6 Secrets To Actually Keeping Your Skin Hydrated All Year Long

If your skin has ever felt like a mystery (soft & glowing one week, then dry & textured the next), you’re not alone. Keeping your skin consistently hydrated all year long is about more than what you use. It’s about how you care. Seasons shift & your skin deserves love that ebbs with them.

Learning how to hydrate skin is about creating a routine that feels good from the first drop to the final glow. The ingredients you layer & the way you apply them all add up to something personal & deeply nurturing. Because let’s be real—hydrated skin about more than moisture; It’s about how you feel in your body.

So take a breath & roll up those sleeves. Let’s dive into the secrets of skin hydration that work all year round & turn your daily body care routine into a joy-filled ritual. 

Hydration Is More Than Just Lotion

Let’s expand how we think about moisture. Hydration comes from more than just one quick swipe of lotion or a single hero product. It’s a full-body experience that flows from the inside out. Just like caring for your curls, taking care of your skin works best when it’s layered & in tune with what makes you feel good. 

Think of hydration as a conversation between you & your body. Allow your skin to tell you what it needs & then respond with care & attention. Some days, that might be a light lotion after a warm shower. Other days, it could be nourishing body oil & cream layered on top of a deeply hydrating wash. Do it your way. 

Rather than rushing through a routine, consider this your time to pause, breathe & celebrate your body for all that it does. Moisturizing becomes less about maintenance & more about mindfulness, as a ritual that leaves you glowing in more ways than one. 

Start in the Shower with a Moisture-First Body Wash

Hydration begins earlier than most of us think—right in the shower. Long before body lotions or creams come into play, the way you cleanse your skin sets the tone for how it’ll feel for the rest of the day. 

Think of your body wash as the opening note of your hydration symphony, setting the rhythm & mood for everything that follows. Traditional soaps can sometimes leave skin feeling a little too “squeaky clean,” which often means moisture has been stripped away in the cleaning process. 

Instead, a moisture-first body wash takes a gentler, more supportive approach by cleansing effectively while adding optimal hydration. It’s like hitting refresh & replenish at the same time. Whether it’s your wake-up call in the morning or your wind-down cue at night, a moisture-first wash like the PATTERN Moisturizing Body Wash helps ground you in the present while prepping your skin to glow. 

Once your skin is fresh from a gentle cleanse, exfoliation can be a helpful next step. It gently buffs away dead skin cells, creating a gorgeous canvas for your moisturizing products to sink in. For an option that feels both effective & kind to your skin, the PATTERN Dry Exfoliating Scrub can be used to refresh & smooth without overstripping. And remember—if your skin is feeling extra delicate, you can always scale back & exfoliate less often. The goal is to nurture your glow, not stress it.

Why Damp Skin Is the Secret to Better Hydration

Ready to unlock a next-level hydration hack? Keep skin slightly damp after showering & before applying your favorite moisturizing products. That soft, dewy surface is the perfect base for creating a moisture barrier on your skin. 

This is where body oil comes in. Applying oil while your skin is still damp helps hold on to that hydration & gives your skin a glorious, healthy-looking sheen. 

Oils packed with the right ingredients (like the PATTERN Nourishing Body Oil) absorb with ease & leave skin radiant (never heavy) so you can feel moisturized & luminous. 

Lotion or Cream? Layering Based on What Your Skin’s Craving

Once your skin is prepped with oil, it’s time to choose your next layer: lotion or cream. The best part? You get to follow your intuition & give your skin what it’s asking for.

When Your Skin’s Craving Something Light: Hydrating Body Lotion

Body lotion is your skin’s best friend when you want that soft, silky feel without the lingering weight of a heavier moisturizer. The PATTERN Hydrating Body Lotion is lightweight & ideal for post-shower hydration when you’re getting dressed for the day or running out the door. 

Its texture makes it an easy everyday go-to, especially in warmer weather or for skin that naturally leans more balanced or combination skin. It’s hydrating enough to leave you glowing, but breathable enough to let your skin move, stay soft & shine throughout the day. 

Reach for lotion when you want skin hydration to feel effortless, making it a daily essential that feels anything but ordinary. 

When Your Skin Deserves Something Extra: Moisture Rich Body Cream

There are days when your skin asks for a little more, like a deeper kind of softness that cocoons & comforts. That’s when you indulge in the PATTERN Moisture Rich Body Cream. It’s thick & creamy, packed with hydrating ingredients & designed for deep, lasting nourishment. 

Body cream is the right companion for colder weather, bedtime rituals, post-sun care or when your body simply craves extra replenishment. 

Packed with hydrating ingredients (like emollients), body cream helps support the skin barrier, not only hydrating in the moment but keeping in moisture for hours to come. 

How Often to Hydrate—& Why Your Skin Might Want More

Skin hydration is all about rhythm, not rigidity. Some days, a single layer of lotion in the morning is all your skin needs to stay soft & glowing. Other days, especially when life gets busy or the weather shifts, your skin may call out for more. 

Rather than sticking to a strict schedule, let hydration become a responsive, feel-good part of your day. Still wondering when to lather a second (or third) layer? Your skin might want more hydration if:

• The weather’s changing – Cold, dry air or hot sun can pull moisture from the skin faster, so seasonal transitions often call for richer or more frequent layers. 

• You’re moving more – Whether you’ve been working out, traveling or just running around, extra movement can lead to moisture loss. 

• Your skin feels a little thirsty – If it feels tight or isn’t soaking in products like usual, it’s a sign your skin may be craving more hydration. 

• You’re layering under clothes – Fabrics can sometimes pull moisture from the skin, especially winter layers, so reapplying helps maintain softness. 

• It’s your wind-down time – Evening is a beautiful time to reconnect with your body & seal in hydration before you rest. 

The beauty of body care is that it can shift with you. Some days it’s quick & energizing, while other days it’s slow & restorative. There’s freedom in that flow. There’s power in choosing what you need in the moment, honoring your body’s signals & knowing that every swipe of product is an act of kindness to yourself. 

Ingredients That Quench: What to Look For in Hydrating Body Care

Some ingredients just get skin. They show up, soak in & deliver that feel-good magic from the very first layer. 

So what’s that magic made of? These natural ingredients are our most-loved hydration heroes:

• Hyaluronic Acid – A true hydration superstar, Hyaluronic Acid can attract & hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. That means it pulls moisture into the skin & keeps it there, giving your body that fresh, dewy feel. 

• Shea Butter – Shea butter is the rich, buttery backbone of deep hydration. Luxurious, nutrient-packed & loaded with fatty acids, it helps soften & condition the skin, especially in the spots that tend to get dry or rough (hello elbows, knees & heels). 

• Aloe Vera – Cooling, calming & oh-so refreshing, Aloe Vera brings its naturally soothing property to any routine. It’s rich in vitamins & water content, making it a hydrator that’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive & sun-kissed skin.

• Jojoba Oil – Jojoba Oil is a multitasking marvel. It’s incredibly similar to your skin’s own natural oils (called sebum), which means it absorbs beautifully without feeling heavy or greasy. It helps restore the moisture barrier of the skin, which can give your complexion that naturally radiant finish. 

• Baobab Oil – Rich in vitamins A, D, E & F, Baobab Oil is like a multivitamin for your skin. It’s packed with omegas & antioxidants that help support skin elasticity & resilience. If your skin loves a little extra nourishment (especially during seasonal transitions), this one is a must. 

Every one of these ingredients plays a role in creating a hydration ritual that’s more than skin deep. They each bring their own strengths, whether it’s locking in moisture, soothing dryness or delivering that soft, lit-from-within glow. 

Get Glowing with PATTERN

Hydration isn’t just a step in your body care routine. It’s a celebration. It’s the warmth of your hands & the comfort of your favorite scent. It’s the way your skin lights up when it feels supported. Whether it’s switching to richer textures in winter or simply taking a few extra moments to massage in your favorite cream, hydration is all about rhythm.

At PATTERN, we believe that learning how to keep skin hydrated & glowing isn’t about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about creating small, sensory moments that feel good from the inside out. That’s why PATTERN’s body care collection is designed with intention. 

From our Moisturizing Body Wash that starts things off gently to our Nourishing Body Oil & Moisture Rich Body Cream that layer on softness, we make it easy to feel pampered & radiant. So go ahead, keep glowing & let PATTERN be your partner in optimal hydration & self-celebration. 

Sources: 

Healthline. 13 Reasons to Add Jojoba Oil to Your Skin Care Routine. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/jojoba-oil-for-face 

Healthline. The Difference Between Body Oil and Body Lotion, Explained. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/body-oil-vs-lotion 

Healthline. What Is Shea Butter? 22 Reasons to Add It to Your Routine. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/what-is-shea-butter 

Healthline. Why Science Says Hyaluronic Acid Is the Holy Grail to Wrinkle-Free, Youthful Hydration. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/hyaluronic-acid 

LA Times. Soapless Soap? Why the Cleanest Skin Might Come Without the Suds. https://www.latimes.com/live-well/body/story/soapless-soap-benefits 

My Cleveland Clinic. Emollients.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23305-emollients

National Library of Medicine. Composition and Applications of Aloe vera Leaf Gel. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6245421/#:~:text=vera%20contains%20approximately%2098.5%25%20water,and%20organic%20acids%20%5B14%5D.