Agree with Aquaphor (by Eucerin). Available OTC. We recommend it (and give it out) to our patients after laser peels to the face.
For something less thick and messy, use Eucerin Original healing rich lotion by the same makers of Aquaphor. I like that fact that it is scentless.
You sound like my mother. A doctor finally suggested my mom was taking too many showers: always 2 per day, sometimes 3 if she worked out. Showering before bedtime and in the morning was just something she did, period.
Anyway, reducing showers, getting rid of soap and finding a moisturizer that really worked for her skin (in her case, I think it’s Nivea soft) made a huge difference.
I use the bodyshop shea butter bar but I think the cream shower gel will work well for you. Also get yourself a humidifier if you don’t use one already.
^^^^Oh yes…I second the humidifier. I didn’t think of it in my earlier post but it can help.
My latest dry skin lotion is working well and and remains effective longer than most: Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion - 48 hr.
Available at drug stores and inexpensive.
Agree with others - no soap. I sometimes just shower with coconut oil. I wash my face once a day at night, using a mild moisturizing cleanser. Top facial moisturizer with 2 drops of Olay Regenerist Facial Oil.
Good luck. This time of year and life is challenging for skin.
Used to have the dry leg skin, would scratch until I’d bleed.
For immediate relief I found hydrocortisone 10 ointment ( over the counter immediate relief, because all the many moisturizers didn’t work.
To prevent the problem this has worked -
And, here I pioneer woman, Ree drummond’s suggestion. Love her humorous writing style about." A friend who has dry skin problem"
http://thepioneerwoman.com/life-and-style/cure-for-itchy-legs/
Dry skin and eyes are symptoms of low, or lack of, estrogen. Could be that.
I use Neutrogena sesame (or unscented) body oil and I put it all over while in the shower, right before turning of the water. It spreads all over nicely while you’re wet and all your pores are open. Then just towel off and your skin will be nice and soft! You can even get your back by squirting it behind your head across your shoulders. It’s not greasy and is a breeze to apply. Just be sure the tub floor is not slick before someone else gets in!
My mom started having terribly dry skin a few years ago especially on her legs so has a prescription lotion. It’s Ammonium Lactate Lotion 12%. It has helped enormously.
@emilybee Thanks! Did your mom get any clarity from her docs on why?
I am a believer in home remedies. You may want to consider some of these to help you with dry skin.
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-dry-skin.html/
@doschicos, not that I know of except aging ( she’s 86) and she takes very hot baths. She has cut down on doing that. Nothing was really helping before she got the prescription.
When she was in the hospital for several weeks in January her skin got so dry it was flaking off. After she got home and started using the lotion it was better in just a few days…
Curel Anti Itch lotion is the only thing that works on my legs.
"It’s Ammonium Lactate Lotion 12%. It has helped enormously. "
:
Do you know from where AmLactin derives its brand name?
[quote]
Ingredients
Water, Ammonium Lactate, Mineral Oil, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Laureth-4, PEG-40 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylcellulose
I tried AmLactin on my very dry skin and it burned terribly. Needless to say, I discontinued it quickly!
Now I go with Aquaphor, Aveeno Intense Relief Repair Cream, and Bliss 24 - heaven body balm. Just depends how dry and itchy I am.
Albolene. Sold in a tub only, I think, as make-up remover. Main ingredient is mineral oil, so it is a bit “greasy” at first, but absorbs well and then tissue off excess. Skin on my hands drys horribly during the cold/dry of winter, with skin at fingertips splitting open (painful)…this is the only product I tried that made any difference (was rec by dermatologist many years ago). During bad time of year, I might put it on my hands twice a day, but usually once a day. Works on any part of body.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for / experience with a soap substitute (ie. Shower creme) for a man? Looking for something for H…you can imagine he turns his nose up at any product aimed at women…
We found using a warm mist humidifier at night helps, a lot. I use Lubriderm and Amlactin.
Justamom, Mr. likes Aveeno Naturals body wash. It does not have leave a perfumy scent, and the bottle looks pretty gender-neutral. 
@JustaMom5465 - I use African black soap body wash. It isn’t drying and it has a slightly masculine scent.
The Aveno shower gel for dry skin really, really helps me.