Caroline Hirons has looked at more than 30 products aimed at dry skin, and her record here is about as positive as it gets. She approved nearly everything she tried, with an approval rate of 91%. That tells you something useful: she is not a hard sell on this category, and the products that didn't quite land got mixed takes rather than outright passes.
What does Caroline Hirons recommend for dry skin?
What Caroline keeps coming back to is real, lasting hydration. She praised Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream for doing exactly what it promises, leaving skin soft, comfortable and dewy enough to skip makeup. On Curel Deep Moisture Spray, she pointed out that it uses glycerin rather than hyaluronic acid as its base. That matters in practice because glycerin will not sting on sensitised skin the way hyaluronic acid sometimes can. She also made clear that SPF belongs in any dry-skin routine, flagging Emma Lewisham Skin Shield SPF 30 as a serious, high-bar option for anyone dealing with hyperpigmentation alongside dryness. And she is a firm believer in layering: she described reaching for La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 over a light moisturiser, then sealing everything in with something occlusive on top.
In her words
"This is one of my brands of the year without a doubt. [...] There is nothing left, it is done and dusted. [...] Dewy Skin Cream does what it says on the tin. It moisturizes your skin, makes it feel really soft and comfortable, plumps it up and leaves you with a dewy glow. If you don't want to wear makeup you're good to use this."
"I cannot live a day without a Hyaluronic Acid Serum. I can't."
"The L'Occitane Almond Sublime Softening Shower Oil smells like the body cream, but it's an oil that turns into a milk as soon as you put it on so you don't come out feeling oily. It's best applied on dry skin, because [...] if your hands are wet when you're applying it, it starts to emulsify. I love the smell, I've used and loved this for years."
"Skin Shield SPF 30 is an incredible long-term project. It's expensive and the testing in New Zealand and Australia [...] is the highest in the world, so to come out with this first is really important. The number one thing for any skin concern is SPF, so if you want to solve hyperpigmentation, it's not a silver bullet but you need to have patience, perseverance, and precaution being SPF. We knew we had to sell the two together."
"There's a La Roche-Posay, is it called Cicaplast? Is that the big thick one? Yes. I really like that on top of like even just a light moisturizer and then something occlusive on top just to like lock it all in, because I actually do think that my skin is on the drier side probably just from lifestyle and travel."
"I'm a little bit more fickle with cleansers, I'll try things and then there's things that I'll try that I'll come out in spots like around my hairline and I'm like absolutely not. [...] I love your gel cleanser, that's definitely my favorite texture. I love something foaming to get my makeup off."
How many products has Caroline Hirons reviewed for dry skin?
Caroline Hirons has reviewed 33 products for dry skin, for an approval rate of 91%. 30 approved, 3 mixed, and none skipped.
What has Caroline Hirons skipped for dry skin?
Caroline gave mixed takes to a small number of products across her dry-skin reviews, but she did not skip a single one. That is a genuinely rare record. Anyone looking for a reason to feel cautious about a product on this list will not find much from her.
What should you take from Caroline Hirons's picks?
Caroline Hirons is an unusually warm reviewer for dry skin. Her named winners are Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream and Curel Deep Moisture Spray, and she speaks about both with real enthusiasm. Her broader advice, relayed through these reviews, is to layer thoughtfully, lock in moisture with something occlusive, and never skip SPF.
Watch Caroline Hirons say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Tatcha Dewy Skin CreamNamed a winnerWatch at 14:58
- The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 42:45
- L'Occitane Almond Sublime Softening Shower OilRated itWatch at 4:11
- Emma Lewisham Skin Shield SPF 30Rated itWatch at 5:57
- La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5Rated itWatch at 42:16
- CeraVe Hydrating Facial CleanserRated itWatch at 43:32
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5Rated itWatch at 21:22
- Rhode Glazing Milk Ceramide Facial EssenceRated itWatch at 19:43
- Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 8:33
- Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide + Ectoin Advanced Repair SerumRated itWatch at 23:27
- Allies of Skin Peptides and Antioxidants Firming Daily TreatmentRated itWatch at 13:01
- Necessaire Body SerumRated itWatch at 20:42
- Dr Sam's Flawless CleanserRated itWatch at 9:49
- e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face CreamRated itWatch at 8:59
- Eucerin Skin Calming Itch Soothing CreamRated itWatch at 29:32
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream CleanserRated itWatch at 21:02
- Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid LotionRated itWatch at 7:13
- Josh Rosebrook Ultra Peptide Cream Facial Serum ConcentrateRated itWatch at 17:23
- Bio-Essence Squalane OilRated itWatch at 42:06
- Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel ConcealerRated itWatch at 10:11
- Olay Oil of Olay Beauty FluidRated itWatch at 29:23
- Chanel No. 1 Smoothing Plumping MoisturizerRated itWatch at 36:37
- Augustinus Bader Rich CreamRated itWatch at 21:35
- Then I Met You Living Cleansing BalmRated itWatch at 2:23
About this expert
See everything Caroline Hirons has reviewed
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This guide reflects what Caroline Hirons said across her videos about 33 products for dry skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.