TikTok has been behind some of the biggest trends in skincare for the last couple of years, from jello skin to slugging to skin cycling; and the newest trend on the TikTok block is skin flooding.

It’s that time of the year when our dull post-winter skin is drying out for a bonus boost of hydration. The likelihood is that your skincare shelves are already stocked with the right products for the job, but are using them the right way? Thankfully, skin flooding is the key to quenching the thirst of dehydrated and dry skin, so here’s everything you need to know about this increasingly popular trend…

What Is Skin Flooding?

Skin flooding does exactly what it says, it quite literally floods your skin with moisture and hydration. Similar to moisture sandwiching, it involves layering products in a particular sequence with varying ingredients and delivery methods to deliver deeper and longer-lasting hydration. Hyaluronic Acid is the star ingredient in skin flooding because it attracts and holds onto water molecules like a moisture magnet.

How Do I Skin Flood?

Skin flooding involves four very simple steps: gently cleansing your skin, applying an essence, slathering on a serum, and lastly, locking in hydration with a moisturiser.

Step 1: Start, as always, with cleansing, and make sure that you use a non-stripping formula. Evercalm™ Gentle Cleansing Gel is a great option as it’s enriched with a barrier boosting blend of Beta Glucan prebiotics, well known to help balance your skin’s microbiome and improve hydration.

Step 2: Next up, enter the essence. The key to boosting the benefits of the next steps in your skin flooding routine is to use an essence. Perfect Canvas Smooth, Prep & Plump Essence is packed with bio-fermented Hyaluronic Acid and Polyglutamic Acid to supercharge your skin’s moisture levels and optimise the absorption of the products you use after it.

Step 3: Say hello to a serum. Instead of drying your face after cleansing, the key to the skin flooding process is to keep your skin damp when applying your serum because it drags water into your skin and helps increase absorption. Clinically proven to increase deep skin hydration for up to 72 hours,* Everhydrate Marine Moisture-Restore Serum is powered by Algae Extracts and Hyaluronic Acid that act like moisture magnets (humectants) with different molecular weights that pull moisture into your skin. We’ve also added Wild Rosella, rich in organic osmolytes, to target the root cause of dehydration and disperse intense hydration evenly throughout your skin.

Step 4: Finally, it’s time to seal in all of that plumping hydration with a moisturiser. Clinically proven to deliver 48-hour defence from dehydration,* Everhydrate Marine Moisture-Replenish Cream locks in moisture for longer and is the perfect choice to help strengthen your skin barrier. Like the serum, it’s powered by Algae Extracts and Hyaluronic Acid, but we’ve also added Polyglutamic Acid. To dial-up the dew, we’ve enriched the water-locking formula with a unique cellular pectin from Freshwater Plant, and Baobab and Kalahari Melon, rich in emollient fatty acids, to increase water retention and help prevent excessive water loss.

What are the benefits of skin flooding?

No matter what your skin tone, type, concern or texture, boosting your skin’s hydration levels is only going to be a good thing. More moisture means more healthy-looking glow, but it also helps to temporarily plump out and smooth the appearance of fine dehydration lines. It also helps to strengthen your skin barrier, which in-turn helps rebalance your skin and reduces sensitivity.

Are there any skin types that shouldn't skin flood?' 

Since skin flooding is not an inherently irritating skincare routine and is therefore suitable for most skin types. That said, the skin flooding process increases the penetration of skincare products, so if you have hyper-sensitive skin then proceed with a little caution. This routine also may not be suited for those with acne-prone skin, as layering on multiple products could lead to potential breakouts. 

*Clinical study on 30 volunteers ages 22-65 with Fitzpatrick types II to IV