19 Best Lotions for Dry Skin in 2024

Get ready to step into the summer sun and leave winter dryness behind. The harsh weather of the past season, combined with staying bundled up and having the heater on blast, can dry out your skin and leave it flaky, itchy and damaged. When your skin is in crisis, it needs some heavy-duty care. Luckily we’ve put in the hard yards for you and curated a list of the best lotions for dry skin in 2024.

1. Blu Atlas Body Lotion

We’ll start with the best of the best. Blu Atlas’s body lotion is made with clean ingredients in New York, specifically for dull and dry skin. This body lotion is rejuvenating and anti-aging. It can save skin from the damaging effects of dehydration by delivering beneficial moisture and nutrients with a unique mixture of ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter and a seaweed blend.

Shea butter and jojoba oil are old favorites in skincare for a reason. They are both high in vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids, which are ultra-hydrating and penetrate layers of skin for maximum efficiency. Seaweed is the secret ingredient that makes this product stand out. It is packed with an amazingly high number of minerals that gives skin a healthy and radiant glow.

Blu Atlas has checked all the boxes: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free and free of other nasty chemicals. Their clean formula is easy on sensitive skin and feels refreshing to apply. To further avoid irritating dry skin, this lotion is fragrance-free. But Blu Atlas aims to be globally appealing, so there are scent choices: fragrance-free, coconut and apricot and Blu Atlas’s classic signature scent. These qualities and the care put into crafting this stellar product make it the best lotion for dry skin.

2. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Moisturizer is one of their best-selling products. It’s not hard to see why, or in this case, feel why this product is among the best. This lotion is rich while still being non-greasy. It can help improve the skin’s texture and relieves dry skin by delivering much-needed moisture. Even though this product was made with dry skin in mind, it is suitable for all skin types.

Good things come in threes. This lotion has a trio of star ingredients that do the heavy lifting to improve dry skin. First is shea butter, known for its hydrating qualities and ability to restore suppleness to the skin. Next is cocoa butter, another deeply hydrating ingredient found in personal care products aimed at providing intense hydration. Finally, there’s squalane, a signature ingredient of Kiehl’s products. Kiehl's squalane is a lipid derived from olives. It is easily absorbed into the skin and can restore and heal the skin’s damaged barrier.

Made with clean and natural ingredients and without harsh chemicals that can damage vulnerable skin, Kiehl’s Creme de Corps moisturizer is ideal for dry skin and takes the No. 2 spot for the best lotion for dry skin in 2023. Beloved ever since the 80s, this lotion comes back year after year as a solid skincare choice.

3. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

The TikTok viral skincare company has done it again. But instead of a cleanser, the spotlight is on their moisturizing cream. CeraVe’s moisturizing cream is made for normal to dry skin. It can repair damaged skin and prevent damage by helping to trap moisture.

This moisturizer achieves this through carefully selected ingredients that hydrate and repair dry skin. These include three essential ceramides, fatty molecules that maintain the skin’s protective barrier. This keeps out oxidants and harmful materials while keeping in valuable moisture. This cream also contains hyaluronic acid, a holy grail of skincare that is known to help skin retain moisture and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. To round off this excellent list of star ingredients is petrolatum, which aids the slow release of moisturizing agents, creating long-lasting hydration.

This cream has a pleasant rich texture but is still non-greasy and lightweight. It has been dermatologically developed to restore the barrier of dry and damaged skin. It is still gentle and can speed up the healing process of skin ailments. CeraVe’s moisturizing cream has even been accepted by the National Eczema Association.

4. Nécessaire The Body Lotion

Nécessaire is a necessity for your dry skin needs. It is vitamin-rich and nourishes dehydrated skin to leave it feeling soft, supple and moisturized. This formula is fragrance-free to avoid aggravating delicate and dry skin. It is also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and other substances that can irritate the skin.

This hydrating lotion boasts a list of natural ingredients that can help ease skin woes. Niacinamide helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier, keeping nasty stuff out and hydration in. Luxurious oils like marula, meadowfoam and cacay deliver nutrients like vitamins and omegas to the skin to keep it healthy and in excellent condition.

Nécessaire is known for its luxurious and minimalistic products that use clean and sustainable ingredients. Their products are a friend to your skin and to the planet. This body lotion maintains the brand’s reputation for excellence in personal care. This lotion is easy on sensitive skin and skin conditions like eczema. To round off this amazing product, it also feels cool and refreshing to apply.

5. Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream

Head to toe, Weleda can cover it all. Weleda’s Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream uses natural ingredients to hydrate dry skin. This Weleda lotion is free of harsh chemicals like parabens, synthetic fragrances and phthalates, which can harm the skin. To replace these common chemicals, Weleda uses natural ingredients like minerals, essential oils plus root, fruit and flower extracts to deeply hydrate dry skin.

Two key ingredients give this cream the ability to bring skin back from the brink of dehydration. The first is viola tricolor extract, which helps the skin retain moisture by providing a protective layer over the skin. Second is sunflower seed oil, known as a soothing massage oil and is now dry skin’s best friend.

When it comes to saving dry skin, extra creamy means extra good. Even a small amount of Weleda moisturizer can go a long way in covering the body. This moisturizer has rough and damaged skin in mind. Dehydration, terrible weather and pollution could be why skin is desert-dry. While you can fix some factors like dehydration, the weather and pollution are hard to control. This ultra-hydrating cream puts you back in control of the skin you're in, so you can fearlessly take on whatever the world has to throw at you.

6. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream is made to be fast-acting. When applied, it absorbs into the skin to provide instant relief. It is safe for sensitive skin, but it is also suitable for all types of skin. It can be your one-stop cream for the whole family. Results such as skin hydration and a soft and comfortable texture can be seen after one use.

The key ingredients in this product are shea butter, allantoin and colloidal oatmeal. Shea butter is a familiar ingredient in the skincare world renowned for providing deep hydration. Allantoin is a naturally occurring compound in most living things, like plants and animals. It is an effective moisturizing agent with exfoliating properties that encourages skin renewal. It also can promote an even skin tone. Finally, there’s colloidal oatmeal, which helps to restore the skin barrier and relieves uncomfortable itching caused by skin conditions like rashes or eczema.

First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream is formulated for dry skin but is suitable for everyone. Its skin benefits have been tested in an independent clinical study with reports showing effective performance. In addition, this product is vegan, uses clean ingredients and is cruelty-free. So you know that saving dry skin doesn’t come at the cost of the planet’s well-being.

7. Avene XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream

Think soothing when you think of the Xeracalm cream. Dry skin can often mean a list of other side effects, from itching to eczema and unsightly flaking. It’s enough to distress anyone. So, Avene formulated this XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream to repair the fallout of dry skin and bring it back to its former glory.

Avene’s signature ingredient, thermal spring water, softens the skin and makes it ready to absorb moisture. Cer-omega is derived from evening primrose and helps restore the skin’s moisture-retaining barrier. It also has the I-Modulia® complex. This patented ingredient soothes discomfort and itchiness and boosts the skin’s defense system.

This is another lotion approved by the National Eczema Association. The rich formula is calming and soothing. Its velvety texture makes it pleasing to apply and is a great follow-up to using corticosteroids. Think soothing, think for sensitive skin, think Avene’s XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream.

8. Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Want skin that has a silky smooth finish? Then Drunk Elephant has the answer for you. Drunk Elephant’s Sili Body Lotion brightens and smoothens dull skin. It has a pH of 4.2, which is skin-friendly and will support your skin instead of damaging it.

Finding the right formula to repair and improve dry skin can be challenging. But this lotion has risen to the occasion with its unique blend of butters, plant oils and ceramides. Ingredients like marula butter and coconut oil contain fatty acids that hydrate the skin. Sili Body Lotion’s 5-ceramide blend maintains healthy moisture levels in the skin and helps prevent water loss. These are only a few ingredients Drunk Elephant’s Sili Body Lotion contains to provide deep hydration.

It’s a great lotion to help you prepare for the coming summer. However, this lotion does have a scent that has proven to be divisive. If possible, it’s best to try it in-store before deciding to purchase it.

9. Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Nourishing Cream

Made in France, Bioderma’s Atoderm Nourishing Cream is ultra-absorbent and ultra-nourishing. Moisture is absorbed into the skin immediately upon application and is efficient for 24 hours. So it provides long-lasting moisturization.

The Atoderm Nourishing Cream contains the trademarked Skin Protect Complex. This complex is formulated to encourage water retention in the skin. Vitamin PP, a form of vitamin B3, stimulates lipid production and restores the skin’s suppleness. Then other ingredients help the skin absorb and retain moisture to provide full-day hydration. This is ideal if you want a product that can provide immediate and lasting relief to dry skin in crisis.

This cream is best applied after coming out of the shower or bath to seal in moisture. For user convenience, this cream can be bought in a tube or pump packaging. However, Bioderma’s products aren’t certified as vegan or cruelty-free.

10. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

Cetaphil has dry skin down to a fine science. Their moisturizing lotion is formulated to counter the 5 signs of skin sensitivity. These include roughness, tightness, dryness, irritation and a skin’s weak moisture barrier.

The ingredients are backed by dermatologists. Niacinamide and vitamin B3 help protein production in the skin and protect against harmful environmental irritants. Panthenol, pro-vitamin B5, deeply moisturizes the skin alongside glycerin, which makes for more resilient skin. This lotion also contains avocado oil to create a smooth application experience,

Tried and tested by thousands worldwide, Cetaphil’s moisturizing lotion has been praised for its light texture and long-lasting hydration. The lightweight formula allows your skin to breathe without losing precious moisture. This lotion has been dermatologically tested and is clinically proven to provide up to 48 hours of hydration. After a week of use, this lotion can restore skin to balanced moisture levels. This lotion is also fragrance-free, reducing the risk of skin irritation, and is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores.

11. BIOSSANCE Squalane + Caffeine Toning Body Cream

The secret to Biossance’s hydrating formula is all in the name. They use the essence of the biological world to achieve perfectly hydrated skin. This has a clean formula that is gentle on your skin and the planet. Biossance’s Squalane + Caffeine Toning Body Cream is made with aging skin in mind. Aging skin often suffers from two concerns: dryness and sagging. With a unique blend of ingredients, Biossance has formulated a two-in-one cream.

Squalane, derived from sugarcane, is Biossance’s signature ingredient. It instantly penetrates the skin to replenish moisture reserves and has fast-acting relief for dry skin. The body naturally produces squalane, but as people age, squalane production decreases. Caffeine derived from green coffee beans works alongside squalane to smoothen skin texture. Niacinamide is a supportive superstar that promotes smooth skin texture and a strong moisture barrier.

Clean, green, but kind to your skin. This body cream is effective in relieving dry skin and firming it. The product is vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free. It comes in two versions: fragrance-free or a gentle citrus scent.

12. La Roche-Posay Lipikar Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream

This viral French luxury brand has become famous world-over for their skincare products. Now, it’s time for their Lipikar Triple Repair Cream to take center stage. This cream boasts 48-hour hydration and effectively relieves rough and dry skin. It has been formulated with dermatologically backed ingredients.

This cream contains one of La Roche-Posay’s signature ingredients: prebiotic thermal spring water. This spring water has been sourced from La Roche-Posay, a town in France, which has high levels of selenium, minerals and trace elements. Ceramide-3 supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier for more refreshed skin. These are only a few ingredients that La Roche-Posay uses to repair dry skin.

This cream is safe for all family members, even babies two weeks and older. Dry, rough and sensitive skin doesn’t have to be a fact of life but can now be healed with the gentle power of La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream.

13. Aveeno Skin Relief Intense Moisture Repair Body Cream

Triple the oats, triple the effectiveness. Aveeno has been in the skincare game for a long time, and they don’t disappoint in dealing with sensitive skin. Their Skin Relief Moisture Repair Cream is fragrance-free and uses the power of oats to provide intense moisturization.

This cream contains oat flour, oil and extract. This helps lock in moisture for relief that lasts. Shea butter is well-known for providing a great texture to skincare products and aiding in hydration. This formula is dye-free and paraben-free and is part of Aveeno’s Skin Relief line, which aims to soothe itchy and dry skin.

Aveeno uses the powers of nature and science to create solutions for dry skin. This Moisture Repair Cream is non-greasy and pleasant to apply. It provides full-day protection and makes moisture last. Be relieved knowing that this trusted skincare brand can fulfill your dry skin needs. Aveeno’s use of natural products means they have pledged to do their bit for the planet. Aveeno aims to have 100% recyclable or compostable product packaging by 2025

14. Vanicream Moisturizing Ointment

Vanicream’s motto is “The most important ingredient is trust™." Previously known as Vaniply Ointment, Vanicream’s Moisturizing Ointment has the ingredients your dry skin needs and nothing it doesn’t. Vanicream is trusted by dermatologists and the National Eczema Association to effectively relieve dry skin and some conditions that occur due to excessive dryness.

Daily life can create enduring problems. Spending too much time in the sun or harsh cold weather and activities that cause friction, like cycling and running, are all factors that can create dry skin problems. Vanicream’s Moisturizing Ointment counters these issues so you can live your life to the fullest. Vanicream’s ingredients include silica, microcrystalline wax and hydrogenated polydecene, among other ingredients. But don’t worry if the names sound unfamiliar; the ingredients are backed by dermatologists.

This light ointment is free of dyes, gluten, parabens, lanolin and formaldehyde releasers, among other chemical irritants. This product can be applied to affected areas like the hands, body and face. Gentle yet effective, this is a product that can rescue skin that is in dire need of repair.

15. Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

The decadent choice for dry skin. Josie Maran’s Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter is made with 100% pure argan oil. Argan oil is an ingredient popular for treating dry hair, but its moisture-rich properties can also be applied to skincare. This body butter has an ultra-hydrating formula that softens rough and dry skin.

Argan oil is the main ingredient that restores skin to its original softness and gives this body butter a smooth texture. It also contains shea butter to add to this product’s velvety texture and provide extra hydration. Avocado oil helps repair damaged skin that has been at the mercy of harmful elements like the dry unforgiving cold of this past winter. White tea extract provides antioxidants that support the skin’s natural defenses.

Josie Maran is a company that cares about your skin and the planet. This product is vegan, cruelty-free and uses natural ingredients. It also avoids using harsh chemicals that can further irritate skin. It is sulfate-free, paraben-free and phthalate-free. This product can be used on affected areas and is best applied after the skin has been cleansed for maximum effectiveness.

16. AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

Amlactin aims to be “more than just a moisturizer.” And they more than deliver on that goal. This lotion is also a 2-in-1 product because that is an effective moisturizer and exfoliant.

In some cases, dry skin may be dead skin. When skin cell turnover is slow and ineffective, layers of dead skin can become dry, itchy and all-around irritating. Amlactin’s Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion can solve that problem. This moisturizer contains 12% lactic acid to exfoliate the skin. Lactic acid is also an effective moisturizer because it helps bind water to the skin, creating long-lasting moisturizing effects.

This lotion keeps it simple by having one secret star ingredient. Lactic acid does double the work to get excellent skin care results. Amlactin knows how to use lactic acid well because it is the number 1 dermatologist-recommended brand that uses lactic acid. This lotion provides instant hydration and is effective in dealing with skin conditions like keratosis pilaris alongside irritating and uncomfortable dry skin.

17. Ursa Major Perfect Zen Body Lotion

Find your inner peace with the Perfect Zen Body Lotion. It’s hard to feel restful when your skin is acting up. Whether the weather or general skin sensitivity is causing dryness, Ursa Major has the solution for you.

This lotion has four-star ingredients that are your guiding lights toward hydrated skin. Aloe is often used to treat sunburns because of its soothing and hydrating qualities. It is also used in effective skincare products to put irritating dry skin at ease. Meadowfoam is a seed oil that gives the formula its non-greasy texture and provides antioxidant qualities that protect the skin. Lavender rejuvenates the skin while adding a pleasing scent.

This lotion has a light and fresh aroma that is easy on sensitive skin. It is also easy on the environment and is made with sustainable ingredients. The formula is phthalate-free, paraben-free, vegan and cruelty-free. The scent is light with fresh notes from other ingredients like bergamot and sweet orange oil. If you want a lotion that repairs dry skin and has a pleasing scent, turn to Ursa Major, the brand, not the constellation.

18. Burt’s Bees Ultimate Care Sensitive Healing Body Lotion

We know the hydrating powers of Burt’s Bees lip balm, so imagine what it can do for dry skin! Described as “a natural win for dry skin”, this body lotion uses nature to gently heal even the driest patches of skin. It has been clinically shown that Burt’s Bees Healing Body Lotion can provide all-day moisturization.

But who are the key workers in this lotion’s skin-soothing abilities? Aloe vera works to soothe and ease the discomfort and unease that dry skin causes by providing moisture. Jojoba and shea butter provide a gorgeous texture to the lotion and add extra hydration. While aloe, jojoba and shea provide moisture, rice milk helps to seal it all in. Your skin will maintain healthy moisture and hydration levels. Not too dry and not too oily.

Other ingredients include sunflower seed oil, castor oil, and of course, honey and beeswax. These and the other ingredients in Burt’s Bees Healing Body Lotion are naturally derived to support healthy skin and a healthy planet. Since their founding in the ’80s, Burt’s Bees haven’t compromised on the quality of their products.

19. Augustinus Bader The Cream

On the luxury end is Augustinus Bader’s The Cream. It’s on the pricier end of the scale but is worth the splurge. This cream has been praised by skin care professionals and celebrities. The beauty director of The Cut says it is the “secret to rich-person skin.”

This cream is perfect for dry and aging skin. It has many benefits, such as reducing pigmentation and pores and brightening skin tone while delivering moisture to dry skin in need. Augustus Bader’s The Cream is full of vitamins, hydrolyzed rice protein and TFC8®, a complex containing amino acids, synthesized molecules based on naturally occurring compounds in the skin and high-quality vitamins.

This cream can be used on nights when you don’t feel like doing a full skincare routine. The Cream is oil-based but still has that barely-there feeling. Thirty years of research have gone into The Cream, and the results and praise speak for themselves.

Bonus: Bio-Oil Moisturizing Body Lotion

For decades, Bio-Oil has been using oil to lessen the appearance of stretch marks and scars. These can be some of the toughest skin care issues to treat. Naturally, Bio-Oil has made products for other skin concerns like dryness. Using thorough research, Bio-Oil has created this body lotion, a valuable tool to combat dry skin.

The body lotion is oil-rich yet ultra-light on the skin for your comfort. This lotion only contains premium ingredients like shea oil, jojoba oil and rosehip oil. These oils have powerful antioxidant properties and supply moisture to dehydrated skin. These ingredients also slow the rate of water loss from the skin. Bio-Oil’s shake-before-use technology allows this product to absorb quickly into the skin so oily residue isn’t left behind.

This body lotion was created by specialists for skin with specific needs. It’s recommended to apply this product in the morning and evening, twice daily. This product is vegan and cruelty-free, and the packaging is 100% recyclable.