Bliss Manicure’s Best Friend

You don’t need an overpriced miracle cream to keep skin from shriveling up this fall.

Here are some tips for skin, lip and scalp survival now and during the chilly, dry winter months. The American Academy of Dermatology and UCI dermatology professors advise that cold temperatures, indoor heating and even a long, hot shower repertoire can contribute to flaky, itchy, parched skin.

To quench skin, follow these tips when it’s dry:

• For cracked lips, moisten a cloth and place it between lips for up to 30 minutes.

• Take lukewarm showers no longer than 15 minutes. Pat skin dry. Rubbing will irritate dry skin.

• Retain moisture by applying a thick lotion or oil within 15 minutes of showering.

Some quenchers to try:

• Neutrogena Norwegian Formula: Designed with chapped hands in mind, this ultra-thick formula is made with lots of glycerin. $4.99 at drugstores.

• Vaseline: Petroleum jelly is the bargain hunter’s answer to hydrating body, lips, hands and cracked heels. $4.50 at drugstores.

• Eucerin Daily Replenishing Lotion: This itchy-skin lifesaver in a pump absorbs in a snap. It’s wonderfully hydrating yet lightweight (for those who won’t tolerate greasy residue). $6.99 at drugstores.

• Smith’s Rosebud Salve: The rose-scented formula inside a chic little tin has been an absolute fave of women for more than a century. While it’s best known for softening lips, it multitasks as a remedy for chapped hands, diaper rash and rough cuticle. $6 at drugstore.com.

• Bliss Manicure’s Best Friend: This slip-in-your-purse, super-moisturizing formula is made with green tea extract, shea butter and vitamin E to soften cuticles and strengthen brittle nails. $18 at Sephora (www.sephora.com).

• Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser: Super-gentle (and made with Vitamin E and apricot kernel and avocado oils) cleanser won’t strip skin of essential oils it needs to stay hydrated. $17.50 at Kiehl’s (www.kiehls.com).

• L’occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil: You can rub this deliciously scented almond oil into dry legs, cuticles and elbows. $30 at L’occitane www.loccitane.com.