Looking for the Best Moisturiser for Dry Skin? Here are Our Top 11


Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin_Aspect Phytostat 9_1080x900 Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin_Aspect Phytostat 9_1080x900

Whether your skin remains on the dry side all year round, or the cold of winter gets the better of you, having one of the best face moisturisers for dry skin in your arsenal will help.

Though not a medical condition, dry skin can often leave your complexion looking redder than you’d like. To saturate your face with hydration, pick out one of the best moisturisers for dry skin in Australia.

Not sure what formula will keep your own face feeling soft? Keep scrolling to discover the best hydrating moisturisers for dry skin or try our moisturiser quiz and find the perfect moisturiser for your needs...



What Are the Best Ingredients for Dry Skin?

Before getting into the best face moisturiser for dry skin and which day cream is best for dry skin, it's good to know what the best ingredients for dry skin are.

Hyaluronic Acid (an essential for everyone), Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), Shea Butter, Glycerine, and Green Tea Extract sink into dry skin and leave you feeling fresh and hydrated. Now let's get into what your really came here for...


The Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin in Australia

A gorgeous, milky cream that slathers on to soothe all skin types, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser is a gorgeous moisturiser for dry skin. Loved and adored by makeup artists and skincare experts for decades, this product is considered a secret weapon by most. Completely cruelty-free, nourishing, and hydrating, this moisturising elixir is one that dry skin drinks up fast—and it’s finally available in Australia! If you’re looking for the best face lotion for dry sensitive skin, it’s time to give the stuff in this unassuming white tube a try. A versatile formula that hydrates dry skin and helps restore its glow, this product also works as a primer, a mask, and a makeup remover.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser is paraben-free and not tested on animals. The formula includes:

  • Shea Butter, which leaves the skin feeling soft and supple.

  • Beeswax forms a shield over the skin to protect it from environmental aggressors. Beeswax can also help restore the look of skin that’s irritated, with its high Vitamin A content.

  • Mineral Oil prevents moisture loss.

  • And Soy Protein helps give your complexion a more even tone.

Apply a pea-sized amount anytime and watch it sink into your skin easily.


Working to lift the look of your skin, Skinstitut Moisture Defence For Ultra Dry Skin helps reshape the look of a sagging jawline. Providing antioxidant protection and soothing itchy skin, this blend offers anti-inflammatory relief. Designed to replenish the skin’s natural lipids, this is one of the best face cream for extremely dry skin. Made with the anti-ageing peptide Progeline, this cream promotes firmer skin and helps combat the signs of ageing in more mature skin. An intensely hydrating, best face cream for extremely dry skin, apply a small amount in the morning or slather it on at night for intense replenishment.

If you’re on the hunt for the best hydrating face moisturiser for dry skin, look at what Skinstitut Moisture Defence - Ultra Dry has to offer.

  • A spin-off of the brand’s bestselling Skinstitut Moisture Defence - Normal Skin, the ultra-dry version is a great option for irritated, mature, and very dry skin.

  • This lightweight formula helps repair your tender skin barrier yet won’t clog your pores.

  • Also working to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this formula hydrates the skin and leaves it looking and feeling fresher.

  • Biomimetic Peptides make this a great thick face cream very dry skin option.

  • Shea Butter is a fatty acid that helps soothe and plump skin that’s looking flaky, dry, and depleted.


With a gorgeous aroma, Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream is one of the best day cream for dry sensitive skin. An intensely rich formula made with essential oils to help restore a supple complexion, you’ll love the way this cream feels on your skin. Ageing skin can quickly look tired and dehydrated if you don’t tend to it properly. Designed to restore harmony to skin that’s unbalanced, this moisturiser helps bring your skin back to its former glowing glory. One of the best hydrating face moisturiser for dry skin, dullness, and irritated patches, the rich, emollient formula benefits so many users. Alpha-H is known for its high-performing solutions, and this cream is no different. Made with potent actives and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids, this cream works well on sensitive and reactive skin types.

Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream is a kind and gentle formula that works hard on your tender, dry skin.

Crafted to leave your complexion feeling soothed and supple, this is a great face cream for extra dry skin.

  • The Rose Geranium in the blend has an antifungal effect, which helps your skin look healthier than ever.

  • Linoleic Acid and Evening Primrose Oil offer the skin intense hydration.

  • The unique blend of ingredients also promotes healthy collagen production and helps protect the skin from pesky free radicals.


Craving comfortable, nourished skin? Give this hydrating cream a try.
Craving comfortable, nourished skin? Give this hydrating cream a try.

One of the best moisturising cream for extremely dry skin, this nifty Green Tea Seed-infused moisturiser leaves dehydrated skin looking plump and fresh. Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream deeply nourishes dry patches with pesticide-free ingredients. If you’re struggling with annoying flaky patches, a moisturiser for very dry skin face issues will boost your confidence. Like an all-day water bank for skin that needs a big old drink, this cream comforts even very (very!) dry skin. The unique Dual Moisture-Rising Technology delivers moisture to the deep layers of your skin for a huge hit of hydration.

Great for day and night use, innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream replenishes depleted-looking skin.

  • Ideal for all skin types (but especially dry skin), this face cream benefits even those with tender patches.

  • An effective face cream for extra dry skin, this formula contains minerals and amino acids sourced directly from the pesticide-free island of Jeju.

  • The Green Tea Extracts in the mix are high in Vitamin C, Amino Acids, and Catechin Compounds, which help brighten and clarify dull, dry skin.

  • A great moisturiser for very dry skin face issues, this formula leaves your skin comfortably smooth.


It’s crazy how far skincare has come in the past few decades. A 4-in-1 intense treatment, Aspect Phytostat 9 actually adjusts to the specific needs of your skin. Cruelty-free and artificial fragrance-free, this is one of the best moisturising cream for extremely dry skin. Working to restore vital hydration levels, this super-creamy cream helps fight the more annoying signs of ageing. Perfect for use on your face and neck, this formula is also safe for your delicate eye contour. A must-have for dehydrated and tired-looking skin, this intensely nourishing formula helps fight pigmentation, fine lines, frustrating wrinkles, and telling age spots.

Aspect Phytostat 9 contains the highest-quality certified organic ingredients: free from pesticides, parabens, perfumes, and dyes.

  • A great face cream for extra dry skin, the formula contains an impressive cocktail of hydrators, including Sweet Almond Oil, Sunflower Oil, Macadamia Oil, and Shea Butter.

  • Each carefully chosen ingredient delivers a surge of hydration to comfort and soften dry patches.

  • Picking up this versatile anti-ageing blend will keep your skincare routine pretty fuss-free.

  • The rich, emollient formula feels luxurious and is suitable for use as a day and night cream.


If you’re sick of your man pinching dollops of your moisturiser, you might wanna pick up a tube of Weleda Moisture Cream For Men. One of the best face creams for dry skin Australia, this nourishing but lightweight blend absorbs quickly into the skin. Men’s skin can be a little tougher than women’s (and shaving can irritate it), but many guys don’t realise they need a moisturiser with more oomph. Perfect for all ages, it sinks in quickly without leaving an uncomfortable residue. Struggling with blemishes? The lightweight texture won’t clog pores.

Suitable for use in the a.m. and p.m., Weleda Moisture Cream For Men leaves the skin with a light, fresh scent and won’t irritate sensitive patches.

  • Made with Jojoba Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, and Marshmallow Extract, this nourishing men’s moisturiser protects, soothes, and hydrates skin that’s looking a little lacklustre.

  • Not sure this is the best moisturising cream for dry skin? Apply it twice daily (after shaving when applicable), and you’ll notice pretty much straightaway how much softer the skin feels.

  • One of the best moisturisers for men, this formula from Weleda makes even rough, dry skin feel smooth and soft again.


A much-loved and highly rated formula, Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator helps even very dry skin look dewy and soft. Perfect for all ages, this lightweight face cream works nonstop once it’s been applied. Pumping your complexion with hydrating factors, the refreshing cream-gel won’t clog your skin or cause you to break out. Struggling with extra-dry skin? Apply a thick layer of this cream over your face and let it sink in for 5 minutes. If you’re craving even MORE hydration, apply this lightweight formula over another moisturiser to deepen the effect. You can even apply this handy cream to rough elbows, dry cuticles, and the ends of your hair!

Clinique Moisture Surge 100 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is one of our top-selling moisturisers and staff favourite.

  • Designed to leave the skin more hydrated at the end of the day than it was at the start, this formula works to plump dry skin and help it beam with health.

  • This fragrance-free, oil-free formula works for up to 72 hours, so your skin looks dewy for longer.

  • Unique Auto-Replenishing Technology uses Caffeine to boost the skin’s natural water reserves.

  • Aloe Water, Hyaluronic Acid, and Humectants attract and lock moisture into the skin.


One of the best face moisturiser for very dry sensitive skin, Medik8 Advanced Night Restore offers intense hydration. This sumptuous night cream restores and protects dry, tired-looking skin. Cruelty-free and made with cosmeceuticals, this nourishing blend has a gentle, botanical aroma that you’ll love to breathe in deeply. This treatment complements any Retinol products you may use and helps you maximise your beauty sleep. Designed to deeply moisturise your complexion, this intensely hydrating formula is perfect for all skin types but especially effective on dry, dehydrated complexions.

Medik8 Advanced Night Restore is packed with Antioxidants and Ceramides to encourage cell repair and help your skin feel soft, smooth, and supple.

  • N-Acetyl Glucosamine works in synergy with any Retinol products you’ve applied, to increase Hyaluronic Acid production.

  • You’ll love how plump and dewy your skin looks when you wake in the morning!

  • The fast-absorbing cream also contains Dragon Fruit and Saskatoon Berry to help counteract any damage caused by free radicals.

  • Apply before bed after using cleanser, toner, and serum.


Nourish your dry, sensitive skin with this organic face oil.

Dry skin and sensitive skin often go hand in hand. If your skin is very dry, you might start to see red, irritated patches that are tricky to cover with makeup. The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil is impressively high in Gamma-Linoleic Acid (GLA) and other essential fatty acids, which make it a pretty perfect option for anyone with irritated, dry skin. The vegan and cruelty-free formula is also great for anyone struggling with acne and acne scarring. Designed to nourish irritated skin, this soothing, water-free, silicone-free oil hydrates tight, flaky skin without feeling greasy or causing further irritation.

Nourish your dry, sensitive skin with this organic face oil.

One of the best oil based moisturiser for dry skin, The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil leaves a patchy complexion looking and feeling smoother.

  • The organic and sustainably sourced oil helps calm unhappy sensitive skin.

  • And you won’t have to worry about clogged pores when you use this lightweight oil.

  • The nourishing formula is gluten-free and nut-free.

  • Apply a few drops to your skin as and when you need—ideally after any water-based products.

  • Include this oil in your The Ordinary skincare routine to take control of any stubborn problem areas.


A classic formula that never goes out of skincare style.
A classic formula that never goes out of skincare style.

If you’re looking for a simple but effective formula to take care of your dry skin, you might want to get your hands on Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. This formula replenishes the skin with hydration by absorbing moisture from the air and retaining the skin’s existing moisture. Tested in extreme conditions (to prove its worth), this moisturiser uses Squalane and Imperata Cylindrica to replenish a dry and dehydrated complexion. Glacial Glycoprotein Extract protects tender skin from harsh weather. An artificial fragrance-free blend, this lightweight cream won’t further irritate struggling skin or clog pores.

A great moisturiser for all skin types, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream helps protect the skin from free radicals and daily aggressors.

  • The gel consistency feels cool on the skin— you’ll like how soft your skin feels after every application.

  • Use this cream regularly to restore a plump, dewy, and healthy-looking complexion at any age.

  • An iconic fan favourite, Ultra Facial Cream suits all genders.

  • Apply skin after cleansing and toning to help reduce moisture loss. You only need to apply a small amount consistently to start noticing a difference.


Protect your skin with this damage and fatigue-fighting cream.

As glorious as the sunshine is (seriously, the sun has pretty magical powers), we all know now that more than a few minutes a day is no good for our skin. A refreshing, silky moisturiser that helps fight the first signs of ageing, Clinique Superdefense Fatigue + 1st Signs Of Age Multi-Correcting Cream also helps take care of tired skin. As your skin matures, you might notice more little lines making an appearance. The formula is designed to give a fatigued complexion a more radiant look and help your skin glow with renewed health and youth over time.

Protect your skin with this damage and fatigue-fighting cream.

Clinique Superdefense Fatigue + 1st Signs of Age Multi-Correcting Cream SPF15 (Very Dry/ Dry Combination) uses Stop Signs Technology to combat modern aggressors that can accelerate the ageing process and tire your skin out.

  • Vitamin E helps protect the skin from free radical damage.

  • A fermented blend including Carnitine offers a supply of energy to the skin.

  • This radiance-enhancing cream is perfect for very dry, dry, and combination skin.

  • Apply in the morning and follow with your favourite makeup routine.




Can Moisturiser Cause Dry Skin?

Moisturiser will only cause dry skin if you (a) use the wrong moisturiser for your skin type and (b) pile too much of the stuff on.

Though it’s tempting to constantly rub the best non greasy moisturiser for dry skin all over your complexion, too much of a good thing could cause more problems. Clogged pores, extra redness, uneven patches, irritation, and more can crop up when you play around and touch your skin too much.

To balance things out, a consistent skincare routine for dry, sensitive skin types will help limit irritation. If you’re skipping the exfoliator, you’re missing a skincare trick. While you (obviously) don’t want to scrub too harshly, sweeping away dead skin cells will always leave your complexion looking more even.

Pick up a physical or chemical exfoliator and use it once a week before following with a moisturiser.

Jo explains the difference in exfoliators in the video below...


Another common mistake is confusing dry skin with dehydrated skin. If your skin feels tight after you’ve moisturised, your complexion could be dehydrated.

Tend to dehydrated skin by upping your fluid intake (time to get those eight glasses a day in!).

As you get older and your skin starts to age (it’s OK; we’re all in the getting-older boat together), you might want to sort yourself out with an anti-ageing routine for dry skin. As the skin ages, it tends to lose elasticity and hydration.

Including the best face moisturiser for mature dry skin in your routine will help, as will a formula with SPF. Sunscreen is the key to healthy, youthful-looking skin—honestly, we can’t say that enough.


Still on the search for the perfect moisturiser? Try our moisturiser quiz to find the best moisturiser for your skin's needs



Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.






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