Winter and dry skin seemingly go hand in hand. Which is why a heavy-duty moisturizer is a requirement. But not all of them are created equal. That’s why we decided to round up the best winter moisturizers currently on the market.
So what makes a moisturizer winter-ready? It has to be geared toward dry skin. Look for ones featuring hydration helpers like hyaluronic acid, ceramides or squalane. Or better yet, all three.
In addition to being parched, your skin may also become a little more sensitive as the snow starts falling. So it’s important to favor formulas with calming ingredients, including aloe, chamomile, vitamin E and shea butter.
But don’t assume that a moisturizer has to be super thick to really hold up during the colder months. You can still use more lightweight options like cream-gel combos as long as they deliver continuous moisture throughout the day. You can also get your moisture fix while you sleep by swapping in a season-appropriate night cream.
Winter will be here before you know it so now’s the time to stock up. Here are the best winter moisturizers you need to add to your skin care routine ASAP.
Winter 2020 Moisturizers
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Lord Jones
Acid Mantle Repair Moisturizer, $75 at Violet Grey
The brand’s new moisturizer is infused with CBD oil, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. So it not only increases hydration levels, it also soothes stressed skin and replenishes your skin’s delicate acid mantle.
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Fenty Skin
Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream, $40 at Fenty Skin
Nighttime is a great time to moisturize. Especially when you have this new gel-cream. Get your glow going by applying it before hitting the sack. Its hyaluronic acid, Kalahari melon oil and baobab-based formula even helps reduce the look of pores and dark spots. The jar is refillable so you won’t feel guilty slathering it on every evening.
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Tammy Fender
Celestial Rose Crème, $145 at Tammy Fender
This mid-weight moisturizer is so velvety smooth it melts into your skin. It ups your hydration levels and creates a barrier that blocks environmental aggressors. The rosy scent is an added, and much appreciated, bonus.
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Obagi
Hydrate Facial Moisturizer, $51.50 at DermStore
Suffering from sensitive skin? This moisturizer should be on your must-buy list. It boasts Hydromanil to help complexions retain their natural moisture along with shea, avocado and mango butter. It’ll even minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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Tata Harper
Water-Lock Moisturizer, $68 at Tata Harper
Dealing with dryness and dullness? Well, Tata Harper has the solution. Its new silicone-free hydrator relies on orange peptides, pomegranate spheres and macro hyaluronic acid to smooth and moisturize.
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Clinique
Moisture Surge Intense 72H Lipid-Replenishing Hydrator, $78 at Sephora
Clinique’s new oil-free cream-gel formula supplies an immediate boost of moisture to dry skin. And it keeps on giving for up to 72 hours, even after washing your face. It accomplishes this impressive feat with a little help from hyaluronic acid, activated aloe water, caffeine and cica.
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SkinCeuticals
Emollience, $63 at Bluemercury
Bursting with natural extracts and essential oils, the brand’s rich moisturizer nourishes as it hydrates. Its gentle formula makes it a safe bet for sensitive skin. And it absorbs quickly and evenly making it a cinch to apply even when you’re in a hurry.
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EltaMD
AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer, $35 at DermStore
While we tend to shy away from lightweight moisturizers in winter, this sheer, noncomedogenic formula is worth slathering on all year long. That’s because it stimulates skin cells to increase moisture absorption and retention plus it contains willow bark to encourage turnover. It even boosts your skin color and tone for radiant results.
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Woo Skin Essentials
After/Care Moisturizer, $25 at Violet Grey
Developed for freshly inked skin, this moisturizer is also ideal for easily irritated complexions. Skin receives a cooling dose of hydration courtesy of the formula’s Waterbreak Technology. Meanwhile, chamomile, sesame seed oil, vitamin E and shea butter work together to calm, soothe and fight free radicals.
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Drunk Elephant
Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer, $68 at Sephora
This must-try moisturizer has some truly unique ingredients. Like signal peptides that bind moisture to skin, pygmy waterlily stem cell extract to improve both tone and texture along with soybean folic acid ferment extract to maintain elasticity. It’s basically a protein-packed smoothie for your skin.
