The official start of winter is still days away, but that doesn’t stop parts of the United States from experiencing extremely cold temperatures. Depending on who you talk to, winter is already here, and that cold snap is not great for anyone’s skin. This is why people are gravitating toward the trend of “slugging.”
The term was coined a couple of years ago when a couple of social media influencers took an interest in ways to achieve the radiant, glowy skin look during the winter. Depending on your skin care needs, this can be an affordable way to keep your skin moisturized and glowing, using a popular household item that’s likely already in your cabinet.
If you’re looking for a way to keep your skin revitalized and moisturized at a low cost, read on to learn how to achieve this look safely.
What is slugging?
Slugging is a Korean beauty skin care practice that means slathering petroleum jelly on your face. You can use any product from Aquaphor to CeraVe to Vaseline to moisturize and protect your face overnight. Videos of this beauty technique — which tend to really overdo the amount to put on — have gone viral on TikTok, with more than 500 million views to date under the hashtag #slugging. Many TikTok users who’ve tried it for themselves report results such as plump, glowing and moisturized skin.
The basics of slugging
Step 1: Wash your face.
Step 2: For those with naturally oily skin, apply moisturizer, such as Vaseline, CeraVe, Aquaphor or another brand, to lock in the moisture. (While you’ll see TikTokers using a full handful for dramatic effect, you can use as little as a pea-size amount to see benefits.)
However, if you’re a person who needs a bit more moisture, follow these steps below before applying Vaseline.
Step 2+: Pile on hydrating products, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin.
Step 3: Apply a nightly moisturizer, such as a lotion, oil or cream.
Step 4: Apply your occlusive, such as petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline, CeraVe, Aquaphor or another brand).
Step 5: Wait a few minutes before getting into bed.
Alleged benefits of slugging
Petroleum jelly consists of oils and waxes that act as a barrier on the skin, trapping moisture underneath. Studies have shown that Vaseline — one of the most popular brands of petroleum jelly — has properties that may help repair your skin’s outermost layer. In addition to keeping the skin moisturized, petroleum jelly can increase the potency of other products applied underneath.
Slugging is most effective when combined with humectants (a dermatology term for ingredients that retain moisture), such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin or urea.
Reported slugging benefits include:
- Moisturized, glowing skin
- Healthier, younger-looking skin
- Repaired skin barrier
- Locking in other products
- Decreased appearance of wrinkles
Experts weigh in on the viral trend
Dermatologists are not surprised by this trend, given that Vaseline has been a popular beauty product for decades. They already know how occlusives (such as petroleum jelly) effectively lock in moisture to keep skin hydrated and plump.
Board-certified New York dermatologist Dr. Hadley King agrees with the effectiveness of slugging as long as you “do it the right way.”
“First apply a product or products that contain humectants and emollients (moisturizing ingredients), then add other occlusives. You can start with a serum containing humectants and add a face oil with emollients,” she said. “The last step would be slugging petrolatum as the occlusive. Alternatively, you could apply a moisturizer that contains humectants, emollients and occlusives, and then for extra occlusive properties, apply the slugging petrolatum.”
According to King, the slugging skin care trend is most helpful for those with dry skin or those who are often exposed to dry conditions given that “a dry environment will exacerbate transepidermal water loss and dryness of the skin.”
Still, King recommends being cautious when applying occlusives on top of topical medications because it could increase the potency, creating adverse effects.
Slugging isn’t for everyone, according to Dr. Debra Jaliman, board-certified New York dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. “Slugging before you go to sleep is fine if you have very dry skin, but not a good idea for acne-prone skin,” Jaliman said. “Slugging can potentially trap oils and clog the skin’s pores and especially irritate acne-prone skin, contributing to breakouts.”
She added: “If you are not acne-prone, some good products you can use for slugging are CeraVe healing ointment and Aquaphor.” Echoing King’s advice, Jaliman also recommends using a product that hydrates, moisturizes and protects all in one: “Personally, I would recommend using a thick cream such as CeraVe moisturizing cream that has ceramides and hyaluronic acid.”
Additional slugging tips
Apply only at night
Unless you’re in an extremely cold and dry environment, it is best to apply only at night. That way, you can lock in moisture and other skin care products while you sleep. (Otherwise, you’ll be walking around all day with slimy skin.)
Combine with your nightly moisturizer
Vaseline works by preventing moisture from entering or escaping. If there is no moisture on the skin to begin with, applying petroleum jelly won’t provide much benefit. For the best results, it’s essential to apply hydrating and moisturizing products to your skin first, then apply your slugging product on top to prevent moisture from evaporating.
Drugstore or high-end products will work
Vaseline is a cheap product that can be found at any drugstore but if you’re looking for luxury products with extra moisturizing properties, King recommends Ghost Democracy Ceramide Cream. “It contains ceramides, lipids, squalane and murumuru seed butter to support the skin barrier and lock in moisture. You could add heavier occlusives on top if desired,” she said.
King also recommends Innbeauty Project Daily Moisturizer. “With ceramides, triglycerides, shea butter, squalane, dimethicone and fatty acids and fatty alcohols, this supports the skin barrier and locks in moisture.”
Use consistently to see results
Darnisha Monson, a licensed esthetician, recommends incorporating slugging into your nighttime skin care routine. To notice results, you need to slug consistently for four to six weeks. Slugging cannot repair your skin or your skin’s appearance overnight.
Best if used in the winter
The colder months are the times when our skin loses the most moisture. Slugging will be more effective in winter and in environments that are harsh on the skin. Occlusives can even protect against windburn during your winter ski trips.
