Skincare: What is Slugging?

Source: Nati Melnychuk on Unsplash

What is it?

You may have heard the term ‘slugging’ used recently, and may be wondering – what exactly is it? The Korean beauty trend has gone viral on the social media platform TikTok, known for its unusual name and effective results. 

The skincare method is applying a layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to your face after your skincare routine, and moisturising, giving your skin a slimy look – ergo, the name ‘slugging’.

By applying the Vaseline to your skin after moisturising, it helps lock in moisture that would otherwise be lost, also known as TEWL (transepidermal water loss).

How to do it

‘Slugging’ is a pretty simple technique to follow. All you have to do is apply a thin layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to your face after moisturising and keep it on overnight. 

It is best to apply this half an hour before bed to allow the product to soak in. Tying your hair up and putting a towel over your pillow is also beneficial to keep the mess to a minimum. 

Once you wake up, you can just do your usual skincare routine and wash the Vaseline off.

Why do it?

By doing ‘slugging,’ your skin should be left feeling hydrated with a dewy look. As said before, it also prevents water loss, which has the potential to increase the health of your skin as it needs to be kept hydrated. 

Some types of acne-prone skin will benefit from the boost of hydration that ‘slugging’ gives; however, it is not for everyone, and some skin types will suffer more from ‘slugging.’ 

‘Targeted slugging’ may suit those with oily skin better, as it involves using the method only where needed on the skin. For example, your eyelids or under your eyes.

Alternatives 

If you really feel like ‘slugging’ just isn’t working for your skin, or you don’t fancy sleeping with Vaseline on your face, there are lots of other skincare techniques out there. 

There are little changes you can make to your routine, such as using an oil-free moisturiser as it is important to keep oily skin moisturised, but you want to avoid using products containing oil or fragrances as they can contribute to clogging your pores. 

Using a face scrub daily or a gentle scrub for more sensitive skin can also be beneficial, as a scrub will remove dead skin cells. Glycolic acid is also a staple for those with oily skin, it helps to unclog your pores and lessens the amount of sebum oil your skin produces (an excess of sebum oil is what causes oily skin).