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If you're experiencing dry, uneven, or dull skin—perhaps due to environmental factors, harsh products, or UV exposure—the 'slugging' skincare trend offers a powerful solution. This technique can significantly boost the effectiveness of your other skincare ingredients and is particularly beneficial for healing dry, sensitive, or irritated skin with a compromised barrier, promoting a healthy, radiant complexion.
Slugging is a time-honored skincare practice that involves applying occlusive ingredients over your other beneficial products to create a protective barrier on your skin. While it might seem like a recent trend, this ritual has been a cherished part of the Black community for generations. From using petroleum jelly to shield skin from harsh elements, especially during winter, to locking in essential moisture for a healthy appearance, slugging has always played a vital role in the personal care routines of many Black and Brown households.
The term 'slugging' playfully refers to the thick, glossy appearance the ointments can give your skin. The primary goal of slugging is to 'seal in' potent skincare ingredients like serums and toners, while dramatically increasing skin hydration. Most commonly performed at night, as occlusives can leave a shiny finish, this practice works wonders to make your skin smoother, softer, and, when combined with other products, brighter and more youthful-looking. Many users report waking up to fresh, dewy skin after a night of slugging.
Understanding Slugging Moisturizers: Occlusives, Emollients, and Humectants
Occlusives don’t actually moisturize your skin in the same way other lotions and creams do. Instead, they create a layer on the surface of your skin that keeps water and skin’s natural oils (sebum) locked in. This prevents dryness due to water and oil evaporation (also called transepidermal water loss). Petrolatum is often favored for its ease of use and low likelihood of clogging pores.
Comparing Skincare Moisturizer Types
| Type |
Function |
Mechanism |
Examples |
Best For Slugging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occlusives |
Create a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss |
Sit on skin surface, forming a physical seal |
|
Yes (primary choice for sealing) |
| Emollients |
Smooth and soften skin, fill gaps in skin barrier |
Penetrate top skin layer with lipids to improve moisture |
|
Apply underneath occlusives for added moisture |
| Humectants |
Attract and bind water to the skin |
Draw water from air or deeper skin layers |
|
Apply underneath occlusives for deep hydration |
Key Benefits of Slugging for Radiant Skin
- Deep Hydration: Slugging effectively locks in moisture, preventing transepidermal water loss and promoting a deeply hydrated complexion.
- Enhanced Product Efficacy: It creates a protective barrier that helps your serums and moisturizers penetrate more effectively, maximizing their benefits.
- Skin Barrier Support: Ideal for dry, sensitive, or irritated skin, slugging helps to repair and strengthen a compromised skin barrier.
- Smoother, Brighter Skin: Regular slugging can lead to noticeably smoother, softer, and more radiant skin texture.
- Versatile Application: While popular for the face, slugging can also benefit other dry areas like the neck, chest, hands, and feet.
- Non-Comedogenic: When done correctly with non-comedogenic products like Vaseline® Healing Jelly, slugging is unlikely to cause acne.
For effective slugging, petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline® Healing Jelly, is a highly favored ingredient. It excels at preventing water loss from the skin, blocking up to 98% of transepidermal water loss that can lead to roughness and dryness. While combination products exist, for slugging, a thick, sticky occlusive is preferred over thinner lotions. To maximize benefits, apply humectants and emollients under occlusives.
Slugging Benefits For Different Skin Types
Slugging is particularly beneficial for those with:
- Dry skin
- Sensitive skin, including eczema
- Dullness
- Uneven skin texture, due to issues like dry patches and flaking
What all of these skin types have in common is that they lack sufficient skin moisture.
Should people with acne try slugging?
Slugging itself is not considered acne-causing (non-comedogenic). However, if you have sensitive skin, it's crucial to thoroughly cleanse your face beforehand to prevent trapping dirt, which could trigger breakouts. If you have combination skin with both dry areas and breakouts, consider slugging only on drier, less acne-prone areas to avoid exacerbating oily zones while still addressing dryness.
Slugging Beyond Your Face
While slugging is most commonly done to improve the appearance of one’s face, it can also address dryness and other issues on other parts of the body, such as the chest, neck, feet, or hands.
You can follow the same steps as above if you wish to use slugging on different body parts (including cleaning the area well first). A popular way to go about this is to shower then follow the steps above (thinner lotion followed by thicker occlusive).
Men might also be interested in slugging after shaving to soothe skin. Of course, women can do this too on areas where they shave, such as the bikini line.
The key here is to clean the skin afterwards to remove any shaving cream or other products, then apply a moisturizer, then apply a thin layer of an occlusive. Remember this may leave the skin shiny, so most men will prefer to do this at night if slugging their face.
Whether it is for your face or body, now that you are equipped with the right tools, we hope you can determine if embarking in the long-used practice of slugging is right for you and your skin.
By Dr. Michelle Henry, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist
IG information: @drmichellehenry
Mastering Your Slugging Skincare Routine
Embrace the Benefits of Slugging for Healthy Skin
Slugging is a simple yet powerful technique that can significantly enhance your skin's hydration and overall health. By creating a protective barrier, occlusives like Vaseline® Healing Jelly help lock in moisture and boost the efficacy of your other skincare products. Whether you're looking to soothe dry skin, improve texture, or simply achieve a more radiant complexion, incorporating slugging into your routine can offer remarkable results. Discover the transformative potential for your face and body, and unlock a new level of skin confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slugging
Slugging is a skincare practice where you apply a thick, occlusive product, like Vaseline® Healing Jelly, as the final step in your nighttime routine. This creates a protective barrier that locks in moisture and helps your other skincare products work more effectively, leading to smoother, brighter, and deeply hydrated skin.
Slugging itself, especially with non-comedogenic products like petroleum jelly, is generally not considered acne-causing. However, it's crucial to thoroughly cleanse your face before slugging to avoid trapping dirt or bacteria. If you have very sensitive or acne-prone skin, you might consider slugging only on drier areas or less frequently.
The frequency of slugging depends on your skin type. If you have dry skin, you might benefit from slugging nightly. For those with combination or oilier skin, 2-3 times per week, or every other night, is often sufficient to reap the benefits without feeling too heavy.
Before slugging, apply hydrating and soothing products such as serums containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or niacinamide, followed by your regular moisturizer. Avoid using strong active ingredients like retinoids, AHAs, or BHAs directly before slugging, as the occlusive layer can enhance their penetration and potentially cause irritation.
Absolutely! Slugging is highly effective for addressing dryness and improving skin texture on other body parts, including the neck, chest, hands, and feet. The process remains the same: cleanse the area, apply your thinner hydrating products, and then seal everything in with an occlusive layer.
Vaseline® Healing Jelly is a highly recommended and popular choice for slugging due to its pure petroleum jelly formulation. It is an excellent occlusive that effectively prevents transepidermal water loss, helping to lock in moisture and support the skin's natural barrier. Its non-comedogenic properties make it suitable for most skin types when used correctly.
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