These 19 winter moisturizers are your skin saviors.
When winter starts transforming your skin into a dull, dry shell of itself, you would think that a little extra moisturizer would do the trick. An extra dollop can feel good in the moment, but for me, it’s a quick fix that doesn’t last. After a few hours, that dry, itchy feeling creeps back, and since I can’t glue my face to a humidifier all day long, I decided to figure out what my moisturizer was missing. It turns out, there is one key element that all the best winter moisturizers for dry skin have in common — a cream base.
Lotions are lovely, especially when it comes time to lighten things up for warmer months, but creams and balms are going to be much richer. Their formulations are also more likely to have winter skincare heroes like soothing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, or niacinamide, all of which help lock in moisture and protect the skin.
And since we’re not alone with the winter skincare woes, we’ve collected recommendations from our friends here at Messycafe. The following moisturizers nourished, brightened, and plumped our skins back to dewy life.
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream
For serious hydration without heavy coverage.
When it comes to facial moisturizers, we want hydration without the heavy coverage. This cream goes on light while still keeping your skin feeling and looking noticeably moisturized. We consciously seek out products with squalane in an effort to keep our skin as soft and smooth as possible — winter skin-saver.
Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich Fragrance-Free Hydrating Moisturizer
An affordable luxury to solve winter skin woes.
Once you try this, we promise you’ll be hooked. This product feels incredibly rich, but somehow never gets greasy and wears totally smooth under makeup. Packed with Vitamin B3+ Peptides, it provides instant comfort to parched skin.
iS Clinical Youth Intensive Creme
A nutrient-dense moisturizer that does much more than hydrate.
When you want to step it up, reach for this nutrient-rich moisturizer. We’re talking vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, Superoxide Dismutase which safely absorbs harmful free radicals, Copper Tripeptide Growth Factor, and glycerin which repairs dry/damaged skin. We love the formula, the texture, and the smell — everything about this feels incredibly luxurious and exactly how a true moisturizer should feel and act. We promise you won’t be disappointed with this one.
Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream
A winter sports enthusiast’s best friend.
This stuff is magic and will be your best friend during cold winter months. This is for those of you who have naturally dry skin, and always looking for a rich moisturizer that can slather on at night and wake up the next morning with smooth, non-flaky skin. This moisturizer goes on velvety smooth and is more hydrating than any other. When your in the mountains, put some on before going outside during the day to protect your sensitive skin from cold air and windburn.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream Face Moisturizer
One of the hardest working moisturizers in the game.
This gorgeous cream is so rich that it’s perfect for the winter months. Augustinus Bader means business when it comes to moisturizing, but this cream also comes packed with hyaluronic acid and the brand’s patented TFC8 which stimulates cellular renewal. It’s a splurge, but it lasts forever and looks beautiful on your vanity.
Sanitas Skincare Topical C
A soothing balm that both protects and repairs.
If you spend a ton of time in the mountains in dry climates, this product will protect your precious skin. This awesome balm is thick and protective without being greasy and because of the vitamin C, it’s super healing if the damage is already done. We love it, and honestly need it to make it through a New Mexican winter.
Furtuna Skin Rinascita Delle Olive Replenishing Balm
A lush, hydrating hero packed with antioxidants.
If you really want to step up your dry skin game in the winter months then we highly recommend sealing in your hydrating serums and moisturizers with an oil. This one from Furtuna is perfect for that — it’s essentially a reparative moisturizing treatment that envelops dry, sensitive skin in a soothing protective layer, a hydrating hug for your dermis. It can also be used to relieve chapped lips, cracked elbows, razor burn, or any dry area. It’s awesome and the color looks cool in your medicine cabinet too.
Weleda Skin Food Body Butter
For those that prefer their moisture whipped.
This whipped body butter is a literal game-changer. If you live in colder climates with harsh winters, this is the only product that deeply nourishes your entire body. You won’t be able to live without it. The texture is rich yet light (it’s whipped) and a little bit goes a long way.
Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment
Tackle dry skin and redness with this silky cream.
In addition to dry skin in the winter, if you suffer from the occasional perioral dermatitis flair-up, this luxurious, serum-in-moisturizer cream is the go-to. It’s so beautiful and rich, it’ll immediately quench your skin and your face will feel silky for hours.
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore
Formulated with soothing ceramides, this popular cream is a game-changer for mature skin.
Not only is this super hydrating, but we love that it simultaneously combats fine lines and loss of facial fullness with antioxidants that fight free radical damage. Just a few weeks of use results in visibly improved elasticity and moisture levels.
A daily moisturizer is necessary to maintain your skin’s barrier and to prevent environmental damage to your skin. Moisturizing everyday can reduce the chance of developing extreme dryness or oiliness. Both extremes are harmful for skin and cause common skin conditions like acne. If you want to achieve that flawless, dewy looking skin, use a moisturizer daily and consistently — it’s the most crucial step to protecting your skin.
Messycafe 