Which ingredient helps the look of dryness?

Dry-looking skin often benefits from both water-attracting humectants and barrier lipids that seal that water in. Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw water into the upper skin and hold it there, leaving the surface looking plumper and more supple, while ceramides — skin-identical lipids that make up about half of the "mortar" between surface cells — help refill the barrier so less water escapes and skin looks calmer and less reactive. A practical tip: in very dry, low-humidity air, apply humectants to damp skin and seal with a moisturizer on top, so they don't feel tight.