Dermidia

Low Risk · DSI under 4

Low Risk skin care (DSI under 4): a moisturizing wash routine

Below DSI 4, indoor air alone is not expected to dry out your skin. A moisturizing body wash that leaves petrolatum or plant oils on the skin keeps bathing from leaving it feeling stripped, and a light lotion after you shower or bathe takes care of any spots that already feel dry. If your skin tends to dry easily, a daily light lotion is worth keeping up even in milder weeks.

This week's routine

  1. Use a moisturizing body wash when you shower or bathe.
  2. After bathing, put a light lotion on any spots that feel dry. If your skin dries easily, make it a daily habit even in Low Risk weeks.
  3. When your area reaches First Alert, make lotion a daily step.

What to look for on the label

  • Petrolatum or other moisturizing oils (mineral oil, dimethicone, or plant oils such as soybean oil) in the ingredients, so the wash leaves a moisturizing layer behind
  • A large pump bottle, 30 fl oz or more, so it lasts through daily showers
  • Fragrance-free if your skin is easily bothered; those washes often skip petrolatum, so moisturize after bathing
How to choose a moisturizer →Ingredient research we have compiled →

Already in your routine

This is the base of every care level. Higher levels keep it and add one layer at a time.

What Low Risk adds

The Dry Skin Index tells you when to step up your routine. Choose the product by where your skin is dry, how it feels, and a texture you will keep using.

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. Picks are chosen by ingredients first. How we choose

Moisturizing body wash

Moisturizing washes that leave petrolatum or plant oils on the skin, in large pump bottles that last through daily showers.

Light maintenance lotions

For skin that tends to dry even when indoor air is milder: a light, easy-spreading lotion after bathing, used as often as your skin needs it.

Compare Low Risk picks

Low Risk picks compared
PickKey ingredientsNotesRetailer link
OlayUltra Moisture Body Wash with Shea Butter, Vitamin B3 and Hyaluronic BlendPetrolatum, Shea butter, Hyaluronic acid35 fl oz pumpCheck price for Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash with Shea Butter, Vitamin B3 and Hyaluronic Blend at AmazonAmazon
DoveDeep Moisture Body WashSoybean oil, Stearic acid, Glycerin30.6 fl oz pumpCheck price for Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash at AmazonAmazon
AveenoDaily Moisturizing Lotion, Fragrance-FreeOat, Glycerin, DimethiconeFragrance-free · Lotion · 18 fl ozCheck price for Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, Fragrance-Free at AmazonAmazon
EucerinDaily Hydration LotionPetrolatum, Sunflower seed oil, Glycerin16.9 fl oz pumpCheck price for Eucerin Daily Hydration Lotion at AmazonAmazon

All four care levels

  1. Low Risk

    Moisturizing wash

    Lotion after bathing, if dry

  2. First Alert

    + Daily moisturizer

    After bathing, on damp skin

  3. Special Care

    + Evening moisturizer

    If skin still feels dry

  4. Enhanced Care

    + Richer moisturizer and a humidifier

    Moist air while you sleep

Each step keeps the ones before it, and the Dry Skin Index tells you when to take the next one. Many homes climb from fall into winter and step back down in spring.

Dermidia offers care recommendations, not medical advice. If you have eczema, diabetes, poor circulation, immune suppression, open cracks, bleeding, signs of infection, or persistent itching, follow your clinician's plan and seek medical advice.

Picks last reviewed November 2026.