A Beauty Editor’s Top Picks: 5 Best Dry Skin Moisturisers Under $100
Sarah Tarca is a beauty journalist, writer and co-founder of Australia’s first dedicated beauty newsletter, gloss etc. Her skills involve applying lipstick without a mirror, bullying people to wear sunscreen and procrastinating washing her hair. She loves her kids, skincare and potatoes in equal measure — almost as much as she loves SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. Almost. Find her on socials @tarca
I don’t expect a lot from my moisturiser: the “wow” levels of skin change is the domain of serums, in my opinion.
But, I do expect them to do the job they were hired for - to moisturise and maybe even hydrate the skin.
However, even with that (low) level of expectation, so many miss the brief, especially when it comes to drier skin types.
See, it’s not about the cream being heavier - thicker does not always mean better hydration - especially if it sits on the skin (rather than sinking in), and although it seems counterintuitive, it’s true for dry skin types too.
The key isn’t in the thickness, it’s in the hydrating ingredients and their ability to get down into the skin where they can replenish the hydration and prevent further water loss.
Here’s another secret: exey does not necessarily equate to better either.
In fact, some of my very favourite dry skin moisturisers sit under the $100 mark, and they do their job so well, someone should give them a promotion already.
And, since friends don’t gatekeep, I’m sharing them with you...
How Do I Know if I Have Dry Skin?
But first, a little refresher on dry skin.
Some people are born with this skin type, and others will inherit its characteristics as they age thanks to hormonal changes.
Dry skin does not only lack moisture, but natural oils too. Without this lubricant the texture can be rough and flaky, or you could feel like your skin is always tight.
It’s important to note that this is different from dehydrated skin, which is just lacking water, and which many of us will experience seasonally, especially in winter with the hot showers and heating.
Product-wise you’ll want to be looking for nourishing ingredients that hydrate, plump and also prevent further transepidermal water loss.
5 of the Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin Under $100
1. Viviology Ceramide Moisturiser, $50
I’m a big fan of Viviology products, and they find themselves onto my vanity on the regular.
This particular product though is wildly underrated. When I used it for the first time it was remarkable - in the literal sense - where I couldn’t stop remarking on how soft and nourished my skin felt. And hydrated!
My god, the levels of hydration were out-of-the park, yet there was not even a smidge of heaviness on the skin.
The all-stars in this tube are ceramides, squalane (an emollient that smooths and softens the skin) plus the humectants glycerin and polyglutamic acid to bind water to the skin and lock it in.
2. Hada Labo Intense Hydrating Skin-Plumping Gel, $35.95
Gel formulations are not usually the MO of dry skin girlies but this is the exception.
Hada Labo’s entire DNA is in hydration, so really it tracks that this would be great.
Things I like about it: it’s artificial fragrance-free, and light on the skin, making it a great dry-skin choice for the warmer months too.
Also, it’s got three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid doing the most to plump instantly, but also give longevity, and there’s also green tea in there for some antioxidant prowess.
It does give a little bit of tack though, so definitely one that you have to wait a beat before you move on in your routine.
3. Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 72H Lipid-Replenishing Hydrator, $83
Moisture Surge was one of the OGs for dry skin, with its lightweight, totally sinkable gel that seemed to love every skin. But they’ve upped the ante here with the intense version for those of us who can never have enough moisture.
The formula here is a gel-cream, it’s still oil-free and fragrance free and the big claim: the hydration lasts for 72 hours (I haven’t tested this though because I just apply every day).
Aside from hyaluronic acid and aloe water, it also has cica (centella asiatica) which helps to soothe, calm and support the skin barrier.
But it’s also got this cool technology called “auto-replenshing lipid-filler, which essentially helps the skin to continually hydrate itself and not lose water.
All sounds very fancy but what you really need to know is that it’s just damn good.
4. Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra Nourishing Moisturiser For Dry Skin, $44.99
A two-for-one deal here because you can use this on your face as well as your (long-forgetten) body and the 500ml pump pack has you forgetting all about the cost-of-living situation.
French pharmacy brands are the kings of respecting the skin barrier, and Bioderma does it best.
Their Atoderm range is all created specifically for dry skin, so it’s an absolute no-brainer: that’s where all their R+D (research and development) goes, so obviously they get it right.
This is a fragrance-free winner that I reach for daily with glycerin, niacinamide, and a patented complex that hydrates, soothes and strengthens the skin barrier by increasing its tolerance.
Told you skin barrier respect is paramount here, and trust me, your skin will love you for it.
5. CeraVe Intensive Moisturising Lotion, $28.99
This is serious stuff, for the dry skin that truly won’t quit. This is the one I whip out when I really need the extra help (usually when I’ve over-exfoliated) rather than an everyday go-to.
Marketed as a body lotion, like many of CeraVe’s products it can also be used for the face.
The ingredients list runs like a honor-roll of best-in-class hydrating ingredients; there's three different types of ceramides to coddle and restore the skin barrier so it can actually hold moisture, urea, which is a powerhouse humectant drawing in (and keeping in) water, plus hyaluronic acid to plump and immediately hydrate.
The lotion uses a fancy delivery system technology called MVE which releases the ingredients over time to extend the hydration time (their claim is up to 72 hours). All this, and it still sinks into the skin beautifully.
To be honest, I’m impressed that I only kept this list to 5!
I could go seriously yap about dry skin moisturiser for another 10,000 words, but this list is a very good start, with a formulation that should suit every preference.
Just try to have dry skin after this, go on, I dare you.
What skincare is best for dry skin? For more expert advice and recommendations, read these next:
