Dry skin is a common skin concern right now, and the cause of that itchy, scratchy feeling may not be a lack of body lotion. One unexpected way to soothe dry, irritated skin is reaching for the right fabrics.

Winter brings all kinds of dry skin triggers, like artificial heat indoors, low humidity outside, and the urge to take long, hot showers (a big no no, as steamy showers strip your skin of natural oils that keep you moisturized). While rich body butters and powering on a humidifier can help your skin regain moisture, choosing the right clothes can help your skin maintain that hydration without irritating your skin.

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What to Look for in The Best Fabrics for Dry Winter Skin

“If you have eczema or other forms of dermatitis, you should opt for soft, breathable fabrics such as cotton or silk,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, Board-certified Dermatologist, founder of Idriss Dermatology in NYC, and creator of the #PillowtalkDerm series on Instagram. “Natural fibers like wool and linen can be irritating for your skin because they can be scratchy and itchy,” Idriss explains. “Synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon are also irritating as they can trap heat and moisture, not allowing your skin to breathe.” If you simply must wear the wool sweater, layer a long-sleeve cotton or silk top underneath to protect your skin from scratching.

Top Clothes For Dry Winter Skin

Madewell Funnel Neck Drop Shoulder Cotton Sweater

Best Cotton Sweater

A good cotton sweater transitions seamlessly from fall to winter to spring. The Madewell Funnel Neck Drop Shoulder Cotton Sweater is made of 100% cotton with a boxy fit, so your skin can breathe. We love the XXS to XXL size range.

Courtesy of Madewell

Madewell Funnel Neck Drop Shoulder Cotton Sweater $78 Buy Now AT NORDSTROM

Madewell Funnel Neck Drop Shoulder Cotton Sweater $78 Buy Now AT MADEWELL

Naadam Wool-Blend Sweaterdress

Best Sweater Dress

Merino wool is a softer, finely spun version of traditional wool, so it’s a safer option to wear when you’re dealing with angry skin. This Naadam midi sweater dress is made of 75% merino wool and 25% silk for major warmth without irritation.

Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

Naadam Wool-Blend Sweaterdress $445 $208 Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Lunya Washable Silk High Rise Pant Set

Best Silk Pajamas

A set of silk pajamas will help you and your skin get a great night of sleep. The Lunya two-piece set is made of 100% Mulberry silk (the smoothest and strongest silk out there) and it has the added bonus of machine washability without losing its buttery feel.

Courtesy of Lunya

Lunya Washable Silk High Rise Pant Set $278 Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Lunya Washable Silk High Rise Pant Set $278 Buy Now AT SHOPBOP

Pangaia 365 Track Pants

Best Cotton Sweatpants

The Pangaia 365 Track Pants will be your go-to on lazy weekend mornings or work from home days. The oversize fit soft lining will keep you cozy no matter if you’re watching Netflix or running to the store. These women’s sweatpants are made entirely of organic cotton so your skin will love them, too.

Courtesy of Pangaia

Pangaia 365 Track Pants $95 Buy Now AT NORDSTROM

Pangaia 365 Track Pants $95 Buy Now at ssense

Alex Mill Nico Cardigan

Best Cotton Cardigan

A good cardigan will serve you all fall and winter. This 100% cotton Alex Mill Nico Cardigan will keep you all buttoned up without irritating your arms. The heavy, chunky ribbed knit is extra warm, and you can shop six earthy colors on the brand’s site.

Courtesy of Alex Mill

Alex Mill Nico Cardigan $135 Buy Now AT SHOPBOP

Alex Mill Nico Cardigan $135 Buy Now AT ALEX MILL

Everlane The Pima Micro-Rib Turtleneck

Best Cotton Turtleneck

A good cotton turtleneck will get loads of wear time in your winter routine. This option from Everlane is made with 96% Supima cotton sourced from American farms, plus 4% elastane for a little stretch. Layer it under scratchy wool sweaters to prevent itching or on its own with your favorite leather pants. The staple is available in nine colors to suit any style.

Courtesy of Everlane

Everlane The Pima Micro-Rib Turtleneck $50 Buy Now AT everlane

La Perla Silk Short Robe

Best Silk Robe

Created with 100% Italian silk, La Perla Silk Short Robe will become your most-reached for robe. It features notched lapel details with side-tie closures and pockets. The silk feels like butter on your skin — you’ll never want to take it off.

Courtesy of La Perla

La Perla Silk Short Robe $465 Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

La Perla Silk Short Robe $465 Buy Now AT SHOPBOP

La Perla Silk Short Robe $465 Buy Now AT NORDSTROM

Co Patch Pocket V-Neck Silk Cardigan

Best Silk Top

The Co Patch Pocket V-Neck Silk Cardigan is an investment piece that’ll keep you feeling cozy and your skin feeling smooth wherever you are, thanks to it’s 100% silk fabric. You can layer it over just about anything for added warmth without irritating your skin.

Courtesy of Nordstrom

Co Patch Pocket V-Neck Silk Cardigan $650 Buy Now AT NORDSTROM

Dannijo Midi Slip Dress

Best Silk Slip Dress

The best slip dresses are wardrobe staples you can wear all year long. The Dannijo Midi Slip Dress is 100% silk to go gentle on the most easily-irritated skin types. The slim fit style accentuates curves without suffocating or irritating your skin. Wear it to work with tall boots and a chunky sweater, or with a leather jacket for date night.

Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

Dannijo Midi Slip Dress $325 Buy Now AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Dannijo Midi Slip Dress $325 Buy Now AT SHOPBOP

Citizens of Humanity Annina Trouser Jeans

Best Women’s Jeans for Dry Winter Skin

These 100% cotton jeans are designed to feel loose on your legs, which helps prevent friction (and therefore irritation) on dry skin. The material is stiff at first but softens up as you wear them for a comfortable, scratch-free feel.

Courtesy of Citizens of Humanity

Citizens of Humanity Annina Trouser Jeans $238 Buy Now AT SHOPBOP

Citizens of Humanity Annina Trouser Jeans $238 Buy Now AT REVOLVE

The Best Body Products for Dry Winter Skin

EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Crème

Best Lightweight Body Cream

You probably know EltaMD for their award-winning, dermatologist-approved sunscreen formulas, but the brand does more than SPF. Their Moisture-Rich Body Crème gives you the same lightweight feel as their face lotions, but with skin barrier-boosting ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. The quick dry down lets you shimmy right into clothes right after applying.

Courtesy of EltaMD

EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Crème $32 Buy Now AT AMAZON

EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Crème $32 Buy Now AT DERMSTORE

EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Crème $32 Buy Now AT BLUEMERCURY

Kate McLeod Daily Stone Solid Body Moisturizer

Best Rich Body Cream

Consider Kate McLeod’s body moisturizer as lotion in a bar soap format. The intensely rich solid moisturizer melts on your skin as you glide it onto your limbs, leaving nourishing ingredients like cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, and apricot kernel oil in its wake. The moisturizer makes it a breeze to focus on dry problem areas like your knees and elbows.

Courtesy of Kate McLeod

Kate McLeod Daily Stone Solid Body Moisturizer $45 Buy Now AT SEPHORA

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Cicaplast Balm B5

Best Balm for Dry Skin

La Roche-Posay products have had loads of TikTok viral moments this year. The French pharmacy brand’s Cicaplast Balm B5 is the latest, with beauty lovers raving about its ability to help clear up breakouts. That’s thanks to the formulas major anti-inflammatory powers from ingredients like centella asiatica derivatives. Panthenol, shea butter, and glycerin make this balm a solve for irritated, dry skin, too. Dab it on any inflamed patches on your hands, lips, or body to soothe your skin in an instant.

Courtesy of La Roche-Posay

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Cicaplast Balm B5 $16 Buy Now AT ULTA

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil

Best Body Oil

The Kim Kardashian-approved Bio-Oil Skincare Oil will revive your skin on the coldest days. The rose colored oil contains a blend of ingredients like sunflower oil, chamomile, and vitamins A and E to soften skin while evening out discoloration — we can attest to its ability to help fade scars.

Courtesy of Ulta

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil $29 $23 Buy Now AT ULTA

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil $26 $23 Buy Now AT AMAZON

Nécessaire The Body Serum

Best Hydrating Body Serum

Incorporating a body serum into your routine is an extra step before you apply body lotion, but it’s a worthy one. Nécessaire’s body serum contains a potent dose of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides. The liquid seeps into your skin to boost the moisturizing powers of the body lotions and creams you apply on top.

Courtesy of Necessaire

Nécessaire The Body Serum $45 Buy Now AT SEPHORA

Nécessaire The Body Serum $45 Buy Now AT NORDSTROM

Nécessaire The Body Serum $45 Buy Now AT VIOLET GREY

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray

Best Hydrating Body Mist

With Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray, you can spritz dry patches away. The mist version of the popular petrolatum-based product makes it easy to target problem areas without dealing with greasy hands. The continuous spray mist evenly delivers a thin layer of the occlusive formula that helps lock in hydration.

Courtesy of Amazon

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray, 6.2 oz $19 Buy Now AT AMAZON

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Body Spray, 3.7 oz $9 Buy Now AT WALMART

Meet the Expert

Dr. Shereene Idriss is unlike her peers. In a time when top-name dermatologists have signed on as corporate-brand figureheads, joining in on false marketing hype to appear relevant, Dr. Idriss has become a household name for doing just the opposite. She rose to organic fame through her #PillowtalkDerm series on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for candidly speaking about skincare, sharing the science-based truth behind it all. In doing so, she amassed a following of 1 million+ “skin nerds” who called on her to create her very own skincare line minus any of the B.S. With that, PillowtalkDerm was born.

Meet the Author

Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she keeps tabs on all things beauty, wellness, and lifestyle related. As a dry skin sufferer, she knows how to find the softest fabrics and richest moisturizers to stay comfortable all winter long. For this story, she interviewed a dermatologist to learn what the science says about how fabric can improve or worsen irritated skin.

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The Best Fabrics to Combat Winter Skin Woes — And Hydrating Body Moisturizers to Restore Your Skin

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