At the risk of making an obvious claim: Everyone must moisturize their skin—not just if you have naturally dry and sensitive skin. But how you go about making sure that your skin stays hydrated can vary from person to person. Here, we broke down literally everything you need to know about keeping your skin supple.

But doing this can take its toll, resulting in a weakened barrier. When your skin barrier is more permeable, it allows more in. But something else happens, too, that's just as worrisome: Water more easily escapes. This is called transepidermal water loss, and when it happens, water molecules are literally escaping the stratum corneum and evaporating into the air around you. Now we can understand why moisturizing skin is actually two things: You must provide skin with water to actually hydrate the cells, but you also need to add lipids to bolster the barrier and help keep the water in. 

Even the most diligent skin care devotees can have habits that may be working against them. Here, common skin care practices that may be making your skin drier: 

Let's get into what you can actually do to better moisturize your precious skin cells:

Crafting a well-rounded skin care routine starts with your cleanser: If your canvas is clean, all the hydrating products that follow can do their jobs more effectively. "Impurities in the skin can prevent active ingredients from penetrating," board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann, M.D., tells us. We recommend that all skin types stay away from sulfates and harsh scrubs, which are too abrasive for daily use. Those with blemish-prone or very oily skin can likely tolerate more potent face washes, like those that lightly foam or contain alpha-hydroxy acids. However those with dry, sensitive, or even dull skin should use creamy hydrating washes or oils. 

One of the most popular ingredients we recommend in serums is hyaluronic acid: "It functions to retain water and keep our skin looking firm and youthful," says board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Chwalek, M.D. Here are our favorite hyaluronic acid serums.

Natural facial oils are endlessly popular as they offer emollient properties (meaning they soften and ease irritated skin) as well as are occlusive. "Occlusives form a protective seal over the skin to lock in hydration and the products applied under them," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. Jojoba and argan tend to be favorite oils for skin.

For those with oily, combo, or acne-prone skin, two to three times a week should be a good balance. For dry and mature skin, stick to once a week. And for sensitive skin? Maybe even less—if at all. "Exfoliation isn't for everyone," says board-certified dermatologist Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D. "People with certain skin conditions, very sensitive skin, or those who use certain sensitizing skin care products may become more irritated with exfoliation, so before exfoliating, it's important to know your skin type and be aware of any sensitivities that you may have."

We've spent a lot of time talking about the face, but your body needs hydration as well. No, you don't need a multistep routine, but you should apply a lotion once a day, ideally right after you shower. "If you wait too long, you miss that narrow window of opportunity to really trap and seal those nourishing ingredients in the skin before all the water evaporates off the surface, further compromising your skin," says board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D.

Telling people to drink more water for healthier skin usually garners an eye roll. But it needs to be said: Studies have shown that getting the recommended amount of water for your body increases the dermal layer1, thereby making your skin more hydrated. There's not one formula for how much H₂O is needed for ideal hydration—instead, listen to your body's thirst cues and drink accordingly. More officially, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says men should drink about 15.5 cups of water per day; women should drink about 11.5 cups.

Of course, eating perfectly all the time isn't always possible, so many derms recommend supplementing as well. For the most part, we can get all our nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, from our diets—and we should aim for that. But let's be honest: "Achieving optimal levels through diet alone on a daily basis is often not realistic today. We are busy, and our dietary options can fall short once in a while, despite our best efforts," says Bowe—check out the supplement ingredients she recommends here as well as our favorite supplements for glowing skin and collagen supplements. 

Looking to go above and beyond? You overachiever, you. Here are some extra tips to supercharge hydration: 

While keeping your skin hydrated takes a holistic approach, a few product recommendations can't hurt, no? Here's what beauty experts can't get enough of. 

Hydrating your skin inside and out is the best way to support your skin barrier. And while so much of it seems intuitive, you may be making some big mistakes along the way. But if you stick with a holistic approach, you're setting yourself up for success long term.