Is your skin both acne-prone and in desperate need of hydration? Skin flooding, a skincare trend on social media, may be the perfect choice to deeply hydrate your skin without clogging your pores.
What is Skin Flooding?
Skin flooding is a skincare technique where you apply several lightweight layers of moisturizing products on damp skin. The goal is to “flood” the skin with hydration and lock it in with a moisturizer. This method can be particularly beneficial if you have dry or dehydrated skin, but it can also be a useful way of keeping oily skin in good condition without adding rich products.
Skin flooding emphasizes layering products while the skin is still damp from each previous step, which can help maximize hydration absorption. Spraying your skin between each step with a can of thermal water or tap water in a mister bottle can help maintain moisture during your routine.
Skin Flooding Routine
To practice skin flooding, apply your products to wet skin, starting with the thinnest, water-based products, and move towards thicker serums and creamier textures so each layer can be fully absorbed. You can use a spray of thermal water between steps and apply each product with gentle patting motions to enhance absorption.
While skin flooding can be beneficial for acne-prone skin, it’s important to select the right products. Look for lightweight products with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin when skin flooding, and avoid heavy creams or oils that can clog pores.
Cleanser
Start by cleaning your face to ensure that your skin can fully absorb the hydrating products more effectively. Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser that won’t strip your skin, or a mild cleanser with active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid if your skin tolerates it. Leave your skin damp or follow with a thermal water spray to hydrate for the next step.
Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing and Makeup Removing Foaming Gel
This cleansing gel from Bioderma's Sensibio line for sensitive skin uses micellar technology to gently cleanse and remove makeup. These cleansing microdroplets, or micelles, can capture oil and impurities without stripping, making this cleanser an excellent option for anyone with sensitive skin. It also uses Bioderma's patented D.A.F. complex, which works on all skin types to help improve the skin's tolerance threshold.
- Micelles gently cleanse and remove makeup
- Non-stripping for sensitive skin
- D.A.F. complex to increase skin tolerance
- More expensive than other options
Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water Facial Mist Spray
Thermal Spring Water Spray from French brand Avene is the best-known and best-loved mineral spray for good reason. It contains pure Avene spring water, known for its postbiotic microflora that supports the skin's microbiome and its optimal mineral content to soothe skin. The spray is bottled directly at the source, and it is released in an ultra-fine mist that can be used for lightly dampening the skin between skincare steps to add hydration, setting makeup, or just a refreshing moment.
- Ultra fine mist to lightly dampen skin
- Naturally occurring minerals soothe
- Expensive
Toner or Essence
Applying a hydrating toner to damp skin will begin the hydration process, balance your skin’s pH, and enhance the absorption of your other products.
An essence can be used in addition to, or interchangeably with, a hydrating toner. Originally popularized in Korea, an essence is a lightweight liquid rich in hydrating ingredients.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner with Ceramides, Chamomile, and 1% Niacinamide
The Pore Reducing Toner from Paula's Choice is a hydrating toner made for oily or combination skin types to balance the skin and minimize pores. It uses antioxidants, plant extracts such as chamomile and burdock, to soothe and defend from environmental stressors. Niacinamide helps even skin tone and reduce the appearance of pores, while ceramides and cholesterol help reinforce the skin's barrier to better retain moisture.
- Hydrates and balances oily skin
- Niacinamide minimizes pores
- Cholesterol and ceramides strengthen skin barrier
- Niacinamide may be irritating for some people
EltaMD Skin Recovery Essence Hydrating Toner for Skin Barrier with Amino Acids
The Skin Recovery Hydrating Toner from EltaMD is a lightweight toner that hydrates and restores the all-important skin barrier. Its natural pale blue color comes from malachite extract, a mineral-rich copper complex, which defends against free radicals and helps protect against environmental stressors. AAComplex, a patented blend of three amino acids, helps to repair the skin barrier and can reduce redness and irritation.
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Aminos acids help strengthen the skin barrier
- Malachite extract protects from external stressors
- Pricey per ounce
NEOGEN Real Ferment Micro Essence with 93% Naturally Fermented Ingredients
The Real Ferment Micro Essence from Korean skincare brand Neogen is made of naturally fermented ingredients to hydrate and soothe skin. These fermented ingredients, such as bifida ferment lysate and rice ferment filtrate, are popular in Korean skincare and are known to deeply hydrate and plump the skin. Niacinamide brightens the skin tone, and amino acids help to repair the skin barrier. Birch tree juice, another popular Korean skincare ingredient, provides antioxidant support.
- Natural ferments hydrate and plump the skin
- Amino acids support skin barrier
- Birch tree juice has antioxidant benefits
- Expensive
- Niacinamide may be irritating for some people
Serum
A serum is a highly concentrated formulation designed to deliver potent ingredients directly into the skin. They are used before moisturizing, serving as an important step in skincare routines for those seeking targeted results. Look for a hydrating serum with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or panthenol, which are all humectants, meaning they attract and hold moisture in the skin.
Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster Serum with Ceramides
The Hyaluronic Acid Booster from Paula's Choice is a concentrated serum that deeply hydrates and moisturizes skin. This liquid gel formula is designed to either be used alone or added to a moisturizer or another serum to simplify your routine. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol attract moisture and plump the skin, while ceramides and cholesterol strengthen the skin's barrier to retain the hydration. While expensive, this is a great choice for dehydrated skin that needs a little boost.
- Concentrated serum
- Deeply hydrates and plumps
- Ceramides and cholesterol support skin barrier
- Expensive for small size
Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Booster with Hyaluronic Acid and Volcanic Water
The Mineral 89 Skin Booster by French brand Vichy offers simple and effective hydration in a refreshing gel serum. It gets its name from a high 89% concentration of French volcanic water, containing 15 essential minerals, which helps to strengthen the skin barrier and protect it from external factors like pollution. Glycerin and pure hyaluronic acid draw moisture into the skin to hydrate and plump. Its minimalist formula with only 11 ingredients is perfect for sensitive or reactive skin.
- Pure hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps
- Mineral rich volcanic water strengthens skin barrier
- Can be used as a serum or a light moisturizer
- May not be moisturizing enough for very dry skin
Cocokind Hydrating Ceramide Barrier Serum for Hydration and Skin Barrier Support
Cocokind's Hydrating Ceramide Barrier Serum provides skin barrier support in a milky serum, making it a great option for dehydrated, acne-prone skin that can't tolerate thick creams. Instead of hyaluronic acid, it contains beta-glucan, a powerful humectant for more hydration and plumping. Five ceramides and a blend of lipids, including squalane, fatty acids, and cholesterol, lock in moisture to prevent transepidermal water loss. As a bonus, ceramide precursors encourage the skin's natural ceramide production.
- Lightweight skin barrier support
- Beta-glucan to hydrate and plump
- Ceramides and fatty acids to lock in moisture
- May be too moisturizing for oily skin
Moisturizer
The last step of skin flooding is to apply a moisturizer to lock in all of this hydration and protect the skin barrier. Unlike other hydrating products, moisturizers usually have occlusive properties, meaning they form a protective barrier on your skin’s surface to prevent transepidermal water loss, which is the evaporation of water from the skin’s surface into the surrounding air. Choose a formulation that can seal in the hydration without clogging your pores, such as a lightweight moisturizer or a gel moisturizer.
Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly Facial Moisturizer
Clinique's Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is a summer must-have for anyone with acne-prone skin. This innovative gel moisturizer delivers hydration without clogging pores, thanks to its water-jelly texture that absorbs quickly and feels incredibly lightweight on the skin. It claims to strengthen your skin's barrier in one week and protect your skin from pollution with Clean Shield Technology made with a botanical blend of sunflower seed cake, barley extract, and cucumber fruit extract.
- Lightweight water-jelly texture
- Clean Shield Technology to protect from pollution
- May not be moisturizing enough for some skin types
Uriage Bariederm Cica Daily Repairing Gel-Cream with Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid
The Cica Daily Repairing Gel-Cream from French brand Uriage's Bariederm line comes in a refreshing gel-cream texture that can also be used to buffer your tretinoin or other retinoid to help reduce irritation. This ultra-lightweight formula contains centella extract to soothe, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate, and copper-zinc to help heal. It also uses 10.5% of Uriage's Thermal-Biotic complex, which uses thermal water and inulin to support the skin barrier and microbiome.
- Refreshing gel-cream texture
- Centella and copper-zinc to soothe
- Thermal-biotic complex to support skin barrier and microbiome
- Small size
EltaMD Skin Recovery Lightweight Moisturizer for Damaged Skin Barrier with Amino Acids
Elta MD's Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer is a weightless lotion designed with acne-prone and sensitive skin in mind. It uses the brand's patented AAComplex of amino acids to restore the skin's natural barrier, which makes it one of our favorite moisturizers to use alongside a strong acne treatment. With hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and coconut extract, this lotion soothes and moisturizes dehydrated skin while calming irritation and redness.
- Lightweight with hydrating ingredients
- AAComplex restores skin barrier
- Great option when using harsh acne treatments
- Expensive
Skin Flooding for Acne
Contrary to popular belief, acne-prone skin can be dry as well as oily, and sometimes we can dehydrate oily skin through harsh acne treatments. Adding moisture back to the skin without causing breakouts can be a tricky balance, as many rich and heavy creams that soothe our skin can also clog our pores.
Skin flooding can be a great way to hydrate acne-prone skin, particularly when it has been sensitized by too many active ingredients, and craves moisture.
Here are six ways that skin flooding can be beneficial if you are acne-prone:
1. Balances Sebum Production
Dehydrated skin can trigger an overproduction of oil (sebum) as a response to a lack of moisture, potentially leading to clogged pores and acne. By deeply hydrating your skin, skin flooding can help to regulate sebum production, reducing the likelihood of more pimples.
2. Reduces Inflammation
Acne-prone skin typically suffers from inflammation. Hydrating ingredients used in skin flooding often have anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe and calm inflamed skin, reducing redness and discomfort associated with acne.
3. Strengthens Skin Barrier
A damaged skin barrier can lead to various skin issues, including acne, but it can be hard to find barrier repair products that are safe for acne-prone skin. Layering hydrating products can help strengthen your skin’s protective barrier, preventing environmental irritants and bacteria (which can exacerbate acne) from entering your skin.
4. Promotes Healing
Hydrated skin heals faster than dehydrated skin. By ensuring the skin is adequately moisturized, skin flooding can aid in the quicker healing of existing acne while also reducing the chances of scarring.
5. Supports Retinoid Use
You can also use skin flooding to help support skin when it’s going through the retinol uglies by using lightweight hydrating products before your retinoid to help “buffer” your skin and prevent irritation.
6. Acne-Safe Skincare Trend
One of the smaller difficulties of dealing with acne is not being able to use many of the skincare products and trends that you see on social media (we’re looking at you, slugging). If you have felt left behind by #SkinTok, then embrace skin flooding as a trend you can safely enjoy with acne-prone skin.
Skin flooding is an approach to hydration that can be easily adapted to acne-prone skin. By layering lightweight hydrating products on damp skin, you can give your face a thorough drenching of moisture without it feeling smothered. By locking in moisture, you’re also fortifying your skin’s natural protective barrier, creating an environment that’s less hospitable to acne-causing bacteria while soothing irritated and inflamed skin.
