10 ways to Beat dry skin.

1 Buy the right body lotion.

Any old moisturizer will hydrate the skin for a few hours. But it takes a truly potent one to offer long-term salvation. The easy way to spot a superior cream while in the store is to turn the closed bottle upside down. Dry, flaky skin requires a formula that's as thick as ketchup, such as Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Creamy Lotion or Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Body Emulsion Lotion. Women with normal skin can stave off dryness with lighter-weight lotions, like Curel Daily Moisture Therapy Lotion Original Formula. Regardless of skin type, Mary Lupo, clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University, likes products that deliver a one-two punch of humectants, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or urea (to draw water molecules into the skin), and occlusive ingredients, such as petrolatum, shea butter, or other oils (to trap those molecules beneath the surface). Some of the latest formulas, such as Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizing Lotion, contain higher concentrations of occlusives to keep skin hydrated for 24 hours. Still, experts generally recommend applying moisturizer twice a day.

2 Make face time.

If you have oily skin, putting body moisturizer on your face makes about as much sense as drizzling Mazola on French fries. "Facial skin has more oil glands," says Leslie Baumann, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Miami. "Only the chest and back have a comparable number, so many body creams are designed for oil-deprived areas like arms and legs and are therefore too greasy for the face." But since even facial skin can dry out in the winter, especially on the cheeks, moisturizer is necessary -- just avoid lotions with pore-clogging ingredients like coconut, walnut-, and sesame oils. Instead, look for ones with labels that say "noncomedogenic" and contain dimethicone, glycerin, and AHAs, suggests Cheryl Thellman-Karcher, who likes Neutrogena Healthy Skin face lotion. (These should always be applied over topical acne medications, so that the latter is properly absorbed.) Women with normal to very dry, blemish-free skin have no reason to avoid heavier ingredients -- and can usually use even body lotions. "I suggest washing with Dove cleansing cloths, then following with Eucerin Plus cream, which has a little glycolic acid along with heavier ingredients like urea," Thellman-Karcher says. Both discourage flakes without damaging the skin's top layers.

3 Cut your showers short.

When it's nippy outside, it's tempting to turn an ordinary morning shower into a half-hour steam orgy. But, enjoyable as it is, lingering in the mock tropics breaks down skin's lipid layer, a complex of fatty acids designed to reduce moisture loss. To prevent snake skin, start by turning down the heat to as cool as you can ...