A popular Korean skin care method, moisture sandwiching, has recently gained popularity all across the globe, thanks to Instagram, Reddit and TikTok. Here’s everything you need to know about this trend.
Although moisture sandwiching is currently having a moment in the beauty world, it is actually one of the oldest methods ever. For years, this has been the gold standard in gentle skin care.
A moisture sandwich refers to the technique of layering products that hydrate your skin to optimally moisturize the skin. The method specifically refers to applying ingredients to damp skin to help draw the moisture in and then sealing it all in with a thicker moisturizing product, such as a cream or an ointment. It is best to layer the products from thinnest to thickest, using lightweight products first to ensure proper absorption and then heavier creams. The thought behind this is that damp skin is more receptive to absorption, giving you more benefits to your products.
The fundamentals of a skin care regimen consist of three steps: cleansing, toning, and moistursing. However, with the moisture sandwich approach, additional nutrients are added in between these three fundamental steps, with a range of textures from light to thick. So you can choose to have a regimen that includes cleansing, hydrating, moisturising, toning, moisturising, serum, and more moisturising, or any other combination you prefer.
In essence, it’s critical to lock in water for the skin to cling onto when it’s dehydrated or dry. The sandwich technique does this by layering in lightweight, water-based formulas under thicker creams so water is sealed into the skin’s deepest layers — producing hydrated and bouncy skin. This method is especially useful in winter!
How To Incorporate A Moisture Sandwich Into Your Routine
It’s best to dampen the skin with a thermal water mist or after cleansing and gently patting the skin to avoid drying it completely. Then you can apply a hydrating serum followed by a heavier cream or balm to seal in the hydration.
Start with water-based and light products like face mist, essence, or hydrating toner. After that, use a moisturising serum containing glycerin or hyaluronic acid (which draws moisture to the skin’s deepest layers) to assist the skin’s surface to retain moisture. The third step is to use your preferred occlusive moisturiser to lock in long-lasting hydration, and the final step is to apply an overnight or 15-minute mask to the skin to deeply hydrate it. The finest part of moisture sandwiching is that it may be totally tailored to your skin care requirements for the best outcomes. It is still sandwiching whether you choose four steps, five steps, eight steps, or twelve steps. The experts all agree this can be done daily, but to ease up if you have acne-prone skin.
Benefits Of Moisture Sandwich
It helps trap water in the skin and reduce water loss — allowing water to stay in the skin for a longer period of time, resulting in healthier, hydrated, radiant, and glowing skin. The entire process provides a protective barrier to the dry skin and keeps skin smooths versus a moisturizer that tends to evaporate and not give the same tactile textural improvement you’d get from oil.
Does Moisture Sandwiching Work On All Skin Types?
Moisture sandwiching can benefit other skin types as well, although it often works best on dry and sensitive skin. However, the specialists suggest debating the popular fad if you have oily skin. Patients who have oily skin and are prone to acne should stay away from occlusive moisturisers because they could make their acne worse.
In conclusion, following the moisture sandwich trend, will optimize your skincare results. By doing this, you are retaining moisture and improving the absorption of skincare products by your skin. Your face being damp aids in product penetration.