How to Moisturize Your Body Without Wasting Product

Apply moisturizer to damp skin within three minutes of showering, working in upward strokes from ankles to shoulders.

Most people use twice as much moisturizer as they need because they apply it to bone-dry skin—fix your timing, not your product.

1. Time it right. Moisturize within three minutes of showering while your skin is still damp. The water acts as a conductor, helping the moisturizer penetrate deeper instead of sitting on the surface.
2. Pat, don't rub dry. Leave your skin slightly damp after toweling off. You want enough moisture to create slip but not so much that the product slides off.
3. Use the palm method. Squeeze a nickel-sized amount into your palm for each body section. Start with your legs and work upward in long, smooth strokes following your circulation.
4. Focus on problem zones. Give extra attention to elbows, knees, and heels where skin is naturally thicker. These areas need more product and more time to absorb.
5. Wait before dressing. Give the moisturizer two to three minutes to absorb before putting on clothes. Your body heat will help seal everything in.