If you’re guilty of falling down a skincare rabbit hole at 2am on TikTok, you might be familiar with the recent beauty trend called skin flooding – a technique for hydrating dry skin. If you’ve got more self-control than us and the trend passed you by, don’t worry! We’re here with the low-down on what skin flooding is and whether it’s worth investing in.
As much as we’re here for cosy nights in, bubble baths and our favourite candles throughout the winter months, we don’t have time for the dry skin that comes with it. From Jack Frost nipping at our nose, to our central heating stealing our skin’s moisture, it’s a time of year where we need to put more emphasis on hydrating the deeper layers of our skin. Whilst hydration is important all year round, it’s crucial to incorporate extra TLC into our skincare routines to make up for the water loss our skin experiences in the colder months.
Our Skincare Product Specialist, Alana, knows the science behind skin hydration: “Hydrating your skin keeps a healthy balance of homeostasis. Water helps your skin tissues maintain an efficient process of cell renewal. Dry skin is less likely to manage this, so it results in a dull complexion, whereas hydrated skin looks healthier and more radiant.”
So, what is skin flooding?
It’s simple, really. Skin flooding is a technique that involves ‘flooding’ the skin by layering lightweight moisturising products in a particular order for deeper and long-lasting hydration. The technique involves five simple steps (that probably don’t steer too far from your regular routine!): cleansing the skin, toning, applying a hydrating serum, moisturising and finally applying a facial oil.
Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient here, because it attracts moisture by holding onto water molecules. For this reason, damp skin is best when practising skin flooding.
How do I skin flood and what products do I need?
Our Skincare Product Specialist, Alana, gives us a breakdown of how to perform skin flooding with your Tropic products for maximum results!
Step one: cleanser
Smoothing Cleanser: this gentle cleanser quenches thirsty complexions by nourishing the skin with golden jojoba and macadamia oils.
Apply 2-4 pumps onto your face and neck every morning and evening, treating yourself to a relaxing massage to reset your mind and stimulate your senses. Then, rinse your super soft Bamboo Face Cloth in warm water and use to wipe away any excess cleanser.
Step two: toning essence
Juicy Greens: niacinamide and gentle plant AHAs and PHAs star in this refreshing skin cocktail. It gently exfoliates the surface of skin, allowing hydrating kiwi and cucumber juices to reach deeper layers while restoring the skin barrier.
Release a few drops onto a cotton pad and swipe gently across your whole face after cleansing. For a burst of extra hydration, follow with a spritz of Morning Mist.
Step three: serum
Rainforest Dew: what’s better than hyaluronic acid? How about a serum that also has plant peptides! Hydrate, plump and firm with this nourishing complex, and allow evergreen fern extract to calm sensitive skin.
Pat 3-6 drops onto cleansed skin morning and night and before you apply your moisturiser.
Step four: moisturiser
Skin Feast: this luxurious crème is packed with antioxidant-rich berry seed oils, such as rosehip, to calm redness. It’s the ideal moisturiser for locking in all the goodness from our previous skincare steps.
Apply 1-3 pumps morning and night after your serum, massaging all over your face and neck. When using in the morning, follow with an SPF and feel oh-so-satisfied for choosing skin health.
Step five: facial oil
Super Greens: there’s so much to love about our lightweight facial oil. It’s a green juice boost for your skin, packed with ceramides and fatty acids. Super Greens has been clinically tested and shown to stop transepidermal water loss by up to 34% in just 28 days.
After cleansing, toning, and moisturising, massage 3-6 drops into your face and neck in upward, circular motions.
You can find out what Tropic products are best for your skin type by taking the Skincare Routine Finder.
So, what’s the verdict? It’s safe to say that skin flooding has a lot of benefits, from providing long-lasting, deep hydration to helping our skin to absorb our products more successfully. The added moisture our skin gets from this method can prevent water loss and ultimately repair the skin barrier. Any skin type can benefit from skin flooding, helping to achieve a plumper and more radiant complexion.
On the other hand, there are a few things to watch out for. The increased penetration of products may cause irritation to sensitive skin types, and breakouts can occur which might be a red flag for those with oily skin. Dry skin types might also want to be careful with this method as using a combination of hydrating products can result in the face feeling greasy or clogged.
Something this technique doesn’t consider is SPF, a crucial part of our skincare routine that should never be missed. If your skin could use a glug of moisture, skin flooding is definitely something to try. Just be sure to consult a dermatologist or doctor before, especially if you have any serious skin conditions or concerns.
