Lurker breaking cover here. Don't wear cotton socks. Your feet sweat up to a full cup of water every day, even in cold temperatures. Wool is the best, if you're the sort who figures even what can't be seen should be as traditional as possible. You don't want to completely water-proof your boots, because all that sweat has to go somewhere.
Cold cream is good.
This is pretty good, as after growing up a Wolverine and spending all this time in Korea my feet start to go numb at 40 degrees. What is comfortable for me won't be for you. We can still learn from each other, though.