12 Of The Best Moisturisers For Dry Skin

La Roche-Posay never lets us down when it comes to problem-solving formulas that really do what they promise. This is the pick of the bunch for seriously dry skin: with plenty of humectants and softening shea butter, it’ll get the job done every time, without frills, fragrance or faff.

If you're dealing with eczema or dermatitis, consider upgrading to the heavier-duty Cicaplast Baume, which is loaded with shea and panthenol to repair flaking, sore skin.

Created by super-facialist Fatma Shaheen, Skin Design London packs a serious punch in the efficacy stakes. This indulgently rich night cream combines plumping peptides with cooling aloe vera, brightening ascorbic acid (that’s vitamin C) and a host of nourishing emollient oils. Akin to a balm in texture, it’s a potent one-and-done treatment for dry, dull skin and those pesky flaking patches.

Nordic brand Lumene hits a real skincare sweet spot – it's neither so expensive you have to choose between a moisturiser or your mortgage, nor so boring you'll be reluctant to actually use it.

Formulated for dry skin, this quenching cream is based around the brand's signature spring water and mineral-rich birch sap, with hyaluronic acid and shea butter for maximum moisture.

With a gel-like texture, this one feels light but packs a serious punch in the hydration stakes. The stabilised oxygen complex instantly energises skin cells, while vitamin C works hard in the background to ward off free radicals.

An affordable hero, it's made in the same Swiss lab as many of the fanciest options, yet comes in at under £20.00 for Beauty Pie members.

Ceramides are lipids that make up around 30% of your skin barrier – so, if your levels become depleted, the door is left open for water to evaporate, leading to dehydration.

Plenty of things can deplete your natural ceramides levels, including harsh exfoliating products, but the good news is that you can top yourself up with a ceramide-rich cream. This reliable old favourite will do the job perfectly. If you're had a run-in with a too-strong acid toner, this is your SOS replenisher.

Murad's latest launch is formulated specifically for eczema, but it works just as well on skin that's flaking and sore due to an oral or topical retinoid. Rich and comforting, this balmy cream contains niacinamide, colloidal oatmeal and shea to soothe and soften simultaneously.

Designed to keep the skin barrier strong and keep trans-epidermal water loss to a minimum, Dermalogica's replenishing cream doesn't feel overly rich, but will keep the driest, most sensitive complexions content.

It makes sense that the ruling authority on retinol would make the perfect post-treatment moisturiser. Advanced Night Restore is a ceramide-heavy cream designed specifically to soothe skin after a retinol serum. It's brilliant at preventing those dry patches around your mouth, and will even see you successfully through the dreaded tretinoin purge.

Nabbing a moisturiser that's going to sort your dry skin doesn't have to break the bank. Cult US import CeraVe's legendary Moisturising Lotion is a gift to parched, sensitive skin and a snip at under £10.00. You won't get fancy extracts or an Instagrammable bottle, but you will have the glowing complexion of someone on first-name terms with a dermatologist.

We're fast becoming mega fans of Tula – formulated by a gastroenterologist, the line is packed with probiotics and capable of balancing the most tantrum-prone skins.

This is a heavier hitting take on the brand's everyday moisturiser, with a shea butter base and heaps of fatty acids to feed a skin barrier prone to flaking.

Dr. Barbara Sturm's philosophy revolves around bringing down inflammation within the skin, so this comforting cream can be trusted to deliver only good things – even on the most reactive complexions.

The glycerin and shea base is boosted with a cocktail of plant oils alongside the brand's signature antioxidant-rich purslane extract. Trust it to re-plump feathery lines, soothe irritation and bring a healthy glow back to post-winter skin.

You've likely heard the evangelical praise for this iconic skin cream. Infused with a host of rose extracts and oils, it's an undeniably luxurious affair, but delivers serious results too: slather it on before bed and wake up looking as though you've had a lengthy facial.