Among the most viral skincare trends of the moment is skin flooding, literally "flooding" the skin with hydration. The idea is simple and appealing: applying several hydrating products in sequence to still-damp skin, so as to "fill" it with water and give it back a plumped, radiant look. In the height of summer, with heat, sun and air conditioning all tending to dehydrate, it is an approach that keeps coming back into fashion. Let's look at what it really is, how it works and how to add it to your routine without overdoing it.
What skin flooding is
Skin flooding is a layering technique designed to maximise hydration. The key principle is working on skin that is still slightly damp, right after cleansing or a veil of toner, applying progressively richer textures in succession. You start with humectant actives such as hyaluronic acid, which draw water towards the surface layers, and then "seal" everything with a cream that helps limit evaporation.
In its most current version, the one that went viral online, skin flooding does not aim to pile up dozens of products, but to build a few well-chosen layers in the right order: from the lightest to the most substantial. It is a more mindful update compared with the first interpretations of the trend, which tended to layer too many cosmetics.
How it works and what the benefits are
Applying humectants to damp skin helps hold more water in the surface layers, immediately improving the firm, smooth look of the face. The final, more occlusive layer helps reduce hydration loss during the day, so the skin appears smoother, more supple and more radiant. This is not an insight born on social media: the American Academy of Dermatology also recommends applying moisturiser while the skin is still damp, because in this condition the product spreads better and helps retain water by limiting its evaporation.
The most appreciated aesthetic benefits are a fresher complexion, a more even skin texture and that much sought-after "dewy" effect, not far from the glass skin effect. Skin flooding can be useful above all for those whose skin feels tight, dull or dehydrated. It is worth remembering, however, that once a good level of hydration is reached, adding further layers brings diminishing returns: more product does not automatically mean more results. For many people a few well-formulated steps are enough, and those with acne-prone or easily congested skin should prefer light textures so as not to weigh it down.
How to add it to your routine
The good news is that skin flooding does not require any upheaval: you simply need to reorder the steps you already know.
- Cleanse without drying completely: after washing your face, pat it, leaving the skin slightly damp.
- Apply the humectant: smooth a hyaluronic acid serum onto still-damp skin to draw water to the surface.
- Add a hydrating fluid: a light layer helps distribute hydration evenly.
- Seal with your cream: choose a gel-cream texture in summer, a richer one in winter, to limit evaporation.
- During the day, do not forget sun protection: the final, essential morning step.
The secret is to proceed from the lightest to the most substantial and allow a few seconds of absorption between one layer and the next.
Recommended Chrissie products
To build balanced skin flooding you can start from the Hyaluronic Acid collection and, if your skin feels particularly thirsty, from the selection dedicated to Dehydration.
- As the first humectant layer, Hyalu-Poly 4K Elixir helps draw and hold water at the surface for a plumper look.
- As the intermediate fluid, Dermo Intensive Fluid helps distribute hydration with a light texture.
- To seal, Time Balance Gel Cream offers a fresh gel-cream finish, ideal in the warm season.
In short
- Skin flooding is the layering of hydrating products on still-damp skin, from the lightest to the richest.
- It contributes to a plumper, more even, more radiant look, with a "dewy" effect.
- Better a few well-chosen layers: beyond a certain point the benefits decrease.
- Those with congestion-prone skin should prefer light textures.
- During the day, always close your routine with sun protection.
