Do you remember your grandmother slathering your skin with Vaseline after showering at night? Or do you love coating your face at night with a generous portion of Vaseline so that it looks bouncy and shiny in the morning? If you answered yes to either or both of the questions above, you’ve already participated in the viral skincare trend of skin slugging, probably without realizing it.
Skin slugging is a skincare trend that involves applying a moisture-locking agent, like petroleum jelly, as the last step in your nighttime skincare routine. The goal of this occlusive layer is to prevent water loss and keep your skin soft and bouncy.
Similar to practices like nutricosmetics, skin slugging has recently taken over social media as one of the latest skincare obsessions. But it’s nothing new.
Some claim it has its roots in K-beauty (Korean beauty practises), but others argue that that might not be the only origin. The Native American Seneca tribe has used petroleum jelly since the 15th century to protect wounds and keep their skin moist.
Other people also credit skin slugging to their Black mothers and grandmothers, who slather their skin with Vaseline after them bathing at night.
The occlusive used in skin slugging typically creates an oily physical barrier on the skin through which water cannot pass. Therefore, it helps to lock in moisture and protect it against harmful environmental factors.
Contrary to most ridiculous videos on TikTok, where people plaster their faces with Vaseline, a pea-sized amount is enough for the occlusive to do its job.
Skin slugging is an excellent skincare technique for dry skin, and it’s also beneficial during the dry winter and harmattan seasons.
This trend definitely lives up to its hype based on the following benefits:
Here are the steps to follow if you want to slug your skin overnight:
Fair Warning:
Skin slugging can sometimes get messy, especially if you use oily occlusive agents like Vaseline. On the night of your intended skin slugging, you might want to consider only using sheets and pillowcases you don’t mind staining.
Alternatively, you could do a short-contact slug. You’d follow the same process as the overnight slug, but instead of waiting until morning, you can wash your face after some time and continue with your day.
While skin slugging may offer numerous benefits for your skin, it’s important not to overdo it. Once or twice per week is perfect because doing it too frequently can send the wrong signals to your skin and affect your results.
If you have dry skin or reside in an area with a dry climate, you could really benefit from skin slugging.
Although all skin types can technically benefit from this practice, people with oily acne-prone skin need to be careful. If you have an active acne flare-up, slugging your skin might trap bacteria and oil that could worsen the breakout.
For combination skin, you don't have to slug your entire face. It might be better to just coat the specific dry patches on your face and leave the oily portions alone.
For example, if your forehead and chin are the areas where you have dry and flaky skin, slug just those areas.
The good news is that the molecules in Vaseline are too large to clog pores, so it’s considered a non-comedogenic product. However, it may indirectly contribute to or worsen acne in some individuals by trapping oils and acne-causing bacteria. This would irritate hair follicles on the skin and may trigger breakouts.
Keep in mind that everyone’s experience is different, and some people with oily acne-prone skin enjoy the benefits of skin slugging without problem. To be safe, only use products with non-comedogenic ingredients if you’re worried about acne flare-ups. You should also try doing a patch test to see how your skin responds before trying it on your whole face.
While tons of benefits are associated with skin slugging, there are also some potential drawbacks. Here are some cons of skin slugging:
Although Vaseline is a trendy choice for skin slugging, not everyone is a fan because it can get really greasy. Here are some lighter, more eco-friendly options for skin slugging:
Everyone is jumping on the skin-slugging trend as it promises more youthful, supple skin. If you have acne-prone skin, ensure your slug products do not contain pore-clogging ingredients. You might also want to limit how often you slug your skin.
Ultimately, slugging should not replace moisturizing because Vaseline is not a moisturizer. Its job is to lock in moisture. Therefore, moisturizing and slugging should go hand in hand. You can also use other products, like natural oils and beeswax, as your slugging occlusive for a lighter coat.
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