A suggestion (and this really is a matter of style) I first saw written down by N David Mermin in What's Wrong with These Equations, which he calls the Good Samaritan Rule, is

When referring to an equation identify it with a phrase as well as a number.

The idea is that you want the text to flow: the reader shouldn't need to refer back to the previous equation as long as the idea comes across, unless and until they're trying to reproduce your detailed calculation. The quick hint as to what the equation you're referring to means is far more important than where the equation actually is. So use the words to name the equation, or the principle that's behind it, rather than giving its page number.

A suggestion (and this really is a matter of style) I first saw written down by N David Mermin in What's Wrong with These Equations, which he calls the Good Samaritan Rule, is

When referring to an equation identify it with a phrase as well as a number.

The idea is that you want the text to flow: the reader shouldn't need to refer back to the previous equation as long as the idea comes across, unless and until they're trying to reproduce your detailed calculation. The quick hint as to what the equation you're referring to means is far more important than where the equation actually is. So use the words to name the equation or figure, or the principle that's behind it, rather than giving its page number.