What is Skin Flooding?

Skin flooding is the skincare trend that’s all about maximising hydration. It works by layering multiple products on damp skin – think toner, hyaluronic acid and moisturising cream. Not just a TikTok fad, the hashtag #skinflooding has been viewed over 80 million times, and search demand for “skin flooding” has jumped +2000% over the past year!

Whether you have dry or dehydrated skin, or just love a dewy glow, skin flooding is all about giving your skin that extra dose of hydration for a plump, luminous complexion.

April 27, 2026

What is Skin Flooding: Key Takeaways

  • Skin flooding is a hydration-focused skincare technique that layers products on damp skin to maximise moisture retention.
  • Ideal for dry or dehydrated skin, but beneficial for all skin types seeking a plumper, dewier look.
  • Core steps include cleansing, applying hydrating serums, sealing with moisturiser, and finishing with a nourishing cream.
  • Best results come from applying products in thin layers and gently pressing them into the skin.
  • Can be done 1-2 times a week, or more frequently for very dry skin.

How Does Skin Flooding Work

Skin flooding works by layering multiple hydrating products on top of each other during your daily skincare routine. The idea is that each layer helps lock in moisture, so your skin stays hydrated longer and feels plump, soft, and healthy.

This technique works especially well for dry or dehydrated skin, but anyone can benefit from the extra boost of hydration. It’s all about giving your skin that extra TLC, leaving you with a dewy, radiant glow.

Skin flooding benefits include:

  • Deep, long-lasting hydration
  • Soft, plump, and healthy-looking skin
  • Helps skincare products absorb better
  • Can reduce the appearance of dryness and flakiness

Best Skin Flooding Products for Layering Skincare

Want to give your skin a serious moisture boost? Skin flooding works best when you layer the right products in the right order, starting with a gentle cleanser, adding a hydrating serum, locking it in with a moisturiser, and finishing off with a nourishing night cream.

Here are some top L’Oréal Paris picks to help you get that plump, hydrated glow.

Cleanser

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler Smoothing Cleanser: A gentle everyday cleanser that removes impurities while being kind to skin. Ours is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and Salicyclic Acid and it leaves skin looking moisturised and smoother.

Serum

L'Oréal Paris Hyaluronic Anti-Wrinkle Serum: A skin flooding hero, boosted with pure hyaluronic acid to help attract and retain water in your skin, replumping lines and wrinkles in just 1 hour*.

**Clinical Study 75 women

Moisturiser

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Anti-Ageing Day Cream: A lightweight, deeply hydrating moisturiser that helps lock in your serum’s moisture while leaving skin feeling bouncy and refreshed. Enriched with Fibroxyl plant extract, known for its firming properties, Revitalift Anti-Ageing Day Cream replumps the skin with moisture for contours that appear more defined.

Night Cream

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Night Cream: A rich night cream to finish your layering routine, helping maintain hydration while you sleep.

Don’t forget to start with your lightest formulas first, then build up with your moisturiser and night cream. Layering skincare this way helps each product absorb fully and keeps your skin feeling soft, plump and hydrated, perfect for dry or dehydrated skin types.

How to Do Skin Flooding: Step-by-Step

Now that you know which products to use, it’s time to master the art of skin flooding and learn how to layer serums and moisturisers in the correct way. It’s not just about what you use, but how you apply, layer and seal in hydration.

Follow these tips to enjoy soft, plump and radiant skin:

Step 1: Prep Your Skin

Before you start layering, wash and cleanse your face to remove impurities and makeup. Gently pat your skin – the key is damp skin, which helps the following product sink in more effectively.

Step 2: Layer in Thin, Even Amounts

When layering skincare products, less is more. Apply a small amount and let it settle for 30-60 seconds before adding the next layer. Be sure to pat your products into your skin when skin flooding – this helps your skin absorb the hydration more effectively and keeps it feeling soft and plump.

Step 3: Focus on Problem Areas

Target dry or dehydrated zones like cheeks, jawline, or forehead. Apply slightly more hydration in these areas and use lighter layers elsewhere.

Step 4: Lock in Moisture

After layering, gently press your hands over your face to lock in moisture. This step helps bind all the layers together for maximum hydration retention.

Step 5: Frequency & Timing

For most skin types, skin flooding 1-2 times a week is plenty, although dry or dehydrated skin can benefit from doing it more often. Morning sessions can give your skin a radiant start, while evening skin flooding routines help with overnight hydration and repair.

Summary: What is Skin Flooding

Skin flooding is a simple way to give dry and dehydrated skin a boost of extra moisture. Using the right hydrating products, from gentle cleansers and hydrating serums to nourishing moisturisers and night creams, helps your skin absorb and retain hydration more effectively.

Give your skin the hydration it deserves, start your skin flooding routine with L’Oréal Paris and discover our range of moisturising skincare.

What is Skin Flooding FAQs

How to layer serums?

Apply serums in order of lightest to heaviest texture. Start with water-based or lightweight serums, then layer richer or oil-based formulas on top. Allow each layer to absorb into your skin before adding the next.

Is skin flooding good?

Skin flooding is especially beneficial for dry or dehydrated skin. It helps your skin absorb and retain extra moisture, leaving it hydrated and refreshed.

How to do skin flooding?

Start with damp skin, then layer lightweight hydrating products like serums and moisturisers. Press or pat each product in gently, wait a minute or so between layers and finish with a richer cream (especially at night).