The Best Ways to Moisturize Your Skin

Beauty-related crime always catches our eye. There was the transgender prisoner who wanted the state to pay for his sex change and electrolysis; and then the Canadian inmates who spent four months using a nail clipper to dig a tunnel to freedom. Now, we just heard about a man charged with larceny after he stuffed 75 bottles ofBath & Body Works lotions into his pants at a Massachusetts mall-so many that he couldn't even run from the authorities or bend down to get into the police car.

Legal issues aside, what we do know is that there are more efficient ways to moisturize. Here's what the experts suggest.

-Most bar soaps look innocent, but a harsh formula can leave skin uncomfortably dry. Look for a creamy cleanser that contains glycerin or petrolatum. We like Johnson's Body Care 24 Hour Care Moisturizing Body Wash.

-Mild exfoliation using a gentle scrub with soft, synthetic beads can remove dead skin cells and reduce dullness and allow moisturizer to function more effectively. Try doing so once a week.

-Slather on lotion while your body is still slightly damp. (Our Best of Beauty winner: Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Triple Smoothing Body Lotion.)

-If you're want a slight glow, try a body lotion with a low dose of DHA. Full-blown self tanner can look fake in the dead of winter. Try Clarins Radiance-Plus Self Tanning Body Lotion.

Image via bathandbodyworks.com

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