The Winter Moisturizers to Slather on For Flake-Free Skin

When winter takes over, even the oiliest skin types have trouble adjusting to the harsh weather. Is this the same face that was like one big greasy sausage finger during the summer and is now all bone-dry? Unfortunately, no skin type stays unbothered during the winter. We all suffer from dry skin, redness, flakiness, and dehydration to some degree. And if your moisturizer doesn’t seem to be working for your skin anymore, it might be the perfect time to meet the best winter moisturizers that will hold your hand through the whole process.

When looking for a moisturizer to use in winter, you still need to keep your skin type in mind. But you need to branch out a bit if you want something that’ll actually make a difference for your skin. Otherwise, why bother changing it?

As a reminder, hydration is key. But you still need some kind of an emollience in your moisturizer to trap that water in. Because of the low humidity and the wind, your skin is more prone to transepidermal water loss in winter.

If you have oily skin, you can always stick with it and grab an oil-free one. But don’t shy away from grabbing an oil-based moisturizer as long as it contains the right oils. The gel-based ones, the water creams, the light moisturizers, or whatever you call them, work great for summer.

But they may not be enough to help your skin retain the moisture it needs in the winter. So, if your oil-free moisturizer isn’t providing the moisture you need, this may be the reason why.

And for dry skin, it’s not like it’s only the dryness that’s giving you a hard time. It’s also uncomfortable. Dry skin feels tight, gets red, and sometimes even burns.

And god forbid if you forget to apply your moisturizer after the shower. It feels like the skin is going to rip in half like tissue paper! Fortunately, we’ve got you covered!

The Best Winter Moisturizers

Find below the best winter moisturizers for all skin types to manage dryness, dehydration, and flaky skin.

1. Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream

Best Overall

Pros
Has a silky finish
Softens and plumps instantly
Available for different skin types

Cons
Some might not like fragrance

This has such a pleasant texture and finish that you’re going to love it no matter your skin type! Even though Clarins has this for different skin types, this one stands right in the middle where it’s super replenishing but at the same time, lightweight.

The moisturizer has squalane, and several antioxidant-rich and soothing botanicals to care for dry skin in winter. It has silicones in it but it does not make the formula heavy. It has a pleasant smell, not an overpowering one. Apply it on thirsty skin and you’re going to see a visible difference in plumpness and tone.

Key Ingredients: Squalane, leaf of life extract, vitamin E
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Formula: Contains fragrance

2. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Best Drugstore

Pros
More bang for your buck
Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive
No greasy residue

Cons
Thick texture
Takes a minute to spread

This one never disappoints and it is the most budget-friendly way to modify your winter skincare routine. The combination of hyaluronic acid and ceramides replenishes the skin while also helping it retain moisture for longer. Even though it’s recommended for dry skin types, all skin types can comfortably use it.

It’s non-comedogenic and it’s an affordable option for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin as well. It does not stay on the skin or give you a greasy look. It’s fragrance-free and even suitable for people with sensitive skin. It’s also a great moisturizer for rosacea to keep dryness, redness, and itchiness at bay. The texture might feel a little thick at first. But apply it on damp skin to make it spread and absorb better.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
Size: 16 oz
Formula: Fragrance-free, oil-free, contains silicones

3. Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer With Hyaluronic Acid

Best For Oily Skin

Pros
Antioxidant-rich
Contains anti-inflammatories
Creamy but non-comedogenic

This moisturizer contains just the right amount of humectants and oils for oily skin! The cream is a tad heavier than a gel cream but still airy and lighter than a thick moisturizer. It’s made with soothing and hydrating vitamin B5 as well as hyaluronic acid to replenish oily skin. The non-comedogenic sunflower seed oil provides the perfect emollience to protect your skin against dehydration and transepidermal water loss.

To care for oily skin, the cream also contains vitamins C and E as the powerful antioxidant duo. Plus, it has antioxidant-rich superfoods and green tea to fend off free radical damage. The easy-absorbing cream is the perfect winter moisturizer to replenish oily and combination skin without smothering it, making it greasy or clogging pores.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B5, vitamin E, green tea
Size: 2 oz/59 ml
Formula: Contains fragrance, silicone-free
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

4. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream

Best For Dry Skin

Pros
Ceramide-rich
Slightly thick but absorbs easily
Gives long-lasting moisture

Cons
Some might not like the fragrance

You may have a compromised skin barrier if you have dry skin. Or you might have disrupted your skin barrier by over-exfoliating and being generally harsh on your skin. Maybe you damaged your skin barrier simply by not taking care of it well. Whatever it is, moisturizing is essential to help your skin heal and repair.

And when the skin barrier is at stake, this one is the way to go. It’s packed with barrier-restoring ingredients like ceramides, cholesterol, and shea butter. It also has soothing oatmeal and vitamin B5 to keep irritation in check. Though it has a little herbal scent to it, it’s not overwhelming.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin B5, shea butter, hyaluronic acid
Size: 1. 69 oz/50 ml
Formula: Contains silicones

5. Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Face Cream

Best For Very Dry Skin

Pros
Rich texture boosts moisture
Very creamy base softens the skin
Restorative treatment for dry skin

And speaking of an impaired skin barrier, this is another exceptionally helpful moisturizer for winter. It’s made with fatty acids and non-heavy lipids like jojoba oil and squalane as well as shea butter.

The rich cream boosts moisture and gives you long-lasting hydration without having to reapply every hour! After regular use, the skin is more plump and supple than ever with less visible lines and wrinkles.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, squalane, macadamia oil, shea butter
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Formula: Silicone-free, fragrance-free
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free

6. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration

Best For Sensitive Skin

Pros
Packs a soothing blend
Reduces redness
Deeply moisturizing
Non-heavy texture

If your skin is sensitive, having soothing agents in your moisturizer is a must. But it’s more important during winter because the skin sensitizing elements are everywhere! Cold, wind, the temperature inside your room, the temperature of the shower, you know the list.

As always, the blend of skin-soothers like allantoin, feverfew, and oatmeal come to the rescue to calm sensitive and irritated skin. With the help of shea butter and squalane, you get to moisturize your skin without causing any flare-ups.

Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, green tea, licorice extract
Size: 6 oz
Formula: Contains silicones, fragrance-free
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan

7. Versed Skin Soak Rich Moisture Cream

Best Clean Formula

Pros
Budget-friendly
Very replenishing base

This one’s made with two forms of hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin on all possible levels. The skin-softening cream contains squalane to provide non-heavy moisture.

It also has algae extract and vitamin E to amp up your free radical protection. The moisturizer is a great one to layer under your sunscreen during winter to supercharge your SPF. It’s affordable, non-toxic, and incredibly comfortable on the skin.

Key Ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, alga extract
Size: 1.5 oz
Formula: Silicone-free, fragrance-free
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

8. Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream

Best For Mature Skin

Pros
Brightening formula
Packs several antioxidants
Suitable for all skin types

If you have wrinkles, fine lines, or aging skin, it’s best to have your winter moisturizer rich in antioxidants. And vitamin C is one of the best! It is super brightening for the skin and is known to reduce hyperpigmentation and sun damage.

The Korean vitamin C cream sinks into your skin and energizes your complexion. It’s not oil-free but it’s not heavy either. So you can continue to protect your skin against free radicals while keeping moisture up in drying winter weather.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid
Size: 1.69 oz/50 ml
Formula: Contains silicones, fragrance, and alcohol

9. Shani Darden Skin Care Weightless Oil-Free Moisturizer

Best For Acne-Prone Skin

Pros
Super light texture
Absorbs easily and disappears
Non-acnegenic
Visibly plumps dehydrated skin

If you insist on an oil-free moisturizer for fear of congestion, this one will not aggravate the skin into producing more oil or breaking out. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and collagen, which is basically a smaller version of collagen proteins that are giving us smooth and healthy skin.

In your moisturizer, it’s going to increase moisture and give you non-greasy and soft skin. With algae extract, the light cream is going to provide the moisture acne-prone types need in winter while maintaining clear skin.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, collagen, algae extract
Size: 2.5 oz/75 ml
Formula: Contains silicones, fragrance-free
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

10. EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer

Best For Night

Pros
Overnight treatment
Restores compromised skin barrier

Your evening routine is the time to bring out the big guns to tackle winter weather. If you’re on the lookout for a hydrating nighttime treatment, this night moisturizer is going to arm your skin with hardworking ingredients.

It has all the goodies you need; niacinamide for barrier repair, hyaluronic acid for supple skin, alpha-lipoic acid, and vitamin E for treating oxidative damage. It also has rice protein for added moisture. The night moisturizer is oil-free and suitable for all skin types.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Formula: Fragrance-free, silicone-free

11. Sephora All Day Body Hydrator

Best For Your Body

Pros
Softens skin
Non-greasy, non-sticky
Deeply moisturizing

This body moisturizer is going to help you deal with winter body problems like dryness, and cracked, and flaky skin all over. The incredibly nourishing cream is formulated around mango and shea butter to relieve dry skin. It’s the perfect post-shower body treatment to moisturize and soften all over!

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, squalane
Size: 13.5 oz
Formula: Contains fragrance
Good To Know: Vegan

This completes our round-up of the best moisturizers for winter. Remember, a good balance of humectants and emollients is all you need to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized. If your skin gets sensitive during winter, check out how to calm irritated skin on your face.