5 All-Over Hydration Hacks To Keep Skin Looking Supple & Plump Head To Toe

As someone with dry, sensitive skin, I'm constantly looking for ways to keep my skin plump and supple with moisture throughout the day. There's nothing I dread more than greeting myself in the mirror midday to be met with sallow skin, fine lines, and flakes. Luckily, I get to talk to loads of skin care experts who often share their skin hydration hacks—not to mention I've amassed a few myself over the years.

For hydrators, the texture can really make or break the experience. Some folks may want a spreadable formula for all-over coverage, while others like a dense cream that sinks in. As someone who uses and tries a lot of products, I find that formula experience for me is all about the use case. 

Take, for example, body products. I actually like to switch up what I use depending on the time of year, how my skin feels, what I'm up to that day, and how much time I have to devote to my skin. That's why I like multi-moisturizing with my body care routine.

Remember when multi-masking took over the beauty world? It was a concept in which you'd apply multiple formulas to your face in order to target the skin's unique needs. Well, this is similar: I like to use different products depending on what a particular area needs.

When we talk about hydrating the skin, we often talk about ingredients like lipids and emollients. But an equally important thing to remember is to find moisturizers with antioxidants. 

"People often ask how many antioxidants you should be using regularly; the answer is: the more the better," board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group told me about antioxidants. "The more you can help neutralize unstable molecules caused by free radical formation, the longer you can salvage the health of your cells and skin. There's really no limit to how much you can protect and repair your body!"

You may think a good lip balm is simple—and while it should be effortless to use, the formula itself is often a bit complex. And some lip balms can even leave your skin drier than before. Most of us know the frustration of applying a formula only to have to reach for it moments later because the skin already feels parched. 

A good lip balm should keep your lips hydrated for hours (although some reapplication throughout the day is normal—especially if you're drinking hot liquids, eating spicy food, or exposed to dry air). In order to keep lips hydrated, it should contain humectants, occlusives, and emollients. 

How does this combo work so well? Humectants pull in water, emollients help support the barrier and mend any cracks in the skin, and occlusives create a protective seal on top. That's a perfect combo for a hydrated pout. 

The after part is likely more familiar to folks, but the before? "This oil barrier prevents excessive water loss and helps with any irritation," she notes. Prolonged hot water exposure can dissolve your body's natural lipid barrier—which makes it more susceptible to dryness, irritation, and microcracks in the barrier. But by layering on a protective shield of oil beforehand, your skin is further buffered against the potentially damaging effects of a hot shower. 

Supporting skin hydration from the inside out isn't just about increasing your water intake—it's actually about making sure you're eating a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet. Eating for your skin can mean that your body has the tools it needs to produce barrier-building proteins and lipids, like collagen, elastin, ceramides, fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. 

There are several ways you can take care of your skin health and optimize hydration. These are a few of our favorite expert-backed ideas, but for more intel on keeping skin supple, check out our guide to glowing skin.