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

How to Apply Moisturiser for
SOFT & SMOOTH SKIN

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

Read Time

5 min

In short:

How to moisturise your body – an overview
Why apply moisturiser?
How to moisturise
How to apply moisturiser
How to put moisturiser on your back
How to moisturise – oil, lotion, or body butter
Summary

How to apply moisturiser for
SOFT & SMOOTH SKIN

Good moisturising habits shouldn’t just focus on your face. Your body also benefits from daily doses of hydrating, soothing moisturisers that help skin retain moisture and protect it from drying out.

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

Here is the lowdown on how to moisturise.

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

HOW TO MOISTURISE YOUR BODY

Why apply
MOISTURISER?

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

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

HOW TO MOISTURISE YOUR BODY

How to
MOISTURISE

Elevate your moisturiser game and learn how to moisturise 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 moisturising products

Steer clear of harsh soaps and washes. Use shower gels or soaps designed to help moisturise 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

Moisturise quickly

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

How to apply
MOISTURISER

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

Here’s how to moisturise:

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

2
Gently massage your moisturiser 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 moisturised.

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 MOISTURISE YOUR BODY

How to put moisturiser on
YOUR BACK

You don’t have to be a contortionist to put moisturiser on your back. Try these simple tips on how to moisturise 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 moisturiser 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 moisturise –
OIL, LOTION, OR BODY BUTTER?

A key part in how to moisturise is what to moisturise 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
Moisturising 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
Moisturising 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
Moisturising with moisturising creams
Looking for a middle ground between the richness of a body butter and the lightness of lotion? Try a nourishing body cream.

4
Moisturising with body oils
Body oils are great for dry or mature skin as they pack a moisturising 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
Moisturisers designed to target specific skin concerns
Moisturisers 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 moisturisers for mature skin, or hypoallergenic and fragrance-free lotions for sensitive skin.

Which moisturiser should
YOU CHOOSE?

Choosing the right moisturiser for you comes down to several considerations, from your skin type to your fragrance preferences. NIVEA’s collection of moisturising body products offers options for different needs and preferences so that you’re sure to find a moisturiser 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 Moisturiser 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 firming body cream for moистuriser 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 Moisturising Cream

Regardless of your skin type, you can’t go wrong with a versatile moisturising 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 Moisturising 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 Moisturize 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 Skincare for men that intensively Moisturize skin for 24+ hours and absorbs in seconds.

For deep nourishing moisture for moisturiser for dry skin to very dry skin, NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion with almond oil for skin provides 48h of Moisturize benefits for the skin and reduces roughness of moистuriser for dry skin to very dry skin after just 1 application.

SUMMARY

Moisturising 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 moистuriser for dry skin. Don’t wait until your skin is feeling moистuriser for dry skin to incorporate a moisturiser into your routine. By using nourishing, moisturising body wash, and applying a moisturising 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 Moisturize, glowing complexion today.