Water is a building block of life. It's also the first thing we're told to reach for after workouts, before skincare, during burnout and right when we wake up. And yet, most of us skip it. Now, it's not necessarily because we don't know it's good for us, but because sometimes, it just doesn't feel like anything.
As we've been designing experience-based skincare routines, we believe rituals, even the simplest ones, become impactful when they're designed with intention. WE're talking presence, pleasure and purpose. So here are five ways to turn hydration into something you'll actually want to come back to, not because it's a rule but because it just feels like relief.
INFUSE IT WITH INTENTION (AND FLAVOUR)
Avoid skipping the water. Do so by treating yourself to infused water that's beautiful and functional. A few Matte Equation-approved blends:
- Cucumber + basil + lemon (for cooling post-workout calm)
- Rose petals + hibiscus + goji (for antioxidants and glow)
- Ginger + turmeric + orange peel (for post-inflammatory repair)
- Chlorophyll + a squeeze of lemon (our founder, Matthew Celestial's top pick)
Let it steep in a glass bottle overnight. Drink slowly the next day. Think of it as skincare for your insides. Just what we need.
TEMPERATURE MATTERS, AND SO ADJUST TO THE MOOD.
Your body absorbs water more efficiently when it's close to your internal temp, not ice-cold. This was news to us when we researched it because we love drinking ice-cold water. But we also found that temperature is also emotional:
- Warm water soothes your nervous system, especially in the evening.
- Room temp supports digestion and cellular hydration.
- Cold water can be energizing post-gym or first thing in the morning.
Try matching the temperature of your water to your energy level. It helps your body listen better.
CHOOSE A VESSEL THAT FEELS SACRED
Yes, your water bottle can be beautiful. Find one you love holding, sipping from and seeing on your desk. Ceramic, glass, wood-topped — something tactile. Something still. This tiny shift changes everything. You’re not just drinking water. You’re making the act of it more intentional.
PAIR YOUR SIPS WITH SKINCARE
This is one of our favourite rituals: Drink water while you moisturize.
Why? Because topical hydration works best when your body is hydrated internally. Your skin’s barrier can’t hold water if you don’t have enough to begin with.
We love pairing our Infinite Dimensions Moisturizer with a few intentional sips — soft, slow, present. Hydration isn’t just applied. It’s embodied.
MAKE IT RHYTHMIC, NOT RANDOM
The secret isn’t to drink more. It’s to drink consistently. Try anchoring your sips to rituals you already love:
- After your morning skincare
- Post-cleanse at night
- After you check your email
- After a walk, a cry, a workout, a mask
Hydration is a quiet form of self-trust. Every sip is a promise that you’ll keep showing up.
See. Water doesn't have to be boring. It can be beautiful and exciting. Not because of what's in it. We should embrace it for what it means to us. Slowing down. Returning to self. Giving your body what it's asked for all day. When you hydrate with intention, you’re not just supporting your skin. You’re telling yourself:
I care. I’m listening. I’m still here.
* Ready to seal in hydration from the outside in? Complete your ritual with the Infinite Dimensions Moisturizer, our barrier-loving cream designed to lock in moisture and calm the skin after movement, stress or sleep.