How TikTok's Skin Flooding Trend Optimally Hydrates Skin

Skin flooding helps to hydrate the skin.
TikTok's latest skin flooding skin care trend helps to hydrate the skin.

Skin flooding is one of the latest skin care trends "flooding" consumer's for you pages on TikTok. This TikTok trend is 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.1

Skin Flooding Benefits

This method of applying skin care 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 provide 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, a.k.a vitamin B3, helps with skin hydration and brightening.

Related:  The Risks of TikTok's Reverse Skin Care Trend

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 are crucial in hydrating the skin. 

There are a couple of methods when it comes to the skin flooding trends, with different TikTok influencers taking different routes to accomplish a glowing and hydrated complexion. However, the basic protocol for the skin flooding trend is as follows: 

Skin Flooding Protocol: 

  1. Cleanse using a gentle cleanser
  2. Apply hyaluronic acid serum to damp skin
  3. Apply niacinamide serum over top
  4. Apply a hydrating moisturizer
  5. Apply SPF

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.3 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 (i.e. the moisturizer). 

Related: TikTok Trend: Skin Icing

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. 

References: 

  1. https://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/trends-skin-flooding-or-the-art-of,21274
  2. https://hypebae.com/2022/12/skin-flooding-tik-tok-dry-skincare-hack
  3. https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/tiktok-skin-flooding-serum-hack-dry-skin
More in Trends