Great tips - I have to get one of those applicators!
Second the nomination of Lush products. I discovered them a few years ago in Australia. Dream Cream is great, it has essential oils and smells wonderful. My favorites are also Skin Drink (with aloe and sesame oil among other things) and Skin's Shangrila (with shea butter and wheatgrass extract among other things). I've always had super dry skin, and these creams are super-smoothing and moist.