Where do you live? That could play in to as well, I live in Maine, and my skin is okay during the summer, but when winter comes around I have to do a facial scrub to get rid of all the dead skin (looks horrid when I dont do it and wear makeup), and a moisturizer (sp?). Much better. My hands an mounth don't usually get dry, but My mom had really bad dry/ cracked hands, it sounds gross, but she uses this hand cream/udder cream that you can find at wal*mart. Its in a cow spotted container, it used for both cow udders and hand cream. It really helps, she uses it every day. Also I would suggest using hand cream that doesn't have alcohol in it, that should help. The alcohol is what makes your hands sting when there real bad.