What Is Slugging? Why Should You Add Slugging To Your Skincare Routine

Slugging is a skin care procedure in which you use a heavy-duty occlusive (usually Vaseline or similar petrolatum product) as the final step of your skincare routine right before bed to keep your skin from losing water and enhance the effects of the other products you just applied. The jelly balm forms a slimy film over your pores, making you seem dewy and nearly slippery—like a skin slug.

Skin slugging, for those who aren’t yet completely aware of this moisturizing method, does not actually include slugs. However, it does entail slimming your face with an occlusive, such as vaseline, right before sleeping so that you wake up with young and glowing skin. Occlusives are items that function as moisture barriers on your skin.

Face skin slugging is essentially the application of an occlusive to the skin to function as a barrier and seal moisture in. Dermatologists have been advising skin slugging as the final step in your skin care regimen for years to treat dry skin since we know it helps reduce water loss

Want to know a popular routine for face slugging? Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1: Cleanse your face first.

Step 2: Apply moisturizing products like hyaluronic acid or glycerin liberally.

Step 3: Apply a nighttime moisturizer, such as a lotion, oil, or cream.

Step 4: Apply your occlusive or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, CeraVe, Aquaphor, or another brand. (While TikTokers use a full handful for dramatic effect, you can get the same results with as little as a pea-sized quantity.)

Step 5: To end this slugging face routine, all you need to do is take a few moments to relax before going to bed.

Slugging, when applied to sensitive regions such as under the eyes, may create milia, which are tiny, painless white lumps that form when keratin becomes trapped beneath the skin’s surface. This means that under eyes slugging is not a good idea. People with dark spots around their eyes should not rely on slugging under eyes to help them improve their skin condition because it can create milia and therefore should seek another solution. For other sensitive parts of your body, always refer to a professional before going through with it.

As the final stage in your evening skincare routine, “slugging” is a well-known moisturizing technique that involves slathering the face with an occlusive cream.

This skincare fad is named after the “slug-like” sheen that is left on your skin after using your preferred slugging product.

Slugging typically involves applying an occlusive with a petroleum basis, such as Healing Ointments.

By physically sealing off the skin, occlusives used for slugging keep moisture in and stop trans-epidermal water loss. Promoting youthful skin that looks moisturized and plump is the aim.

Slugging is typically regarded as the best exercise for people with dry skin. It might not be appropriate for people with blemish- or acne-prone skin. If you have any concerns about whether or not slugging is appropriate for you, consult a board-certified dermatologist.

Slathering an occlusive, such as petrolatum (sometimes referred to as petroleum jelly), into your face as the final step in your evening moisturizing routine is known as the “slugging” skincare trend. Although the term “slugging” is frequently linked to K-beauty (Korean beauty) skincare trends, the process itself has roots in the Black community and dates back decades. The shiny shine it leaves on your face, resembling that of a slug, is how slugging gets its name. Face slugging aims to create youthful, fresh, dewy skin that looks hydrated and plump.

Occlusives are a class of moisturizer made up of oils and waxes, including petrolatum. They function by covering your skin with a barrier that keeps moisture in and stops trans-epidermal water loss. The most effective occlusives, according to research, are petroleum-based moisturizers like Healing Ointments, which aid to limit water loss through your epidermis by nearly 99 percent.

Or, to put it another way, occlusives are employed in slugging aid in the construction of an impermeable wall that closes off your skin barrier. As you sleep, they prevent moisture from evaporating off your skin and encourage skin barrier restoration. The idea behind slugging is that by using an occlusive before night, you’ll lock in moisture as well as any healthy skincare products you’ve used up to your “slug” (making them even more potent as a result).

The main component in such products, petrolatum, is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores, and the FDA has designated it as a skin protectant.

3 It is frequently used as a skin protectant in infant healing ointments for the management of diaper rash and baby eczema. Some of its various uses include soothing dry skin on the eyelids or lips.

Slugging isn’t necessarily appropriate for all skin types, despite this. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises against applying petroleum-based products (like petroleum jelly) to the face if you have acne-prone skin since they can sometimes cause breakouts.

Slugging, on the other hand, may be particularly beneficial for dry, flaky, or skin that is prone to cracking and chafing. A board-certified dermatologist can provide you with the most individualized guidance if you’re uncertain about whether slugging would be helpful for your skin type.

The simplicity and ease with which slugging skincare may be incorporated into your current skincare routine is one of its main advantages. All you need to do is apply your face slugging product at the conclusion of your regular overnight skincare routine, after your cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, and face moisturizer have been used.

Hyaluronic acid or ceramide, or other mild, moisturizing substances, should be used in the items you use before your “slug.” In general, formulas containing active substances should be avoided prior to slugging to prevent irritability or unfavorable side effects from “sealing in” these actives overnight. This comprises active substances including retinol, alpha-hydroxy acids, and beta-hydroxy acids (such as salicylic acid) (like lactic acid and glycolic acid).

Typically, slugging is done at night so that the slugging substance can work its magic while you sleep. How frequently you should employ this procedure will vary depending on your particular skin type and complexion issues. You may choose to alternate slugging days with other “non-slug” days because, for the majority of skin types, completely sealing your skin barrier every night is not necessary nor even advised.

The particularly dry, chilly winter months, when your skin is more prone to lose moisture, are one exception where you might think about slugging every day for a set period of time. Knowing your skin type is essential, therefore, pay attention to your skin when using the best skincare method. Always seek the advice of a dermatologist who has earned board certification.

Fortunately, slugging has advantages beyond just protecting your face. In order to assist seal in moisture on dry portions of your body year-round, you may also use the same principle on the skin on those parts, notably your hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Follow the same methods as you would for face slugging, but apply your petrolatum-based product post-shower after your regular body moisturizer to support thoroughly moisturized skin on your body.

Even your cuticles are a common target for “body slugging” in addition to your neck and chest region. Applying ointment to your feet after hydrating them and going to bed with a soft pair of socks for the ultimate “foot slug” are other options for extremely dry feet in the winter.

Three important ceramides and hyaluronic acid are combined in Healing Ointments to temporarily moisturize, calm, and protect dry skin. In order to help trap in moisture throughout the night without clogging pores, this ointment provides a fantastic non-comedogenic choice for your skincare regimen. All skin types can use it because it is lightweight, very moisturizing, fragrance-free, dye-free, and lanolin-free (to minimize the risk of irritation from these ingredients). By providing an additional layer of defense against the drying effects of winter, Healing Ointments help to stop water loss and reduce winter dryness.

Apply a little amount of Healing Ointments to your fingertips first, then spread an even coating of the cream over your skin, paying special attention to any dry spots. Applying Healing Ointments before bed will improve the natural moisture barrier of your skin for up to eight hours. It keeps moisture in while you sleep for up to 24 hours of hydration.

Slugging Tip: You might want to think about pulling your hair back or wearing a sleep headband while trying face slugging to prevent any extra messiness. Last but not least, wait a few minutes after using your favorite product before going to bed to prevent staining or messing up your pillowcase (particularly if it’s a silk or satin pillowcase).

Albolene is also known as a moisturizer cleaner that helps people keep their skin moisturized and hydrated. It also helps them to remove their makeup. Meaning, Albolene would make a good addition to your night skincare routine where you need to get rid of the makeup on your face and hydrate your skin. This is why people prefer using Albolene for their skin slugging routine as well.

While we know Aquaphor as a healing ointment, you will be surprised to find out that this product is perfect for nighttime slugging. Aside from being good for healing purposes, Aquaphor is a very good moisturizer. But it’s different from the other creams and lotions in the market since it doesn’t add moisture to the skin but protects the one that it already has. Which is exactly what slugging is to begin with.

Once you are done with your skincare routine and slugging, you should not wash your face immediately because that will completely ruin the hard work you just did. Instead, wait a while, let everything dry up on your face a little and then head to bed. Because if you don’t wait, you will end up making a huge mess on your pillowcase. After waking up in the morning, now you can wash your face and enjoy glowing and young skin.

People thinking that they can slug their face every single day have another thing coming. While there are many benefits of this practice, there are also many side effects. Overdoing anything leads to bad outcomes. You shouldn’t slug your face more than 2-3 times a week.

Since after slugging, you have a slimy and shiny look on your face. It can be quite awkward to go out in public looking like this. Which makes the night time, the best time to slug your face. You will be asleep for hours and won’t need to leave your house.

Slugging is a practice that ensures that your skin does not lose too much hydration and moisture. Meaning, this practice is best for seasons where your skin ends up losing too much water. Adding slugging to your skincare in winter and less humid and dry days is the best way to go about it.

Petroleum jelly, no doubt, is a non comedogenic, however, experts tend to agree that this is not for people who have oily, mixed, and acne prone skin.

The risk of slugging when acne-prone or oily is that the protective “slug” layer that forms over our skin can trap sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria, producing an ideal habitat for an acne breakout.