We Break Down the Buzzy Ways to Moisturize Dry Skin

Over the years, there’s been a wave of buzzy ways to quench dry, flaky skin. Social media is overflowing with trending terminology, including slugging, flooding, and moisture sandwich-ing. However, it can be overwhelming to navigate the many ways to deeply moisturize.

We’re here to help break down the techniques, so you can decide which hydrating solution best fits your needs and routine.

Slugging

We’re willing to bet that you’ve chanced upon this term while traversing TikTok. However, applying a vaseline (or aquaphor) mask on skin to lock in hydration has been a popular practice for decades. It’s often recognized as having K-beauty origins.

To slug, first cleanse skin and pat dry, then apply a lightweight moisturizer. After that, add a dime-sized amount of vaseline or aquaphor to your skin as if you’re applying a face mask. Be sure not to layer it over actives, like retinol and exfoliants, as this can enhance the potency of these actives and increase irritation. Vaseline is an occlusive that forms a protective layer (it won’t clog your pores!) to prevent moisture loss. Slug while you sleep or leave on for 30 minutes then tissue it off for a more quenched and dewy base for your makeup routine.

Flooding

Skin flooding is exactly what it sounds like—quenching your skin with a wave of moisture. It’s all about layering hydrating products. Some skincare enthusiasts swear by building up to 10 moisturizing layers for ultimate softness. I personally prefer a simplified version that involves applying a skin-quenching toner, hyaluronic-infused serum, and moisturizer. Routines widely vary, but the concept remains the same— just keep layering!

To flood, start by cleansing skin, but leave it slightly damp for better absorption. Then, apply toner, and follow up with your hyaluronic acid serum. This part is crucial as hyaluronic acid is a humectant that’ll help bind moisture to your skin. Finish up by applying moisturizer. If you’re flooding in the am, be sure to layer on SPF 30+.

Moisture Sandwich

If your skin is hungry for moisture and an instant glow that lasts all day, I recommend trying the moisture sandwich. Much like skin flooding, this routine varies and involves layering hydrating skincare products. The crucial step: spritz some added hydration in between layers with a facial mist.

To build your moisture sandwich, first cleanse skin, then pat dry. Spritz on an antioxidant-rich facial mist, and don’t skimp. Follow up with a hyaluronic-infused serum, then another spray of mist. After that, go in with an ultra-hydrating moisturizer.