Moisturizer without hyaluronic acid for dry skin

What should you look for instead?

• Glycerin is another ingredient that works well for dry skin.
• Urea and sorbitol are humectants, meaning they help draw water into the outer skin layer.
• Petrolatum and dimethicone are occlusives, meaning they help prevent moisture escaping.
• Mineral oil and shea butter help soften and smooth dry skin.
• Ceramides are fats that help lock in moisture and support the skin's protective outer layer.

Look for a formula that combines moisture attracting, softening and sealing ingredients rather than choosing by one headline ingredient.13

Is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream an option?

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is not a match if you want to avoid hyaluronic acid. Its formula includes hyaluronic acid, and its ingredient list names sodium hyaluronate. CeraVe also lists hyaluronic acid in Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Healing Ointment. Check the package of any product you choose, because formulas can change.4

Should you choose a cream, lotion or ointment?

For dry body skin, start with a cream rather than a light lotion. For the face, a lighter lotion can be suitable unless your skin is very dry; colder, drier weather can make a richer cream or balm more useful. Ointments are greasier and last longer on the skin, making them useful for very dry areas or use at home. A cream is a practical daytime choice when you want less grease, because a moisturizer does not need to announce itself to the room.1235

What if your skin is sensitive?

Avoiding hyaluronic acid does not make the rest of a formula suitable automatically. Fragrances and botanical ingredients can be allergens, so choose fragrance free products and check for ingredients you already know you cannot tolerate. "Unscented" is not the same as fragrance free: masking fragrance can still irritate skin. If you have nummular eczema, which causes spots or patches, use a fragrance free cream or ointment rather than a lotion and reapply to dry skin throughout the day.36

How should you apply it?

1. 1Wash with lukewarm water, keeping showers to five to 10 minutes.
2. 2Pat your skin lightly so it stays damp, then apply moisturizer within three minutes.
3. 3Use clean hands. For a tub of emollient, take the product out with a clean spoon or spatula rather than your fingers.
4. 4Smooth the emollient in the direction of hair growth, leaving a thin, shiny layer.
5. 5Repeat after washing and whenever dryness returns. Emollients can be applied two to four times daily as needed.
6. 6In the morning, apply sunscreen over moisturizer. Choose broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

What should you expect?

Moisturizers reduce water loss and help skin feel softer and smoother. Their effects are temporary, so regular application matters more than treating moisturizer as an occasional rescue. Choose a texture you are willing to use consistently.5

When should you change course?

If an emollient irritates or stings, seek advice about an alternative. If moisturizing and gentler washing do not help, see a healthcare professional. Keep emollient and prescribed topical steroid applications 30 minutes apart. Emollients can make bathing surfaces slippery. Residue on clothing, bedding and dressings can increase fire risk, even after washing; keep those fabrics away from cigarettes, candles and open flames.237