Best Moisturizer for Winter: What Works for Dry Skin

The best moisturizer for winter is a thick cream or ointment. Press it onto damp skin right after you wash. Dermatologists name glycerin, shea butter, lanolin and petrolatum as ingredients to look for. Naked, our whipped tallow, has no water and no fragrance. A 1.7 oz tin is $20. For your face, try one cheek first.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated November 8, 2026

The four ingredients in Naked whipped tallow body butter: beef tallow, fractionated coconut oil, honeycomb and vitamin E

Seven winter moisturizers, side by side

Product / ProductoSize / TamañoPrice Nov 8, 2026TypeWhat the listing saysScent
Moose's Naked Whipped Tallow Body Butter0.85 oz / 1.7 oz / 3.4 oz$12 / $20 / $30Waterless butterBeef tallow, fractionated coconut oil, honeycomb, vitamin EFragrance-free (scents also sold)
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream16 oz$15.97CreamCeramides and hyaluronic acidFragrance free (per listing)
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream16 oz$14.49CreamMade for dry, sensitive skinFragrance-free (per listing)
Vanicream Moisturizing Cream (pump)16 oz$13.56CreamMade without common irritantsNot stated in listing
Eucerin Advanced Repair Body Cream16 oz$15.79CreamUreaFragrance free (per listing)
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Ointment14 oz$16.49OintmentSkin protectantNot stated in listing
Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich2.5 fl oz$13.95Rich creamPansy, chamomile and calendulaNot stated in listing

Prices are Amazon.com listings checked on November 8, 2026, with screenshots saved. Where Amazon showed a business-account discount, we used the typical or list price anyone sees. Sizes are net weight, and Weleda lists fluid ounces. The 16 oz tubs hold far more than our tins.

What a winter moisturizer has to do

Winter air pulls water out of your skin. Cold wind and low humidity make it worse. A winter moisturizer has one job. It keeps water in your skin between washes.

  • Pick a cream or ointment, not a thin lotion. The American Academy of Dermatology says they work better.
  • Look for glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, lanolin or petrolatum on the label.
  • Choose fragrance-free if your skin feels raw. The AAD says unscented products can still irritate.
  • Put it on while your skin is still damp, right after washing or bathing.
  • Go thicker at night and lighter by day. Cleveland Clinic suggests this.
  • Run a humidifier in the bedroom if your home air is dry.

Which moisturizer for which job

No single moisturizer wins for every person. Here is how we would pick, using Amazon prices checked on November 8, 2026.

  • Big tub for the whole body: CeraVe, Cetaphil, Vanicream or Eucerin Advanced Repair. Each is a 16 oz cream, from $13.56 to $15.97.
  • Gentle and fragrance-free: CeraVe and Cetaphil list no fragrance. Vanicream says it is made without common irritants.
  • Thicker for nights and rough spots: Aquaphor Advanced Therapy, 14 oz for $16.49. Many people save it for bedtime.
  • A plant-rich cream in a tube: Weleda Skin Food, $13.95 for 2.5 fl oz.
  • A waterless tallow butter for hands, elbows and shins: Naked, from $12 for 0.85 oz. Those 16 oz tubs hold far more than our tins.

How to use any moisturizer so it lasts all winter

The routine matters more than the brand. These steps come from the American Academy of Dermatology and Cleveland Clinic. For a longer routine, see our guide to beef tallow for dry skin.

  • Keep showers to five to ten minutes, in warm water, with the door closed.
  • Pat dry with a clean towel. Do not rub.
  • Apply moisturizer right after, while your skin is still damp.
  • Reapply after washing your hands and whenever skin feels dry.
  • At night, use your thicker layer. Cotton gloves or socks over it keep it in place.
  • Wear gloves outside in cold, dry air.
  • Run a humidifier in the bedroom, and clean it often.
Naked whipped tallow body butter benefits: holds moisture for hours, fragrance-free, no water or filler

Where Naked fits

Naked is whipped beef tallow with fractionated coconut oil, honeycomb and vitamin E. It has no water and no fragrance. That makes it a thick, rich layer for the spots winter hits first. Think hands, elbows, shins and heels.

Cleveland Clinic calls tallow a natural moisturizer and says research is limited. We agree it has not been tested head to head against creams. So we list every ingredient, and your own skin is the test. The 60-day guarantee covers the risk. To see how it compares with a regular lotion, read our guide to tallow lotion.

Try Naked on your face

Many customers use Naked on their face. A rich butter is not for every face, so start small. Cleveland Clinic notes a thick product like tallow could block oils and cause breakouts for some people.

  • Wash with a gentle cleanser and pat dry.
  • Warm a rice-grain amount between your fingertips.
  • Press it onto one cheek, then wait a day.
  • If your skin stays calm, use it at night on the whole face.
  • If your skin runs oily or breaks out easily, keep Naked for your body.
  • Trying a scented butter? Spot test on your inner arm for 24 hours first.

Too heavy, too greasy or too much money?

Winter moisturizer threads on Reddit and Houzz ask about face versus body, how thick, and what to spend. Here are straight answers.

  • Too greasy? Use a pea, not a scoop. More only sits on top.
  • Want to seal in a lighter cream? At night, press a thin layer of butter over it.
  • Watching your budget? A 16 oz cream tub is the easy pick, and we will not argue.
  • Wondering about scent? Naked has no added fragrance. Our scented butters sit in the buy box.

What is in Naked, in plain words

The full list is on the product page. Here is what each part does.

  • Rendered beef tallow is the base. It is rich and firm at room temperature.
  • Fractionated coconut oil softens the whip so it spreads.
  • Honeycomb is beeswax. It adds body.
  • Tocopherol, which is vitamin E, keeps the oils fresh.
  • No water, no fillers and no fragrance in Naked. The scented butters add fragrance.

When a moisturizer is not enough

A moisturizer and a routine are for dry skin. Cleveland Clinic says to call a provider if skin itches nonstop, looks infected or hurts. A rash is another reason to call.

If dryness keeps coming back, ask a dermatologist. Tell them every product you use.

What people ask

What is the best moisturizer for the face during winter?

A thick, fragrance-free cream works best on a winter face. The American Academy of Dermatology says creams and ointments beat lotions for dry skin. Look for glycerin, hyaluronic acid or shea butter. Naked has no water and no fragrance, and some customers use it on their face. Try one cheek first, since a rich butter can feel heavy.

How do I keep my face moisturized in winter?

Moisturize right after you wash, while your skin is still damp. The American Academy of Dermatology also says to reapply whenever skin feels dry. Keep showers to five to ten minutes in warm water. A pea of Naked warms in your palms and presses on easily. Use a little, then add more only where skin feels tight.

What skincare is good for winter?

Keep it simple: a gentle cleanser, a thick moisturizer and a humidifier. Cleveland Clinic says cold, windy weather and low humidity dry out skin. It suggests a thick moisturizer at night and a lighter one by day. Naked can be your night layer on hands, elbows and shins. Choose fragrance-free products when skin feels raw.

What do dermatologists recommend for extremely dry face?

The American Academy of Dermatology says to choose a cream or ointment, not a lotion. It also says to pick fragrance-free, because unscented products can still irritate dry skin. Apply it after washing and whenever skin feels dry. Naked has no water and no fragrance, so it follows two of those tips. See a dermatologist if dryness lingers.

Should you rub in moisturizer or let it sit?

Pat it on and let it settle. The American Academy of Dermatology says to pat skin dry, not rub. Then moisturize while it is still damp. A thick butter like Naked needs a little warmth first. Warm a pea between your palms, then press it in. It melts within a minute.

What is the difference between lotion and moisturizer?

Moisturizer is the big category, and lotion is one kind. Cleveland Clinic says moisturizers come as ointments, creams, lotions and oils. Lotions are thinner. The American Academy of Dermatology says creams and ointments work better on dry skin. Naked has no water, so it sits at the rich end. Our guide to tallow lotion explains the difference in detail.

What hydrates your face the most?

Water plus a seal. Put moisturizer on damp skin, then use ingredients that hold that water in. Cleveland Clinic names petroleum jelly, lanolin and mineral oils. Naked uses tallow and coconut oil for that job. Cleveland Clinic also says tallow research is limited, so your own skin is the best test. Our 60-day guarantee covers you.

Is a thicker moisturizer better in winter?

Often, yes. Cleveland Clinic suggests a thick moisturizer at night and a lighter one during the day. Cold, wind and low humidity pull water out of skin, so a heavier layer helps hold it in. If thick feels greasy, use less. A pea of Naked covers a hand, and the 60-day guarantee lets you test it.
From real customers
★★★★★

So creamy & smells unreal

I tried the toffee flavored whipped tallow balm from Moose’s Tallow. The texture is thick, rich, and incredibly creamy. It melts beautifully into the skin without feeling too greasy. The scent is unreal — warm, almost chocolatey, cozy and indulgent, and it lingers in the best way. High quality, thoughtfully made, and I love the mason jar. This has become a staple and I’ll be repurchasing!
Allie D.

Read all the reviews on the product page →

Their label vs. ours

Same job. Look at the ingredients.

Left is a best-seller from the store shelf. Right is ours.

Tap any ingredient to see what it is.

Lotion

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion

20

ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycol Stearate…

Also on our Never List

  • PEG-100 Stearate
  • Dimethicone
  • Mineral Oil
  • Petrolatum
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Methylparaben
  • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
  • Triethanolamine
  • Propylparaben
  • Disodium EDTA

plus 5 more

Label from the Stop & Shop product page, checked Oct 19, 2026. We are not affiliated with Vaseline.

Moose’s Vanilla Chai Whipped Tallow Body Butter

5

ingredients

Rendered Beef Tallow, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Honeycomb, Clean Phthalate-Free Fragrance, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

That is the whole label.

In short: Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion lists 20 ingredients. 10 of them are on Moose’s Tallow’s Never List: PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA. Moose’s Vanilla Chai Whipped Tallow Body Butter lists 5 ingredients: Rendered Beef Tallow, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Honeycomb, Clean Phthalate-Free Fragrance, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Full Vaseline ingredient list

Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycol Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Stearamide AMP. Label from the Stop & Shop product page, checked Oct 19, 2026.

Red ingredients are on our Never List: 50 things we leave out of every tin.

Make the switchSee all 50 things we never use

Ingredient lists are copied from US retailer product pages, brand websites and EWG Skin Deep, and were accurate when checked on October 19 and November 7, 2026. Brands change formulas, so always read your own bottle. We are not affiliated with any brand named here.

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

I will not tell you Naked is the cheapest winter moisturizer. It is not. The big tubs in that table hold far more for the money. I make Naked with four ingredients and no water, in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. My wife tests everything first. If it does not suit your skin, the 60-day guarantee covers it.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Read the whole story →

Try it, Risk Free.

Every order carries the 60-day Money Back guarantee.

Add Naked Body Butter to cart Naked Fragrance-Free Body Butter →

Related answers

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology: dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin (updated Jan 2, 2026)
  2. Cleveland Clinic: Dry skin (xeroderma), reviewed June 23, 2022
  3. Cleveland Clinic: Beef tallow for skin, with Dr. Angela Wei (February 10, 2026)