Close-up of a woman spreading white body lotion over her shoulder against a pale blue background

How to Apply Moisturizer for
SOFT & SMOOTH SKIN

Read our guide for everything you need to know about how to apply moisturizer and tips to teach you how to put cream on your back.

Read Time

5 min

In short:

How to moisturize your body – an overview
Why apply moisturizer?
How to moisturize
How to apply moisturizer
How to put moisturizer on your back
How to moisturize - oil, lotion, or body butter
Summary

How to apply moisturizer for
SOFT & SMOOTH SKIN

Good moisturizing habits aren’t just about your face. Your body also benefits from daily doses of hydrating, soothing moisturizers that help skin to retain moisture and help protect it from drying out.

How we moisturize matters. Applying a bit of post-shower moisturizer is a good start, but perfecting the art of how to moisturize can really transform your skin – and doesn’t need to take long. Nailing your body moisturizer routine will help you reap the benefits of hydrating lotions to keep your skin feeling hydrated, soft and smooth.

Here is the lowdown on how to moisturize.

Woman in a white bra sits with one knee raised, resting her hands on it beside flowers and red wall art

HOW TO MOISTURIZE YOUR BODY

Why apply
MOISTURIZER?

Our skin feels the effects of many different daily elements it is exposed to such as showering, bathing, soaps and the weather (cold, dry harmattan air is particularly harsh on skin). These can all zap the skin of moisturizing elements, leaving it dry and sensitive. Dry skin can feel rough and flaky and become uncomfortable, itchy and irritated.

Moisturizers can relieve and help prevent dry skin from starting or getting worse, which is why learning how to moisturize is so important.

HOW TO MOISTURIZE YOUR BODY

How to
MOISTURIZE

Elevate your moisturizer game and learn how to moisturize with these tips:

Woman seated on a bed applying white body lotion to her knee while wearing a white tank top and shorts

Dry brush

On days when you have a bit more time, exfoliating with a dry brush before you get into the bath or shower will help to slough off dead skin build-upⁱ. Brush using short, light strokes on dry skin. Be sure to brush gently and avoid brushing any areas where your skin is irritated (such as from a sunburn), or where you have any cuts or open wounds. If you don’t dry brush before you hop in the shower or bath, you can give yourself a gentle wet exfoliation by using exfoliating mitts and a body wash.

Person dispensing NIVEA firming body lotion from a white bottle into the palm of one hand

Wash with moisturizing products

Steer clear of harsh soaps and washes. Use shower gels or soaps designed to help moisturize skin, such as NIVEA Nourishing Care Body Wash with Nourishing Serum or NIVEA MEN Maximum Hydration Body Wash.

Woman with wet dark hair wearing a white bathrobe and resting one hand at her neck in a marble-tiled bathroom

Pat your skin dry

When you step out of the shower or bath, avoid vigorously rubbing yourself dry as this can strip the natural oils that maintain your skin’s moisture. Instead, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

Smiling couple seated on a bed as a woman applies lotion to her shin and a man holds NIVEA Repair & Care cream

Moisturize quickly

Apply your moisturizer within a few minutes after patting dry while your skin is still damp to get the full benefits.

How to apply
MOISTURIZER

Moisturizers work best on damp skin as they can lock in the water on your still-wet skinⁱⁱ. To get maximum benefits from your moisturizer, it is best to apply it soon after stepping out of the shower, when you towel-dry and skin is damp but no longer sopping wet.

Here’s how to moisturize:

1
When skin is still damp, add a dollop of your moisturizer of choice – around the size of a quarter – and rub it gently between your hands to warm it up.

2
Gently massage your moisturizer into the skin. Start at your neck and your décolletage. Don’t overlook your legs, elbows and knees – these areas tend to dry out easily and may need an extra application to help keep them moisturized.

3
Ensure that you’ve thoroughly rubbed the product into your skin and allow skin to absorb it before getting dressed. Reapply as needed throughout the day if you notice your skin beginning to feel dry.

Person applying a dab of white cream to their abdomen while reclining in white clothing

HOW TO MOISTURIZE YOUR BODY

How to put moisturizer on
YOUR BACK

You don’t have to be a contortionist to put moisturizer on your back. Try these simple tips on how to moisturize your back:

Use a lotion applicator device (yes, they do exist). Some people even swear by a kitchen spatula!
If you have good mobility in your shoulders, try applying moisturizer to your forearms and then holding them to your back, lotion side facing your back. Move your arm and hand up and down (one arm at a time is easier).

How to moisturize –
OIL, LOTION, OR BODY BUTTER?

A key part in how to moisturize is what to moisturize with – body oil, lotion, cream or something else? Which option you go for will be determined by your skin type, personal preference and the time of year – for example, in the summer you might choose to swap out your rich body butter for a lighter lotion.

Close-up of a therapist applying white cream to a seated person's bent knee on a blue treatment table

1
Moisturizing with body lotions
Body lotions are light and usually water-based, though many still contain nourishing fats and oils, such as Almond Oil or Cocoa Butter.

2
Moisturizing with body butters or soufflés
Body butters (sometimes also referred to as body soufflés) are much thicker in consistency than lotions and best used on dry skin, in winter, or on those areas prone to dryness such as elbows, heels and hands.

3
Moisturizing with moisturizing creams
Looking for a middle ground between the richness of a body butter and the lightness of lotion? Try a nourishing body cream.

4
Moisturizing with body oils
Body oils are great for dry or mature skin as they pack a moisturizing punch and can also feel indulgent and soothing to dry skin. Depending on the oil or oil blend you choose, your skin type, and the amount you apply, they could leave a greasy feeling on the skin once applied.

5
Moisturizers designed to target specific skin concerns
Moisturizers don’t just help keep your skin smooth and soft. Depending on the formula, they can also help address specific skin concerns, such as skin-firming moisturizers for mature skin, or hypoallergenic and fragrance-free lotions for sensitive skin.

Which moisturizer should
YOU CHOOSE?

Choosing the right moisturizer for you comes down to several considerations, from your skin type to your fragrance preferences. NIVEA’s collection of moisturizing body products offers options for different needs and preferences so that you’re sure to find a moisturizer that feels right for you.

Smiling woman dispensing NIVEA Q10 Firming Body Milk for dry skin from a blue pump bottle onto her palm.

Choosing a Moisturizer for Firmer-Looking Skin

NIVEA’s skin-firming Q10 range is specially formulated to help visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and support skin elasticity while delivering moisture. NIVEA Skin Firming Body Cream with Q10 is a moisturizing cream for dry skin formulated with Q10 that helps to support skin elasticity and helps to deliver firmer skin in as little as two weeks with regular twice daily use.

Choosing a Versatile Moisturizing Cream

Regardless of your skin type, you can’t go wrong with a versatile moisturizing cream. NIVEA Soft is a lightweight, Non-greasy cream with jojoba oil and vitamin e formulated to deliver soft, supple skin on face, body and hands. Its Fast-absorbing formula is appropriate for all skin types and helps deliver softer, smoother skin without a greasy feel.

Choosing a Moisturizing Lotion

For a body lotion with the richness of body oil, NIVEA Cherry Blossom and Jojoba Oil Infused Lotion gives you the benefits of an oil-based moisturizer in an easy to apply lotion that will melt into your skin.

For men, NIVEA MEN Maximum Hydration Nourishing Lotion is a 3-in-1 lotion for body, face and hands especially formulated for men that intensively moisturizes skin for 24+ hours and absorbs in seconds.

For deep nourishing moisture for dry to very dry skin, NIVEA Rich Nourishing Body Lotion with the unique Deep Moisture Serum and 2x almond oil provides 48h of intensive moisture care and leaves skin noticeably smoother after just 1 application.

SUMMARY

Moisturizing your skin is an important component of any skincare routine in order to help retain skin’s moisture and to protect skin from flakiness, roughness and itchiness due to dryness. Don’t wait until your skin is feeling dry to incorporate a moisturizer into your routine. By using nourishing, moisturizing body wash and applying a moisturizing lotion or cream after bathing while skin is still damp, you can help your skin to not only feel soft and smooth, but to look more radiant. Choose the NIVEA lotion, cream and bath products that are right for you, and enjoy a more moisturized, glowing complexion today.