Makeup

Best Moisturizers for Dehydrated, Dry, and Sensitive Skin Types

In this post, we will be talking about the best moisturizers for dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types.

We choose these moisturizers based on how it was commonly used, recommended, and tested by people with the same skin type.

All of these moisturizers contain ceramides, panthenol, madecassoside, and shea butter. Some of these ingredients occur naturally in our body so they will be suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Our Pick:

1. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is a multi-purpose moisturizer that is perfect for dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types as it helps to hydrate cracked, chapped, chafed skin and dry skin irritations.

RatingPrice
10/10$

Pros:

  • It provides optimal skin barrier recovery, helps in soothing dry, irritated areas, and gives skin protection.
  • This moisturizer is specifically made for people with really dehydrated/dry skin or dry sensitive skin.
  • Key ingredients are Panthenol (repairs barrier function), Shea Butter (helps restore the skin’s hydrolipidic film and also soothe it), Glycerin excellent humectant), Dimethicone (helps reduce water loss), Madecassoside (a soothing agent), and CU-ZN Gluconate-Manganese (an anti-microbial active that decreases bacterial adhesion).

Cons:

  • It is expensive.

What ingredients does it contain?

Active Ingredients: Dimethicone 1%

Inactive Ingredients: Aqua/​Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, ​Shea Butter, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Propanediol, Cetyl PEG/​PPG-10/​1 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Zinc Gluconate, Madecassoside, Manganese Gluconate, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Citric acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Copper Gluconate, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Ci 77891/​Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.

2. Avene’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

Avene’s Cicalfate is another moisturizer that should be perfect for dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types.

RatingPrice
10/10$$

It is just like the LRP Cicaplast Baume B5 and stands on an equal footing with this product.

Pros:

  • Helps restore skin 4X faster for visible improvement in 2 days. 
  • 80% reduction in skin discomfort after 48 hours of application.
  • It reduces redness, maintains proper hydration levels, and preserves the skin’s natural barrier.
  • It helps reduce redness.
  • It is hypoallergenic, won’t clog pores, and is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and alcohol-free.

Cons:

  • It is expensive.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2-Sesquiisostearate, PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Beeswax, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate, Copper Sulfate, Arginine, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Tromethamine, Zinc Sulfate.

Key ingredients are C+restore (Postbiotic restorative ingredient to help skin restoration), Copper-zinc sulfate complex, and Avene Thermal Spring Water.

3. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

This is a moisturizer we highly recommend for people with dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types as it is cheap and has minimal ingredients.

RatingPrice
10/10$

Pros:

  • Helps repair the skin barrier.
  • It continually releases moisturizing ingredients for 24 hours.
  • It is non-greasy, fast-absorbing, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free.
  • It contains 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

AQUA / WATER / EAU, GLYCERIN, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-20, PETROLATUM, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, DIMETHICONE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, TOCOPHEROL, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN.

4. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration

This is a moisturizer that helps to relieve dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin, even eczema.

RatingPrice
10/10$$-$$$

Pros:

  • It contains colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and allantoin.
  • It provides more than a 2x increase in skin hydration.
  • It is dermatologist tested, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, suitable for sensitive skin, vegan, and nano-free.
  • It is free from drying alcohols, formaldehyde, artificial colorants, propylene glycol, sulfates, talc, artificial fragrance, lanolin, mineral oil, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclocarban, parabens, petrolatum, phthalates, oxybenzone, and ethanol.

Cons:

  • It is expensive.

What ingredients does it contain?

Colloidal oatmeal — 0.50%, water, glyceryl stearate se, cetearyl alcohol, shea butter, dimethicone, stearic acid, glycerin, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, squalene, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, sodium hydroxide, disodium EDTA, feverfew extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, licorice root extract, xanthan gum, allantoin, ceramide np, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil.

5. Vanicream Daily Face Moisturizer

This is a budget-friendly moisturizer that is suitable for all skin types including dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types.

RatingPrice
10/10$

Pros:

  • It is formulated with hyaluronic acid and 5 key ceramides which help to hydrate and retain the skin’s moisture.
  • It has minimal ingredients.
  • It is dye-free, fragrance-free, lanolin-free, paraben-free, non-greasy, formaldehyde-free, won’t clog pores, gluten-free, and botanical extract-free.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Purified water, squalane, glycerin, pentylene glycol, ceramide EOP, ceramide NG, ceramide NP, polyglyceryl-2 stearate, glyceryl stearate, stearyl alcohol, hyaluronic acid, ceramide AS, ceramide AP, carnosine, hydrogenated lecithin, phytosterols, caprylyl glycol, polyacrylate crosspolymer-11, 1,2-hexanediol.

6. Illiyoon – Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream

This is a Korean moisturizer that offers hydrating and soothing effects for the face and body with Phyto Ceramide and the patented Ceramide Skin Complex.

RatingPrice
10/10$$

It is the most recommended moisturizer for dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types.

Pros:

  • It is free from animal-derived ingredients, mineral oils, artificial colorings, fragrances, and parabens.
  • It contains Highly concentrated Ceramide Capsules, Phyto Ceramide, and patented Ceramide Skin Complex to help strengthen the skin barrier, enhance the skin’s self-hydrating power, and offer instant absorption.
  • The hypoallergenic test and sensitivity panel test were completed.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA(Ceramide PC-104), Polyacrylate-13, Arachidyl Glucoside, Mannitol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Caprylate, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Cholesterol, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Glucose, Silica, Glycine Max (Soybean) Oil, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract.

7. Etude House – SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

This is a moisturizer formulated with panthenol, madecassoside, sunflower seed oil, and shea butter that offers intense hydration and restores the oil and water balance of the skin while repairing the damage.

RatingPrice
10/10$

Pros:

  • It is a low-pH formulation and does not contain fragrance, artificial colors, and parabens.
  • It contains ingredients like panthenol, madecassoside, sunflower seed oil, and shea butter which makes it perfect for dehydrated/dry and sensitive skin.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene glycol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Carbomer.

8. Aestura – Ato Barrier 365 Cream

AESTURA’s Ato Barrier 365 Cream is infused with cholesterol, ceramide, and fatty acid complex to restore skin moisture levels while strengthening the skin barrier.

RatingPrice
10/10$$

Pros:

  • The hypoallergenic formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
  • It offers up to 100 hours of moisturizing effect for the whole day.
  • It is infused with moisture capsules, ceramide, phytosphingosine, and fatty acid complex to moisturize and enhance the skin’s moisture-absorbing ability.
  • Helps strengthen the skin barrier.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalene, cetyl Ethylhexanoate Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA, Cyclohexasiloxane, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide MEA, Mannitol, Arachidyl Alcohol, cholesterol, Polyacrylate-13, Allantoin, Carnauba Wax Extract., C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Polyisobutene, Phytosphingosine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Arachidic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Caesalpinia Sappan Stem Powder, oleic Acid, Tocopherol.

9. Zeroid Intensive Oint-Cream

It is a richly moisturizing ointment cream that should be suitable for severely dehydrated, dry, and sensitive skin types.

RatingPrice
10/10$$

Pros:

  • It contains Ceramide-9S, Defensamide, Zinc gluconate, and Cacao Seed Butter.
  • There are no added fragrances, dyes, ethanol, parabens, Phenoxyethanol, mineral oil, PG, PEG, diethanolamine, or benzyl alcohol.
  • It is Hypoallergenic tested.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, cocoa seed butter, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl alcohol, Cocoglycerides, shea butter, Polyglyceryl-10 distearate, Sorbitan stearate, Panthenol, Glyceryl stearate, Squalane, Stearic acid, Camellia oleifera seed oil, Caprylyl methicone, Dimethicone, 1, 2 Hexanediol, Phytosterols, Tocopheryl acetate, Myristoyl/palmitoyloxostearamide/arachamide MEA, Candelilla Wax, Zinc gluconate, Methyl caprooyl tyrosinate, Xanthan gum, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Madecassicoside, Caprylyl glycol.

10. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume

This is a moisturizer that is made for very dry, irritated to atopic sensitive skin.

RatingPrice
10/10$$

Pros:

  • It soothes and reduces the urge to scratch.
  • It restores lipids.
  • It is non-sticky and unfragranced.

Cons:

  • None.

What ingredients does it contain?

AQUA/WATER/EAU, GLYCERIN, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM/MINERAL OIL/HUILE MINERALE, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, SUCROSE STEARATE, CANOLA/ CANOLA OIL/HUILE DE COLZA, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, BETA-SITOSTEROL, XYLITOL, ZINC GLUCONATE, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PALMITAMIDE MEA, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SODIUM CITRATE, MANNITOL, RHAMNOSE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, TOCOPHEROL, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, CERAMIDE NP, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CERAMIDE AP, CHOLESTEROL, CARBOMER, XANTHAN GUM, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, CAPRYLIC/ CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, LAMINARIA OCHROLEUCA EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, CERAMIDE EOP.

Honourable Mentions:

The moisturizers in the A, B, I, and L section are all good.

  • A:
    • Avene – Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream
  • B:
    • Biossance – Squalane + Omega Repair Cream
  • C:
    • Cetaphil DAM Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion (from India)
    • Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All-In-One Cream
    • Curel Intensive Moisture Facial Cream
  • D:
    • Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream
  • I:
    • Ihada Medicated Emulsion
    • Ihada Medicated Clear Balm
  • H:
    • Holika Holika’s Good Cera Super Ceramide Cream
    • Honey Halo Hydrating Ceramide Face Moisturizer
  • L:
    • La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Fluide Oil-Free Moisturizer
    • La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
  • S:
    • Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Cream

Which of these products would be suitable for me?

We recommend going with the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 or Avene’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream. Both of these are good and also effective.

Other moisturizers are the Illiyoon – Ceramide Cream, Etude House – SoonJung Cream, Aestura Barrier Cream, and Zeroid Oint-Cream. They all contain ingredients like ceramides, panthenol, madecassoside, and shea butter which makes them perfect for dehydrated/dry, sensitive skin.

The Cerave, Vanicream, and First Aid Beauty are also good options if you’re looking for a budget-friendly moisturizer.