We Tested Over 80 Moisturizers — Our Dry Skin Loved These 10

We think this moisturizer is a great option for everyday wear, because it's noncomedogenic (meaning it's less likely to clog pores) and it doesn’t feel heavy on your skin. According to its makers, it delivers hydration for 48 hours after you put it on. It performed well in testing.

“My skin feels hydrated and healthy after wearing this moisturizer consistently,” says writer and editor Nicole Bonaccorso. “It goes on very lightly and does not feel heavy on the skin.”

After I tested the Uncommon Beauty Face Oil for two weeks, my skin was noticeably softer, plumper, and more hydrated. My skin tone looked more even, too. While this is a lightweight oil, it did leave an oily residue on my skin. So I think it's best for someone with dry skin and better for use before bed; it might feel like a lot on your skin during the day, especially when paired with makeup.

This oil is made from natural ingredients, including sunflower, pomegranate, and grape seed, shea butter, and green tea oils. These ingredients work together to create a face oil that's full of antioxidants and nutrients and provides intense hydration.

This oil is easy to apply. It does have a strong scent, although that's because of the ingredients and not due to a synthetic fragrance.

As someone with aging skin, I was excited to try the Neova SmartSkincare Crème de la Copper to see if it made a difference in my fine lines. I loved this unscented, lightweight whipped moisturizer and continue to use it daily, because I love how my skin looks. I’ve noticed that my skin looks hydrated and bright. Using this product also seems to plump my skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

The cream is made for daytime wear. It's a thicker cream, so I was surprised by how quickly it absorbed into my skin. It didn’t leave a residue behind, and it created a great base for wear under my sunscreen and tinted moisturizer.

If you prefer buying plant-based products made by small businesses with earth-friendly manufacturing practices, we think you’ll love the Leaf People Arnica & Lemon Verbena Serenity Lotion. Each Leaf People product is made from herbal ingredients that are harvested ethically by small farmers, then produced, packaged, and shipped out of Colorado.

Our tester had a great experience with this product. “This is a lightweight lotion with a delicious herbal scent,” says Julie Cunningham, MPH, RDN. “A small area of chronically red, sore skin on my elbow healed after three to four applications. I would purchase it for use on red [or] irritated skin.”

This moisturizing cream counteracts that with three essential ceramides, as well as hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate your skin and strengthen its barrier.

“My skin was softer and less itchy, and no cracking on rough areas,” says our tester, Tori Martinet, RD. “It was spreadable despite being quite thick. I was able to use it over my arms and legs without issue.”

This cream is perfect for daily use on very dry or eczema-prone skin. While it does absorb quickly, some may notice it leaves a bit of residue behind. I tested this cream and appreciated that I could apply it once, and feel my skin was super-hydrated for the rest of the day.

Aveeno’s Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion is our choice for the best budget-friendly body lotion, because it’s affordably priced at just under $10. It's available from most major retailers. It provides great hydration for dry skin, too.

“My skin was noticeably less dry,” says tester Tori Martinet, RD. “I used it on rougher areas like feet and elbows, and they were much softer after a week.”

This body lotion is fragrance-free, making it a great option for sensitive skin. It’s a medium-weight lotion that easily applies and quickly absorbs into your skin, although it may leave a residue if used repeatedly. 

We chose Naturium’s Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion as the best for sensitive skin because it's a vegan lotion that is free of synthetic fragrances, parabens, and gluten. This moisturizer is made with hydrating shea butter, omega fatty acids, and B vitamins. It doesn’t have an added fragrance, and our tester noted that it has a slight shea butter smell.

We love that this lotion is made in the United States and that it is cruelty-free, so Naturium is a personal care company you can feel good about supporting. Editor and writer Katie Tuttle spent two weeks using this body lotion. She says it's thick and creamy, absorbs very quickly, and doesn’t leave a greasy residue.

“My skin does tend to be dry, and I love Naturium’s lotions, especially in the winter,” she says. “Thicker formulas can be hard to spread or greasy-feeling; this absorbs cleanly and leaves my skin feeling soft and glowy, even during harsh Midwestern winters.”

We chose the LXMI Nilotica Melt because it’s a thick, whipped skin cream that offers intense hydration to dry patches and irritated skin. Testing showed it to be quite effective.

“I have super-dry skin, so mine soaked it right up,” says writer Maria Cristina Lalonde. “I liked it as a moisturizer on mornings when my face is particularly dry.”

This cream is a solid balm that melts into your skin. It’s made from cold-pressed Nilotica butter, a moisturizing shea butter ethically sourced from Uganda. The natural ingredients in this balm are packed with fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E.

LXMI suggests using the Nilotica Melt overnight as a mask on eczema patches or irritated skin. During testing, we noticed this thick balm takes a few hours to absorb. Depending on your skin type, it may work better for use before bed. But our tester appreciated the moisture it provided during the day upon morning application, too.

We chose the Quia Collagen Jelly Cream With Niacinamide as the best face cream for a makeup-free day because of how glowing our tester’s skin looked after use.

“My skin felt hydrated, glowy, and plump using this. It feels like a treat to use this on my face,” Bonaccorso says. “I think it works best when not used with foundation or concealer. I think this is kind of on the ‘clean’-skin-care-trend side of things, and it leaves your skin looking nice on its own.”

This gel moisturizer has a slightly sticky texture when you put it on. But it quickly absorbs into your skin, and it's easy to apply. It's noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts if you have acne-prone skin.

Because this moisturizer is free from parabens, silicones, and artificial colors, we think it's a great option for someone with more-sensitive skin. Just be aware that it contains fragrance.