If you’ve spent any time scrolling through TikTok, Instagram Reel, or watching the many skincare enthusiasts of Youtube, you may’ve heard that “patting” is the best way to apply products to your face – but how scientifically accurate is it? In this blog, we’re going to chat about the skin patting technique, if there’s any juice to this claim, and how to make skincare absorb better. 

So, what do you think? Is it better to pat or rub in serum? Let’s take a look.

First, A Bit About Skin Absorption

When it comes to the skin, it can be difficult to get products to absorb. Our skin has a natural, protective barrier that tries to keep things from entering and exiting the deeper layers of skin. This layer is made up of cells that, when fully hydrated and not stripped of natural oils (sebum), functions extremely well.

Generally speaking, oils that mimic sebum will absorb better, but the skin can also absorb water— although it loses it quickly, too. Since these things are complicated, the answer to the question “how to make skincare absorb better” is a tough one. And, the skin patting technique claims to help with this question.

What’s With The Skin Patting Technique?

You may have seen this trend in Korean and Japanese beauty spreading across Tik Tok and other reel platforms, but… what is it? 

Patting is a technique used to apply skincare products. This technique has you apply product to the tips of your fingers, and then gently tap them into your skin. It takes time to do this, but the theory is that being more gentle with your skin is always better.

What Are The Benefits of “Patting?”

In contrast to rubbing in your skincare products, patting is supposedly more gentle and it helps skin care products penetrate the skin better. This concept is still too new to have any scientific evidence behind it, but anecdotal evidence suggests that this may be the case. Additionally, in theory, patting may also help increase blood flow to the skin’s surface, increasing the efficacy of your skincare products.

So Does That Mean Rubbing Your Skincare Is More Effective?

Once again, the science here is a little murky. One of the reasons some experts suggest rubbing in your skincare products is to help boost circulation in your skin.

Final Thoughts: Is It Better to Pat or Rub in Serum?

It doesn’t seem like we’re going to get an official, science-backed answer as of right now, but we can apply what we know about the skin and the skin barrier to make a prediction. 

• We know that friction on the skin can cause exfoliation – if you’re already trying to avoid that, patting is definitely the way to go. 
• Movement on the skin also causes the body to produce a flushing response, calling more blood to the surface, and this is something that can work in our favor.
• The final thing to consider is that facial massage is known to help with certain skin issues. 

The key here may be that this is a balancing act. Stimulating the skin with patting and rubbing seems to be beneficial – as long as you don’t overdo it!

The Bottom Line: See What’s Best For You

There’s certainly nothing to suggest that patting vs rubbing is going to hurt your skin. So, in our opinion, it’s definitely worth a try. If you see amazing results, you’ll know that patting is for you. 

Keep in mind, however, that the skincare products you use are just as important as your technique for applying them. Here at Rejuvaskin, we recommend that you use high-quality products (like the ones in our Dermacosmetics Bundle) that are gentle on the skin. 

So, get out there and try your fingertips at this technique – if it works well for you, you’ve just added another tool to your skincare toolbelt!