The Journey to Becoming a Hydrated Hottie: How Self-Care Became My Superpower
Hi! My name is Jasemine Knowles and I am the creative and founder of the Hydrated Hottie. I am a 3x's best selling romance author, 2x's award-winning journalist, and a healing hottie who enjoys line-dancing, self-caring, painting, and helping and encouraging women to step into their power.
For me... Self-care isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the foundation of everything I do at The Hydrated Hottie. In fact, it’s the very reason this brand was born. I’ve always believed that true hydration is about so much more than your skin—it’s about nurturing the mind and soul, too. Today, I want to share with you my personal journey of self-care, how it helped me overcome some of my biggest struggles, and how it led to the creation of The Hydrated Hottie and my journal (debuting soon), Worthy to Be Watered.
A Struggle for Self-Love
Growing up, I struggled with my identity, especially after finding out I was adopted at 8 years old.
For years, I wrestled with a question I couldn’t shake: Who am I, really? When I discovered I was adopted, it felt like the ground beneath me shifted. I was young, but old enough to understand that a piece of my story didn’t quite fit, and the weight of that realization planted seeds of uncertainty. I began questioning everything—my place, my looks, my worth, and even the love I received. Was it real? Was I enough?
This confusion gave way to a deep need to belong and fit in. I thought if I could just be perfect—if I performed well, looked right, blended in, and made people happy—I could earn my place. I poured all my energy into seeking validation from others... friends, family, and even lovers. I wanted them to tell me I was worthy because, deep down, I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.
But perfection is exhausting. The constant pressure to fit in left little room for me to be authentically me. My anxiety thrived in this environment, feeding off my fear of judgment and rejection. I became trapped in a cycle of overachieving and overthinking, all while silencing the voice inside that begged me to slow down and just be.
It took years—and a lot of unlearning still to this very day, honey—for me to realize that the validation I craved could never come from outside. No one else could fill the gaps in my identity. That was something I had to do for myself. And as I started peeling back the layers, I found something beautiful underneath: a woman who was already whole, even if she didn’t feel it at first.
The Birth of Hydration
Hydration isn’t just about drinking water; it’s a mindset, a lifestyle, and a practice of self-love. When I finally decided to give myself the love and care I was so desperately searching for, I started focusing on nourishing my body, mind, and spirit. I began experimenting with different body care products, focusing on ingredients that were clean and nourishing. The more I took care of myself, the more I realized I felt good and how essential it is to hydrate not just your skin but your soul.
That’s when the idea for The Hydrated Hottie was born. I wanted to create a space—a brand—that encourages women to treat themselves as the queens they are. A brand that celebrates self-love, body positivity, and affirmation. The Hydrated Hottie products are more than just body butter and oils—they’re an invitation to remind yourself that you deserve hydration in every form.
Mindset + Moisture = True Hydration
You can slather yourself with all the lotions and oils in the world, but if your mind isn’t hydration, you’ll never feel truly hydrated. That’s where my journal, Worthy to Be Watered, comes in. It’s a tool to help you reconnect with yourself through positive affirmations, reflections, and self-love exercises. Hydration goes beyond skin-deep—it’s about feeling whole, worthy, and loved from the inside out.
When you start to embrace your self-worth, your skin will glow, your confidence will soar, and you’ll radiate the love you’ve been giving yourself. Affirmations like, “I am worthy of love and care,” or “I deserve to feel good in my skin” are powerful tools in helping you shift your mindset to one that’s rooted in positivity and self-love.
Creating Your Own Hydrated Hottie Ritual
Hydration isn’t just about the products—it’s about the rituals you build around them. Whether it’s a quick morning routine, an evening self-care session, or a special weekend pampering session, taking time to hydrate your body and mind is essential for your well-being.
Create a ritual where you take a moment to reflect on your worth, to appreciate your skin, and to affirm your value. Let your skincare routine be a meditation—a moment where you pause to appreciate who you are. I’ve found that the small moments of self-care add up to big shifts in my mindset and self-worth.
Join the Hydration Movement
If you’re ready to start your own journey toward self-love and hydration, I encourage you to check out The Hydrated Hottie products and start using them as part of your daily routine. Pair it with a journal practice using Worthy to Be Watered (debuting soon) to deepen your connection with yourself. You deserve to be hydrated—inside and out.
Thanks for stopping by and learning about me as I'm just getting comfortable sharing more about myself and healing from past trauma. So, I thank you.
xoxo-
Jasemine