These top-rated creams and moisturizers can help hydrate and soothe dry, itchy skin.
Anyone who’s had dry, flaky skin knows how uncomfortable and painful it can be. Thankfully, slathering on body lotion can help you get some much-needed relief, but sometimes ordinary, everyday lotion just won’t cut it. Enter the best lotions for dry skin, which come specifically formulated to hydrate and soothe even the most parched complexions.
But what causes dry skin in the first place? Causes can range from a specific skin condition to the natural result of getting older—but the weather, of course, can also be a big culprit. “Cold weather can disrupt the lipid bilayer, which protects our skin from the environment, thereby causing skin dryness, sensitivity, and flaring skin conditions like eczema,” explains Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. It’s not even just the outdoor cold air that can lead to flakiness and itchiness, either; the dry heat indoors also contains little humidity, which can further parch your skin.
To combat this, using a hydrating lotion designed specifically for dry skin is key. That’s why we’ve rounded up the very best lotions, creams, and moisturizers recommended by dermatologists to help soothe and heal dry, flaky skin below. While applying these hydrating lotions, it’s important to be mindful of the other products you’re using—like your body wash, which can actually make dry skin worse, says Diane Madfes, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Madfes Aesthetic Medical Center in New York City. You’ll want to choose a mild body wash to soothe dry skin and skip exfoliating cleansers, which can exacerbate dryness when the air is cold and dry.
Ready to say goodbye to dry, parched skin? Ahead, find top-rated and dermatologist-recommended lotions, creams, and moisturizers for achieving hydrated, silky-soft skin year-round.
1BEST FOR DRY, ITCHY SKINCurél Itch Defense Calming Body Lotion
Ceramides, pro-vitamin B5, and shea butter team up to provide instant relief for dry, itchy skin. The fragrance-free formula works on all skin types, even for those who struggle with eczema. In fact, it’s so gentle that you can use it on babies six months and up. “After about a week of applying this after my showers, I had no itching, no stinging on application, and my skin felt a whole lot more comfortable,” one reviewer raves.
2BEST VALUEVaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion
Vaseline’s unscented body lotion earned top scores for hydration in tests conducted by the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Beauty Lab, hydrating skin by 60% and keeping skin feeling moisturized all day. It was also a favorite among testers, who noted that the formula absorbed quickly. And at under $10 for a 32-ounce bottle, it’s also super affordable.
“This lotion has been working great for me. Within a few hours after applying different lotions, my skin tends to get easily dry again. With the Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair, the lotion lasts quite a bit longer for me and it’s not greasy,” says one reviewer. “Very moisturizing and my skin is like a sponge and soaks it all up! Great part as well, is that it’s fragrance-free, which does not make my skin irritated at all.”
3BEST OVERALLCeraVe Moisturizing Cream
“Cerave Moisturizing Cream is one of my all-time favorite body moisturizers, and contains ceramides (a lipid naturally found in skin), glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to pack a powerful punch of deep moisturizing and hydration,” says Dr. Marchbein. “Together with cholesterol and fatty acids, ceramides are responsible for creating a healthy, intact skin barrier and retaining moisture in the skin.” With a nearly-perfect rating from a whopping 122,000 shoppers, this all-over cream is a clear customer favorite, too.
4BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKINLa Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+
If you have sensitive skin prone to getting red, itchy, or irritated, this heavy-duty cream from La Roche-Posay—which can be used for both your face and body—is a great pick, as it’s accepted by the National Eczema Association. Thanks to its restorative ingredients of shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide (a B vitamin that reduces redness), it provides long-lasting hydration—with one reviewer saying that it that cleared up their body eczema in just one week. Plus, it has Dr. Marchbein’s stamp of approval for being thick enough to heal dry patches, but still being able to sink right into the skin for a barely-there finish.
5BEST FOR FACEKiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream 24-Hour Daily Moisturizer
Made with hydrating ingredients such as squalane and glacial glycoprotein, this facial cream impressed the Good Housekeeping Institute with its ability to hydrate even the most parched skin. It earned top scores in Beauty Lab tests, increasing skin hydration by 46.5% in a period of six hours. Plus, testers praised its “fine and silky” texture and its ability to leave skin feeling hydrated without leaving a “sticky or heavy” residue.
Reviewers online also can’t stop raving about the cream’s silky-soft formula. “I put it on and I almost heard my skin sigh. Instant softness. Instant shield against the air. From just a tiny application. This is what my skin needed,” writes one Amazon shopper.
6BEST LIGHTWEIGHTCurél Dry Skin Therapy Hydra Silk Moisturizer
This moisturizer earned praise from the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Beauty Lab for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture. A clinical study showed that 94% of testers also loved the soothing formula—which contains ingredients like advanced ceramide complex and aloe water—noting that it left their skin feeling healthier and more radiant.
“It absorbs quickly into my skin and leaves a light silky feel that lasts all day,” writes one reviewer. “After using it for a week the dry patches on my elbows and feet were less rough and scratchy. I was pleased with the light smoothness after applying, not the usual heavy lotion feel I get from most lotions.”
7BEST FOR SOFT SKINShea Moisture Hydrating Body Lotion
This top-rated body lotion is formulated with raw shea butter, a key ingredient that helps deeply hydrate and soften skin, as well as coconut oil and Frankincense and Myrrh extracts, which work to nourish and heal dry, cracked skin. This versatile pick can also be used all over on the body, or as a hand cream or foot cream to target the rough, dry areas of your skin.
“Excellent body lotion—not oily. Skin feels silky and soft, and moisture will last for hours,” says one Amazon reviewer, while another writes: “My hands are the softest they have been in years.”
8BEST EXFOLIATINGEucerin Advanced Repair Cream
This highly-rated and affordable body cream not only contains ceramides, shea butter, and glycerin for intense hydration, but also contains lactic acid, an ultra-gentle alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates your skin for a smoother appearance.
“My doctor recommended this, and I have been very pleased with the results. Every night I put it on the heels of my hands and elbows and the rough patches are gone,” raves one reviewer. Just note that AHAs can make you sun-sensitive, so you’ll want to slather on the sunscreen afterward.
9BEST FOR GLOWING SKINGlow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
This cult-favorite cream from Glow Recipe is infused with watermelon seed butter, which gives it a lightweight, creamy texture and a moisturizing feel—not to mention an amazing scent. It’s especially great for reducing the appearance of uneven skin tone and leaving skin with a hydrated glow, thanks to hibiscus AHA that gently exfoliates and naturally smooths, as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid.
“Firstly, the smell is delightful! I’ve gotten a lot of compliments after I’ve used this. It keeps my skin moisturized and glowing without the sticky feeling,” raves one Amazon reviewer. “I love that this lotion is exfoliating but still smells really good. It’s light but moisturizing,” says another shopper.
10BEST FOR EXTREMELY DRY SKINFirst Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
This one isn’t just for your face—it can be used all over to truly repair angry skin. Dr. Gohara loves that it has ceramides, shea butter, and colloidal oatmeal, which work to soothe irritation, relieve itch, and leave skin feeling healthy. “I got this for my husband, who has very dry skin and eczema. After a while of using it his hands have healed up great!” one reviewer raves. “If you have tried many many different lotions or creams but none have worked, then give this a try.”
11BEST FIRMINGSol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
This popular body cream from Sol de Janeiro was named one of our top picks for best firming body lotions as well as best cellulite creams. It’s packed with ingredients that help smooth and tighten the appearance of skin, including caffeine-rich guaraná extract, as well as moisturizing and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, squalane, and coconut oil.
With over 32,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, this top-rated cream is also a favorite among customers, who rave about its fast-absorbing formula and “heavenly” scent. “Oh my. I couldn’t imagine this product could live up to the hype but it did,” writes one reviewer. “Thick, creamy lotion that smells like you’re at the beach. It absorbs quickly and is not sticky or oily.”
12BEST DRUGSTOREAveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Moisturizing Lotion
“Formulated with a triple oat complex and natural shea butter, this body lotion works great for those with dry skin. Its creamy formula spreads evenly and nicely on the skin,” explains Dr. Sperling. And with a five-star rating from over 29,000 users on Amazon, customers love the lotion, too. “I have very dry skin and this body lotion keeps my skin moisturized all day,” one reviewer writes. “It absorbs easily into the skin and it is not greasy.”
13BEST FOR ECZEMAAvène Xeracalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm
For especially sensitive skin types, this lotion from Avène boasts a National Eczema Association seal of acceptance, as it’s suitable for eczema or atopic dermatitis-prone skin. That’s thanks to strong moisturizers (glycerin and mineral oil) and what it leaves out; it has no ingredients that can cause irritation, such as preservatives, parabens, or fragrances. This one pulls double duty, as you can use it on your face and body.
14BEST FOR DAILY USEAveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
Looking for a lightweight, non-greasy lotion that’s perfect for daily use? A great pick from Aveeno, this fragrance-free and non-comedogenic lotion recommended by Dr. Madfes is gentle enough to use every day—and promises to moisturize dry skin for a full 24 hours. Colloidal oatmeal has a soothing effect and reinforces skin’s barrier, while moisturizers like dimethicone, glycerin, and petrolatum works to smooth skin. “After three days of using this twice per day on legs and hands, I noticed a huge difference,” one customer explains. “My skin is no longer flaking or cracking.”
15BEST FOR WHOLE BODYCetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
You might be familiar with Cetaphil’s face washes, but the brand offers great lotions, too. With a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores) formula that packs glycerin, vitamin B5, and niacinamide, this lightweight and non-greasy lotion is ideal for use on the entire body and is also great for sensitive skin. “The intense, moisture-rich formula binds water to the skin and protects from dryness for 24 hours,” Dr. Bae says.
16Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion
This silky-smooth, non-greasy lotion hydrates the skin all day long, protects from chafing and cracking, and leaves skin feeling soft instead of sticky. Glycerin gives the formula extra slip, while vitamins E and B5 nourish and strengthen. “It has been the most effective and soothing lotion I have ever used,” an Amazon reviewer explains. “My skin is already really dry, so it’s a miracle if I can get it healed and smooth. This lotion is that miracle.”
How to choose the best lotion for dry skin
Read the ingredient list. Glycerin, shea butter, cocoa butter, and ceramides are a few of the must-have moisturizing ingredients in a good lotion, Dr. Madfes notes. Hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, colloidal oatmeal, petrolatum, and urea are also helpful ingredients that add and lock in moisture. Although the right scent can be energizing or relaxing, added fragrances can spur irritation, so choose a fragrance-free formula if you have sensitive skin.
Find your hero product. If you don’t like the feel or smell of a lotion, you’re just not going to use it, Dr. Bae warns, meaning you’ll be stuck with extremely dry skin. There’s a big difference among products, so if you don’t like one, try another until you find one that you’ll stick with. You can buy a fancy lotion, but you don’t have to; drugstore brands can get the job done just as well.
Test, if necessary. If you know you have especially sensitive skin that’s reacted to body lotion in the past, consider patch-testing before applying to your whole body. Dr. Madfes recommends trying it on a small area on your chest for a couple days. No reaction? You’re good to go.
Can you put body lotion for dry skin on your face?
If you’re using lotions to treat dry skin, the Cleveland Clinic advises using products that are specifically designed for the affected area of your skin. Since body lotions tend to be heavier, and the skin on your face tends to be thinner and more sensitive than on your body, it’s best not to use body lotions on your face; you’ll want to look for ones that are specifically designed for your face instead. That being said, there are some body lotions that pull double duty and are designed to be used on your face as well—just make sure to check the label on your product beforehand.
How we chose the best lotions for dry skin
We consulted Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, Diane Madfes, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Madfes Aesthetic Medical Center in New York City, Shari Sperling, D.O., board-certified dermatologist of Sperling Dermatology, Shari Marchbein, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Downtown Dermatology in New York City, Mona Gohara, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and member of Prevention’s Medical Review Board. We scoured countless customer reviews, ratings, and product specs online to formulate our top picks. Lastly, we referenced the Good Housekeeping Institute’s coverage of the best moisturizers for dry skin to choose Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream 24-Hour Daily Moisturizer, the Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion, and the Curél Skincare Dry Skin Hydra Silk Moisturizer.