These eight tips will help keep skin soft from your morning to night. In the throes of winter, there’s really no getting around it. You kind of always have to be thinking about how to keep your skin soft. Here are eight things you can do throughout the day—even when you’re sleeping—that combat dryness without taking up much (or any) of your time. Start During Your Morning Shower  Take a cold(er) shower: The Mayo Clinic cautions against long, hot showers. They can break down lipid barriers, which help retain moisture in skin cells. It might be too hard to face a cold shower when it’s well below freezing, but luckily, even switching to a warm one will help. Or add oil to your bath: If you just cannot fathom giving up a hot bath, at least add oil to the water. It prevents the evaporation of water from your skin and has longer staying power than body lotion. (Pro tip: The oil will make your tub slippery. After your bath, try cleaning your tub with baking soda to absorb some of the slickness.) Skip toweling off: Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp to help seal in water. To get the radiant skin of a supermodel or a C-3PO, opt for coconut oil. Skin absorbs it quickly, which prevents that greasy finish. Stay Dewy All Day Long Know your ingredients: The most effective moisturizers have a combination of emollients, which help prevent water loss from the skin, and humectants, which draw water to the skin. Look for natural emollients such as shea butter and plant oils and natural humectants such as glycerin and honey. Spritz your face: Topical products such as Eau Thermale Avène’s Thermal Spring Water can be used throughout the day to balance pH and calm irritated skin. Try a DIY version with spring water and a misting bottle or by “accidentally” setting off the sprinkler system in your building. Pretend your lips are tiny gremlins: Be careful about getting water on your lips—when it evaporates, it tends to steal moisture. Use a straw when drinking water, or at least keep lip balm handy. Also avoid licking your lips, as the digestive enzymes in saliva can further chap them. Bedtime Does Not Mean Quit Time  Steer clear of direct heat: Sleeping near a source of heat feels heavenly, but celebrity dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt warned Allure readers against it, saying that direct exposure causes redness and a breakdown of collagen. He recommends staying at least 10 feet away. We recommend blanketing your body with warm, fluffy cats. Instead, sleep near a humidifier: It counteracts the moisture-zapping effects of indoor heat. The cool water it mists can help fight parched skin and also soothe dry noses and throats.