In what appears to be a slight turn from the currently popular minimalist type of skincare routines, it’s possible the art of layering may be making a comeback in beauty/esthetic industry thanks to a new Tik Tok trend technique called skin flooding. It involves applying multiple layers of moisturizing products to the skin for optimal hydration.
Skin flooding is one of the latest skin care trends centered around layering and applying different moisturizing products to the skin to aid in hydration. The technique works best by being applied to damp skin to minimize water loss for a fully moisturized complexion.
Skin Flooding Benefits
This method of applying skincare products helps to maximize the product absorption and penetrative efficacy. The use of hydrating ingredients, through the use of serums specifically, help to not only moisturize the skin, but also bring the hydration to a deeper level.2 Then the use of moisturizers provides surface-level protection.
Another major benefit of this skin care trend is that it can provide all of this hydration without clogging pores. This method of layering the skin can also be used on all different skin types, and it is especially helpful for those suffering from dry, flaky winter skin.
This trend is very similar to moisture sandwiching, as the premise of it is to "flood" the skin with hydration. The use of hyaluronic acid helps to hold onto the moisture in the skin while niacinamide, aka vitamin B3, helps with skin hydration and brightening.
How to Practice Skin Flooding
When it comes to the skin flooding treatment, the main takeaways are that consumer's use two different serums that they layer on top of each other. The first serum is a hyaluronic acid serum and the second serum is uses niacinamide. The layering of these ingredients is crucial in hydrating the skin.
There are a couple of methods when it comes to the skin flooding trends, the basic protocol for the skin flooding trend is as follows:
Skin Flooding Protocol:
After properly cleansing the skin using a gentle cleanser, (Green Tea Cleanser) lightly pat skin and spritz with a hydrating mist. (Citrus Freshener). Leave the skin damp.
Apply the appropriate corrective serums:
Start with the thinnest to the thickest – hyaluronic acid first.
Then apply a serum containing corrective ingredients (like hydrolyzed collagen, rosehip oil, peptides, niacinamide)
Once fully absorbed, mist skin again and leave it damp.
In the a.m., finish by applying a light to medium-weight moisturizer (we recommend Hydrating Marine Crème) (go heavier if you need to) over the face, neck and décolleté. Follow with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher (Raw Elements Tinted or Face & Body). Refresh the skin throughout the day by continuing to mist as needed.
At night, a rich, nourishing repairing night cream is recommended (Super Emollient or Advanced Moisture Crème) as the final application step.
Some TikTok influencers have been switching up this routine by dampening the skin with a hydrating skin mist. Others have been swapping the hyaluronic acid serum with a polyglutamic acid serum. The option to layer a hydrating mist in-between each step can also be used.
The layering is very important when it comes to skin flooding as well. The key is to start with products that have smaller molecular formula sizes, like hyaluronic acid, panthenol and polyglutamic acid, and then layering the thicker product over top of that (moisturizer).
Check out these articles on skin flooding:
Skin Flooding in the Spa
This skin flooding trend can be used both in and out of the treatment room. There are so many different hydrating treatments in the industry that spas can offer, and finding or utilizing one that aligns with skin flooding could bring extra revenue to your business. Call out any of your hydrating treatments that follow this plan by saying that it is a "skin flooding" treatment. This will draw clients or potential clients eyes to your business.
You can also create a display in your retail area that is a skin flooding home care system. Have this called out in your retail area to catch the eyes of your clients. This is an especially great retail set up to create while everyone is still suffering from that dry, winter skin.
article excerpted from Wellspa 360, Feb. 2023