abilities and Hibiscus Flower Extract, as hydrator. This formula is completely natural, with no parabens, artificial colors or fragrances, and USDA Organic Certified.

This rich eye cream boasts a combination of eight peptides, that increase hydration, five forms of Vitamin C that promote brightening, and cucumber extract to refresh, firm and strengthen the delicate skin of the eye area. This innovative formula combined with ceramides, plant oils and soothing active ingredients is designed to fight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as the loss of firmness and elasticity, restoring a youthfully radiant appearance to the area.

The area around the mouth is particularly sensitive and easily dehydrated. Our daily activities, eating, drinking, wiping, kissing, etc., are continuously stripping moisture away from the area. Our mobile mouths are constantly being solicited for talking, smiling, frowning, and these annoyingly tenacious lines keep getting deeper and deeper as time goes by. Applying a specific moisturizer will allow this sensitive area to keep its firmness and softness all day long, and give your lips a chance to shine.

This formula uses retinol and hyaluronic acid and is clinically proven to diminish the appearance of deep wrinkles after 4 weeks of continuous use. Apply to clean, dry skin by gently dabbing around the mouth to encourage the disappearance of those pesky wrinkles, and reveal a smoother, firmer skin. Feel free to apply it to any other problem area.

This is a professional strength concentrate formula to fight wrinkles and fine lines due to its microdroplets with hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract and centella asiatica. You can use it around the mouth for a smoother, softer-looking skin, but also anywhere else that needs bit of TLC. You can apply directly to areas you wish to target, or mix into your regular skin care products to promote all-round benefits.

Today you can find a wide range of products that will help you in your fight against dry skin, it is up to you to experiment and decide which are best suited to you and to your daily routine. Dry, cracked skin can be a thing of the past with a little perseverance and a lot of moisturizer.