OTC Moisturizers for Dry Skin: How to Choose

Updated October 19, 2026. The best over-the-counter moisturizer for dry skin is a fragrance-free cream or ointment that combines a humectant (such as glycerin or urea), barrier lipids (such as ceramides), and an occlusive (such as petrolatum or dimethicone). Brand matters far less than texture and ingredients, and inexpensive drugstore products are often among the most effective. Here is how to read a label and match a product to each part of your body.

Humectants, emollients and occlusives: the three jobs of a moisturizer

Dermatology sources such as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and DermNet group moisturizer ingredients by what they do. Dry skin needs all three jobs done, which is why the best products combine them.

Humectants: pull water in

• Glycerin: affordable, well studied, and suits almost everyone.
• Hyaluronic acid: binds a large amount of water at the surface. Works best under a richer cream, especially in dry air.
• Urea: hydrates at 5 to 10%; at higher strengths it also softens thick, scaly skin.
• Lactic acid: a hydrating alpha hydroxy acid that also gently exfoliates.
• Propylene glycol and sorbitol: common supporting humectants. Propylene glycol irritates some sensitive skin.

Emollients: smooth and repair

• Ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids: the lipids your own barrier is built from; they work best together.
• Squalane: a lightweight oil similar to the skin's own sebum.
• Plant oils and butters: jojoba, sunflower, and shea, for example.
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3): technically not an emollient, but it helps the skin make more of its own ceramides.

Occlusives: seal water in

• Petrolatum (petroleum jelly): one of the most effective and least allergenic occlusives available.
• Dimethicone: a silicone that seals without a greasy feel.
• Mineral oil: effective, affordable, and generally non-comedogenic.
• Lanolin: very moisturizing, but a known allergen for some people.
• Beeswax and shea butter: natural options, common in balms.

For a deeper dive into each ingredient, see the best ingredients for dry skin.

Lotion vs cream vs ointment

The NHS and AAD both note that thicker, greasier products generally protect dry skin better, while lighter ones are easier to use. The right choice often depends on the body area and time of day.

So, body lotion or cream? If your skin is only a little dry and you hate stickiness, a lotion is fine. If it feels tight, flaky, or itchy, a cream will usually do more, with an ointment on the worst patches at night.

What to buy for each part of the body

Face

Look for a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic cream with ceramides and a humectant, and use a separate SPF in the morning. Apply a pea-sized amount to damp skin morning and night. Our guide to dry skin on the face covers flaking around the nose and eyebrows.

Body

Large tubs and pump bottles give the best value. Apply to damp skin straight after a shower, concentrating on the driest areas such as the legs and shins. A urea or lactic acid lotion helps rough, bumpy skin, including keratosis pilaris.

Hands

Choose a thick, concentrated cream and reapply after every hand wash, keeping tubes by the sink and in your bag. At night, apply a heavier layer under cotton gloves. See cracked, dry hands for a full routine.

Feet

Thick heel skin needs a stronger softener: urea at 10 to 25% for everyday use, or up to 40% for heavy calluses. High-strength urea and acids can sting open cracks, so use them on intact skin only. Apply after a bath and wear cotton socks overnight. More in dry, cracked feet. People with diabetes should check their feet daily and ask a clinician before using strong exfoliants.

Lips

Pick a simple balm based on petrolatum, beeswax, or shea butter, with SPF for daytime. Avoid menthol, camphor, and flavorings, which can irritate. Reapply through the day and before bed. See dry, chapped lips.

Ingredients to avoid on dry skin

• Fragrance and essential oils: among the most common causes of irritation and allergic reactions.
• Denatured alcohol high on the list: drying in leave-on products. (Fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol are fine.)
• Sodium lauryl sulfate: a harsh detergent in some cleansers.
• Retinoids and strong AHAs/BHAs: useful for other goals, but can worsen dryness; introduce slowly if at all.

How to read a label

• "Fragrance-free" beats "unscented." Unscented products may contain masking fragrance.
• "Hypoallergenic" and "dermatologist-tested" are marketing terms without a strict legal standard, so check the ingredients anyway.
• "Non-comedogenic" matters for the face if you are acne-prone.
• Ingredients are listed roughly by amount, so key actives should appear reasonably high.
• Buying for a baby? babies need simple, fragrance-free products; see dry skin in babies.

Getting the most from any product

1. Apply to damp skin within about three minutes of bathing.
2. Use enough. Most people under-apply, especially on the body.
3. Smooth it on gently in the direction of hair growth rather than rubbing hard.
4. Layer thin to thick: serum, then moisturizer, then an occlusive if needed.
5. Adjust by season: richer creams or ointments in winter, lighter lotions in summer.
6. Be consistent: judge a product after two to four weeks of daily use.

Budget tip: plain petroleum jelly, store-brand ceramide creams, and large pump bottles perform as well as many pricier products. Keep jars closed, store products away from heat, and check the "period after opening" symbol on the pack.

When OTC products are not enough

See a doctor or dermatologist if dryness is no better after two to four weeks, if skin cracks or bleeds, if it becomes red, inflamed, or very itchy, or if itch disturbs sleep. Eczema, psoriasis, and other conditions may need prescription treatments, and some stubborn texture problems respond to professional procedures. For cheaper first steps, see our home remedies for dry skin.

Common questions

What is the difference between humectants, emollients and occlusives?

Humectants such as glycerin, urea and hyaluronic acid draw water into the skin. Emollients such as ceramides and squalane fill gaps between skin cells so skin feels smoother. Occlusives such as petrolatum and dimethicone form a film that stops water escaping. The best dry skin moisturizers combine all three.

Is a body lotion or a cream better for dry skin?

For genuinely dry skin, a cream is usually better. Lotions contain more water and spread easily but evaporate faster, so they suit mild dryness or humid weather. Creams hold moisture longer, and ointments are best for very dry or cracked areas.

What are the best moisturizer ingredients for very dry skin?

Look for glycerin or urea to hydrate, ceramides to repair the barrier, and petrolatum or dimethicone to seal water in. For rough, scaly skin, urea or lactic acid also softens and smooths. Fragrance-free formulas are the safest choice.

How long does it take a new moisturizer to work?

Skin usually feels better within days, but give a new product two to four weeks of daily use before judging it. If dryness is no better, or skin cracks, bleeds or becomes red and very itchy, see a doctor or pharmacist.