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The Best Lotions For Dry Skin Around The Nose

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by Masha Vapnitchnaia
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
best lotions for dry skin around nose
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If you're dealing with dryness or flaking on your face, keeping your skin properly moisturized should always be your goal. But if that tightness and flakiness happen to be more concentrated around your nose, you may not want to reach for whatever cream is already on your counter. Instead, going with one of the best lotions for dry skin around the nose will ensure you're getting the right amount of relief without exacerbating further irritation, redness, or even clogged pores. For that reason, the most optimal products are oil-free, noncomedogenic, and formulated with soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. They should also absorb quickly so that your skin feels comfortable and not overly greasy.

You may have noticed that hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and shea butter are commonly found in the ingredient decks of many of the most popular moisturizers for dry skin, and that's because they are indeed effective hydrators. Hyaluronic acid is able to hold 1,000 times its weight in water, while glycerin, another natural humectant, can also help keep skin soft and supple. Shea butter is another excellent skin conditioner, but it's also known for its calming properties, which can help reduce redness. Likewise, licorice root extract is an anti-inflammatory that's also beneficial for eczema.

Since you're aiming to pamper dry spots, choosing an oil-free moisturizer will help prevent any other common concerns associated with the skin on/around your nose, like clogged pores and blackheads, from popping up (tip: creams with niacinamide can do double-duty balancing oil production and supporting the skin barrier). In terms of texture, gels and lightweight, watery creams will absorb the most quickly, but for those days when you need more of a physical barrier, an ointment (featuring a straight occlusive like petroleum) can really help to prevent further water loss.

Apart from all of the aforementioned stellar ingredients, the best lotions for dry noses should also have an enthusiastic fan base to back up their efficacy — find them all below.

1. The Best Daily Moisturizer With SPF

This lightweight moisturizer has more than 7,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with many fans calling it "magic" for its ability to hydrate and heal their skin. The star ingredient is panthenol 5, a skin protectant with anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, it contains niacinamide and other hydrators like glycerin and shea butter, as well as ceramides to lock in moisture. It has a creamy texture initially, but dries matte and is super absorbent, according to reviewers. Along with keeping skin deeply nourished, this cream has SPF 30, so you don't need to apply a separate sunscreen when wearing it. It's also fragrance-free, oil-free, and noncomedogenic, so it shouldn't provoke irritation or clog your pores.

One fan's take: "I have been looking for a non-greasy SPF sensitive-skin face [moisturizer] for YEARS, and I finally found it! This moisturizer does the trick, ZERO breakouts or irritation from use, no greasy residue, no significant "shine" off the chin or forehead. While I tend to avoid sun as much as possible, the SPF in this product has definitely limited redness/sunburn to more exposed areas (chin, nose). Highly recommend!!”

2. The Best Gel-Cream

This Neutrogena water gel has a cult following on Amazon, with more than 60,000 five-star ratings. As its name suggests, the product has a gel-like texture that won't clog pores or leave a greasy residue on your skin. Instead, reviewers noted that their skin felt more hydrated and refreshed almost instantly, with one writing, "It was as if my skin just drank it up!" The potent hero ingredient inside is hyaluronic acid, and the oil-free formula makes it a good option for those with oily skin. Just note that it does have a slight fragrance, though many fans report that it's subtle and pleasant.

One fan's take: "I put this hydrating gel on this morning and my face is still soft and smooth [...] I didn't need to use a lot, either, maybe a dime-sized drop for my whole face. The dry patches near my nose and on my eye lids feel like they were never there.”

3. The Best Redness Relieving Gel Cream

Enriched with skin-soothers like glycerin, panthenol, and licorice root extract, this Eucerin Redness Relief cream goes to work while you sleep by restoring hydration to dry skin as it simultaneously helps calm inflammation. Its unique gel-cream texture absorbs quickly and effortlessly glides right over your skin (a benefit you'll greatly appreciate following a cold or flu that's left you with angry, chapped skin around your nose), which means no greasy mess left on your pillowcase. It's also fragrance-free, oil-free, and noncomedogenic. This jar has more than 4,000 five-star ratings, and if you want the same, effective redness relief, but with SPF 15, be sure to check out the Eucerin Redness Relief Day Lotion.

One fan's take: "This was recommended to me by my aunt because I've been dealing with super stubborn dry skin around my nose. 2 days folks. That's it. 2 days and it's resolved the annoying problem I've been dealing with for 3+ months. It's day 4 now and you wouldn't even know I've had any dry, crackly, flaky, red skin around my nose for months.”

4. The Best Ointment

The petroleum-based Aquaphor ointment doesn't just help heal dry, cracked skin, but it's also an occlusive that will further protect skin from irritation caused by harsh weather and/or excess nose-blowing. The dermatologist-recommended formula is fragrance-, dye-, and paraben-free, which means it's also safe for very sensitive skin. The ointment can be used practically anywhere on your body, and many reviewers also report that it makes an excellent lip balm, especially in the colder months. It's also great for dry elbows, hands, and feet. With so many uses, it's no surprise that Aquaphor has nearly 2,000 five-star ratings.

One fan's take: "I had the flu recently and blew my nose constantly. Aquaphor literally saved my dry, chapped nose.”

5. The Best For Using Under Makeup

Another great option from La Roche-Posay, the Cicaplast Baume contains anti-inflammatory panthenol, as well as shea butter and glycerin for hydration. You can apply it around your nose on an as-needed basis, but, according to Amazon users, its thicker, velvety texture leaves behind such a smooth, matte finish that it also works really well at keeping skin flake-free under makeup. The noncomedogenic formula is fragrance- and oil-free, and it's also stand-out on Amazon, with more than 6,000 five-star ratings.

One fan's take: "This balm is everything. My cheeks and nose are so dry and red all the time, but this balm gave me so much relief. And it actually got rid of the dryness.”

Also Consider: A Hyaluronic Acid- & Cica-Infused Primer That Neutralizes Redness

A skincare/makeup hybrid, this No Pore Blem primer packs a lot of punch for its price, and it has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews. First, it's chock full of dry-skin fighting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, pumpkin seed oil, and centella asiatica (aka cica), which is a staple in Korean beauty products because of its antioxidant properties and ability to soothe compromised skin. And that green hue you see? It will actually help tone down the redness on the surface of your skin.

One fan's take: "I have very dry skin at my nose and this primer absolutely fixes it! I’ve never seen my skin look so flawless and makeup last so long with any primer before. 100% a must buy."

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