Best Way to Care for Your Skin in Winter

Slugging is an intensive kind of moisturizing that employs Vaseline or petroleum jelly to seal in water from your nightly skin-care regimen, as explained by a skin specialist Shari Marchbein, M.D. If your skin becomes dry during the winter, just remember this: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Slugging skincare, a moisturizing method that I’ve been using on my skin that has been suggested by dermatologists for years to treat problems like eczema, is one of my favorite ways of achieving this. Vaseline petroleum jelly may be used to hydrate the skin, keep it moisturized, and seal in the products you use while you sleep. Remove it in the morning with a mild cleaner.

Following your regular nighttime skin care treatment, just seal everything in with some Vaseline. The idea is that retaining as much moisture as possible will be beneficial, especially during winter (or at any time of year for those with very parched skin). Applying a jelly on top of your hydrating regimen produces a barrier that locks in moisture and aids the formulae in penetrating deeper into the skin.

The following treatment plan is what Dr. Marchbein suggests:

1. Be careful to wash your face with a mild cleanser.

2. Utilize a variety of serums, peptides, etc. (including H.A. for hydration).

3. If you’re feeling really dry, use a rich moisturizer.

4. Apply a thin coating of petroleum jelly such as Vaseline to finish.

Dr. Marchbein recommends applying a small coating of ointment to a freshly washed face before bed. A little amount is dabbed into the cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin, and then the product is blended in with a light patting or rubbing motion. A change of pillowcase every few nights is also recommended, as is sleeping on your back. For slugging, I like to use petroleum jelly like Vaseline, but other ointments that work well include Aquaphor, Cerave ointment, and Vaniply ointment.

My nighttime routine is rather simple: I wash my face with a mild cleanser, apply retinol, then moisturize with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream; every other night, I swap out the retinol for an AHA exfoliant. Buffering helps keep my combination skin clear, but the dry air of winter often causes a few red, flaky spots around my lips, despite my best efforts. Eliminating them from my existence is the ultimate objective. Since seeing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest when I was young, I’ve developed a distaste for regular petroleum jelly. As an alternative, I opted for Dove’s DermaSeries Expert Repairing Balm, which combines petroleum and many types of silicone for a less greasy feel.