I would recommend that you exfoilate your face at least once a week. If you have dry flakely skin no moisturizer is going to penetrate enough to do any good.
I also would not recommend using any petroleum products on your skin. If you skin is really dry use oils or butters. If you are going to use oils splash your face with water and then apply the oil. The butters can go directly on your skin. There are many oils and butters on the market. Google them and pick one that you can buy locally and is appropriate for you skin type.