Do:

• Use an oil-based moisturizer instead of a water-based one. Oils create a protective layer that helps skin retain the maximum amount of moisture — vital during this dry, chilly season. Be sure to find products that contain non-clogging oils such as avocado, mineral, primrose or almond oil, suggests WebMD.
• Moisturize within the first few minutes after your shower to lock in moisture. This helps to "trap water in the surface cells," according to Mayo Clinic, so your damp skin actually absorbs the cream. June Jacobs Ultra Light Citrus Moisturizer is a gentle botanical blend that will moisturize even the driest winter skin.

Don’t:

• Skip the SPF in your moisturizer. Even though you may not see the sun for days, winter clouds don’t block UV rays. So, no matter how cloudy, sunny or cold, you’re always vulnerable to the sun’s damaging rays.
• Forget your lips! Compared to other body parts, lips don’t retain moisture very well, making your pout especially susceptible to the harsh winter elements. Keep a moisturizing lip balm that contains sun protection like Exuviance Essential Multi-Protective Lip Balm SPF 15 or MD Formulations Lip Balm handy at all times.

Do:

• Keep the temperature lukewarm when showering or enjoying a long bath. Hot water breaks down the important lipid barriers that preserve skin’s moisture.
• Relieve super-dry, itchy skin by adding oatmeal or baking soda to your bath.

Don’t:

• Use harsh soaps or cleansers in the shower. Instead, use gentle products that contain glycerin, which traps and maintains moisture. Try La Roche Posay Lipikar Surgras Body Wash.
• Miss moisturizing your body after your shower or bath. Just like the face, your body soaks up cream best when it’s damp. To combat dryness, rough skin and itching, try the luxuriously rich AHAVA Dermud Intensive Nourishing Body Cream.

Do:

• Drink the recommended six to eight glasses of water per day. A person who’s dehydrated may find that drinking more water improves the condition of dry skin. Unfortunately, for those who already drink the daily recommended amount, increasing your water intake won’t magically make your skin more moisturized.
• Hydrate your home with a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Don’t:

• Crank up the thermostat. Generally, the warmer the air temperature, the drier the air. Turn down your heat by just a few degrees to please your skin and save money on heating costs.
• Neglect to include omega-3 oils in your diet. Eating important lipids — such as omega-3 oils found in nuts and fish — is a natural way to help your skin stay hydrated during dry winter spells.

Do:

• Exfoliate in the shower by applying a gentle scrub to your loofah or brush. Scrub your body using gentle, circular movements. For all-over exfoliation, try Ole Henriksen Loofah Body Scrub.
• Apply moisturizer immediately after exfoliating.

Don’t:

• Forget to exfoliate your face. Because exfoliating sloughs off dead skin cells, it allows other products to penetrate deeper into the skin — including absorbing that all-important moisturizer your dehydrated skin so desperately needs.
• Over-exfoliate or under- exfoliate. How often you exfoliate will vary according to your skin type, age, lifestyle and the environment. For example, an avid skier with naturally dry skin may need to exfoliate more often than someone who has normal skin and lives in a milder climate. Typically, using an exfoliating scrub twice a week is sufficient. But to find out your ideal frequency, ask your dermatologist.

Do:

• Research your dermatologist’s credentials and background to make sure you’re visiting a reputable, experienced professional.
• Get recommendations from friends and family.
• Ask for before and after photos if you’re getting an in-office treatment or procedure.

Don’t:

• Call the first specialist you see in the phone book without doing your homework.
• Continue seeing a dermatologist if you don’t feel comfortable. Remember, just as credentials and background are significant considerations, so is the dermatologist’s bedside manner.