It's no secret that winter skincare can get tricky, thanks to the season's lower humidity levels and the prevalence of moisture-sapping indoor heating. But dry skin can strike during any season, so it's important to know how to moisturize your face all year round.

Here are eight things you can do throughout the day—even when you're sleeping—to make moisturizing skin an automatic part of your routine.

In the Morning

Take a cold(er) shower

Long, hot showers 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. (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, opt for coconut oil. Skin absorbs it quickly, which prevents that greasy finish.

Buy Pure Original Coconut Oil (from $12.99) or shop all coconut oil products.

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, honey, and hyaluronic acid.

Buy Passport to Organics Retinol Anti-Aging Cream ($27.99) or shop all moisturizers.

Spritz your face

Topical products such as Eau Thermale Avène's Thermal Spring Water (from $13.99) can be used throughout the day to balance pH and calm irritated skin. For a DIY version, try using spring water and a misting bottle.

Shop all skin treatments and serums.

Keep water off your lips

When water 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. Basically, treat your lips like tiny gremlins: don't get them wet.

Buy a Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lip Balm 2-Pack ($5.99) or shop all lip balms.

Before Bedtime

Steer clear of direct heat

Sleeping near a source of heat feels heavenly, but direct heat causes redness and a breakdown of collagen. You'll want to stay at least 10 feet away, but the good news is you can use this as an excuse to layer on the blankets.

Instead, sleep near a humidifier

A humidifier counteracts the moisture-zapping effects of indoor heat. The cool water it mists can help fight dry skin and also soothe dry noses and throats. (If you don't have a humidifier handy, check out our buying guide.)

Buy the HealthSmart Cosmo Ultrasonic Humidifier ($34.99) or shop all humidifiers.

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