Here’s a step-by-step guide to skin flooding.
We all want glass skin, and every night, as of late, women are going for it. Have you heard of skin flooding? It’s a beauty trend flooding social media with the promise that piling on product before bed will have you waking up with a glow like you’ve never seen.
Studio 5 Beauty Contributor Megan Moore looked into skin flooding for us.
A Shift Toward Hydration
Megan explained that skin flooding represents a shift in skincare philosophy. “We for so long were focused on active ingredients—vitamin C, Retin A, all these things that do something,” she said. “But we are realizing as we get older, that actually thins the skin.”
Instead, the focus is now on plumping and hydrating. “Hydration is going to do more for us than maybe the actives were,” Megan emphasized.
Layering Like a Pro
Skin flooding involves layering multiple hydrating products—sometimes even applying the same product two or three times. “You will go to bed looking like a jelly donut,” Megan joked. “You are frosted, you are glowing, but you wake up feeling plumper, smoother and more hydrated.” She applies four layers a night, sometimes more if her skin feels dry.
Step 1: Hydrating Mist
Megan starts with a hydrating skin mist—essentially “canned water.” While it may sound unnecessary, she explained, “This is clean, it’s pure… there are some salts in there, some zinc, some different minerals.”
It also avoids the mess of splashing water on your face. “Skin does better absorbing when it’s wet,” she added.
Step 2: Clear Toners
Next, Megan applies two to three layers of a clear toner. “I’m loving rice toners,” she said, noting their hydrating benefits.
She presses the product into her skin rather than rubbing to avoid inflammation. “We really want this skin to just feel hydrated and soak it all in,” Megan emphasized.
Step 3: Milky Toners
Milky toners come next. “These are actually kind of a thicker consistency,” Megan said.She recommended affordable Korean brands like Haru Haru and Oma. You can add two to three layers of these as well.
Optional: Active Ingredients
If you’re using actives like retinol, Megan suggested applying them between the toner steps. “It may be a little bit more diluted,” she said, “but I actually think that’s a good thing.” Applying retinol to damp skin can make it more potent, so layering it in helps soften the effect.
Step 4: Moisturizer
The final step is a thick moisturizer to seal everything in. Megan uses one by Naturium, a super affordable brand. She loves their multi-peptide formula because “peptides are plumpers—and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Let It Set
Before bed, Megan recommended giving your skin 10 minutes to absorb the layers. “You will be sticky and you will feel quite wet,” she warned. “Just stay on your back. Don’t move for at least 10 minutes.”
Find more beauty advice from Megan on Instagram, @beautysnoop, or at thebeautysnoop.com.
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