A week old into February and we are transcending from the colder months to the warmer spring months. There is a lingering winter air with tender cool breeze yet with a dry and crisp touch to it, which is enough to let the skin get stripped off of all the hydrations and luster. Like any other skincare concern, tiktok was quick enough to respond with a solution worthy trend- Skin Flooding. While the concept is not ground breaking, there has been a fair discussion around it’s usage, pros and cons. If your skin is quench hungry and your regular skincare routine is not delivering results, you need some splashy waves of hydrating skin-flooding regimen. With experts on surf-board (*inserts pun*) to get you through skin flooding, we have, Ms. Dolly Kumar, Cosmetic Engineer & Founder of Skinella, a skincare brand made with the power of superfoods and Ms. Plabita Sharma, National Training Head, The Body Shop India. Read on to know all things skin-flooding and let’s keep on manifesting a healthy glass skin like Hailey Beiber’s.
What Is Skin flooding
“Skin flooding is to “flood” your skin with moisturizing products where first step is using hydration
product and then layering it with moisture to prevent water loss”, tells Ms. Plabita. Adding to the concept Ms. Dolly says, “Skin flooding advocates layering lightweight moisturizing products such as
moisturizers, toners, serums, facial oils, SPF-based sunscreen, etc., to deal with troubles like dull,
itchy and dehydrated skin. This technique ensures the skin remains hydrated, moisturized and
supple”.
The Benefits Of Skin Flooding
“Skin flooding as a concept is very similar to the 7-step Korean skincare regimen. This technique
works wonders for dull, dry, combination and sensitive skin” says Ms. Dolly. To ensure maximum benefits of skin-flooding, Ms. Plabita shares, “While skin flooding is beneficial for all skin types, it can work wonders for those with dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin, particularly during winters when the weather is harsh. The idea is to ensure your skin is moisturized and damp to facilitate maximum product absorption and seal in the moisture. But to do it right, it’s essential to use the correct products and ingredients like Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid, Moringa seed oil which has abundant moisturizing properties. When done correctly, skin flooding can help make your skin youthful, wrinkle-free, and radiant.”
How To Begin Skin-Flooding
“The best way to do skin flooding is to pick moisturizing products of different formulations. The
process starts with cleansing your face followed by a toner or hydrating mist. The next step is to
apply a serum containing hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. Lightweight moisturizer follows next and in
the final step, you apply an SPF-based sunscreen. To ensure that the products penetrate properly, it
is important to apply them layer by layer. And when practiced at night time, the technique ensures
plump, radiant skin when we wake up in the morning”, recommends Kumar.
How to Vary The Regime With Changing Weather
“Skin flooding is recommended in every season, however the moisturizing ingredients and its texture
varies with the seasons. Skin flooding is best recommended with cream/oil based ingredients like
Vitamin E, Moringa Seed Oil, Hemp seed oil during winter season to maintain moisture barrier.
During monsoon season, flood your skin with gel based natural moisturizing ingredients like
Edelweiss extract, cucumber extract, seaweed and aloevera. Skin flooding in summers can be justified by treating your skin in daytime with light-weight/gel based products infused with Vitamin
E, Aloevera, Hyaluronic acid and include cream/oil based products rich in natural peptides,
ceramides, cumin seed, rosehip oil. Including sunscreen in all weathers is must” tells Plabita Sharma.
Potential Risks Involved
“There are no associated risks with this technique but the products should be chosen carefully. Using
products of different formulations or those unsuitable for your skin type can cause skin issues. And
yes, apply the products in the right order. Always remember – for any product to bring results, you
need to let it penetrate well into your skin and wait for at least a minute before layering it up with
the next product”, suggests Kumar.
Essentially Sharma mentions that “People with acne-prone skin, it’s best to do skin flooding sparingly, as too much moisture can clog their pores. People with dry skin can do it as part of their nighttime routine, and those with normal skin can include it in their weekly regime twice”.