What Is Slugging? Skin Care Routine and Products

TikTokers and Redditors swear that going to mattress slimy as a slug is the key to baby-soft, wholesome pores and skin. This pores and skin hack, referred to as slugging, entails slathering an occlusive product like Vaseline in your face earlier than mattress to assist lock in moisture.

The outcome: Legend has it you’ll go to mattress mucus-slicked and get up glowing and reborn.

Dermatologists like Elaine Kung agree that slugging actually does work for easy, rejuvenated pores and skin — and this “development” has really been round for ages.

“The concept of layering a thick occlusive emollient because the final step of a nighttime routine is nothing new,” Kung says. Not solely have derms been recommending it for many years, however “purveyors of K-beauty have been pushing this follow of their 10-step beauty routines for years!”

Right here’s the right way to reside the slug life and add slugging to your skincare routine. 🐌

Slugging is the method of making use of an occlusive emollient cream (like those made by Vaseline, Aquaphor, and CeraVe) to your pores and skin, Kung explains, which “helps scale back trans-epidermal water loss.”

Principally, an occlusive retains moisture from evaporating by way of your pores and skin. So, all these serums you utilized? They’re not going anyplace. In the meantime, it retains the weather out, in order that dry air out of your rickety heater can’t work its method into your pores and skin, both.

That’s why petrolatum (aka petroleum jelly) is commonly medically really helpful to maintain the pores and skin hydrated throughout dry winter days, dermatologist Cheryl Rosen explains. It’s additionally generally really helpful for treating situations like eczema and psoriasis.

That being stated, of us with varied pores and skin varieties swear by it as a part of their year-round nightly routine. (However heads-up that it won’t be preferrred for oilier skin types — extra on that beneath.)

And no, your fave TikToker didn’t invent it: As some point out, slugging has been part of Ok-beauty, in addition to many Black girls’s magnificence regimens, for generations.

When doubtful, slug it out? In line with the professionals, sure.

Research means that when the lipids in your pores and skin are depleted — whether or not because of your genes, the climate, or too many acidic serums — making use of petrolatum will help restore your pores and skin.

“As a result of the pores and skin’s barrier is protected in a single day, folks get up with softer and glowing pores and skin,” Kung explains. (And, full disclosure, generally a greasy pillowcase.)

A small 2016 study means that petrolatum boosts peptide regulation on the pores and skin’s floor. Since peptides are the constructing blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin, that is def promising to your dermis.

Kung notes that enhancing and repairing the pores and skin barrier is very useful for individuals who:

“Slugging may be very efficient in retaining moisture within the pores and skin,” Rosen says. She notes the next advantages of making use of petroleum jelly:

• It’s non-irritating. Sensitive skin types, rejoice: “It doesn’t include any harsh chemical compounds or different doubtlessly dangerous substances.”
• It’s tremendous hydrating. Is your pores and skin sick of freezing temps and bone-dry heaters? “It’s efficient at moisturizing dry skin, which will help to counteract the drying results of winter climate or central heating.”
• It’s protecting. “It could shield your pores and skin from windburn and different types of environmental injury.”
• It’s low-cost. Who cares in case you can’t afford Sunday Riley when you’ll be able to decide up some Vaseline for a couple of bucks?

In case your pores and skin shines vibrant like a diamond (and no, not since you used a ton of Fenty highlighter), you then would possibly wish to skip out on slugging.

“Slugging will not be for everybody,” Kung says. As a result of slugging traps oils and moisture within the pores and skin, she explains, it could worsen underlying issues in these with the next situations:

“I’ve needed to simplify and de-slug a lot of my zits sufferers’ skin care routines as a result of they’ve been layering oils and sealing them with petrolatum, shea butter, and beeswax for months to years,” Kung says.

She factors out that some sufferers have been practising a model of slugging with out even realizing it. “Many individuals have been utilizing toners, serums, or lotions with plant-derived oils after which making use of a moisturizing cream [on top], considering these different steps of their skincare routine aren’t moisturizing sufficient.”

But when your pores and skin is already on the oily or acne-prone facet, you prob don’t must lock in all that moisture.

“Petroleum jelly is a really thick and heavy substance that may kind a movie on the pores and skin’s floor and block the pores,” Rosen says. “This will result in the event of blackheads and whiteheads, in addition to a rise within the variety of pimples.”

The American Academy of Dermatology agrees: Petroleum-based merchandise can certainly trigger breakouts. So in case you are likely to get zits, this development prob simply isn’t it for you.

OK, slugger — able to put the merchandise to the take a look at? Listed below are a number of of the most well-liked and efficient slugging merchandise.

1. Vaseline

Worth: $

Rosen recommends good old school Vaseline, which is one hundred pc pure petroleum jelly, as her best choice for slugging. She additionally recommends it for therapeutic chapped lips or sun-damaged skin.

If you happen to don’t want any extra moisturizing elements in your petrolatum, Vaseline is your greatest (and least expensive) guess. It does have a grease issue most of us know all too nicely, however for severe sluggers, wanting such as you dunked your face in oil is a small worth to pay for outcomes.

2. Aquaphor

Worth: $$$

Not fairly a lotion, not fairly a cream. No matter it’s, many derms are followers of Aquaphor. The traditional method incorporates 41 % petrolatum together with hydrating substances like mineral oil, lanolin, and glycerin.

What actually places the “aqua” in Aquaphor is its moisture content material, which some folks love and others can’t stand. Principally, it feels fairly moist in your pores and skin and can keep that method till you wash it off.

Remember the fact that lanolin is derived from sheep’s wool and won’t jibe nicely with some delicate pores and skin varieties. If you happen to’re the kind to really feel itchy, scratchy, and uncomfy AF in a wool sweater, lanolin will even irritate your pores and skin or trigger an allergic response. Plus, in case you’re vegan, you’ll wish to avoid lanolin merchandise.

3. CeraVe Healing Ointment

Worth: $$$

Are sluggers accountable for this iconic ointment promoting out on a regular basis? In all probability. CeraVe merchandise are at all times everywhere in the Amazon private care high 10 listing, and for good cause.

Along with petrolatum, this ointment has hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which can give your pores and skin an additional moisture enhance.

Bonus: This therapeutic ointment has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Approval.

4. Cetaphil Healing Ointment

Worth: $$

Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dermatologist-recommended — what extra can a slugger ask for?

Along with a lot of petrolatum, this method packs a good punch of shea butter. If in case you have super dry skin, it is perhaps simply what the derm ordered. But it surely may need a little bit an excessive amount of oil for people with oilier pores and skin varieties.

This one additionally has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Approval.

Acquired the slugging bug? Right here’s the right way to add slugging to your nighttime pores and skin routine.

1. Cleanse

what to do: Wash your face and pat your pores and skin gently with a towel to dry.

2. Non-obligatory: Tone

If in case you have dry pores and skin, you would possibly wish to skip toning or astringent, which can additional strip your pores and skin. In any other case, attain for tea tree oil, witch hazel, or a chemical exfoliator — no matter’s your go-to decide.

3. Apply serum

Serum time. Whether or not you’re a vitamin C stan or a peptide devotee, be certain your decide works nicely along with your pores and skin kind and your slugging routine.

Kung says, “If in case you have irritable pores and skin, don’t layer AHA, BHA, retinol merchandise after which seal it in with petrolatum.” Principally, delicate pores and skin simply can’t deal with having all these acids locked in.

“If in case you have oily pores and skin, don’t layer jojoba and moringa oil after which seal it in with shea butter,” she provides. (That’s a recipe for method an excessive amount of oil.)

“However, if in case you have eczema, then… sure… moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!”

When doubtful, discuss with a dermatologist about your choices.

4. Non-obligatory: Moisturize

Some drier pores and skin varieties could profit from an additional layer of moisturizer earlier than the petroleum seals all of it up. It’d take some experimentation to determine what works greatest for you.

5. Get slugging!

Time to get slimy. This half’s private — some folks actually slather it on, whereas others swear by simply including a number of dots to their T-zone and rubbing in. Once more, it actually will depend on your distinctive pores and skin.

If you happen to’re undecided, simply strive a number of dabs right here and there and see how your pores and skin responds to it. If it’s nonetheless a little bit dry, add extra.

Relating to slugging, your sebum’s the restrict. Principally, all of it will depend on your pores and skin’s pure oil manufacturing: In case your pores and skin’s wanting like an oil slick throughout your slugging days, you prob wish to give it a relaxation. Ditto in case you’re getting breakouts.

“My essential recommendation is to actually know your pores and skin,” Kung says. And if you can’t appear to know it, possibly head to a derm who can.

But when your pores and skin is glowy and thriving, then slug on.

Slugging entails layering an occlusive product in your pores and skin to seal in moisture. It’s normally carried out because the final step in a nightly skincare routine.

These with oily or acne-prone pores and skin could wish to skip it, however those that have dry pores and skin, reside in harsh winter situations, or have pores and skin situations like eczema could particularly profit from it. If you happen to’re undecided whether or not it’s best for you, discuss with a dermatologist.