Dry skin can be rough — literally. A lack of moisture can set the stage for chapped, cracked, flaky and red skin, all of which can leave you uncomfortable.
There are a couple health issues that can come with it, too: Dry skin can trigger eczema if you're prone to the condition, and dry skin that cracks can leave you vulnerable to infections, per the Mayo Clinic.
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Luckily, treating dry skin is usually pretty simple. In addition to using gentle soap, limiting your water exposure (and keeping showers warm instead of hot), staying well hydrated and running a humidifier in the cold, dry winter months, regularly applying a moisturizing lotion can help ease the chapping and flaking.
"Lotion can help protect the skin from drying out further by creating a hydrating barrier that prevents water loss through the skin," explains Dendy Engelman, MD, cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City. "Additionally, lotion can deliver important ingredients that repair and strengthen the skin barrier to keep it healthy and help protect it from dryness."
Considering the skin is your body's largest organ, it's important to make sure it's in healthy condition—and applying lotion regularly can help you achieve that goal.
How We Chose
We chatted with dermatologists, who broke down the most important features to look for in a lotion specifically for dry skin. Our top picks are based on their criteria, including:
- Ingredients
- Consistency
- Non-comedogenic
- Cost
Find more information on how we choose and cover products here.
The Best Lotions for Dry Skin
- Best Overall: Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($11.34, Amazon)
- Best on a Budget: Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion ($6.22, Walmart)
- Best for Aging Skin: Necessaire The Body Lotion ($28, Amazon)
- Best for Face: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream ($27.45, Amazon)
- Best for Itchy Skin: Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion ($10.67, Walmart)
- Best for Extremely Dry Skin: Lano 101 Dry Skin Super Cream ($16.95, Lano)
- Best for Eczema: Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream ($19.97, Amazon)
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream ($12.76, Amazon)
- Best Lightweight: Dove Body Love Sensitive Care ($6.48, Walmart)
- Best for Irritated Skin: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Body Lotion ($19.99, Amazon)
1. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Pros
- Contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid
- Non-greasy feel
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Some reviewers don’t like the scent (or lack thereof)
If you’re looking for a daily lotion that does it all, consider this one by CeraVe, which contains both ceramides and hyaluronic acid to both hydrate the skin and restore its natural barrier without leaving a greasy feel.
“The patented MVE delivery technology helps deliver moisturizing ingredients to the skin over 24 hours, keeping the skin soft and smooth all day,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, dermatologist at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City. “It’s also fragrance-free, making it an especially good option for those with sensitive skin.”
2. Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Moisture Body Lotion Unscented
Pros
- Affordable
- Non-comedogenic
- Packed with skin-nourishing ingredients
Cons
- Goes on thick and can be difficult to rub in
For a wallet-friendly price, you get a hard-working body lotion packed with skin-nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, vitamin C, peptides and lipids with 1 percent niacinamide.
“This moisturizing lotion helps to support the skin barrier while also helping to even out skin tone,” says Dr. Garshick. “The skin will feel softer and smoother, while improving overall dullness and dryness of the skin.”
It’s also non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores.
3. Necessaire The Body Lotion
Pros
- Fast-absorbing
- Packed with powerful ingredients
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Pricey
If you don’t mind the heftier price tag, this is a body lotion with serious benefits, especially for those with mature or aging skin, according to Dr. Garshick.
“This body lotion helps to relieve dryness using a combination of niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, omega fatty acids as well as vitamins,” she says. “It also contains marula and meadowfoam oils to nourish the skin, while still absorbing quickly and not leaving the skin feeling greasy.”
4. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Pros
- Can be used on both face and body
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Free from harmful ingredients
Cons
- Pricey
This soothing cream is designed for use from head to toe, so you don’t have to worry about it causing breakouts or irritation if you use it as a face cream.
It’s formulated with a combination of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter and ceramides to both hydrate and protect the skin barrier, explains Dr. Garshick. It also contains a potent blend of antioxidants to help ward off environmental stressors, like free radicals.
Tip
Make sure to wash your hands before dipping them into any tub of lotion to avoid introducing bacteria into the container that could cause infection or other skin issues down the line. Alternatively, you could use a small spatula (like this one from I Dew Care) to scoop out the lotion, so long as you rise it off before and after each use.
5. Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Body Lotion
Pros
- Affordable
- Clinically proven
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Some reviewers find it oily
This lotion is formulated for skin that’s prone to itchiness, whether that’s due to dryness or certain skin conditions such as eczema.
It’s fragrance-free, fast-absorbing and helps keep the skin hydrated for up to 48 hours.
“It incorporates a triple oat and shea butter formula, which includes oat flour, oat extract and oat oil that together help hydrate and soothe the skin, helping to alleviate any itching,” says Dr. Garshick.
6. Lano 101 Dry Skin Super Cream
Pros
- Dermatologically tested
- Can be applied to both face and body
- Safe for sensitive skin
Cons
- Pricey
Extremely versatile, this cream can be used on the face and all over the body to rapidly soothe and protect very dry skin, says Dr. Engelman.
“The formula is made with lanolin, shea butter and vitamin E, and was shown to increase skin hydration by 98 percent after just one application (in an independent study)," she adds.
7. Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream
Pros
- Contains colloidal oatmeal
- Formulated for eczema-prone skin
- Clinically proven
Cons
- Some reviewers say it leaves a greasy film
If you’re one of the 16.5 million American adults prone to eczema, per the National Eczema Association, protection from dryness is one of your best defenses.
This lotion from Aveeno is specifically designed for eczema-prone skin and contains the active ingredient colloidal oatmeal, which has been shown to soothe skin irritation and inflammation.
“In combination with glycerin, dimethicone and ceramides, this balm really soothes and seals,” says Papri Sarkar, MD, a Boston-based dermatologist.
“A little goes a long way with this," she adds, so keep that in mind when applying.
8. Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Pros
- Free of irritating ingredients
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist tested
Cons
- Difficult to rub in
If you have sensitive skin, one of the best things you can do is to seek out a lotion or cream free of the ingredients that can exacerbate irritation, such as lanolin, formaldehyde, botanicals and fragrance.
Not only is this cream free of all of those potentially irritating ingredients, but it also includes a combination of water and petrolatum, both of which do a great job of keeping moisture in the skin and replenishing it, notes Dr. Sarkar.
9. Dove Body Love Sensitive Care Body Lotion
Pros
- Affordable
- Doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Not as thick as other lotions, so you may need to apply more often
“This lotion contains Dove’s Restoring Ceramide Serum, which works to help your skin produce its own ceramides,” Dr. Garshick says. “This helps to strengthen the skin barrier, replenish moisture and as a result, reduce dryness of the skin."
She also points out that this lotion works well to nourish the skin without leaving the skin feeling greasy, making it a great lightweight option.
10. La Roche-Posay Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream
Pros
- Safe for babies (6 months and older)
- Rich in skin-nourishing ingredients
- Has antioxidants
Cons
- Pricey
If your skin is irritated, chances are it’s also quite dry. Luckily, this lotion is rich in moisturizing ingredients including glycerin, a known humectant to draw moisture in, as well as shea butter and niacinamide.
“It also contains the La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal spring water, which offers soothing antioxidant benefits, making it great for irritated skin," Dr. Garshick says. "It’s safe for use on the face and body, as it is non-comedogenic, and it can be used in babies ages 6 months and up."
What to Look for in a Lotion for Dry Skin
Here are some features dermatologists recommend looking for when shopping for a lotion for dry skin.
1. Moisturizing Ingredients
Dr. Garshick recommends looking for key ingredients that help to support the skin barrier, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and colloidal oatmeal.
Depending on your specific skin concern, she recommends also seeking out lotions that contain exfoliating ingredients like glycolic or lactic acid to help slough off dead skin cells.
Ingredients you want to avoid include synthetic fragrances, harsh chemicals and preservatives, according to Dr. Engelman, as these ingredients not only risk irritating the skin, they can also potentially cause more serious problems if used over a long period of time.
"Avoiding these ingredients is especially important for those with dry skin, as a vulnerable skin barrier will be especially reactive to them," she says. "Familiarize yourself with common names of these ingredients, which can include formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers, fragrance, parfum, etc., and make sure you read the ingredient labels of products carefully and check online or with your dermatologist if you are unsure if a product is safe."
2. Consistency
Dr. Garshick recommends opting for a heavier lotion, thicker cream or ointment if you have dry skin.
"For dry skin, oftentimes a thicker cream, ointment or heavier lotion can provide a greater occlusive effect, helping to trap moisture in and boost overall hydration of the skin," she says.
3. Price
Price is an important factor when it comes to a lotion.
"If this is something that you plan to use daily, or even twice daily, you may use the product relatively quickly and need to replace it regularly," notes Brendan Camp, MD, a Manhattan-based dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology. "A more expensive product may make you want to conserve it, which could potentiate the issue of dry skin."
Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.