I've Been Testing Moisturisers All Winter—These Are The Ones That Saved My Dry Skin

Texture: Thick butter

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, murumuru butter, ceramides.

Best for: Overnight use

My verdict: One of my pet peeves is when moisturisers claim to be rich and buttery but fail to live up to their credentials. Fortunately this one is exactly as described—deliciously thick and instantly soothing. Don't expect it to sink in quickly or be appropriate for daytime use, but do expect to wake up to softer, nourished skin in the morning.

Customer review: "I love a thick nighttime cream, and this is the best I’ve found! It’s thick but still easy to spread and apply to the face. It’s instantly hydrating and soothing on the skin. I have a history of cystic acne and have been using this for four weeks with no issues."

Texture: Cream

Key ingredients: Ceramides, lipids, NAGs, sasktatoon berry and dragonfruit extracts

Best for: Overnight use

My verdict: Who What Wear UK's beauty editor Eleanor Vousden tells me she has been reaching for this moisturiser during winter. "I trust anything from Medik8, but this night moisturiser has not only been a lifesaver during the colder months, but also as a sidekick to a retinoid treatment that can sometimes leave my skin on the dry side. This is like a hydrating blanket for your skin, packed with skin-restoring ceramides and lipids to leave skin feeling nourished upon waking up. It's not as heavy as some buttery formulas out there, which suits my breakout-prone skin too."

Customer review: "Love this night cream. In the winter especially I am always looking for something which helps my skin rehydrate overnight, and I love this. It's got a great texture which soaks in easily—my skin looks lovely when I wake up the next morning."

Texture: Thick gel balm

Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter

Best for: Overnight use

My verdict: When my skin is really dry and dehydrated it looks flat and dull. Short of having a facial, this overnight cream is the next best thing for restoring life via a cocktail of potent hydrators. it's technically a mask, but it's been one of my go-tos through the winter—I often use it for days at a time.

Customer review: "This is the best sleep in mask for your skin. It soft and absorbs quickly into your skinI have combination skin but I had no issues with acne or oiliness after using the cream. Invest in it you won't regret it."

Texture: Light buttery cream

Key ingredients: Oat, hyaluronic acid, squalane

Best for: Under makeup

My verdict: If your skin craves a nourishing moisturiser but you don't like the feel of thick creams, you'll love this option. It's rich and buttery but lightweight in texture, so melts into skin, leaving a smooth, soft canvas for flawless makeup application.

Customer review: "I have very sensitive eczema-prone skin and can’t use products with strong smells but I need a thick moisturising formula. The great skin cream has a light natural scent and is a hydrating daily moisturiser that is a good base/prep for makeup or just on its own before bed or on a makeup-free day. I’m adding this to my rotation!"

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Texture: Rich cream

Key ingredients: Glycerin, squalane, madecassoside, cica

Best for: Redness-prone skin

My verdict: The perfect moisturiser if the onset of dryness also brings with it a flare-up of redness or sensitivity—a common side effect for those with dry skin. As well as hydrating and nourishing, it works to soothe and calm simultaneously.

Customer review: "This is a brilliant moisturiser for my dry skin and keeps my rosacea at bay, it’s very calming and feels so good on my skin, have been using this for over a year and have seen such an improvement in the redness on my cheeks, a great product."

Texture: Thick cream-balm

Key ingredients: Cupuaçu butter, microalgae extract, linoleic acid

Best for: Overnight use

My verdict: This is one of my favourites to reach for when I feel that my skin needs an extra layer of moisture—it's ideal for applying to those areas most prone to dryness, such as around the nose and mouth.

Customer review: "I have really dry skin and tend to get eczema under and above my eyes during the winter; I’ve tried tons of different products for it (aquaphor, lanolin, eczema cream, etc.), but After Baumé is the only product that has fully cleared the eczema and kept it away."

Texture: Thick cream

Key ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, ceramides

Best for: Morning and nighttime use

My verdict: If you're prone to breakouts and acne flare-ups, then it's understandable that you might be hesitant to use a thick moisturiser. Fortunately, this one was specifically designed with acne-prone dry skin in mind. It’s ultra-hydrating, but won’t clog pores in the process.

Customer review: "This is such a gorgeous cream. So thick and luxurious, it feels amazing on. Will definitely be getting another when my first is empty."

Texture: Light cream

Key ingredients: Glycerin, linoleic acid, ceramides, vitamin D, phytosterols

Best for: Morning and nighttime use

My verdict: As we age, our skin typically becomes more prone to dryness. This moisturiser contains phytosterols to soothe and reduce dryness, while vegetable lipids mimic your skin’s own lipids to fortify the skin barrier and prevent future moisture loss.

Customer review: "I always come back to this moisturiser. It is a life saver for me when the cold weather comes. It stops my skin drying out."

Texture: Rich cream

Key ingredients: Glycerin, squalane, niacinamide, ceramides, allantoin, oat

Best for: Morning and nighttime use

My verdict: To prevent dryness from occurring in the first place, this cream is focussed on strengthening the skin barrier in order to prevent moisture from escaping. It’s rich and creamy but also lightweight, so nourishes my skin without feeling heavy or greasy.

Customer review: "The Allies of Skin Molecular Barrier Recovery Cream Balm has been a game-changer for my skin! It soothes irritation, restores the skin barrier, and leaves my skin feeling deeply hydrated and resilient. I love how it improves moisture retention and softens fine lines, making it perfect for when my skin needs extra care and repair."

Texture: Thick cream

Key ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba, oat, ceramides, squalane

Best for: Morning and nighttime use

My verdict: This moisturiser is a literal cocktail of dry skin-approved ingredients—literally every single one has its place and purpose. Despite being so potent, it’s surprisingly light in texture, but made a noticeable difference to my skin texture within just a few days of use. It also comes in a fragrance-free version if you're sensitive to scents.

Customer review: "This moisturiser is my favourite, especially in the colder months. It's thick and but light-weight on the skin when rubbing it in, it has a beautiful light lemony scent and gives a lovely glow. I have rosacea and my cheeks can sometimes be sensitive, but I have had no issues with this."

Texture: Thick butter

Key ingredients: Glycerin, ectoin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter

Best for: Overnight use

My verdict: This is one of the thickest, most nourishing moisturisers I’ve ever used, so if you think you’ve tried every option for your dry skin, think again and try this. Its dense buttery texture cossets skin, immediately softening and soothing patches of dry, chapped skin.

Customer review: "This is hands down the best moisturiser I have ever used. It's thick and creamy, bringing amazing moisture to my dry skin. But it also absorbs easily once I rub it in and it does not leave my skin greasy or oily looking. I highly recommend to anyone struggling with dry skin."

Texture: Rich cream

Key ingredients: Glycerin, ectoin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter

Best for: Day or nighttime use

My verdict: This was one of the best affordable options I tried this winter, so ideal if you prefer (or need) to be liberal with your face cream application. It contains an impressive lineup of ultra-nourishing ingredients to replenish moisture levels in even the driest skin.

Customer review: "This is a really nice product, it’s really hydrating so it’s good for the day and night but it’s too thick and greasy. It is a great affordable option compared alongside other more expensive products that i’ve tried. I would definitely recommend for combination/dry skin."