Pros admit it works (if done correctly, of course) and can be universally beneficial for all skin types.
Here’s everything you need to know about the hydration hack.
Skin flooding has gone viral among the beauty-obsessed.
“This method is meant to ‘flood’ the skin with intense moisture by layering moisturizing products onto damp skin from thinnest to thickest to ensure proper penetration,” explains Marisa Garshick, M.D., a dermatologist in N.Y.C.
Ava Shamban, M.D., a dermatologist who recommends skin flooding at night — not in the morning underneath makeup, says: “It is basically the way to prep the canvas to receive the best hydration and nutrients it needs.”
To prime skin, “start with a water-like mist to enable penetration of the cleanser to then apply a thin layer of serum followed by moisture lotion and then a thicker barrier-protecting cream,” Nigma Talib, a cosmetic doctor, explains. Rule of thumb: Go from thinnest to thickest.
“There can be downsides as if you have sensitive or highly reactive skin, or if you have an allergy to one or more ingredients in the multi-layering process it can cause a skin reaction that can affect the skin barrier and cause more harm than good,” says Talib.