11 Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin

Whether you struggle with dry patches all year round, or the colder winter weather triggers flakiness and irritation, having a face moisturiser 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.

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 hydrating ingredients for dry skin are.

Hyaluronic Acid (an essential for everyone), Shea Butter, Glycerine, and Green Tea Extract sink into dry skin and leave you feeling fresh and hydrated.

If you're struggling with eczema, the best moisturisers for really dry skin are made with Allantoin to help soothe particularly rough patches.

Side note: If you're looking for something to store your skincare in, check out Adore Beauty's very own cosmetics cases. Made with vegan leather and durable PVC, they're perfect as a cosmetics travel case or just for keeping your skincare organised. Available in black and blush, these cosmetic cases come in two sizes. SHOP HERE.

The Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin in Australia

Designed to boost the health and look of dehydrated, tired skin, this cream will leave you looking refreshed and revived, even with just a tiny amount. Crafted to help restore elasticity and protect skin from moisture loss, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser 75ml 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.

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. Shea Butter also soothes skin that’s suffering from psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

If you’re dealing with dry skin, it can be tricky to find a moisturiser that reduces redness, hydrates the skin, and doesn’t irritate. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ask any skincare expert for their top five favourite moisturisers, and a fair few of them will name Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator 75ml. This top-selling gel-cream helps skin create its own internal water source. 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, and non-acnegenic unique 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.

Medik8 Advanced Night Restore 50ml 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.

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 gluten-free and nut-free formula contains no nasties or unexpected ingredients. 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 great moisturiser for all skin types, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream 50ml 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.

Clinique Superdefense Fatigue + 1st Signs of Age Multi-Correcting Cream SPF15 Very Dry/ Dry Combinat 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.

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