The Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin

If you have dry to very dry skin, skipping moisturizer can leave your skin feeling tight and uncomfortable. While moisturizing is essential to hydrate dry skin, not all moisturizers work the same for every skin type. Here are some of the best options, packed with hydrating ingredients to restore and nourish dry skin.

Dry skin relief

Paula’s Choice Skincare knows from years of in-depth research that dry skin of any age needs these key elements — emollients, antioxidants, as well as skin-restoring and skin-replenishing ingredients — to soften, restore hydration, and prevent moisture loss. All our moisturizers are created with these beneficial ingredients in mind, but here are the ones designed specifically to address the concerns of dry skin:

• SKIN RECOVERY Replenishing Moisturizer – For those with dry to very dry skin, this creamy night-time moisturizer with a rich texture softens skin while treating it to a mix of emollients, peptides, and antioxidants.
• SKIN RECOVERY Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 – Sun damage can lead to even drier skin, so daily SPF is a must! This creamy lotion sunscreen is ideal for dry to very dry skin. It delivers the hydrating and soothing antioxidants you need, plus its mineral-based formula means it’s gentle enough even for those who might be sensitive to other sunscreen formulas.
• RESIST Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50 – This antioxidant-rich moisturizer leaves a dewy finish and protects your skin against environmental stressors like pollution with potent antioxidants, all of which also calm sensitive skin.

Intensive Solutions for Very Dry Skin

If you have very dry skin — due to your skin type or the result of a drier climate or a change in the weather — then it’s time to call in the big guns. These are our richest moisturizers, designed to soothe super-dry, flaky skin:

• CLINICAL Ultra-Rich Moisturizer – A thick, luxurious cream packed with nourishing plant oils and emollients to rejuvenate even the most arid skin without feeling greasy.
• RESIST Intensive Repair Cream with Retinol – This concentrated moisturizing cream features a rich, hydrating texture alongside powerhouse anti-aging benefits thanks to its mix of retinol, peptides, and antioxidants.

Learn more about dehydrated and dry skin.

Shop hydrating Paula’s Choice moisturizers for dry skin online.

References for this information

International Journal of Molecular Medicine, July 2016, pages 16–22

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2015, issue 5, page 28; and November 2012, issue 5, pages 1013–1024

Aging Research Reviews, January 2015, pages 8–21

British Journal of Dermatology, March 2010, pages 647–654