What Is Skin Flooding? | Eminence Organic Skin Care

“TikTok told me to” seems to be enough of an excuse to try new beauty trends these days and we’re here for it. The platform has taught us about skin cycling, the ancient art of gua sha, the pros and cons of slugging and how to look like a glazed donut (in a good way), among many other skin care hacks and beauty shortcuts. And while these trends are not all ideal for all skin types or beauty goals, many of them are full of benefits. With over 4.2 million results on TikTok (and counting), skin flooding is one of the newest skin care trends to flood our feeds. Let’s see what it’s all about. 

What Is Skin Flooding? | How To Perform Skin Flooding | Is Skin Flooding For Everyone?

What Is Skin Flooding? 

Skin flooding involves layering moisturizing products in a particular order to provide deeper, longer-lasting hydration. The purpose of the exercise is to quench dehydrated skin, with the help of the star of the show: hyaluronic acid. Essentially we’re loading up the skin with a combination of humectants (aka substances that attract water) and then doubling down on moisturizing serums. The last step is locking everything in, all with the goal of achieving hydrated, plump and glowy skin. This ritual can be done before bed to let it really sink in or in the morning to prep your skin for the day. It involves four simple steps: gently cleansing your skin, spritzing on a mist, applying a serum (or two) and then locking it all in with moisturizer.

A Guide To Skin Flooding 

For best results, you’ll want to start with a gentle face wash that cleanses your skin without stripping it of natural oils. This will leave a perfect skin canvas, ready to receive the onslaught of moisture coming its way. Some good options for a gentle cleanse include our Stone Crop Gel Wash which cleans away impurities without drying out the skin. As well as the hydrating and nourishing stone crop plant, it contains chamomile, which revitalizes, calms and balances the appearance of skin, prepping it for the tsunami of moisture coming for it. Another great option for this step is the Coconut Milk Cleanser. This gentle cream cleanser uses rich coconut milk, coconut oil and calendula oil to nurture skin for a dewy, fresh finish. 

Our Lemon Grass Cleanser is another gentle option. The olive oil, sunflower and flax seed in this mild formula gently remove impurities from skin while organic and Biodynamic® herbal ingredients help calm and soothe dry skin. 

Step 2: Prep The Skin With Moisture 

Applying skin care products like moisturizers and serums on damp skin is always a good idea. According to Byrdie: “Moisturizers absorb water more effectively with a water source to draw from, so damp skin is more effective in this step.” Keep the skin moist after cleansing or double down by spritzing the face with a face mist, toner or essence. A great option is the Stone Crop Hydrating Mist, which is full of nourishing ingredients, including that stone crop again. Another option we love is the Birch Water Purifying Essence.

Product Picks

Mild cleanser for all skin types

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Hydrating and soothing toner

Step 3: Double Up On Serum

Now that the skin is ready for the main event, let’s open the floodgates with not one, but two serums! The first one should be heavy on the hyaluronic acid, aka the molecule that attracts and holds water. This moisture magnet is the molecule around which skin flooding was built.

The Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum is ultra hydrating thanks to our unique Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex that preserves and replenishes moisture in the skin. It also contains other hydrating ingredients like cica and marshmallow root. A thin layer on damp skin will get the flood started. A second layer works too if you want to be extra. More is more when it comes to this routine. 

Layering another serum on top of the hyaluronic layer(s) is the next step in flooding the skin with moisture. We recommend the potent hydration found in our Stone Crop Serum. If hyaluronic acid is the star of the skin flooding trend, stone crop is a great supporting character for its intense hydrating properties. 

Step 4: Lock It In With More Moisture 

Once your serums have absorbed, it’s time to apply a moisturizer to really lock in the hydration. There are a few options that will work for this step. If you’re flooding your skin during the day and hoping for a glass or dolphin skin effect, then your final step can include a moisturizer with SPF. The Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 adds hydration while it protects. Another really moisturizing SPF is our Radiant Protection SPF Fluid. This all-mineral sunscreen goes on smooth and leaves skin with a dewy look and feel.

If you’re more into skin flooding as a nighttime ritual, you have a few options. To stay on the hyaluronic acid train, finish up with our Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Hydrator. This lightweight gel-cream hydrates and locks in moisture. Our customers love it too. Self-proclaimed skin care junkie, Katie, left a review on our website calling it: “The best skin care product in the universe,” and continuing, “I have tried every product on the market. NOTHING compares to this! … The hydration and glow it gives is equivalent to what you normally need 4 products to do … It’s my absolute favorite step. The glow it gives daily makes you look fresh out of a facial!”

The Marine Flower Peptide Night Cream is a richer option that adds yet another heavy-handed dose of moisture and locks in the benefits of all the products preceding it. 

If this trend is reminding you a bit of slugging, you’re in the same wheelhouse. Layering up products and then sealing them in is the basis for both trends. So as a last step, instead of a traditional moisturizer, why not go with the Kombucha Microbiome Leave-On Masque. Melt it in your hands, and evenly roll it over the face. Containing shea butter and beeswax, the mask will act as a coating to lock in hydration and prevent moisture evaporation from the skin. You will wake up with a glow!

Product Picks

Replenishing and hydrating serum

Is Skin Flooding For Everyone? 

Like with many viral beauty trends, skin flooding has a target audience. While it’s not irritating and doesn’t involve active ingredients — making it safe for most skin types — it might not be ideal for sensitive skin because it increases product penetration and might just be A LOT. Give it a try but go slow at first. Acne-prone or oily skin might not respond as well as drier skin types because layering multiple moisturizing products could lead to breakouts. That said, the genesis of this idea — applying products to clean, damp skin for maximum absorption — is a takeaway that we can all get behind. 

Are you ready to give this skin trend a try but not sure where to start? Visit your local Eminence Organics Spa Partner to get started.