What Do Dermatologists Recommend For Extremely Dry Facial Skin

Dry and dehydrated skin often feels tight, especially right after cleansing. With dry skin, you might notice itchiness, flaking, and rough patches, and your skin may be more sensitive to certain exfoliating acids or acne treatments. Look for products with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, which help restore the skin's protective barrier. If you're going to splurge on one item in your routine, consider a rich moisturizer that'll make even the driest skin feel dewy. Read on for some of our favorite dermatologist-approved products for boosting moisture and managing dryness.

We shouldn't have to remind you that a full-spectrum sunscreen is a year-round essential for all skin types to prevent burning and long-term sun damage . But for dry skin, dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum recommends this Coola lotion that combines sun protection with hydration. "It has a lot of antioxidants" — including aloe juice, grape-seed oil, and other plant-based moisturizers — "so it helps the skin repair itself," she says. Heal and prevent dry skin with my dermatologist's treatment tips developed from over 30 years of dermatology practice. It is important to treat dry skin by using a skin care routine that does not damage your skin's barrier and that also helps to strengthen it. Skin with healthy barrier will hold water and resist dryness.

"My skin was flawless, luminous even, and not at all greasy," Danler told us after trying it for the first time. Weleda brands the balmlike cream as a natural remedy for excessively dry skin . Although it doesn't feature ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides that we've called out before, it is chock-full of fatty acids and vitamin E, which naturally moisturize and soften the skin.

On top of that, pansy soothes irritation while the calendula flower extract helps to repair the damaged skin. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream includes 3 essential ceramides that work together to lock in skin's moisture and help restore your skin's protective barrier. MVE technology encapsulates ceramides to ensure efficient delivery within the skin's barrier and slow release over time. Supporting your protective skin barrier, long after you've finish applying. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream with ceramides is fragrance free.

Every night before bed, Marchbein recommends sticking to a routine that will ensure healthy skin come morning. After your face serum and moisturizer, apply a gentle eye cream to the under eyes and lids, like Kiehl's avocado treatment. "The product will seal in the cream and prevent against redness and eczema," both of which are common during this time of year. Perhaps one of the most important and commonly overlooked steps in the dry skin game is changing to a seriously hydrating moisturizer. "Look for creams, rather than lotions, that are made with ceramides and hyaluronic acid," Marchbein says.

Ceramides aid in the prevention of the skin's barrier, which is "easily broken down during the winter." For patients with severely chapped faces, pack on a hefty amount of product, she says, morning and night. "My skin-care routine starts in the shower with a moisturizing body wash," Dr. Nussbaum tells Allure. Four of our dermatologists also love this Neutrogena gel cream formulated for extra-dry skin. And so do our readers; it has been on best-sellers lists over ten times.

Gel textures are typically targeted toward those with normal or oily skin, but Mitchell says this cream is actually "perfect" for dry skin, and it works pretty quickly. The hyaluronic acid and glycerin will quench the dryness and deliver soft, smooth, and hydrated skin," she says. The gel texture also means that it "smoothly disappears into the skin, so it can be worn alone or under makeup," says Rodney. We've also recommended this product for mature skin, sunburned skin, Accutane users, and even for pregnant women, because it's so hydrating and gentle. When shopping for body lotions, you'll want to look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, glycerin, shea butter, and ceramides, which are all recommended by dermatologists for hydrating dry skin. And if you're wondering what the difference is between lotions and creams, know that it's all about the consistency.

Certain skincare ingredients can be particularly helpful during the cold season. Dr. Carroll recommends looking for a serum, moisturizer or mask that contains hyaluronic acid, a molecule that acts like a moisture magnet and is known to attract and hold up to a thousand times its weight in water. Its lightweight texture makes it a great option for oily types too. Ceramides, which are lipids that help skin lock moisture in.

"They're very helpful in repairing the skin barrier and keeping it intact," says Dr. Carroll. "Don't get half-dressed then start to moisturize," says Dr. Carroll. "You won't be as liberal with the product." Slather on a lotion or cream right out of the shower — or else you'll lose the water's moisturizing benefit altogether.

"When you step out of the shower, your stratum corneum is now hydrated, but if you don't put an oily layer on top of that to prevent water loss, then your skin is actually going to get drier," says Dr. Parsons. And while it can be tempting to grab a moisturizer that smells like your favourite sugary treat or a tropical getaway, both derms recommend sticking to a fragrance-free formula to avoid irritating dry skin. If you have dry skin, regular moisturization is crucially important, according to Craig Kraffert, M.D., board certified dermatologist and founder of Dermstore.

But it has to be the right moisturizer to actually heal severely dry skin. Dr. Kraffert says richer products — like thicker body creams in place of thinner body lotions — is key for quenching extreme dryness. If you have a little bit more in your budget for skin care products, Chiu recommended Skinbetter's Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment for dry skin repair. " has urea and provides deep moisture without the heaviness," she explained. According to the brand, it's also formulated with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and ceramides and squalane to lock in moisture. No matter your skin type, a good cleanser is a vital first step for washing away makeup and dirt — but if you have dry skin, it's important to find one that's not too stripping.

The cocoa butter and vitamin E in this affordable Nivea creammake it a dermatologist-favorite for lasting hydrating on very dry skin. You can use the cream all over your body, but the thick consistency makes it especially great for slathering on cracked hands and feet. If your dry skin is super itchy and eczema-prone, try this soothing cream from La Roche-Posay, which is meant to provide both instant relief and long-term hydration. It comes recommended by Kellie Reed, MD, a Texas-based dermatologist who appreciates that it "has colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and niacinamide" to improve the skin's texture. Its ingredients are gentle enough for sensitive skin yet hydrating enough to get rid of rough, dry patches, according to reviewers. Plus, it's accepted by the National Eczema Association to treat the condition.

I combine the right easy-rinse hand soap with my favorite humectant containing hand moisturizer, which is Dry Skin Hand Cream. This non-greasy cream contains the right humectants and skin barrier enhancers to keep hand skin healthy but never greasy. I keep a tube at every sink and in my lab coat pocket so that I can apply it numerous times a day to prevent dry skin from frequent hand washing. Has everything you need to resist dry facial skin including the right sunscreen and green tea antioxidants to fight skin redness, irritation and to load skin with the right health promoting antioxidants. This soothing routine is perfect for even the most sensitive skin.

It also integrates well with any of your favorite facial skin care products such as makeup, acne care products, wrinkle treating products etc. Just like for your body, it's important to apply unscented moisturizer after washing your face, too, even if your skins tends to be oily or acne-prone. "You can have oily skin and still have dry skin or a barrier that's not intact underneath," says Dr. Carroll. That's because skin's oil is only one part of the equation; humectants, such as amino acids or sugar, are also crucial for drawing water into your skin. Pick a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer to keep things balanced, especially if you're using pimple-fighting treatments. "There's really no need for us to lather up our bodies from top to bottom every single day," says Dr. Parsons, who recommends sticking to areas that need it, such as the groin, underarms, feet and face.

Soap is designed to remove oil, after all, which can leave your skin feeling dry and tight. Instead, stick to water for most of your body, and use a gentle unscented cleanser where needed. "Look for products that have built-in moisturizers or oils, that way you are leaving a layer of moisture behind on the areas you do wash," says Dr. Carroll. In cases of severely dry skin not related to an underlying medical condition, it's common for dermatologists to only recommend the best moisturizing cream for very dry skin. There are thousands of body and facial moisturizers available today, ranging from inexpensive drugstore brands to high-end products. Dr. Harth says dimethicone is one of best moisturizing ingredients for acne-prone skin.

"It's a man-made compound known to reduce water loss without leaving a greasy feel or clogging pores," he says. First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream features the ingredient, along with ahydrating ceramides, soothing colloidal oatmeal, and rich shea butter. Free of fragrances and alcohol, it's great for those with sensitive skin—even those who suffer from eczema or extremely itchy skin can use it. "Some people with dry skin just wash their hands constantly," Forman Taub says. That won't help the dryness because too much washing can lead to dry, cracked skin, according to Piedmont Healthcare. This can be a big issue for people who work in industries that require frequent handwashing, such as health care.

Ointments tend to be thicker than moisturizers, so keep an ointment on hand and apply after each wash. When tap water contains a high concentration of minerals like magnesium and calcium, it's known as hard water, according to the U.S. Those minerals can leave a film on skin that causes dryness. Investing in a home filtration system, whether a whole-house treatment or one that attaches to the faucet, can help, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Gross also recommends adding skin-care products that contain vitamins A and C to your routine because they counteract the coating deposited by hard water.

Choose something that's easy to apply and leaves no visible residue. If you are acne-prone, avoid products on your face that contain petroleum jelly, cocoa butter or coconut oil. If you skin is very oily, try using a sunscreen instead of a moisturizer. If you have mature skin, you might prevent scaly, flaky skin by using products that contain antioxidants or alpha hydroxy acid. Moisturizers often form the basis for wrinkle creams, with added retinoids, antioxidants, peptides and other ingredients. This then guides the ingredients into the cells to help restore the skin.

On top of that, it also includes vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B5, and hydrolyzed rice protein, all of which improve the appearance and texture of the skin as well as deeply hydrate it. There are those with skin that tends to get parched and flaky, particularly in the winter months, and then there are those whose skin is so dry it can actually look scaly and, as a result, is exceptionally hard to nourish. If you're in the latter category, Dr. Susan Binder and Dr. Katelyn Woolridge of Westlake Dermatology recommend Aquaphor. "Ointments are the best at fortifying the skin barrier and locking in moisture," says Woolridge, and Aquaphor does just that. The added glycerin can also help repair a damaged skin barrier, a common culprit for a lack of moisture.

What Do Dermatologists Recommend For Extremely Dry Skin On Face Next up, you'll want a nice, thick moisturizer to lock in your hydrating serum and protect the skin from drying out. Dermatologist Rachel Nazarian says it's "incredibly lightweight and comfortable for daily use throughout the year" and free of any "irritating fragrances or perfumes. Plus, as Rita Linkner, of Spring Street Dermatology, points out, "The price point on this line of moisturizers makes it a no-brainer," so you won't feel guilty for generously slathering it on. There are few skin-care ingredients that do quite as much as vitamin C. It can reduce inflammation, fight free-radical damage, brighten skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and minimize the appearance of discoloration and dark spots, according to dermatologists we've interviewed. While many dermatologists already recommend applying body lotions immediately after bathing, this Jergens moisturizer was specifically designed to be used on wet skin.

It contains shea butter and hyaluronic acid (two expert-approved ingredients) that start hydrating skin as soon as you hop out of the shower. "I'm one of those people that always buys lotion and says that I'll put it on after the shower, but somehow always end up forgetting," wrote one shopper. "Having this stuff right in the shower with me and not needing to dry off before using it makes it so easy to incorporate into my routine." A favorite of Dr. Mauricio, No7's face creamcombines the benefits of a hydrating lotion, an anti-aging product, and a sunscreen all in one.

"I am always searching for effective multitasking day creams to combat dry skin and this No7 is one that I personally use regularly for my face, neck, and chest," she says. And thanks to its amino acids, ceramides, and essential nutrients, the formula will give your skin a "renewed youthful glow." The anti-aging cream is also available at Ulta for $29. Even though thick creams are typically more hydrating than milky lotions, Dr. Zalka says the latter is still great because they're easier to apply on your skin. One of her recommendations is this skin-smoothing lotion from AmLactin. It contains lactic acid , which "helps microscopically slough dead skin cells while leaving a layer of protection on the skin surface," according to Dr. Zalka.

That's what makes this lotion a great choice for anyone with rough or bumpy skin. Because the lotion's active ingredients can make your skin more sensitive, remember to wear sunscreen while using it. This drugstore body lotion from Aveeno uses a combination of super hydrating glycerin and oatmeal, which soothes irritated skin. "Glycerin works to moisturize the skin by drawing water from the air into the skin's outer layer. It generates a protective layer that helps prevent moisture loss," explains Dr. Jaliman. It's non-greasy and fragrance-free, making it a great gentle, everyday lotion for dry skin. You can also purchase a budget-friendly bundlethat comes with the lotion and a moisturizing body wash.

A face mask can offer a concentrated boost of hydration to your skin (plus, they work perfectly for a self-care sesh). Coppola says to look for ones with moisturizing properties. "The key ingredients to look for are those that will draw in and bind water to the skin, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin C, glycerin, and almond oil," she tells Bustle. "This lotion is great for all skin types, especially sensitive skin and or acne prone skin.

It moisturizers the skin throughout the day and is formulated with SPF 30," said Sperling, who recommends using at least SPF 30 for optimal protection. While a compromised skin barrier can lead to dryness and itching, a moisturizing cream with hyaluronic acid and ceramides can help. By hydrating the skin and restoring its natural barrier, a cream with these ingredients can help those with even dry to very dry skin improve the look and feel of their skin.

You can also talk to your dermatologist about adjusting your at-home skin care routine. They will likely recommend that you remove any products that contain fragrance or other irritating ingredients. Topical treatments, like retinol and serums, can be beneficial for anyone with dehydrated skin. Remember, it's important to talk to your dermatologist about choosing the right formulas for your skin needs.

While the heat from an evening shower may feel phenomenal on a chilly day, Marchbein advises to limit rinse time to five minutes or less and to use warm—not hot—water, which only adds to surface dehydration. And instead of irritating soap bars or harsh body washes, pick up a creamy cleanser, like Dove's gentle formula. "Within 60 seconds of ," she says, apply a thick body moisturizer. "Look for something with mineral oil, lanolin, or ceramides," she explains, to help skin hold on to moisture throughout the night. Retinol is another all-star ingredient that deserves a place in your routine. A form of vitamin A, it's considered the gold standard for treating wrinkles and acne by speeding up skin-cell turnover and stimulating the production of collagen.

Some retinol creams can be irritating, though, so you'll have to be careful in choosing the right one. Dermatologist Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, owner of Dallas-based practice Houshmand Dermatology, recommends this Avène cream that also contains hydrating thermal spring water. "It is a pro-elastin peptide that helps with fine lines to firm and has vitamin E, which helps with free-radical damage and protects against damaging sun rays," she says. While oily skin types are more prone to acne, it's still possible to have pimples if your skin is dry. If that describes you, look for cleansers that mildly exfoliate the skin to get deep into the pore but are still gentle enough that they won't be irritating. This foaming cleanser from EltaMD ticks both boxes, according to dermatologist Jessie Cheung of Cheung Aesthetics.

"I like how it bubbles while it's working to draw impurities out of my skin, and how it leaves my skin soft and moist," she says. Unlike other products that use harsh acids for exfoliation, this one contains the much more mild bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapples, so it's safe for everyday use even if you have dry skin. With Moroccan argan oil as its key ingredient, this OGX body lotionwill deeply hydrate skin without feeling too heavy. "It's rich in omega fatty acids, vitamin E, linoleic acids, and ceramides. These work to moisturize your skin and soften dry patches," says Dr. Jaliman. It's great for all skin types, and customers are obsessed with the subtle scent—many mention that it smells great without being overpowering.

Kopari's Coconut Melt contains just one ingredient—organic coconut oil—but has eight different uses, including as a body lotion, hair mask, and makeup remover. "This is one of my favorite products to recommend to patients with very dry body skin to add to their bathing regimen," says Dr. Mauricio. If you have dry skin — especially during the winter months — derms recommend avoiding harsh soaps and cleansers .