Social media, especially TikTok, 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. recommend slugging.
Is Slugging Good for Your Skin?
Petroleum jelly/petrolatum, like Vaseline, is an occlusive. Occlusives in general tend 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.
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.
Which Country Invented ‘slugging’?
- A. North Korea
- B. South Korea
- C. Japan
- D. China
Slugging Skincare Benefits
Imagine tucking your skin in with a cozy blanket at night—that’s what slugging does for your face. This K-beauty-inspired technique involves applying a layer of an occlusive product, like petroleum jelly, as the final step in your nighttime skincare routine. Sounds messy? Maybe. But the results? Oh-so-worth it. Slugging helps your skin lock in moisture and all the goodness from your serums and moisturizers while you sleep. Think of it as creating a protective shield that stops hydration from escaping. Perfect for dry, damaged, or sensitive skin, slugging restores your natural glow and strengthens the skin barrier, making it bounce back with health and shine.
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 bthe enefits 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.