My go to is anything with Ammonium Lactate in it. 12% minimum.

Major is the brand I use currently. A 14 ounce bottle is around 13 dollars. A lot of others jacked up price during covid.

I’ll just quote the important bit of the sales pitch: “ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: This skin smoothing lotion is specially formulated with 12% lactic acid and neutralized with ammonium hydroxide for a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and a natural humectant for the skin.”

There’s good qualities to this brand and similar from my own experience with this active ingredient. And some bad.

Good:

1: I have Ichthyosis vulgaris kinda like eczema but much less severe with a shitty name. This stuff melts dander flakes and keeps more from being visible all day long until I shower or sleep. God send for me to keep up appearances.

2: The lactic acid creams are day long hydrating, but lets your skin breathe still. Not a big moisture barrier. Won’t feel uncomfortable wearing it even slathered head to toe. Can cover face.

Bad:

1: The active ingredient increases skin UV absorption. Be mindful of that, you can burn more easily without sun screen.

2: Weak acid, so there’s a burning feeling applying it. I’m used to this and don’t feel the burn anymore unless it gets in my eyes or a wound.

An alternative is another I could recommend for dry skin havers: An extreme moisture capturer Dry Patch Body Butter by Dr Ebre. Do as the name implies, little problem spots. This stuff is intense. If you cover your whole face your sweat will get stuck to you and won’t evaporate at all. Don’t do that. 21 dollars for 8 ounce yes, but it clearly works. Lasts forever since you’ll learn quickly to be conservative with its application.