HumectantKeratolyticEmollientBarrier Repair

Urea

✅ solid choice Tier 2 Evidence

what it does

A naturally occurring compound in the skin's natural moisturising factor that acts as both a humectant and keratolytic. Low concentrations hydrate; higher concentrations (20–40%) soften and exfoliate thickened skin.

dermai take

Unglamorous name, genuinely one of the best moisturisers going. Your skin naturally makes urea — you're just topping it up. At 10% it's a moisturiser. At 40% it's a medical-grade callus destroyer. Same molecule, very different vibes.

targets these concerns

Texture Dryness Eczema-prone

the studies

"Effectiveness and Tolerability of an Emollient 'Plus' Compared to Urea 10% in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis."

Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2025) · Prakoeswa CRS, Huda BKN, Indrawati D et al.

"Urea and sodium chloride in moisturisers for skin of the elderly--a comparative, double-blind, randomised study."

Skin pharmacology and applied skin physiology (2002) · Kuzmina N, Hagströmer L, Emtestam L

products with this ingredient

Advanced Repair CreamEucerin