How to choose
Read for three ingredient families. Humectants (glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea) pull water into the skin — glycerin is the workhorse; urea 5-10% also gently exfoliates rough, scaly patches. Barrier lipids (ceramides, shea butter, colloidal oat) repair the leaky wall — the key for skin that's dry again an hour after moisturising. Occlusives (petrolatum, dimethicone) seal everything in — heavier creams carry more, lotions less. In humid Indian summers a lotion is usually enough; winters and air-conditioned offices justify a cream. Fragrance-free matters for sensitive or eczema-prone skin — perfume is the most common irritant in moisturisers. Face vs body: body moisturisers are fine on the face for most people, but acne-prone skin should pick a lighter, non-comedogenic lotion. The application rule beats the brand choice: moisturise within 3 minutes of bathing, on just-damp skin — the same product works twice as well applied then.
Who really needs this
Anyone with visible flaking, tightness after washing, itchy shins in winter, or chalky-looking arms. Essential daily for eczema and atopic-prone skin (moisturiser is the treatment between flares), for anyone on isotretinoin or acne treatment that dries the skin, and for diabetics, whose feet and shins dry and crack easily. Older adults benefit most — skin thins with age and loses barrier lipids. If 'dry skin' is actually a red, itchy, spreading rash, or thick fissured skin on palms and soles, get it examined rather than layering more moisturiser on it.
