The 20 Best Winter Moisturizers to Save Your Dry, Flaky Skin

The winter season brings along so many wonderful things: deep berry-hued lips, moody nails, and the coziest fashion imaginable. It also changes our skin from healthy, hydrated, and bright-looking, to a complexion that is far duller and drier. So naturally, we immediately go on the quest for moisturizers that brighten, nourish, soothe, plump, and hydrate, as well as offer anti-aging and other protective properties. Keep reading for 20 perfect-for-winter moisturizers that treat dry skin with a hefty dose of moisture.

1. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream $290.00

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Contributing editor Amy Lawrenson first turned us on to this brand, noting, "This is a new skincare brand from Bader, a professor who specializes in stem cells (he’s been nicknamed The Stem Cell Whisperer) and has created this line to fund his research into healing, especially burns. The Rich Cream is just that: rich-feeling. It glides on so smoothly, imparting this incredible shine that we can't get enough of. It's so nourishing too, offering up a hydrating, protective blend of squalane, Helianthus annuus seed, avocado, and evening primrose oils, as well as shea butter and lactic acid.

2. Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer

Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer $54.00

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Biossance, a nontoxic, sustainably sourced, and clinically proven brand, is one of the best when it comes to hydrating dry skin. Each of its products comes with squalane (our bodies produce its own version, known as squalene, but the amount retained in your skin decreases over time), which comes from 100 percent plant-based, renewable sugarcane. It's ultra-hydrating and, when mixed with probiotics, improves your skin's moisture barrier and leaves it brighter and more balanced. This moisturizer also packs red seaweed and ginger extract to calm your skin when it's irritated and red.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream $100.00

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Tilbury's Magic Cream is incredible for so many different things. First of all, hydration and anti-aging. The formula houses hyaluronic acid, rose-hip, and camellia oils, vitamin E, and peptides meant to support your skin's own natural collagen production, add suppleness, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. On top of that, it's an incredible primer for makeup, serving up dewy, plump, properly moisturized skin before you even begin applying the product.

4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel $28.00

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This Neutrogena pick is the one moisturizer every dermatologist continually tells us to use. It's super light and airy, kind of like a mix between a gel and a cloud cream (it feels super cooling to the skin) and it's infused with hyaluronic acid. Talk about quenching your skin's thirst.

5. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream $48.00

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Dr. Jart's deeply moisturizing cream works to improve an irritated skin barrier, something that can be caused by environmental aggressors like cold weather, wind, and pollution. "It sinks in instantly and is the perfect base for makeup, and my skin doesn't feel dry and tight anymore because of it. Plus, the ingredients are soothing enough for people with sensitive skin," says Faith Xue, our former editorial director.

6. Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream $68.00

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According to the brand, this moisturizer does for your skin what adding a shot of protein in your morning smoothie does for your body. It helps to support, maintain, and possibly prevent the breakdown of existing collagen. It's jam-packed with proteins and nutrients, like plant-based stem cells and folic acid. It just works.

7. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration $38.00

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This whipped, sensitive skin–safe cream is like a life jacket for dry, flaky skin. It's formulated with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and ceramides to provide immediate relief and visible improvement for parched skin. According to the brand, it is clinically proven to increase hydration immediately upon application.

8. H20+ Hydration Sensitive Skin Gel Cream Moisturizer 

H20+ Hydration Sensitive Skin Gel Cream Moisturizer $42.00

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For a luxurious water-gel cream moisturizer, H20+ has you covered. The formula provides rich hydration for dry, sensitive skin courtesy of Hyssop + Eyebright extract and Hydro-Amino Infusion, both of which help soothe the appearance of redness and optimize hydration levels. The immediate surge of moisture creates an instant plumping effect, illuminating your skin and absorbing quickly for an otherworldly glow.

9. IS Clinical Youth Intensive Crème

IS Clinical Youth Intensive Crème $235.00

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Specially formulated to provide your face 24-hour hydration through a rich, protective cream, IS Clinical Youth Intensive Creme is more than just a moisturizer. It incorporates botanically-derived moisturizers, antioxidants, resurfacing acids, and growth factors to provide smoother, firmer, deeply hydrated skin. Ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin are just what your skin needs during this time of year. "Heavier moisturizers are a must for me in the winter months. With the heater blasting in my apartment and frigid air outside, I need all the help I can get. My latest skin-quenching favorite is IS Clinical Youth Creme. It's a rich moisturizer that melts on contact and leaves my skin feeling dewy and bouncy all the way through the morning. It also doesn't break me out, which rarely ever happens with a thick(er) product," says former associate general manager, Lindsey Metrus.

10. May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon

May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon $180.00

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Our editors have said that Blue Cocoon "melts into skin like decadent, anti-inflammatory butter," so naturally we're intrigued. Once warmed between your fingertips, the blue balm turns into an oil, letting organic, feel-good ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, marula, and baobab oils absorb into your skin. Instantly, you feel warm, soothed, and it even has properties to ease anxiety and stress. Skincare-wise, it plumps, smooths, hydrates, and calms irritated skin (which is why it's so good for wintertime).

11. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream $37.00

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Olay's best-selling formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, amino-peptides, and niacinamide meant to actually bind moisture to your skin as it lifts surface cells. It feels luxe, softens the look of wrinkles, and keeps your skin properly moisturized throughout the dry winter.

12. Pai Skincare Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream

Pai Skincare Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream $58.00

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When your skin is dry, it looses that coveted luster, and in its place is a sallow, flat-looking complexion. This will fix that. It's free from drying alcohol and irritating ingredients, and it's incredibly light and buttery without feeling greasy or heavy on your skin. The formula is enriched with organic avocado and jojoba oils to condition and omega-3 and -6 to leave your skin feeling calm, supple, and soft.

13. Ren Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm

Ren Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm $55.00

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This nighttime rescue balm uses activated oils (including olive, almond, borage, and linseed) meant to feed and moisturize your skin, strengthen its barrier, and flawlessly relieve irritation. It promises to nourish, stimulate lipid production, and takes special care to deeply feed and repair sensitive skin overnight.

14. Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich

Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich $240.00

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Dr. Barbara Sturm's Face Cream Rich is my most treasured moisturizer. I use it morning and night to finish off my multistep routine. Sturm herself calls it "your cell spa while you sleep," as it is so intensely regenerating. The cream incorporates purslane (a succulent herb packed with omega-3 fatty acids) meant to reduce redness and skullcap extract meant to stimulate natural collagen production. No lie: Using this moisturizer results in more youthful-looking, hydrated skin come morning.

15. Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream

Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream $58.00

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After weeks of wind-chapped, dry winter skin, I was blessed with Youth to the People's adaptogen cream, brimming with pentapeptide to "calm the stress reaction in sensitive and irritated skin." Let me tell you, my skin was irritated, sensitive, and about 50 shades of red. It was a winter massacre. After applying a thick layer of this super-creamy, beige-colored formula, my skin immediately felt soothed. I even applied some to my chest and shoulders to double the results. After a few hours, the redness had calmed, and my skin felt like skin again. I kid you not. This is the real deal for those with sensitive skin (or those with gnarly dry skin). FYI: It's also vegan, cruelty-free, noncomedogenic, and formulated without dimethicone. 

16. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream $20.00

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CeraVe is a derm-favorite pick is a must have in any medicine cabinet during the winter months (or any month). Thanks to hyaluronic acid and ceramides, it provides intense hydration for those with dry and balanced skin. We love that it's non-comedogenic and can be used as a body, face, and hand cream, too.

17. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré $16.00

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We can thank the French for a lot of things when it comes to beauty, but none more so than French skincare. Cult-classic brad Embryolisse has worked wonders on skin for decades, and it's easy to see why. This moisturizer has been a best-seller since 1950, thanks to its multi-functional properties that cleanse, hydrate, nourish, and protect the skin thanks to shea butter, beeswax, soy proteins, and aloe vera. The whipped texture and natural ingredients are soothing for dry skin woes.

18. SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry

SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry $76.00

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If you're looking for an overnight moisturizer, try this pick from SkinCeuticals. Known for their popular SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum, this moisturizer works to gently exfoliate and hydrate skin, revealing a brighter complexion come morning. Botanical extracts such as aloe, chamomile, and evening primrose extracts soothe dry skin and restore a supple, soft appearance.

19. Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer $23.00

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Plumping, hydrating, quenches dryness, what more does winter skin need? Tatcha's rich cream leaves a dewy finish on those who struggle with dry, dull skin, fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid, squalane, Japanese purple rice, and a blend of algae work together to seal in moisture and protect skin from free radicals.

20. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer $35.00

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The key ingredients in this moisturizer from Paula's Choice are antioxidants. Suited for very dry and sensitive skin, Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer blends emollients, anti-aging peptides, and antioxidants to reduce redness and return moisture and suppleness to parched skin. This cream should be used at night on your face, neck, and eye area.