Whether your dry skin is persistent all year round, has a tendency to flare up during winter, or just needs some support after cosmetic treatments, having the best hydrating moisturiser is beneficial. It can help boost your skin’s moisture barrier, ease discomforts, and repair skin damages.

Are you struggling to figure out what products will agree with your skin that will help revert back to a healthy, radiant and soft complexion? The search ends here, with the below list specially curated to provide you with the best selection of moisturisers for dry skin conditions.

What is dry skin?

Dry skin is a common condition that occurs across all age groups, most commonly affected areas are hands, face, arms and legs. With its persistent and uncomfortable nature, dry skin presents itself with irritable, flaky skin, itchy, and scaly characteristics, a tricky combination to tackle all at once.

The good news? As tenacious as it can be, dry skin is treatable when hydrating moisturisers are incorporated into your daily skincare routine. This effective solution allows the skin to absorb the necessary nutrients from the moisturisers to promote healing and new skin cells while retaining moisture.

What causes dry skin?

The lack of moisture on the skin’s surface is often caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies which may hinder the development of new and healthy skin cells. Another reason for dry skin can stem from an impaired skin barrier due to external influences, genetics, hormones, and age. 

Dehydrated skin can also affect various natural skin types, such as oily, sensitive, acne prone, and normal skin types. When you also factor in environmental aggressors, it can seem like a difficult issue to tackle without the help of the face moisturisers. 

Additionally, if left untreated, a compromised skin barrier can lead to more severe conditions like eczema and rashes. When the protective qualities of your skin are severely compromised, leaving the surface open, it may allow harmful bacteria to enter. This may cause infections to the already weakened layers of the skin. 

The below are additional factors to consider when determining how susceptible you are to dry skin: 

• Age: The weakening of the skin’s regenerative qualities comes naturally as you age, causing the moisture retention in the skin to decline over time. 
• Environment: Both hot and cold environments draw away moisture from the skin’s surface, leaving you feeling extra dehydrated than usual. Hence having a quality moisturiser during both summer and winter is essential in maintaining a healthy and glowing complexion. 
• Harsh Chemicals: Certain ingredients used in soap, creams and fragrances could subtly be damaging your skin without realising it. This includes alcohol, benzoyl peroxide, parabens, and salicylic acid. 
• Harsh Materials: Certain materials used in towels and clothing can cause friction with the skin to break down the skin’s barrier functions.
• Other Skin Conditions: Conditions such as eczema or psoriasis may enhance the frequency and severity of dehydrated skin.
• Medical Treatments: The side effects of particular medications could be the cause of dry skin. Especially if it’s a long term treatment, such as acne treatments, wrinkle creams, blood pressure drugs and cholesterol medications.

What ingredients help with dry skin?

Before diving into the best moisturisers for dry skin in Australia, let’s break down what ingredients are most effective in combating various dehydrated and dry skin conditions. 

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that helps by absorbing and retaining moisture through actively binding water molecules in the skin. Although your body naturally can produce this substance, it usually declines in production as you age. Hence this ingredient in products can help retain moisture to achieve a smooth and plumped complexion again. 

Glycerin

Glycerin is another ingredient that can attract water to itself, mainly used to ensure moisture remains in your skin. Due to its small dose of microbial properties that is often used to treat wounds, irritable and sensitive skin types should minimise their use of products with this ingredient. 

Shea Butter 

Shea butter acts as an emollient, a moisturising ingredient that softens and soothes the skin. Allowing a gentle and comfortable relief from the itchy and dry feelings caused by dehydrated skin. Other beneficial substances derived from shea butter can reduce skin swelling that is often associated with eczema. 

Vitamin E

Having vitamin E present in skincare products protects against drying effects and provides relief for irritable skin. This is achieved through the fat-soluble antioxidant that also adds an extra layer of moisture to the surface. And the anti-inflammatory properties from vitamin E can effectively soothe UV-induced damages, such as redness and skin swelling.

Jojoba Oil

With the existence of hydrating properties and ability to support water retention, jojoba oil is a great addition to any moisturisers. As a lightweight and nourishing ingredient, jojoba oil has the ability to balance natural oils on your skin without feeling any residual greasiness. An excellent choice for oily skin and combination skin types.

Vitamin B5 (Panthenol)

Vitamin B5, also known as panthenol, has highly effective hydration properties that help keep your skin moisturised. The restorative properties of vitamin B5 support a healthy skin barrier, while aiding in skin repair after suffering from certain skin damages. Vitamin B5 is another beneficial ingredient in moisturisers to help achieve a clear, radiant, and problem-free look.

Best hydrating moisturiser Australia

The list below includes the best moisturisers for fighting against dry skin. With face creams and ointments ranging from lightweight texture to thicker consistency depending on what conditions are being treated.

Aspect Dr Resveratrol Moisturising Cream

Aspect Dr Resveratrol Moisturising Cream helps combat dry skin and restore moisture content for a more radiant complexion. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can protect and hydrate the surface with the necessary nutrients to maintain a healthy glow. With key ingredients being:

• Vitamin E
• Glycerin
• Shea butter
• Grape skin extract

Resveratrol is a natural ingredient found in grape skins, which can deliver effective hydration to stimulate collagen production and prevent premature ageing. Moreover, the rich hydration properties from the face cream also contains plum, almond and tangerine extracts that help keep the skin nourished and protected, addressing common symptoms of dry skin. 

It is recommended to apply this moisturising cream in the morning and night, and massaged gently on a cleansed face and neck.

Osmosis MD Quench

If you are after a lightweight moisturiser with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid, the Osmosis MD Quench is the go to choice. The combination of glycerin and hyaluronic acid provides various properties to replenish the skin’s barrier for maximum hydration for a plump complexion. And the antioxidant qualities from jojoba oil with a heavy concentration of vitamin E can boost and maintain moisture levels and combat drying effects on the skin.

When using the Osmosis MD Quench, the hyaluronic acid can assist in binding and retaining water molecules on your skin’s surface by absorbing moisture from the cream. 

It is recommended to apply one to two pumps when needed.

Dermaceutic Hyal Ceutic

Dermaceutic Hyal Ceutic is another powerful facial moisturiser that combats extremely dry skin, innovatively using a combination of high and low weight hyaluronic acids to promote skin hydration while enhancing the skin’s ability to repair itself. The Dermaceutic’s focus is to prevent skin damages, ageing, fine lines and wrinkles, and promote a deeply hydrated skin. The ingredients include hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, vitamin E, aloe vera and shea butter, which are essential components for deeply enriching the skin and restoring it to its natural moisture levels. 

This fragrance free moisturiser is formulated to suit various skin conditions, including very dry, dehydrated, oily, and combination skin. 

It is recommended to apply it onto a cleansed face and neck, and post serum application in the morning or evening to soak in all the benefits offered by this moisturiser.

Aspect Super Moisturising Complex

If you’re in need of an intense moisturiser that absorbs immediately into the skin, Aspect Super Moisturising Complex is the right option. Especially formulated to provide instant relief from extremely dehydrated and dry skin with ageing symptoms, while creating a barrier function to allow the skin to heal and absorb the extra nourishments. The main ingredients in Aspect Super Moisturising Complex: 

• Glycerin
• Soluble collagen
• Grapefruit peel oil
• Green leaf extract

Due to its intense and effective properties, all you need is a small pea size to apply after serums.

Cosmedix Emulsion

Cosmedix Emulsion is an intensely rich face cream that deeply penetrates the skin with restorative and anti-ageing properties to help boost your skin’s moisture levels back to a plump and radiant complexion. Additional benefits include protecting the skin against environmental stress with a powerful antioxidant barrier. Key ingredients are used in Cosmedix Emulsion to combat dry skin:

• Shea butter
• Jojoba oil
• Glycerin
• Aloe vera extract 

Cosmedix Emulsion can be used during the day and night after cleansing and toning. Apply a dime-sized amount before other moisturisers and sunscreen.

Dermaceutic Panthenol Ceutic

Dermaceutic Panthenol Ceutic is highly effective in nourishing and restoring the skin’s epidermal barrier, providing a smooth and healthy complexion. This balm is ideal for relieving irritated skin, dryness, and after cosmetic treatments with its ability to repair and soothe skin damages. Making it a suitable moisturiser for dry skin and sensitive skin types.

Main ingredients in Dermaceutic Panthenol Ceutic include:

• Vitamin B5 (Panthenol)
• Bisabolol
• Shea Butter
• Vitamin E
• Sunflower seed oil

You only need to apply it once or twice a day or as required.

What skincare ingredients should dry skin types avoid?

After going through what works best for hydrating dry skin, it is also beneficial to know which ingredients to avoid for dry and dehydrated skin types.

Even though there are various ingredients that help soothe dry skin types and promote retention of moisture levels on the skin’s surface, there are a small number of ingredients that should generally be avoided:

• Denatured Alcohols
• Fragrances
• Glycolic Acid
• Salicylic Acid

Tips for managing dry skin

Along with using the best hydrating moisturisers from the above list, pairing it with dry skin serums can significantly help manage dry skin occurrences and flare ups. Additionally, incorporating the below steps into your daily routine can keep the dehydrated conditions at bay, promoting a healthy and radiant glow.

• Apply face cream after cleansing
• Apply body cream after washing
• Replace lotions with ointments and creams
• Use fragrance-free topical products
• Wear sunscreen daily
• Limit exposure to UV radiation
• Add moisture to the air with a humidifier
• Opt for gentle and non-irritating clothing and fabrics

FAQ

What is the best moisturiser for dry skin?

The best moisturiser for dry skin is the one that suits your needs and one that you will use consistently. It is best to look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter and glycerin. 

How often should you moisturise your face if you have dry skin?

The frequency required to moisturise your skin will depend on the severity of the dryness and which products you have chosen. However, the general recommendation is to moisturise your face twice a day after cleansing. 

Is Vaseline good for your face?

Vaseline is an occlusive ingredient which helps create a barrier to seal moisture in the skin. It may be suitable as a spot treatment for dry areas on the face, but may not be suitable as a daily moisturiser as it may clog pores and cause breakouts.

Although vaseline offers temporary moisturising properties, it can easily clog and suffocate the pores. It is generally not recommended to use as a face moisturiser, unless it is to treat short-term skin concerns. And it should be avoided by acne-prone skin types as prolonged use can trigger more outbreaks.

How do you get rid of dry skin on your face overnight?

Applying skincare products at night before bed can provide extra benefits and speed up the process of nourishing your skin. It is recommended to apply face cream before bed, allowing your skin to rest with the right nutrients to help restore the skin's moisture barrier.

When is the best time to moisturise your face?

The best time to moisturise your face is immediately after washing, usually twice a day, after other skincare products.

Please patch test before use and discontinue use if irritation occurs. 

Shop our dry skin range and moisturiser range here.

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