11 Best Moisturizers For Winter
Your guide to staying hydrated, smooth, and comfortable through the cold months
When the weather turns cold, your skin usually feels it first.
The dry air outside and blasting heaters indoors can leave your face and body tight, itchy, and dull.
That’s where a good moisturizer comes in.
Moisturizing in the winter doesn’t just make your skin feel softer.
It helps strengthen your barrier, calm irritation, and lock in hydration so your skin can stay healthy all season long.
In this article, I’ll share 11 of the best moisturizers for winter, from rich creams to lightweight layers, so you can find the perfect one for your routine.
1. Neostrata Rebound Sculpting Cream
Neostrata Rebound Sculpting Cream has been my favorite moisturizer I’ve tried all year.
It comes in a blue pump tube and makes my skin look so plump and firm.
I use it on top of tretinoin and the Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigment Corrector without any irritation, which says a lot because that combo can usually be harsh.
I also like pairing it with Niod Superoxide Dismutase for extra antioxidant support.
It layers beautifully and always leaves my skin feeling calm, hydrated, and bouncy.
2. Soft Services Carea Cream
The Soft Services Carea Cream is especially nice for your feet, but it works well on other areas too.
It’s made with urea, a gentle exfoliant that also hydrates.
This fragrance-free body lotion also includes squalane, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and centella asiatica extract, making it a good option for skin that needs extra care in the winter.
3. Nerra Body Oil
For an extra step in keeping skin comfortable during the winter, I like reaching for the Nerra Body Oil.
I layer it on top of a hydrating serum and body moisturizer, especially after shaving.
The formula blends natural oils like argan, rosehip, hibiscus seed, sacha inchi, and bataua fruit oil, along with coco caprylate from coconut oil for a lightweight feel.
It’s available fragrance-free or in a Jasmine Wood scent, so you can choose based on your preference.
4. Hanni Splash Salve
When it comes to in-shower moisturizers, the Hanni Splash Salve is the one I kept reaching for last winter.
I absolutely loved using it because it melts into damp skin so easily, making the whole routine feel simple. With ingredients like jojoba, shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin, it has a rich but smooth texture that works well in colder months.
The scent is incredible too, which I still point out even though I often remind people that fragrance can sometimes be irritating.
5. Medik8 Advanced Ceramide Night Cream
The Medik8 Advanced Ceramide Night Cream is one of my all-time favorites.
It has a thick and luxurious texture that feels especially fitting in the winter.
The formula is made with ceramides, often described as the building blocks of skin, which is why I keep coming back to it as a staple in my nighttime routine.
6. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
For a budget option, the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is thick and good for people with sensitive skin.
It’s a non-greasy formula made for normal to dry skin on both the face and body.
The cream includes three essential ceramides along with hyaluronic acid and petrolatum, which are well-known moisturizing ingredients, making it a simple choice for daily use.
7. Fré Tinted SPF
SPF is really just moisturizer with UV filters added, and the Fré Glow Me+ Tinted Mineral SPF is one that I love.
In fact, I think it’s my favorite mineral sunscreen, and I particularly love it because it blurs out any hyperpigmentation, almost like wearing foundation.
Even though it’s zinc oxide–based, it doesn’t leave a white cast in my opinion, which makes it stand out from many other mineral sunscreens.
The texture is lightweight compared to other mineral sunscreens, and the tint blends in smoothly, so it feels easy to wear every day.
8. Salt & Stone Hand Cream
I love the Salt & Stone Hand Cream for gifting in the winter because the packaging is beautiful and it’s a good product.
It’s a fast-absorbing daily hand moisturizer made with seaweed extracts and antioxidant-rich botanicals.
The formula includes squalane for softness, snow mushroom for hydration, and niacinamide to support the skin’s barrier.
The neroli & basil scent blends citrus, herbs, and warm notes like eucalyptus and amber, making it both fresh and calming.
9. AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion
AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% lactic acid is an excellent option, especially if you’re trying to get rid of body acne or fade hyperpigmentation.
The lactic acid provides gentle exfoliation while also adding hydration, making it useful for rough or bumpy skin.
It can also be part of a back acne protocol, since it works well on larger areas like the shoulders and back.
10. Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Nectar
The Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Nectar is an amazing mask that’s super hydrating with tons of glycerin.
It works well on its own or layered over moisturizer.
I absolutely love it, and my skin always looks bright and glowy the morning after I use it.
The formula combines 30% glycerin with Dutch Tulip Complex, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin C, while peptides, silk amino acids, and sodium hyaluronate add even more support.
Together, these ingredients give it a balm-to-serum texture that feels rich, soothing, and perfect for when skin needs an extra boost.
11. Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer
For something super lightweight, I always reach for the Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer.
I’m pretty sure it was the inspiration behind the Rhode Glazing Milk, and it really is just amazing.
The texture is thin and milky, so it gives plenty of hydration without feeling heavy.
The formula combines a ceramide and peptide complex with white leaf tea, which is full of moisturizing amino acids that help soothe the skin.
It delivers the richness of a cream in the light texture of a toner, making it an easy step to add into any routine.
Final Thoughts
Winter can be tough on skin, but the right moisturizer makes it easier to get through the season.
From rich creams to lightweight layers, these picks cover different needs and routines.
No matter which one you choose, keeping your skin hydrated will help it stay balanced and comfortable until spring.
Cheers,