Hannah Gay sees how a social media fad called ‘skin flooding’ may very well work in favour of skin therapists and their clients.
Social media beauty trends come-and-go in the blink of an eye. Beauty industry personnel are often quick to dispel myths and rescue the faces of their misled clients as a result. Once in a while, however, some trends stick and actually… prove to be helpful.
Skin therapists are highly educated on the ABC’s of ingredients, the biology of the skin and consequently, preferred application methods. Skin Flooding speaks to the idea that while it’s all well and good to apply the best skincare products, the best results occur in mastering the layering process.
What is skin flooding?
Skin flooding takes the client back-to-basics; to the bread-and-butter of skincare routines. The idea behind the trend is quite literally to ‘flood’ the skin with hydration, utilising products and ingredients best suited to counter dehydration, dullness and inflammation.
How does skin flooding work?
“The method seems to vary, but generally speaking it involves using a face mist between each product application to add further moisture,” explains owner of London’s Harley Street Injectables and founder of Skin Cycles, Alice Henshaw.
Typically a skin flooding routine will involve five key steps:
- Cleanse the face
- Ensure the face is damp (with water and/or face mist) before applying a hydrating serum, such as one containing hyaluronic acid and/or niacinamide
- Apply either a hydrating toner, or a refreshing face mist
- Lather the skin with a plumping moisturiser
- Finish with another spritz of face mist, before applying sunscreen.
“The idea is that by keeping the skin damp, you allow maximum product absorption and efficacy. Using hyaluronic acid and other smaller molecular serums on damp skin can help them to draw moisture in, allowing them to hydrate the skin on a deeper level,” Alice suggests.
“Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it acts like a sponge, pulling moisture from the atmosphere into your skin. If your skin is damp, this helps it to draw in the moisture from the surface of the skin to penetrate the deeper layers. This can be a lifesaver if you suffer from dry, dehydrated skin. Locking in serums with a cream or gel-based moisturiser is also an important step to retaining that moisture.”
Why skin therapists love skin flooding
Ultimately, the trend encourages users to not only apply their recommended skincare products daily, but to do so in the correct order. Dehydration is a universal concern for clients, particularly when they’re facing an unstable climate, indoor cooling systems and an unforgiving Australian sun. Skin flooding reminds clients of the importance of knowing the right ingredients to use and at what percentages. Skin therapists are available to educate their clients on the benefits of skincare actives and sell them the best products in the market to practice the routine at home.
Here’s a list of products to use when skin flooding:
Mukti Hydrating Cleansing Lotion
To stock, call Mukti on 1300 306 554.
Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist
To stock, call Dermalogica on 02 8437 9600.
mesoestetic Hydratonic Mist
To stock, contact Advanced Cosmeceuticals on 1800 242 011.
Australian Skin Institute All Day Hydration Serum
To stock, visit the Australian Skin Institute website or call 07 3357 4081.
Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier Serum
To stock, call Skinceuticals on 1300 060 116.
Saint Louve Vitamin B3, B5 & Hylauronic Acid Hydrating Serum
To stock, visit the Saint Louve website.
Vida Glow Age Defiance Hydra-Memory Cream
To stock, visit the Vida Glow website.
Cosmedix Skin Thirst Moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid Cream
To stock, call Advanced Skin Technology on 1800 648 851.
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