What is Slugging?
“Slugging,” the newest K-Beauty skincare trend, is dominating the internet right now! This practice has actually been around for a few years, but has recently grown huge through social media apps like TikTok.
By now you’re probably wondering, what exactly is slugging? Don’t worry, this process doesn’t really involve slugs. It's actually pretty simple, slugging involves slathering your face in vaseline, petroleum jelly, or some type of hydro-sealing ointment after doing your regular nightly skincare routine, right before you go to bed. The practice gets its name from the thick, slippery feel of the jelly on your face.
What are the Benefits of Slugging?
Slugging has a variety of benefits but, first and foremost, it's great for boosting hydration! According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), petroleum jelly can provide enhanced moisture to relieve dry skin. Petroleum jelly products are occlusive, which means they sit on top of the skin and prevent moisture from evaporating. This leaves your skin feeling plump, ultra-hydrated, and baby soft!
Not only does slugging enhance your skin’s hydration, it can also help to lock in the benefits of the other products you’ve applied in your nightly skincare routine. Since petroleum jelly can act as a sealant, serving as an added barrier for the surface of your skin, it allows your skin to enjoy the benefits of your other skincare products all night long! So rather than wiping away or replacing the other nighttime skincare products you’ve applied, the jelly can actually help to enhance the effectiveness of those products!
How Do I Know if Slugging is Right for Me?
Like with a lot of other practices in skincare, some trends may work wonders for you and others might not be quite right for your skin type. If you have dry to normal skin, slugging will likely be a great way to boost moisture, repair your skin barrier, and lock in moisture.
However, some people can have adverse reactions to ingredients in traditional, brand-name petroleum products. If you feel like this may be the case for you, we recommend trying it out with our Honeybutter intense hydration ointment. Honeybutter features a powerful blend of natural, hydrating ingredients designed to draw and lock in moisture to the skin, so it acts very similarly to petroleum, but with the added benefit of natural, skin-loving ingredients!
If your skin is oily or prone to acne, slugging may not be right for you. For oily skin types, applying occlusive ointments all over the face may clog your pores and worsen acne.
When in doubt, we always recommend consulting with your dermatologist before trying out skincare trends like slugging.
How Can I Incorporate Slugging Into My Skincare Routine?
Step #1: Cleanse Your Face
Before you try slugging, its important to make sure you thoroughly cleanse your face to ensure that no remaining oil or makeup is remaining on your skin.
Step #2: Stay True to Your Routine
The beauty of slugging is that you don’t have to go changing your whole skincare routine around. Prior to applying the jelly, just go ahead and apply your regular creams and serums as you normally would.
Step #3: Time to Slug
Now’s the time to get slugging! Grab a big ol’ glob of petroleum jelly or, our personal favorite, Honeybutter, and apply a thick, even layer to your skin. You may look shiny and slimy when you’re done, but trust us it’ll be worth it. Then you can head off to bed and let the slugging process work its magic! (Just make sure you aren’t sleeping face down on your pillow)
Step #4: Wake Up and Rinse Off
Time for the final reveal! When you wake up in the morning, you can use your regular cleanser to help wash away the jelly and voila - dewy, plump, gorgeous skin!
How Often Should I Slug?
In terms of how often you should slug, it's always best to let your skin guide you. If you find your skin’s suffering from stubborn dryness, you might benefit from slugging daily. But if your skin type is more in the normal range, maybe just once a week or every few weeks will be right for you.
Ready, Set, Slug - Try It Out with Honeybutter Today!
Sources
CNet: Slugging Your Way to Better Skin: What It Is and Why It Works | American Academy of Dermatology: 5 Ways to Use Petroleum Jelly for Skincare | Everyday Health: What Is ‘Slugging,’ and Should You Try It for Moisturized Skin?