What is skin flooding?

Skin flooding is created with dry skin types in mind as the name suggests it is flooding your skin with hydration and moisture. This is achieved by layering hydrating skincare products and ingredients onto damp skin. By doing this technique the product absorbs deeper into the skin maximising the results. 

Water percentage in your skin is super important for skin health. It helps to combat dry sensitive skin which is most likely a sign of an impaired skin barrier. Your skin naturally exfoliates, but only when is correctly hydrated, when your skin is no longer hydrated, or you have an impaired skin barrier, your skin can no longer naturally exfoliate or release.

This usually presents in dry, dull and flaky skin, this is when you can often think that it means you need to exfoliate the skin, but in reality, what we need is to add hydration for the skin barrier to repair itself and its correct function naturally. When Barrier is impaired stuff gets in and causes flares of redness, breakouts and irritation. If something burns or you think you have sensitive skin you need to have a look at your barrier.

Hydration acid is the star ingredient in this routine as it attracts and holds onto water molecules. To take this routine to the next level you can also include a niacinamide serum to add additional soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits. It is important to layer the products correctly starting with the thinnest to thickest and always starting with the water-based products first.

What are the benefits of Skin Flooding?

The goal is to increase the moisturiser level of the stratum corneum - the outermost top layer of the skin. It’s key to healthy barrier function, keeping everything good in and everything bad out. The skin flooding technique improves water content in the skin by layering more lightweight moisturising products to enhance the penetration of moisturiser ingredients like hyaluronic acid or marine extracts. Then sealing it in with a richer moisturiser. This leaves your skin hydrated, plump and rejuvenated.

How to skin flood? Steps to skin flooding.

• After cleansing the skin with a gentle cleanser,  leave a sheer layer of water on the skin. 
• A hydrating face mist is then applied, and also misting between layers.
• Then layer your serums such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
• As the last step in the morning, a layer of moisturiser over the skin and apply SPF.
• As for the evening we recommend applying an overnight hydration mask at least 30 minutes before bed (so your skin gets all the goodness, not your pillowcase)

Skin flooding isn’t necessarily a ground breaking-new practice, you could most likely already be doing this trend without even knowing it. But this is a helpful routine to hydrate your skin especially in the cooler months or if you suffer from dry skin.