Best Beauty Buys 2024: Top Products For Dry Skin

Best Beauty Buys is The Singapore Women's Weekly's annual awards to discover the most effective and game-changing skincare, haircare and makeup products for busy women and their families. The products were road-tested by a group of mums, and these are their picks.

Lack of sleep, not drinking enough water, stress, and postpartum hormones can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving it feeling parched, itchy, peeling, flaky, and cracked. And that too-tight feeling after washing your face? Yep, that’s a tell-tale sign of dry skin too.

Call it the perils of mum life or joining the mum club: but one thing’s for sure, you don’t need to live with this uncomfortable aspect of it. Unlike parts of motherhood that cannot be helped like dirty diapers, broken sleep, and toddler meltdowns, dry skin can absolutely be fixed, with products that moisturise and hydrate. 

Here, scope out the best finds that rehydrate thirsty skin at every step of your skincare routine, from cleansing to masking products.

1. Best Makeup Remover: Biore Makeup Melting Cleansing Oil

Removing a face full of makeup can be harsh and drying for your skin. This cleansing oil literally melts makeup away without needing to scrub or tug. Even better: this is non-drying, thanks to mineral oils and other hydrating ingredients.

$23.85 for 190ml

Shop at Amazon | Watsons | Guardian

2. Best Gentle Cleanser: Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser

A cleanser that contains skin barrier-strengthening ingredients such as ceramide, prebiotics, and postbiotics is a must-try if dry skin is something you battle on the daily. Formulated with nourishing oats and avocado oil, this milky cleanser continues to moisturise your skin long after it’s done its job of removing your makeup.

$45 for 150ml

Shop at Sephora

3. Best Cleansing Oil: Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

With a texture that is light-as-air, this cleansing oil is perfect for dry skin. Deep cleansing your pores without the heaviness of mineral oils and other nasties, it works like a dream to soothingly melt away makeup from your face with just a gentle wipe – yes, even the stubborn, waterproof ones.

$92 for 200ml

Shop at Sephora | Lazada

4. Best Rich Moisturiser: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream

Not all moisturisers are made equal, some are just more moisturising than others. Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream is as moisturising as it gets, giving your skin that dewy glow in spite of your lack of sleep. Hyaluronic acid does the heavy lifting, providing long-lasting hydration and sealing in moisture.

$118 for 50ml

Shop at Sephora | Lazada

5. Best Vegan Moisturiser: The Face Shop The Therapy Vegan Moisture Blending Cream

Vegan skincare junkies, this one's for you. Made with herb extracts such as edelweiss, thyme, and buddleja, this unique blending cream with a creamy lower layer and gel upper layer is gently hydrating and soothing on dry skin. Plus points for being such a joy to blend and use.

$52 for 60ml

Shop at Lazada | Shopee

6. Best Aircon-Friendly Moisturiser: Philosophy Hope In A Jar Smooth-Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer

Fresh, creamy and comforting – that’s what this feels like on dry skin, best enjoyed in an air-conditioned room. Containing an innovative form of hyaluronic acid, the cream doesn’t just give your skin an instant moisture boost, it also works preemptively to prevent future moisture loss.

$65 for 60ml

Shop at Sephora | Amazon

7. Best Long-Lasting Moisturiser: SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream

SK-II’s signature blend of power-packed ingredients Pitera, Kinren and Peony Extract were specifically created to combat the effects of chronic lack of sleep, an imbalanced diet, and stress – the trifecta of mum woes. This velvety, potent cream works wonders on dry skin throughout the day.

$288 for 80g

Shop at Sephora | Lazada

8. Best Long-Lasting Serum: Decorte AQ Absolute Treatment Micro-Radiance Emulsion

Time-pressed mums will appreciate this ultra-hydrating serum that smells like heaven. With water from the white birch tree and white mucuna bean extract, this fragrant emulsion infuses dry skin with much-needed moisture to soften the outermost layer of your skin. 

$153 for 200ml

Shop at BHG

9. Best Soothing Serum: Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum

This soothing serum is power-packed with niacinamide, antioxidants, and plant-derived hyaluronic acid (HA) molecules of different weights, to ensure they are completely absorbed by the skin at different levels; low and medium weight HA molecules pull moisture into the deeper levels of the skin, while high weight HA molecules keep the skin’s surface happily hydrated. The result is noticeably smoother, plumper and calmer skin – and a better mood.

$76 for 25ml

Shop at Sephora

10. Best Light Hydrating Sunscreen: Ultra Violette Fave Fluid SPF 50+ Ultralight Skinscreen

Offering SPF50+ protection, this ultra-light and silky sunscreen is set to be your new fave if you’ve been dealing with heavy and oily sunscreens. It is loaded with hydrating and nourishing ingredients that improve pigmentation and brighten your skin, all while doing some heavy-duty protection.

$55 for 75ml

Shop at Sephora

11. Best Everyday Sunscreen: Supergoop! Every. Single. Face. SPR-Shield Watery Lotion

We all love an everyday sunscreen that’s lightweight and easily absorbed. Who has time to massage sticky sunscreen in when you’ve got hands full with your kids? Offering powerful broad-spectrum protection (think UV rays, blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation) in a non-greasy finish, this SPF50+ sunscreen leaves skin plump and hydrated.

$52 for 50ml

Shop at Lazada | Sephora

12. Best Firming Moisturiser: Sulwhasoo The Ultimate S Cream

Replenish your skin’s moisture levels and youth with Sulwhasoo’s Ultimate S Cream, powered by the mystical ginseng berry. While the cream is a little heavy, it glides on smoothly and absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving your skin firm, plump and hydrated.

$300 for 30ml

Shop at Sulwhasoo | Lazada

13. Best Fragrance-Free Moisturiser: Bioeffect EGF Power Cream

Hydrating, nourishing, and anti-aging is the name of the game for this revolutionary cream, which works by replenishing epidermal growth factor (EGF) protein in the skin, which decreases with age. By doing so, collagen, elastin and HA levels in the skin are boosted once more, helping it retain its plump youthfulness and radiance. Plus points that this powerful cream is fragrance-free, perfect for mums with young kids.

$251.20 for 50ml

Shop at Tangs

14. Best Nourishing Moisturiser: Jyunka La Creme

This velvety cream is worth its spot in your drawer. It contains potent active ingredients like jojoba seed oil to help skin retain moisture, sunflower seed wax to prevent dehydration, and jambu extract to smooth out wrinkles.

$220 for 50ml

Shop at Jyunka | Lazada

15. Best All-Rounded Serum: Clarins Double Serum

Here’s a serum that works as hard as we do. Two potent formulas (one water-based, the other oil-based) comprising 21 botanical extracts, including turmeric and avocado oil, work together to keep your face firm, smooth and hydrated. It's no wonder women all around the world have been using this for decades now.

$190 for 50ml

Shop at Clarins | Lazada

16. Best Foam Cleanser: Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser

Some cleansers leave dry skin feeling tight and itchy, but not this one. The nourishing ingredients of aloe vera, glycerin, niacinamide and panthenol actively hydrate your skin without stripping away moisture. Plus, it foams very satisfyingly. Mums with older kids can consider letting them use this gentle cleanser.

$25.65 for 473ml

Shop at Watsons (Amazon Fresh)

17. Best Moisturising Spray For Dry And Itchy Skin: SunoHada Quick Itch Relief Moisturizing Mist

If you’re looking for a quick fix for irritated skin, this is it. Developed with a Japanese dermatologist and clinically proven to reduce dryness and itch in under a minute, this moisturising spray is free of parabens, alcohol and steroids, making it suitable for children.

$15.20 for 100ml

Shop at Amazon | Watsons

18. Best Hydrating Serum For Dull Skin: Decorte Whitelogist Neogenesis Brightening Concentrate

This lightweight serum does both brightening and moisturising, by addressing the root cause of dullness: dryness. A clever combination of kojic acid to improves dark spots, and feverfew extract to suffuse the skin with moisture works wonders to overturn dull and dry skin caused by years of broken sleep.

$165 for 40ml

Shop at Lazada | Takashimaya

19. Best Luxurious Body Oil For Dry Skin: Laura Mercier Neroli Du Sud Bath & Body Oil

Infused with antioxidants and botanical extracts, this Laura Mercier oil doubles up as a soothing moisturiser after a hot shower, or bath aromatherapy. However you choose to enjoy this restorative oil with a distinctive scent reminiscent of the meandering drives in the Southern French countryside (think orange, lavender and verbena), your skin will thank you for the hydrating, reviving treat.

$114 for 100ml

Shop at Sephora

20. Best Non-Sticky Face And Body Moisturiser: Embryolisse Lait Creme Fluid

Gentle, silky smooth, lightweight and extremely moisturising – this is how longtime fans of Embryolisse Lait Creme Fluid describe the moisturiser. Said by French women to be a clever multitasking product that gets absorbed beautifully into the skin with nary a sticky trace, it surely lives up to its reputation: deeply moisturising dry skin, gently removing makeup, and soothing irritated skin.

$40 for 500ml

Shop at Amazon | Watsons

21. Best Travel-Friendly Body Wash: The Powder Shampoo Relaxing Night Body Foam Wash

Travelling with kids often sees us overpacking for everyone in the family – except ourselves. Take this luxurious travel-friendly powder foam wash on your next holiday, as a little treat for yourself. Every satisfying foamy wash, infused with the fragrance of butterfly pea flower extract and chamomile essential oils, leaves your skin feeling supple and soft.

$39.90 for 100g

Shop at Takashimaya

22. Best Exfoliating Gel Cleanser: Onsensou Body Cleanser Kabosu

This exfoliating sandalwood-scented body cleanser will prep you for overnight duties of any kind. Hydrolysed yeast extract and green algae extract from hot springs work together to improve your skin’s barrier, helping it retain moisture and stay hydrated throughout the night.

$45 for 300ml

Shop at Shopee | Asian Beauty X

23. Best Scented Moisturiser: Sol De Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Cream

Dry skin can be the pits, but this gorgeously scented, moisture-rich cream can turn that around into a bom dia (that’s “good day” in Portuguese) in an instant. Spark joy from face to toe with this delicious-smelling cream that is reminiscent of warm summer days in Brazil, with rich notes of plum, jasmine blooms, Brazilian orchid and vanilla. Fruit AHAs are the active ingredients in this cream, encouraging collagen and elastin production in your skin to lock in moisture and plump it up.

$77 for 240ml

Shop at Sephora

24. Best Mood-Lifting Body Scrub: & Other Stories Sicilian Sunrise Body Scrub

There’s something very invigorating about giving your body a nice scrub. Perhaps it’s the feeling of clearing out all the day’s gunk from your pores before you hop into bed, feeling fresh and light. This smoothing sugar scrub does that and more, deeply moisturising your skin as you scrub – thanks to meadowfoam seed oil and the sugar particles that cleverly bind moisture to your skin. 

$28 for 250ml

Shop at Zalora

25. Best Scented Body Cream For Mature Skin: Sol De Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream

All the stress of mum life can accelerate skin ageing, so using a trusty daily body cream like this is a must. Potent ingredients like cacay oil (a gentle alternative to retinol) and plant squalane enable this luscious cream to work its deep hydration magic on neglected areas like the neck and chest. Inhale its fruity fragrance of pink dragonfruit and Brazilian jasmine. Definite mood-booster at the end of a long day.

$77 for 240ml

Shop at Sephora

Prices are accurate at time of publication.

All the items are independently selected by our editorial team. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. But we only recommend products we love. Promise.