We’ve Been Moisturizing Our Bodies Wrong This Whole Time—Here’s What a Derm Says to Do Instead

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As someone with ultra-dry skin, I am always looking for the best way to moisturize skin for optimal hydration. My usual go-to’s are a thick body butter, such as the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream or the Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Butter, and a body oil, like the BYOMA Nourishing Body Oil. But no matter what, my skin always feels like it could use a little extra oomph (I partially blame the hard water in Los Angeles). So, when I recently learned that most of us aren’t moisturizing correctly—or, at least, not optimally—it all made so much sense. 

How to Properly Moisturize Skin, According to Dermatologists 

Moisturizing the skin is one of the most important post-shower steps for skin health. And, while you can technically still benefit from applying a body oil (and even a lotion) on dry skin, dermatologists say that applying a nourishing body oil to damp skin can essentially up the ante and hydrate skin even more. 

“Using body oil as the final step in your shower routine deeply moisturizes the skin and is particularly beneficial for those with dry skin—I call this the ‘soak and grease’ method,” says  Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. “When you shower, warm water opens up your pores, so applying body oil right after your shower allows it to penetrate the skin more effectively and lock in moisture.” Additionally, this method of moisturizing wet skin can trap some of that moisture against the oil’s protective barrier, which Dr. Engelman says helps seal in hydration and softens and soothes the skin. 

If you want to give this skincare hack a try, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite body oils for dry skin. 

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The Best Body Oils for Dry Skin