I always split the landing into three parts, the approach, flare and then the hold off. The flare is the bit where, as you say you stop the aircraft descending, yes this takes a little energy and will bleed a little speed off, but normally the approach will be at Vs + 1/3 so once the flare is complete then you will still have plenty of speed in hand above Vs and ideally you will then hold off until Vs+ a couple of knots. Where many pilots go wrong is that they seem to think it is - flare/land and it all happens together, the flare is a very short phase (1sec or less) but the hold off should normally be a number of seconds. IMHO it is by considering flare and landing as one thing where many go wrong.