Social media, especially Tik Tok, is raving about a new skincare trend—Slugging. It has its roots in South Korean beauty regimes, also called K-beauty. Slugging involves slathering petroleum jelly on your face as part of your nighttime skincare routine. It is very effective in locking in moisture and hydrating your skin, so much so that reputed dermatologists across the U.S. are recommending slugging.
Is Slugging Actually Good for Your Skin?
Petroleum jelly/petrolatum like Vaseline is an occlusive. Occlusives in general have a tendency to create barriers and seal in hydration. Therefore, adding a final layer of petrolatum to your skin locks in whatever you have applied to it before.
Which Country Invented ‘slugging’?
- A. North Korea
- B. South Korea
- C. Japan
- D. China
Women who have naturally dry skin and skin that is thirsty during winter months have found slugging to work miracles. It is particularly great in creating a physical barrier on your skin to lock in hydration and prevent water loss. The skincare benefits of slugging are – moisturized glowing skin, younger-looking skin, wrinkle reduction, hydration, and locking in other products.
How to do Slugging?
It is preferable to follow slugging as nighttime skincare since slathering petrolatum on the face can get messy. Covering your pillowcases in a towel is recommended. ‘Slugging Vaseline before or after products?’ is a valid question. The following is the most common method to perform slugging.
Cleanse – Wash your skin with a gentle, everyday cleanser.
Hydrate – Apply serums like hyaluronic acid, and peptides to hydrate your skin.
Moisturize – If your skin is still dry, then apply a good moisturizing cream.
Slugging – Lock in all benefits of the above products by slathering your face with petroleum jelly like Vaseline.
How Often Should You Do Slugging?
During winters, slugging every day is good for your skin, since colder months = drier skin. During other seasons, depending on your skin’s flakiness, slugging can be done every night or alternate nights.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Slugging?
Due to its tendency to lock in moisture, slugging is not recommended for ‘oily’ skin. People with ‘combination’ skin types can try slugging as and when their skin feels dry.
But people with ‘oily and acne-prone’ skin are advised to steer clear of slugging. Since one of the slugging skincare benefits includes locking in products, it might clog the skin pores. This increases the probability of acne in people who already have sensitive and acne-prone skin.