Dry Skin Cream That Dermatologists Recommend

Suffering from flaky, parched skin, dry lips, and limbs? You’re not alone. Studies show around a third of women in the UK suffer from dry skin.  

“Dry skin is very common. If your skin feels tight, flaky, or burns when you apply skin products, you most likely have dry skin,” Dr Karan Lal, US-based cosmetic dermatologist, tells Beauty Daily. “If you apply moisturiser and your skin sucks it up, you likely have dry skin. Dry skin can be red, flaky, and itchy.”  

The good news is that dry skin cream can provide relief but it all boils down to finding the right texture and formulation. 

Beauty Daily asked global skin experts about the causes of dry skin and their top dry skin cream recommendations for the face, hands, and feet to combat your dry skin days.  

Let’s begin!  

First, what causes skin dryness?  

Well, there are many common reasons that cause skin dryness. First and foremost is genetics, for which you can’t really do much. You’re born with it.  

It may also be a symptom of a chronic skin condition or is led by external and internal factors, such as physical and emotional stress.  

Experts say stress can weaken your immune system, leading to dry skin. It can also trigger flare-ups to conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.   

Cold or dry weather, sun damage, harsh soaps, and overbathing are also common causes of skin dryness.  

Read next: 7 Common Skin Conditions And How To Treat Them 

Can using dry skin cream help combat my dry skin worries?

Absolutely! If you have dry skin, keep on moisturising! By doing this, it will help your dry skin to better retain water and maintain a proper level of hydration. 

“When looking at moisturisers for dry skin, you want to look for something that can work at a deeper level as well as on the surface. Ingredients such as Vitamin E, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are great,” says Julie Brown, Beauty Therapist and Founder of The Source Clinic.  

Dr Lal adds: “You may also want to look for ceramides, glycerine, petrolatum, dimethicone, shea butter, and cocoa butter.”  

Best dry skin creams for the face

1. Hydra-Essentiel Rich Cream – Very Dry Skin, £38 

You won’t go wrong with moisturisers that are infused with hyaluronic acid, as the latter is known for its effectiveness when it comes to upping your skin’s moisture levels. It is a moisture magnet that will tackle your skin’s dryness issues.  

Beauty Daily recommends Hydra-Essentiel Rich Cream – Very Dry Skin, £38 

Although it has a rich texture, its smooth, lightweight texture instantly comforts the skin and doesn’t leave an oily feel to it. Your skin’s capacity to retain water is restored. It remains intensely hydrated under all circumstances thanks to its active plant ingredient, Organic Leaf of Life, which works similarly to hyaluronic acid, being able to absorb 1,000 times its weight in water. Your skin is instantly quenched and nourished while feeling comfortable and radiant. 

2. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Repairing Balm, £14 

This is a multi-use repairing balm that you can use for the face and body. It is formulated with 5% panthenol and can immediately help soothe irritated skin and accelerate the skin’s natural repair process.  

It can soothe people suffering from chapped and cracked skin, dry or rough patches 

rashes (including nappy rash on babies), minor injuries e.g., scrapes and grazes, eczema flare-ups, irritated skin, and insect bites 

“This is a product that will soothe your skin with cica and keep you well-moisturised. It doesn’t sting and feels very calming,” says Dr Lal.  

3. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly 100ml,  £2.69 

For Vaseline fans, you’re in for a treat as experts do swear by Vaseline Petroleum Jelly’s powers. Not only is it affordable, but it is also clinically proven to help heal dry or damaged skin and Dr Lal recommends it.  

“If you have any dry patches of skin, this is what you need and want. The key to using it is making sure you use it after showers to avoid the sticky feeling.”  

H2: Best dry skin creams for the body  

4. Calm-Essentiel Soothing Repairing Balm, £28 

If you’ve got dry, cracking, itching or rough areas of skin around your nose, lips, around the eyes, elbows, knees and more, make this fragrance-free balm a staple in your routine, as it instantly soothes the skin thanks to its ultra-nourishing texture and formulation.  

It has loads of great ingredients, including an extract from the clary sage plant called phytosphingosine that works in harmony with vegetal squalane to help repair the skin’s barrier. It also has shea butter, known to soothe the driest of skin types.  

Apply a thick layer and gently pat it in without rubbing. Think of it as a cream-based bandage and use it where you need it most.  

5. Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, £35 

For overall body moisture, there’s nothing we’d best recommend but the Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, £35. It is formulated with raspberry, which softens the skin, and bitter orange flower, which protects the skin’s hydro-lipidic film to promote optimal hydration. 

“It also has glycerin and shea butter, which are great moisturisers. Although this product does have a fragrance so it may not be for those who are sensitive to fragrances,” cautions Dr Lal.  

Best dry skin cream for feet

1. Foot Beauty Treatment Cream, £26 

Dry heels are a widespread skin condition that affects us all. 90% of UK women have foot problems, and 45% of women suffer from painful cracked heels. Ouch!  

The best way to heal your cracked heels is to cocoon your feet with a foot cream once or twice a day. You can start your foot pampering session with Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream, £26 as its formulated with the best dry skin soothing ingredients, such as emollient-rich shea butter and anti-fungal arnica extract and virgin cashew nut oil, which all work to renew and protect from ankle to toe.  

Best dry skin cream for hands

1. Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, £24.50

Did you know that our hands are one of the body parts that are the most neglected, despite taking the most battering? If totally ignored, hands can be prone to premature sun spots and wrinkles, not to mention eczema and rough, dry skin. You can prevent this from happening by applying sunscreen to the backs of your hands in the morning, and using hand cream at least once a day, ideally before bedtime. Leave it overnight or you can just always keep it handy to banish dry skin on your hands.   

Beauty Daily recommends Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, £24.50. It is formulated with soothing sesame oil and fortifying Japanese Mulberry extract, which forms a protective ‘glove’ that shields hands from harmful elements, keeping skin dryness at bay.   

2. Eucerin Aquaphor Ointment, £8.82

If you want to soothe inflamed cracked skin, try Eucerin’s Aquaphor Ointment, £8.82. It is formulated with panthenol – a derivative of Vitamin B to condition the skin, glycerine to moisturise and bisabolol from Chamomile to keep skin smooth. 

It is highly recommended by dermatologists because it provides healing for your dry, cracked skin’s needs. Its gentle, non-irritating formula protects and creates an ideal environment to support the natural recovery process. 

“One of my favourite products for dry skin is Eucerin Aquaphor Ointment, £8.82 to soothed dry lips, cuticles and inflamed cracked skin,” says America’s top physician and CEO at Atlanta Dermatology, Darren Casey.   

A dry skin saviour you should know about is shea butter. It’s proven to have efficient anti-inflammatory properties and helps quell any redness or blotchiness. We listed 6 Shea Butter Benefits You Need To Know here. You’re welcome.