What type of facial moisturizer should I use for my dry skin?

Dry skin is enhanced by damage to the skin's natural lipid barrier, which is responsible for keeping water in the skin.  There are three primary approaches for treating dry skin.   First is the restoration of the barrier lipids by the application of polyunsaturated fatty acids, ceramides, and phospholipids.  Second is the infusion of water into the skin through the use of materials called humectants that bind water.  When applied, the bound water absorbs into the outer layer of the skin, making it softer and more supple.  Third is the application of an occlusive agent that blocks the release of water from the skin to allow it to restore its optimum level.  Products created for very dry skin will include materials that perform the above functions.  However, they will often use materials that have stronger properties than those found in moisturizers used for oily or normal skin.  One should look for products that include the following:

• Barrier Restoration:  Materials such as ceramides, cholesterol, lecithin, and unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides (olive oil, flaxseed oil, argan oil, etc.) will help repair the barrier and relieve the symptoms of dry skin rapidly.  One should also look for ingredients such as niacinamide and allantoin which help in the long-term improvement in the integrity of the lipid barrier.
• Humectants:  These materials typically bind large amounts of water to infuse the skin with hydration.  Look for materials such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid and other biopolysaccharides, pentylene glycol, trehalose, xylitol, ectoin, sodium lactate and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.
• Occlusive Agents:  Materials such as dimethicone, lanolin, cross-linked hyaluronic acid, and shea butter create a protective film on the skin's surface to block the transmission of water from the skin to the surrounding environment, thereby allowing water to build up in the skin.