Dry skin is the root of many skin issues. A lack of moisture can worsen wrinkles, eye bags, and create an uneven skin tone. Now, even though winter is a beautiful time of the year in many places, with snow, frosty trees, and nights of hot chocolate or eggnog, our skin doesn't see it the same way we do. The cold, dry air and wintry wind often mean dry skin that is hard to beat.
What can you do about it? All I can say is moisture, moisture, moisture. And a great way to do that is this amazing recent trend: skin flooding!
What Is Skin Flooding, and Why Would I Want To Do That?
The word "flooding" doesn't always have a great connotation, but it's not a scary idea when it comes to skincare! The idea is to flood your skin with moisture to encourage healing and promote anti-aging. It's not just flooding your skin with any old moisturizing product, though. There are specific types of products that you can use — and an order to use them in — to achieve the optimal effect. The key to this method is layering your products from thinnest to thickest, to lock in moisture at every step.
Key Ingredients to Look For
What sets skin flooding apart from any other moisturizing method, such as the glass skin trend or the 7 skins skincare routine? Skin flooding utilizes products with specific ingredients in a specific order. Let's take a look at those all-important ingredients first.
The most important ingredient to a skin flooding routine is hyaluronic acid. This is because hyaluronic acid is a humectant. It serves to bind water molecules to the skin, making skin more supple and elastic. This resulting elasticity decreases the appearance of wrinkles, plumps the skin, and aids in the healing process.
Pro Tip: There is a right way to use this ingredient to reduce the likelihood of skin reactions, and I explain it all here!
Another key ingredient to add to your product roster is niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin. We all know that vitamins are good for us, but niacinamide is the star of the show when it comes to vitamins for your face! It combines with naturally occurring agents in your skin and oils to visibility diminish pores by tightening the skin. This also helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and, over time, can improve dark spots and uneven skin tone — among other benefits.
Your New Skin Flooding Routine, Step by Step
Now that you know which ingredients to look for, here's my simple step-by-step process for building a skin flooding routine.
Step 1: Begin by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. We want a clean slate to allow the skin to absorb maximum moisture and help smooth away previous signs of aging or damage to the skin. I love to recommend the Clean + Gentle Gel Cleanser, for those with dryer skin, or the Just Say Ahh Revitalizing Cleanser, for those with combination skin types or oily skin.
At the end of cleansing, you MUST leave your skin slightly damp. Don't completely dry off your skin, or the next step will not be as effective!
Step 2: Now, with slightly damp skin, layer on the star of the skin flooding show, hyaluronic acid. One of my favorite products that includes this stellar ingredient is the CBE Botanicals™ 4D Quench Hyaluronic Serum. The ingredients here immediately get to work soothing the skin, plumping it, and prepping it to draw other products deeper for a more noticeable effect.
You only need a small pump of this to cover your entire face. Keeping your face damp helps to allow the hyaluronic acid to distribute across your face and can reduce the likelihood of a reaction, especially if it is the first time you've used the product. Although such a reaction is uncommon, it's best to set your skin up for success when introducing new products to your skincare routine!
Step 3: A serum with niacinamide is a perfect next step. In the CBE Botanicals line, we have a duo product called the Sleep On It Serum, which contains retinol and niacinamide to give you a wrinkle-eradicating, pore-reducing blast. Looking for an all-in-one? Try the HOP+ Caviplla+02® Multi-Serum to get both hyaluronic acid and niacinamide onto your skin — and don't worry about doubling up, since hyaluronic acid is safe to have in multiple products in your routine.
Step 4: Finish with your thickest layer, a good moisturizer. I love the NeoGenesis Intensive Moisturizer to really seal moisture in and create that glow of well-hydrated skin. For anyone with an oily skin type, I'd opt for the NeoGenesis Light Moisturizer instead. It's formulated to provide daily hydration by complimenting your natural facial oils instead of layering over the top of them.
Pro Tip: If you have dry skin, you can skin flood as part of your everyday routine. If you have an oily skin type, you can still benefit from this technique, but I'd advise doing it only once or twice a week instead of daily.
Bonus Step: I know I said step 4 was the final step, but I have one more recommendation! If you're using the skin flooding routine in the morning, be sure to layer a sunscreen over the top of the other products. Try the Dr Esthé Sun Protection Mild SPF 50, a gentle sunscreen that is excellent for sensitive or acne prone skin. Its advanced Korean formula makes a refreshing change from the oily formulas you might be used to.
Looking For More Pro Advice?
Skin flooding is a great place to start if you are struggling with dry skin or are looking for an anti-aging skincare routine. If you want to know more about how to layer your skincare products like a pro, about what kind of products to use, or how to tailor your skincare routine to your skin type, I'm here to help! You can join me at the Christine Byer Beauty Club. I offer a 14-Day FREE preview with full access to everything in the Club. Get personalized support for your questions and have access to exclusive videos and savings. If you don’t find value in your membership, cancel within the 14 days at no charge.
Hey everyone, Christine Byer here! As a licensed master esthetician with over two decades of experience, I've seen a lot of confusion around layering skincare products. It doesn't have to be complicated, but a few key things can make or break your routine. I want to help you avoid those mistakes, so let's dive in!
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