If you’ve spent more than five minutes on skincare TikTok, you’ve probably heard the terms skin flooding and skin slugging. They may sound trendy (maybe even a little intimidating) but at their core, they’re based on simple habits you might already be doing. Both techniques can be great for deep hydration when used the right way...the key is knowing when to use which one.
Let’s break it down the Barefaced way: barrier-first, ingredient-smart, and grounded in how skin actually functions.
Skin Flooding: A Daytime Hydration Strategy
Skin flooding is all about helping your skin keep the hydration you give it. By applying products to slightly damp skin, you’re creating the right conditions for moisture to sink in instead of evaporating five minutes later. Think about your skin like a sponge: when it’s a little damp, it absorbs water easily, but when it’s completely dry, everything just sits on top. Skin flooding works the same way, helping skin absorb, bind, and hold water, which is a must for barrier health and long-term resilience.
How to skin flood:
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Apply skincare to slightly damp skin
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Layer a hydrating serum like HA HydraSerum+ to draw in moisture
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Seal it in with a ceramide-based moisturizer like our Hydrating Lotion
Why it works:
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Maximizes hydration absorption
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Helps skin hold onto water, not just receive it
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Strengthens the skin barrier
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Prevents moisture loss throughout the day
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Supports plumpness, glow, and resilience
Skin Slugging: Nighttime Barrier Repair
Skin slugging is less about adding hydration and more about sealing in what you’ve already applied to prevent transepidermal water loss i.e. water evaporating into the air. At night, your skin naturally loses more moisture while it repairs itself, which can leave it feeling dry, tight, or irritated by morning.
Rather than adding more hydration, slugging creates a protective seal that keeps moisture in place and gives skin the perfect environment to recover overnight, plus repair the barrier. It’s especially helpful when your skin feels stressed, overworked, or extra sensitive.
How to slug the Barefaced way:
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After serums, apply Hydrating Lotion as your final moisturizer
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Press Perfectionist Oil on top to calm skin and lock in hydration
Why it works:
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Reduces overnight moisture loss
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Calms stressed or sensitized skin
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Supports recovery and barrier repair
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Ideal for dry, compromised, or post-treatment skin
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Repairs from environmental stressors (cold, wind, travel) which increase water loss
If your skin is extremely dry, this combo can also be used during the day.
Skin Flooding vs. Skin Slugging: The Key Difference
The simplest way to think about it:
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Skin flooding focuses on adding hydration and strengthening the barrier over time.
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Skin slugging focuses on preventing water loss by sealing in what you’ve already applied.
Healthy skin doesn’t come from constantly switching routines or chasing every trend. It comes from consistently using products that support your barrier and always listening to what your skin needs from moment to moment. The goal isn’t to do more...it’s to do what makes sense for your skin.
Support your barrier, adjust when needed, and remember: trends come and go, but healthy skin is built to last.