If your skin was hungry, would you feed it potato chips and a Twinkies or would you reach for something more wholesome, like an apple or a green salad? You may want to think before answering. Still thinking? Well, think about this: when you fuel your body with food heavy with refined sugar, excess salt and artificial preservatives you not only put yourself on a path to conditions like heart disease, diabetes and obesity, you also sacrifice long-term energy and vitality for a quick tease of the taste buds (junk food may feel good going down, but often makes you tired and cranky later). Same goes for your skin. Slather on a daily coating of a synthetically processed body lotion and you’re exposing the body’s biggest organ to artificial fragrances, colors and preservatives, many of which have been linked to irritating—and sometimes life threatening—conditions and diseases. No good. So before committing to the first sweet-scented lotion that turns you on, take a moment to turn that bottle around and check out the ingredient list. You want your body lotion to be made from ingredients that are easily recognizable and derived from nature.

Here are some easy ways to keep your skin naturally silky smooth:

I can’t stop singing the praises of Avalon Organics. Nope, can’t do it. And I won’t. So there. Avalon’s Therapeutic Hand & Body lotion ($7.21) is my all-season lotion go to. I enjoy the lavender and the ylang ylang, buying the stuff in the biggest bottle they make and slathering it everywhere every day. Rich in certified organic sunflower, flaxseed and coconut oils, this stuff gets the job done whether your issue is dry fingers from too much washing or scaly winter legs. Prepare to be moisturized.

For chronically dry spots like heels and elbows, you may need to upgrade to something more serious. Boots Organic Body Butter ($13.99) shoul...