OK, I know that winter is like, basically over (even though March is always quite the fickle b*tch), but I want to talk about slugging. This skin care obsession has been talked about all over TikTok, and even one of my favorite internet skin care experts has owned up to taking part.
But for a while, I had no idea what slugging even was, but influencers and dermatologists alike swear by it for the health of your winter skin. Slugging is, in essence, applying a thick layer of product (Vaseline is the big guy here, though any occlusive product is great, too) to your face as the last step in your nighttime skin care routine and not washing it off until you wake up the next morning. Does this sound like a bad day for your pillowcase? Kind of, but it’s not that intense once you actually get into it.
Slathering your face with Vaseline might not sound the most intuitive these days, but slugging isn’t new – women have been using petroleum jelly as a face mask for generations, it’s just that TikTok is now aware.
The idea is that the occlusive holds in whatever moisture you’ve applied to your face via all your favorite nighttime products as you sleep, so your face is just (or pretty close to) as hydrated when you wake up as it is when you go to sleep. It’s a water retention trick that, come the wintertime, can be incredibly beneficial to dehydrated skin. And what does hydration mean? Bouncy, youthful skin, which is the goal 100 percent of the time.
You can totally slug nightly, if you’re having a really dry spell or you know that your skin doesn’t hold onto water very well. But if you’re extremely oily, slugging may lock in extra oil as well, which could lead to a breakout if you’re applying too often.
Some tips, as you begin your slugging journey:
- If you’re on a retinol or strong AHAs or BHAs, the recommendation is to slug on off days.
- If you’re not adding any hydrating or moisturizing products before the occlusive, there’s not much point in slugging.
- Like any other skin care treatment, make sure your skin is clean beforehand. If you slug over makeup or ultra-clogged pores, you’re just locking in that bad gunk, which is breakout heaven.
The beauty gurus of the internet are even slugging their hair now, if you’re loving this idea and want more. So, time to give it a try?