That’s not your Rice Krispies talking to you. It’s your skin screaming out for help now that winter is here.

Don’t worry though. Cracked elbows and hands and itchy skin can be defeated if you spend enough time moisturizing. There are several new products out on the market but some of the old ones shouldn’t be forgotten either.

Here are my favorites:

• Nivea soft: This formula is non greasy and leaves your skin super soft. It retails between $6 and $7 and can be found at most drug stores, including CVS, Wal-Mart and Walgreens, or it can be bought online at Drugstore.com.

• The Body Shop body butter and body scrub: I have yet to find a body butter that matches the ones from this store. They are super hydrating, and unlike most body butters, they don’t leave your skin feeling greasy. Technically, body scrub isn’t a moisturizer, but half the secret to soft skin is good exfoliation and the scrubs at The Body Shop have oils in them for bonus hydration.

Both the butter and the scrubs also come in yummy scents. These are a little pricier – the mini butters and scrubs retail for $10 and the larger versions retail for $20 – but you can always try your hand at bidding on the items on eBay. If you don’t mind coughing up the extra cash, there is a Body Shop store in the Pheasant Lane Mall.

• Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil: That’s a mouthful. I’ve never used oil as part of my moisturizing routine until I saw an ad for this one this year. Like the others, it leaves your skin super soft, but there is some grease to contend with when you apply it.

I would recommend using this on days when you have a little extra time to spend in the buff before getting dressed. That way, it has some extra time to absorb. It also leaves the faint scent of cocoa butter behind, which is a great reminder of summer on the coldest of winter days. Vaseline products can be found at most grocery and drug stores or online at Drugstore.com or Amazon.com. It retails for about $7.

Here are two I plan to try before the winter’s over:

• Dove Pro-Age Body Cream Oil: I love the idea of this line, offering skin protection and exfoliation all in one. It retails for about $7 and can be found at most drugstores and grocery stores.

By the way, Dove is giving away a free (you pay S&H) tote that is quite cute if you buy $15 worth of products. Here’s more information. Hurry because the offer runs out at the end of this year.

• Olay Body Age Transform Body Creme Serum: This line also claims to fight the five signs of body aging using vitamin C, green tea and grape seed extracts. It retails for about $7 as well and can also be found at most drugstores and grocery stores.

Feel free to post comments about any of your favorites.