What is Skin Flooding, and Should You Try it?

What is Skin Flooding, and Should You Try it?

by Alyson Turley in Skin Care Tips

If you're active on social media, there's a strong chance you've heard people talking about a new trend in skincare: Skin Flooding. If you're wondering what Skin Flooding is, and whether or not it's a trend you should try, you've come to the right place.

What is Skin Flooding?

Skin Flooding is a skincare philosophy focused on one thing: hydration.

To try and achieve deeply hydrated skin, you layer multiple hydration focused products onto your skin, including a toner, serum, and moisturizer. (Don't forget to start with your favorite non-drying cleanser.)

Exactly how you choose to flood your skin will vary from person to person. Some people use two or three different toners, add in essences or multiple serums, but that's all up to personal preference. As long as you're using those three hydration focused products: toner, serum, and moisturizer, you're doing skin flooding well.

When I first heard about this trend, I was surprised that it was aligned with my personal skincare strategy, so I am excited to see this catching on for so many people.

Read more about skin flooding here.

Wait, a Toner?

It's become pretty common in the past decade or so for people to leave toners out of their skincare routine, so that inclusion might throw you off. That said, here are some things to keep in mind about toner use in general, and with skin flooding in particular.

  1. Choose an alcohol-free toner. If a toner you're considering using has alcohol in it, keep moving. Alcohol dries skin, making it a better fit for oily or acneic skin, and not the right choice for a hydration-focused routine..
  2. Using a toner before applying serums can help absorption. If you didn't already know that applying skincare products to wet skin can improve absorption, it's true. A water based toner can help do exactly that, by helping draw products into your skin with it.
  3. A toner can boost hyaluronic acid's effectiveness. If you've read our blog about HA, then you already know one possible downside to HA is that in some cases, it can absorb water from your skin. Because HA is a hydrophilic compound, it draws water from its environment. Applying HA to wet skin provides moisture for it to take as it absorbs into your skin.
  4. Don't be afraid to double up. Some proponents of skin flooding swear by using multiple toners, or even adding an extra step of plain water. You can even maximize your application by putting your toner in a spray bottle and spritzing your face and neck thoroughly.

Who Should Try Skin Flooding?

A good skin flooding routine can be beneficial for almost anyone, if you tailor it correctly, but it's especially good for people with dry or aging skin.

I've seen a lot of women talking on social media turning to skin flooding as a solution to increased dryness they're seeing in menopause or perimenopause. Definitely consider it if you're undergoing similar hormonal shifts as that can have major effects on skin.

If your skin is sensitive, flooding can still be a good fit. Just be sure to go slowly with introducing new products and choose them carefully.

Skin flooding can even be helpful for people with oily or acne prone skin, but be really careful with choosing your products and avoid occlusives or anything that can clog pores.

Recommended Hydrating Products

Are you interested in trying flooding, but not sure on the best products to use for it? Here are my recommendations based on what I currently use & best-sellers our customers love.

Toners:

Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse - Harben House - Revision Skincare

Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse

This is my personal favorite toner and the one I'm using in my current flooding routine. I prefer to spray my toners and this one is a bit thick so I usually water it down slightly to make it sprayable.

With soothing botanicals like aloe vera and chamomile, and vitamin K, this is a gentle and nourishing formula that makes a perfect first step for a flooding regimen.

 

 

EltaMD Skin Recovery Toner (7.3 oz) - Harben House - EltaMD

EltaMD Skin Recovery Toner

This is another great option for a gentle multi-tasking toner with a simple formula including moisturizers.

Gently formulated to balance your pH and help repair the skin barrier, this is a good choice for most skin types, including sensitive.

 

 

 

While this mist isn't technically a toner, it would be another great option to use in a flooding routine. Especially if you want to do a two part liquid step at the beginning, this would be a great fit for the second toner spot.
Designed to moisturize and soothe skin and especially after sun exposure, you can include this spray as a hydrating step in your daily skin regimen and as needed throughout the day.
Hydrating Serums
As far as product recommendations go, SkinMedica HA5 is the one with the best track record-- it's the one I can be most sure that people who try it will like it.

With 5 forms of hyaluronic acid, now boosted in a new formula with collagen and added nutrients, HA5 is better than ever at hydrating skin and helping it retain water naturally.
This is my current hydrating serum in my routine, and I've been loving it! Ourself's patented tiered release encapsulation technology delivers HA and peptides deeper into the skin than was previously thought possible.
If you're looking for a silky smooth formula that's easy to rub in, wears well under makeup, and that can help firm your skin while it hydrates, there's nothing better.
Alastin Skincare HA IMMERSE Serum - Harben House - Alastin
One of our long-time best selling hydrating serums, HA Immerse could be the right fit for you. It's another comprehensive formula, with multiple forms of HA, plus peptides and more anti-aging ingredients.
People love this serum for its hydration with immediate and long-term plumping effects, and it's gentle enough that it works for most people with sensitive skin.
Moisturizers
SENTÉ Dermal Repair Cream - Harben House - SENTE
This moisturizer is another fan favorite that always sells well, and for good reason. Sente's flagship product, the first to feature their patented HSA technology, is loved for its ability to heal while moisturizing.
With hyaluronic acid, moisturizers, vitamins, and botanicals, it's a well-rounded formula that people love for its ability to hydrate, soothe, and firm skin. 
EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer - Harben House - EltaMD
Another popular moisturizer, EltaMD PM Restore is formulated with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to strengthen your skin barrier while it moisturizes and hydrates.
Ideal for nighttime use, this moisturizer has a daytime counterpart, AM Restore so you can moisturize your skin with ideal ingredients both day and night.

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