5 Drugstore Moisturizers to Help You Hydrate Dry Skin This Winter

Chances are you love winter for the experiences, from making snow angels to exchanging gifts. The impact the season can have on your skin, on the other hand, would likely not make any such list of things you love. The harsh winter weather is not always kind to a complexion, especially to those of us who already deal with a dry skin type. While the cold wind whipping at your skin can undoubtedly leave your skin feeling even drier than it did throughout fall, don’t let that get you down. With a little help from the right moisturizer, you can keep your dry skin hydrated all winter long. To that end, we’re sharing five of our favorite drugstore moisturizers—from the L’Oreal portfolio of brands—that are up for the task.

Drugstore Moisturizer #1: L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Rosy Tone Moisturizer

Those with mature skin will know, moisturizer is always a must-have. You’ve likely noticed as you’ve gotten older that the rosy tone that used to mark your cheeks in your youth has begun to fade. The reason? Maturing skin often has a buildup of dead cells on its surface that results in the natural pink tone being hidden and an overall dull-looking complexion. That’s where the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Rosy Tone Moisturizer comes in. Formulated with imperial peony and LHA, the moisturizing cream is enhanced with rosy pigments to revive skin’s rosy tone. 

Drugstore Moisturizer #2: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream

While we often think of dry skin as being at its worst when it’s practically everywhere, it can be just as problematic to have random patches of dryness. Of course, these patches aren’t really so random. Throughout the day, some areas of your facial skin lose more water than others. This imbalance can cause dehydration lines to appear, the complexion to look duller, and the skin to look less plump. The Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream acts as a solution by evenly spreading water throughout all areas of the face to re-hydrate dry and dehydrated areas.

Drugstore Moisturizer #3: Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Antioxidant Super Moisturizer

A heavy dose of hydration doesn’t require using a moisturizer that feels heavy. No, you can opt for a water-light, gel-cream formula that won’t feel like it’s weighing down your face, like the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Antioxidant Super Moisturizer. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, goji berry, vitamins C and E, and pomegranate, the moisturizer provides skin with intense, weightless moisture and can plump the appearance of fine lines caused by dryness. Immediately, skin feels hydrated, with a more youthful look day after day.

Drugstore Moisturizer #4: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Complicated does not always equal better. While fancy ingredients and intricate regimens may seem like the answer to all of your complexion concerns, when it comes to moisturizing, sometimes basic is best. The CeraVe Moisturizing Cream has become a classic among anyone looking to hydrate dry skin, and with good reason. Formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, the non-greasy cream provides multiple layers of nurturing and moisturizing ingredients to the skin slowly over time. That way, skin is hydrated and nourished where you need it, lasting long after you apply it.

Drugstore Moisturizer #5: La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense UV

The winter may have you bundled up while still managing to feel chilled to the bone, but that won’t give you a pass on using sun protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation confirms that cold and cloudy days require sunscreen use too. Thus, even in the winter, Broad Spectrum SPF is a necessity. It’s important to remember that excessive sun exposure can lead to skin that’s even drier—and no one needs that in the winter. Thankfully, you can combat multiple concerns at once with a moisturizer that hydrates AND provides SPF coverage. The La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense UV provides the same level of moisture as the brand’s classic Hydraphase Intense moisturizer, with the added bonus of SPF 20.