I use a plant oil (say jojoba for the body and rosehip for the face) but that was never enough, and seemed to run off and my skin was later dryer than ever, but if you trap it in with a more occlusive cream (such as e45) you seem to get the benefit of the plant oil without it drying out, rubbing off on clothes.
I had a bad time recently with dry patches on my face and parched looking skin but this has transformed it, and I look younger as the fine lines are plumped out.