TikTok Made Me Try it: 'Skin Flooding'

So the icy cold weather has officially arrived and now your skin is freaking out. Think dryness, redness, and extremely frustrating itchiness.

The dilemma: all those thick, rich face creams are clogging your pores and causing breakouts.

If you’re a TikTok regular like us, you should know that the social media platform always has a solution on offer for all our skincare woes. This time, there’s a new beauty hack in town that’s supposed to work wonders for dry winter skin.

Refinery29 coins it “skin flooding” and it’s a skincare trend that’s getting a lot of hype right now on TikTok. Here’s what it’s all about, including the benefits, downsides, and our verdict.

What is “Skin Flooding?”

TikTok’s latest skincare hack involves applying layer upon layer of moisture using lightweight products in a bid to quell dryness and boost skin’s glow without overburdening the skin.

TikToker Madi Prettyman (@chooseyourglow) shares the process in her TikTok video. She starts with a gentle cleanser to prep her skin for the skincare products to come. Then she applies a hyaluronic acid serum to damp skin to seal in moisture, followed by a niacinamide serum, and then a hydrating moisturizer in the form of a lightweight face cream.

Other TikTokers add additional steps to their skincare routine, such as a face mist between serums to enhance hydration and diminish dry skin.

The main purpose of skin flooding is to intensely hydrate skin without clogging pores. While it’s beneficial for all skin types, oily and acne-prone skin will definitely benefit the most.

Benefits of Flooding Your Skin

According to dermatologists, there are scientifically proven benefits to layering hyaluronic acid with niacinamide. Since they’re both exceptional standalone ingredients, pairing them can really make magic.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that helps skin retain moisture while plumping out fine lines for smoother, silkier, and firmer skin. Niacinamide is rich in antioxidants that boasts hydrating and brightening benefits. Using these ingredients together can certainly manifest smooth, glowing skin.

In the winter especially, skin is more prone to dryness. But not all skin can cope with layers of thick creams and lotions, which tend to clog the pores and trigger blemishes. Using lightweight serums formulated with actives like HA can deeply hydrate skin without clogging pores. They’re a better choice of beauty product if creams leave you clogged.

By keeping your skin hydrated, you’ll also prevent further oiliness or acne. Since skin won’t need to compensate by creating more oil (because it’ll already know its hydrated), skin remains balanced, pore remains clear, and zits — away!

Downsides of the TikTok Trend

As far as what the derms and TikTok beauty influencers tell us, skin flooding can work miracles for dry, parched skin. It hydrates, strengthens the skin barrier, diminishes dryness, and even combats acne. However, like every trend, there’s usually a downside or two.

The only downside of skin flooding is that it does take a little more time than a traditional skincare routine. Because you’ll need a handful of products, it may take a while massaging them in and leaving them to absorb. That said, it’s a great opportunity to turn your beauty routine into a self-care moment.

When it comes to TikTok hacks, there’s a lot of misinformation out there, which is why we like to discover the trends and give you the lowdown on what it is, how it works, and what the derms think.

A Step-By-Step Tutorial

Here’s an easy peasy guide to drenching your skin in long-lasting moisture.

Step #1: Cleanse

Start by using a gentle cleanser to wash away dirt and oil sitting on the skin’s surface. This will prep skin for improved product absorption.

Step #2: Apply a Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Next, while your skin’s still damp, dab on a few drops of a hyaluronic acid serum. Since hyaluronic acid is a humectant, it relies on moisture to effectively hydrate skin. One of our favorites is Hydrate Serum, a silky serum of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5. Leave it to absorb for a minute before applying the next product.

Step #3: Apply a Niacinamide Serum

Once your HA serum has melted into the skin, massage in a few drops of a niacinamide serum to hydrate and brighten. One of our favorites is Smooth Serum, a lightweight formula of niacinamide and strawberries to soften, smooth, hydrate, and brighten. Let it sink into the skin before applying the next product.

Step #4: Dab on a Face Cream (Optional)

If your skin really can’t tolerate creams, you can skip this step. However, if you’re dealing with severe dryness, finish the routine with a small amount of face cream to seal all that moisture in. Choose a lightweight cream enriched with non-comedogenic shea butter or jojoba oil (or both). Again, let it absorb fully before applying sunscreen or makeup products such as concealer and foundation.

A Note About Exfoliating

In order to get the best possible outcome from skin flooding, it’s advised not to layer exfoliating acids such as glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid over damp skin to avoid irritation.

Our Verdict

Skin flooding is an effective way to hydrate your skin without clogging your pores and causing breakouts. Ideal for oily and acne-prone skin, it can also benefit those with dry skin. Besides drenching skin in daily hydration, skin flooding also offers other benefits like brightening your skin. Alongside this, it’ll make your glam makeup look appear even more flawless since you’re starting with a smooth, hydrated base.

All in all, we recommend giving this Tik Tok skincare trend a try if you’re experiencing dry, flaky skin this winter and don’t want to flood your skin with rich, clogging creams.

Ready to try the trend at home? Search the hashtags “skin flooding” or just “flooding” and scroll through the videos for inspiration.