I’m a skincare obsessive and these are the best moisturisers for dry skin I can’t live without in winter

This whipped, airy cream quenches, soothes and provides all-day moisture, making it an effective all-rounder.

The perfect balance of lightweight on the skin yet deeply hydrating, it works equally well as a day or night cream.

When I started using this I had a small amount of residual skin peeling from trying out a retinol serum and this proved to be a quick fix.

With a triple whammy of hyaluronic acid, ceramides and shea butter, this cream helps your skin hold onto moisture all day long and has a light, refreshing scent.

This formula also plays well with other products – I added a few bronzing drops one day for a very sheer wash of colour and the result was a subtle, golden sheen.

This is like boba for the skin – in the best possible way. Containing popping beads that burst upon application, this moisturiser hits the skin with a splash of moisture and soothing coolness.

Containing a powerhouse of natural ingredients, including artichoke leaf extract, squalane, ectoin and a bamoo complex, this botanical blend packs a serious punch when it comes to hydration.

I applied this after a day of hiking after suffering some windburn and the relief was immediate, plus it minimised redness in a matter of minutes.

I suspect this would double up well as an after-sun balm in the summer months and I also found it worked fantastically as a hand cream in a pinch.

I can honestly say I’ve never tried a formula like it – I think it would work just as well on normal or combination skin types as it doesn’t have the cloying, heavy texture that can sometimes come with products aimed at dry skin.

This budget-friendly pick overachieves for its price point – proving you don’t need to bankrupt yourself for hydrated, happy skin.

The texture is more lightweight than most of the others on this list, but don’t let that put you off. The cocktail of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and peptides feels fresh and bouncy on the skin, rather than cloying or heavy.

If you’re someone who likes layering products on top of your moisturiser, such as SPF of makeup, the instant absorption of this cream is ideal.

However if you’re someone who prefers fragrance free products, you may take issue with the fresh, almost citrus-like smell, which reminded me ever so slightly of a cleaning product.

Nonetheless, this is a fantastic place to start if you’re taking your first steps into skincare and I’ve already bought a batch for my nieces and nephews, knowing that it’ll work just as well for their combination skin.

Charlotte’s Magic Cream is a masterclass in luxury – and I’m not just talking about the undeniably stunning packaging. The brand is famed for gracing the faces of some of the world’s most A-list stars and using this cream certainly made me feel VIP.

The buttery formula glides over the skin, while the floral scent from frangipani extract and camelia oil made application feel like some kind of spa-like aromatherapy treatment.

Meanwhile the ingredients list proves that this cream isn’t style over substance. The formula contains the signature Magic 8 Matrix which combats dryness on multiple fronts. The combination of peptides, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and vitamin C and E bring immediate glow to the skin.

I like a dewy look so very much embraced this, but if you’re someone who prefers a matte finish, you’re probably not going to click with the product. It’s also worth bearing this in mind if you wear makeup – the luminosity will likely shine through your foundation unless you apply A LOT of powder, which kind of defeats the point of this radiance-enhancing product.

It takes a while for the cream to sink in, so I would take advantage of the extra slip and enjoy a little facial massage, which helps with lymphatic drainage.

This moisturiser is the perfect day cream, providing hydration that lasted me from 7am to 10pm without any topping up required.

It’s fragrance free and the buttery formula goes a very long way, taking the sting out of the higher price point.

Ingredients-wise, the star players here are prebiotic peptides, ceramides, lipids and muti-weight hyaluronic acid, providing intense nourishment.

I applied this to cracked skin around my nose towards the last days of a cold and felt immediate relief as it bolstered my skin barrier.

This also makes the perfect priming moisturiser if you wear makeup. I noticed that my tinted SPF and concealer went on incredibly smoothly without any settling into pores or fine lines.

If wearing alone, it provides a slightly dewy finish, tapping into the ‘glass skin’ trend that so many are chasing at the moment and providing a healthy glow.

At at hefty £72 this cream had a lot to prove but it managed to win me over with its soothing, long-wearing formula.

Containing a blend of lactose, milk proteins, and aloe, this moisturiser is a creamy cocktail that can calm even the most reactive, sensitive complexions.

Meanwhile the vitamin E and grapeseed oil deliver antioxidants which go a long way in a day cream, shielding the skin from environmental stress. As someone who leaves in London where pollution is rife, this is a huge bonus.

The packaging means that you never waste any product by overapplying – I used two pumps to cover my face and neck and that felt like plenty.

Cosmetically this left me with a subtle sheen that was on the right side of the dewy vs oily border, plus I found it made a great base for both cream and powder makeup products.

If you’re in the mood to splurge, this is the perfect investment for a happy, healthy skin barrier.

This organic, fragrance-free cream is perfect for anyone with dry and sensitive skin who wants a formula that’s as gentle as it is nourishing.

It’s no surprise that this is one of Green People’s best-selling products, with skin barrier-boosting prebiotics and hydrating cacay oil and evening primrose oil instantly soothing upon application. Meanwhile signature ingredient Baicalin stimulates the production of anti-ageing enzymes and the repair of skin cells, promoting firmness and elasticity.

I found two pumps to be enough to cover my entire face and neck. Consistency-wise, the cream is middle of the road – easy to absorb but not so light that you don’t feel the benefit all day long.

I actually found that this dried down to a velvety matte finish rather than a super dewy one, meaning it works fantastically as a primer for makeup.

There’s also a scented version of this product if you prefer some sensorial stimulation upon application.

Side note – for those who like to support British brands, Green People’s entire roster of cosmetics are made in the UK, plus they’re cruelty free, gluten free and vegan.

If you’re willing to forego glamour for performance, look not further than this bargain buy.

Packed full of ceramides, this lotion cocoons your skin barrier from the first application with unrivalled staying power. Trials claimed that the formula lasts for 100 ours, which I was initially cynical about, but having tried it for myself I can see what all the fuss is about.

This truly is a wonder cream for everyone, suitable for infants and adults, the face and body. It’s hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and free from mineral oil, synthetic colourants and animal products.

Sure, it doesn’t look glamorous in your bathroom cabinet and has a more simple ingredients list than some of our other picks, but if you want a cheap option that hydrates your skin from morning to midnight, you won’t find better than this.

You can also purchase this in a larger 350ml size for even better value.

Okay, so this might not be the most glamorous pick, but if you’re in a pinch in a chemists a need something reliable, you can’t go wrong here.

E45’s highly emollient formula will soothe dry, irritated skin and is suitable for eczema-prone, sensitive complexions too.

Containing vitamin E and plant oils, the product is non comedogenic, vegan and dermatologically tested – or in layman’s terms, doesn’t contain any nasties.

It’s occlusive, immediately bolstering one’s skin’s barrier with just a pea-sized amount.

What’s more, at £15, this is an affordable pick that won’t break the bank.

However, this is not the kind of night cream that can double up as a daytime moisturiser.

It can leave a white cast on the skin and is a little difficult to rub in, so save this for just before bedtime, when you skin will have time to soak it up.