Dry skin
31 March 2023
Skin flooding is TikTok’s latest viral skincare trend. Judging by the numerous videos on TikTok tagged #skinflooding, this trend seems to be the answer to plump, glass skin, even for those with dry, parched skin. Another benefit of well hydrated skin that often goes unnoticed- lesser fine lines and wrinkles.
Just like skin cycling, a term coined by a dermatologist that sparked another TikTok trend that went viral in 2022, skin flooding is not a new practice. It’s a rebrand of moisturising your skin, somewhat more strategically, to reap maximum hydration for your skin type. For all you know, you could already by practising skin flooding without realising it!
Related blogposts:
Skin Cycling: the Dermatologist Approved TikTok Trend Explained
8 Skincare Trends that will Take Over 2023
Does the term “skin flooding” bring to mind drenching your skin with a tsunami of moisturising products? Unlike what its name suggests, skin flooding is not actually overwhelming your skin with a kitchen sink of moisturisers. Instead, skin flooding involves a more simple approach to moisturising your skin with three, top four, products. It’s not difficult, and if you’re interested in protecting your moisture barrier, skin flooding is one of the easy ways to get healthier skin, regardless of your skin type.
Majority of the videos on skin flooding on TikTok involve applying hyaluronic acid to the skin; before sealing it in with a thicker, more occlusive moisturiser. Hyaluronic acid is an active ingredient that does more than keep the skin moist and firm. It also helps with regeneration of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is commonly found in moisturising serums and creams; as well as injectable moisturisers and dermal fillers to sculpt the face.
When applied to the skin, hyaluronic acid functions as a humectant. It draws water to the skin so keep the skin plump and moist. You might be disappointed that this is the essence of skin flooding- applying hyaluronic acid to your skin. As mentioned, skin flooding isn’t a new way of moisturising your skin; but TikTok has rebranded something most of us have already been doing on a daily basis.
Although skin flooding is simply a new term for moisturising your skin, there are a few tips to make your hydrating skincare go a longer way.
There’s hyaluronic acid, and then there’s hyaluronic acid. There are newer types of hyaluronic acid in skincare that can give you more bang for your hydration buck. As I’ve shared in this blogpost Everything You Need to Know about Hyaluronic Acid, hyaluronic acid molecules differ in molecular weights and properties. Hence, choosing hyaluronic acid with varying molecular weights will give your skin hydration across the epidermis. I’ve also shared some of my hyaluronic acid product recommendations in 5 Cult Favourite Hyaluronic Acid Serums & Moisturisers Reviewed.
If you’re not a fan of hyaluronic acid; you can substitute this active ingredient with another humectant that functions similarly. Some examples are glycerin, sorbitol and natural moisturising factors. These active ingredients draw water to the stratum corneum of the skin to keep the skin moist. You can easily find these active ingredients in moisturising serums and creams.
Related blogpost:
What are Active Ingredients & How Do They Work?
Relying on humectants is only one part of getting your skin on its way to maximum moisturisation. After drawing hydration to your skin, you’d want to seal in all that moisture. Layer your humectants with another more occlusive active ingredient will help to reduce ongoing transepidermal water loss; as well as seal in the moisture on your skin. Examples of such ingredients are ceramides, squalene and shea butter. My personal favourite is ceramides; a type of essential lipid that forms the skin barrier. Ceramides in skincare have the benefit of improving the skin barrier function to reduce hypersensitivity and irritation. You can also learn about the science of layering your skincare products right in this blogpost How to Layer Skincare Products in the Correct Order.
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How to Repair Your Skin Barrier
Skin flooding on damp skin also improves the moisturising effect of hyaluronic acid; as compared to applying moisturisers on dry skin. Consider exfoliating before you skin flood; as dead skin and debris can impair the uptake and effect of active ingredients. Learn more about exfoliating your skin in A Complete Guide to Chemical Exfoliation & Acids in Skincare.
Another popular TikTok trend for moisturising your skin is slugging. Slugging involves coating your skin with petroleum jelly or another occlusive active ingredient. Skin flooding on the other hand, involves hydrating your skin with hyaluronic acid.
Related blogposts:
Slugging Your Face: the Latest TikTok Trend Explained
5 Worst TikTok Skincare & Beauty Trends to Avoid
WHICH SKIN TYPES CAN TRY FLOODING?
Skin flooding works for all skin types, although dry and sensitive skin types find it especially beneficial. Skin flooding is also helpful when you travel to colder and drier climates.
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What Happens to Your Skin On An Airplane Flight
If you have normal or oily skin; skin flooding can be done strategically to help to reduce signs of aging and tolerate retinoids or ongoing acne treatments. Hyaluronic acid does not clog pores or worsen acne. Hence, hyaluronic acid in moisturisers can be used by oily and acne-prone skin types to reduce dryness from acne medications and treatments. However, slugging or flooding your skin with multiple layers of heavily occlusive skincare should be avoided to prevent worsening of breaks outs.
Related blogposts:
Acne: Types, Causes, Treatments and Tips for Prevention
5 Skincare Ingredients for Acne & Acne Prone Skin
Flooding your skin with more layers of skincare isn’t always a good thing. Besides potentially occluding your pores and trigger outbreaks, the layers of skincare can cause pilling. Pilling refers to the little white balls or flakes. This can happen when the ingredients in your skincare don’t pair welll together among other factors. You can learn more about skincare pilling and how to prevent it in this post, How to Prevent Sunscreen from Pilling.
If your skin still feels as dry as an arid desert despite skin flooding, and pairing your skincare active ingredients, it might be time for you to seek your doctor’s help. If you have dermatological conditions such as eczema and rosacea; your skin barrier may be structurally compromised, resulting in increased transepidermal water loss. To treat these conditions, medications and topical therapies. You can learn more about eczema and rosacea in these following posts:
Eczema: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments Explained
Rosacea: Symptoms, Triggers, Skincare & Treatments
5 Skincare Tips for Sensitive Skin & Rosacea
Can you have dry skin in the absence of any pathological conditions? It is possible; and this may be due to your genetics or use of harsh, astringent skincare. As all of us age, our skin also loses hydration, firmness and plumpness because of aging-related depletion of hyaluronic acid in the skin. In these instances, injectable moisturisers that replenish hyaluronic acid in the dermis can restore hydration balance in the skin. Examples of injectable moisturisers in Singapore include Profhilo, Skinboosters and Rejuran Healer. Learn more about these treatments and the differences between them in these posts:
Injectable Moisturisers Explained: Profhilo VS Rejuran Healer VS Skinboosters
Is Profhilo the Injectable Skincare of the Future?
Rejuran Healer: What You Should Know Before Getting It
Skinboosters: All You Need to Know About It
Hope you enjoyed this blogpost on skin flooding and learning how to moisturise your skin without getting your pores clogged or using unnecessary and excessive skincare. Moisturising your skin is an essential way to protect your skin barrier; and delay early wrinkles. It’s easy to start with this; and everyone’s skin can benefit from a healthy moisture barrier.
