8 Ways to Change Your Looks and Your Life

Fight Flaky Skin from Head to Toe

Dry, frigid temperatures and indoor heating strip skin of its natural levels of moisture. Instead of slathering on layers of lotion, try this more strategic fix: Apply a moisturizer made with humectants (such as hyaluronic acid) during the day and one with occlusive ingredients (like petrolatum or shea butter) at night, suggests Fredric Brandt, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. Humectants are lightweight -- ideal for daytime -- and draw moisture from the deep layers of the dermis to keep skin soft, Dr. Brandt adds. Occlusive formulas, on the other hand, form a physical barrier that locks in moisture. Apply both to damp skin (either just-washed or spritzed with a hydrating mist), which attracts moisturizing ingredients like a magnet.