Choosing the right balm means understanding what it does best: attract water (Humectant), soften and repair (Emollient), or seal moisture in (Occlusive). Here are our top picks, classified by their main powerhouse ingredients.
The Dry Skin Cream Blueprint: What You Need to Know
When your skin is dry, it lacks both water and oil, which compromises its protective barrier. The best creams work by using three core types of ingredients to fix this:
|
Ingredient Type |
Function (What it Does) |
Examples to Look For |
| Humectants |
Attract and hold water deep in the skin. |
Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Urea |
| Emollients |
Smooth and soften the skin by filling in the tiny cracks between cells. |
Ceramides, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil |
| Occlusives |
Lock moisture in by creating a physical seal on the surface. |
Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone |
The Goal: You need a cream that has a good mix of all three to properly hydrate and protect your skin barrier.
Best Skin Balms For Dry Skin
1. The Barrier-Boosting Balm
La Roche-Posay are pioneers in microbiome science. As well as immediately soothing and hydrating dry skin, this cutting-edge balm harnesses the power of an exclusive AP+M technology to help rebalance the skin's microbiome and reduces the frequency of dry skin flare-ups.
Emollient & Occlusive
A thick "Baume" texture is designed to physically rebuild and seal the damaged skin barrier, making it excellent for protection and long-term nourishment.
Daily use on dry, easily irritated, or compromised skin.
2. The Anti-Itch Balm
When skin is dry it can become itchy and uncomfortable (don't I know it!). As experts in dry skin, Bioderma developed a formula that breaks the dreaded scratch-itch cycle. PEA and a biomimetic active ingredient help minimise this urge to scratch, and provide immediate comfort.
Emollient & Occlusive
Provides a high concentration of lipids (oils) to restore the protective layer of the skin, offering immediate, long-lasting relief from irritation and itching.
Severely dry skin, intense itching, and maintaining comfort between flare-ups.
3. The Skin Smoothing Balm
Let's wash over that the brand call this a lotion. It's the lightest of my skin balm recommendations in this edit, but it's one of my favourites for smoothing dry, flaky areas of the body. It's powered by urea which is naturally found in the body; it helps bind water to the upper layers of the skin, leaving skin smooth and supple.
Humectant (with strong Emollient properties)
Urea is a powerful Humectant that draws water into the skin. At a 10% concentration, it also has a gentle exfoliating effect, which explains its impressive skin-smoothing benefits.
Rough, bumpy, and flaky patches (like on the back of the arms or legs).
4. The Atopic Skin Balm
To prevent worsening your dryness or causing irritation, try to avoid products that contain high concentrations of these ingredients:
SD Alcohol or Denatured Alcohol: These are often used to make products feel lighter but can strip your skin of its natural protective oils.
Strong Fragrances or Perfumes: These are common irritants that can cause inflammation, especially in sensitive or eczema-prone skin. Always opt for the "fragrance-free" version.
Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid (High Concentration): While helpful for exfoliation, these active ingredients can be too drying or irritating for daily use on severely dry skin. Use them sparingly or look for creams that only include them in very low concentrations.
Application Tips: Lock in the Moisture
Using the right cream is only half the battle—timing is everything when treating dry skin. Follow these steps to maximise your cream's effectiveness:
The Damp Skin Rule (Crucial): Always apply your cream within two to three minutes of getting out of the shower or washing your face. Applying moisturiser to slightly damp skin traps the water on the surface, significantly boosting hydration.
Use Thick Layers at Night: Your skin does most of its repair while you sleep. Apply a thicker layer of cream or even a moisturising balm before bed, especially on stubborn dry spots like elbows, feet, and hands.
Massage, Don't Rub: Gently massage the cream into your skin using upward, circular motions. This helps the product absorb and increases circulation without pulling or irritating sensitive skin.
All of the recommendations in this edit can be used to treat atopic skin, but this is my go-to. As someone who has suffered from eczema for as long as I can remember I turn to Avene's formulas whenever I have a flare-up.
The Xera Calm A.D. Balm is a staple in my skincare stash. The nourishing balm instantly soothes, hydrates and rebalances skin, plus it has unique DEFI packaging, which prevents bacteria and all other germs from contaminating the formula.
Emollient & Occlusive
Specifically formulated for the compromised barrier of atopic skin, its rich balm texture uses high levels of lipids to soothe inflammation, repair damage, and intensely seal the skin.
Eczema flare-ups, severely damaged skin barrier, and post-rash recovery.
Ingredients to Avoid If Your Skin is Dry
FAQs about dry skin creams
Why does my skin still feel dry even after applying a cream?
This often happens for three main reasons:
Timing: You're applying cream to completely dry skin. Moisturisers work best when they can seal in existing moisture. Always apply to slightly damp skin (within 2-3 minutes of washing/showering).
Wrong Formula: Your cream might be high in Humectants (which attract water) but low in Occlusives (which lock it in). If you live in a very dry climate, the humectant may be drawing moisture out of your skin. You need a thicker barrier cream (a Baume) to prevent evaporation.
Harsh Products: Your cleanser, soap, or hot water is stripping too much oil from your skin before you even apply the cream. Switch to a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and use lukewarm water in the shower.
How often should I apply cream if my skin is very dry?
For severely dry or flaky skin, you should aim for at least twice a day:
Morning: After showering/cleansing, before applying SPF.
Night: Before bed, applying a thicker layer to allow overnight repair.
You can also apply your cream any time your skin feels tight or itchy, especially on your hands after washing. Remember, you cannot "overuse" a good moisturiser on dry skin.
Are "fragrance-free" and "unscented" the same thing?
No, and this is important for sensitive dry skin:
Fragrance-Free: Contains no perfumes, essential oils, or other ingredients added specifically to impart a scent. This is the safest choice for dry, irritated, or eczema-prone skin.
Unscented: Contains a neutralising chemical to mask the natural (and sometimes unpleasant) smell of the raw ingredients. These neutralisers can still be irritating.
Should I use a body cream on my face?
Generally, it's best to use a face-specific cream.
Body creams are often thicker and can contain heavier occlusives that might clog pores on the face (especially if you are prone to breakouts).
Facial creams are usually formulated as "non-comedogenic," meaning they are designed not to block pores.
However, if you have a non-comedogenic, fragrance-free balm (like some of the products listed above) and your face is extremely dry, using a small amount as a nightly treatment can be perfectly safe.
The Author: Chelsey
After eighteen years navigating the beauty landscape – from the shop floor to now – I've learned a thing or two about what you truly need. At Escentual, I'm here to bring that experience directly to you, offering expert advice to achieve your personal beauty goals.
