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While the majority of TikTok beauty trends are best left to Gen Z — and maybe even they should avoid the “lip wings” and “false eye bags” that have been making the rounds recently — there’s one beauty trend women over 50 would be well advised to try: skin flooding.
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What is skin flooding?
As the name suggests, the trend involves “flooding” dry skin with moisture by layering damp skin with a series of hydrating mists, serums and creams. “The idea is to start with a humectant-rich, lightweight product first and then add a thicker emollient to seal in the moisture on the skin,” says New York City dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, whose patients include the eternally dewy octogenarian Martha Stewart. (Need proof? See the 81-year-old lifestyle entrepreneur’s Instagram humblebrag here.)
While skin of all ages can benefit from this intensely hydrating practice — especially during the winter when cold weather, wind and dry indoor heat can wreak havoc on the skin barrier — dermatologists say it is particularly well suited for mature skin. “Over time, as both men and women age, our skin gets drier as collagen breaks down and there are fewer natural oils,” says Bhanusali. After menopause, women are particularly hard hit as the loss of estrogen and other hormonal imbalances accelerate these changes in skin. “Flooding the skin with moisture is a great way to compensate for that moisture loss,” he adds.