How Do I Choose the Best Cream for Dry Skin?

When choosing a cream for dry skin, you may encounter many options. There are ingredients used in skin creams that you should look for and those you should avoid. Beneficial ingredients include shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamins B₅ and E. Selecting a skin cream that will work well for your skin type is also essential.

The first step in choosing cream for dry skin is determining your skin type. Knowing if your skin type is normal, oily, dry, combination, or sensitive is important because various creams are available for different skin types. Many skin creams are available for both dry and sensitive skin types. During the winter months, creams may be particularly useful for all skin types because they may keep skin moist for longer periods of time when compared to lotions or ointments.

Vitamin E and vitamin B₅ are common ingredients in cream for dry skin because both make skin healthier. Protecting skin from the effects of drugs, pollution, extreme weather conditions, and ultra violet light are all benefits associated with vitamin E. Dryness, scaling, redness, and itching are all skin issues that can be alleviated by vitamin B₅. It hydrates the skin, has anti-inflammatory properties, and can heal acne-wounded or scarred skin. You should have no difficulty finding a skin cream containing these vitamins, but it is still a good idea to check the product’s label to ensure that they are in the list of ingredients.

Other ingredients to look for in a cream for dry skin include shea butter and manuka honey as well as jojoba, grapeseed, and babassu oils. Shea butter preserves skin moisture and prevents drying, and manuka honey has antioxidants and skin-healing enzymes. Jojoba oil moisturizes and nourishes the skin, but it also balances the skin’s natural oils. Grapeseed and babassu oils are both helpful for maintaining skin moisture. You may have trouble finding an inexpensive skin cream with all of these ingredients, but the benefits may be worth the cost.

Some creams for dry skin have additives that you should avoid, including fragrances, dioxanes, parabens, and some alcohols. Many fragrances used in skin cream are chemical-based, and the skin can absorb the chemicals into your body. Dioxanes are a common ingredient in skin lotions and creams, but avoiding them is a good idea because some research has shown that they cause cancer. Parabens are commonly used preservatives that prolong the shelf life of skin care treatments, but they also may cause cancer, interfere with the endocrine system, and could potentially cause allergic reactions and rashes. Alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, and ethyl can cause skin to become dry and irritated.