Slugging Explained: What is Slugging?

Many of us have heard that the key to achieving beautiful, healthy-looking skin is as easy as following a simple ‘4-step’ routine. These steps may include cleansing, toning, moisturising and sun protection and they altogether make up a beauty regimen for hydrated, soft, smooth, and healthy-looking skin.

While sticking to a regular 4-step skincare routine is a solid approach for achieving radiant and well-moisturised skin, there's a little trick that can help you get more out of your routine . This not-so-secret skin care trick has taken the beauty world by storm because of its ability to help restore moisture to your skin as you rest so that you can wake up with smooth, glowing, and dewy skin. This trendy skin care hack is known as slugging.

Slugging can help enhance the benefits you're already gaining from your current skincare routine. Want to know more about this beauty trick? Then read on as we unpack what it is and how you can benefit from incorporating it into your skincare routine.

What is slugging?

When it comes to the term "slugging," most people often wonder about its origin. Well, the roots of slugging can be traced back to an ancient beauty practice which involved leaving snails on the face, allowing them to leave a trail of mucus behind. The mucus would then help to treat and moisturise the skin - this tech nique evolved into what we know today as slugging. And don’t worry, no more creepy-crawlies are involved.

Slugging is now a popular moisturizing technique involving applying a thin layer of an occlusive product, like Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, as the last step in your nightly skincare routine to help lock in moisture. While slugging may seem to have gained attention in the skincare world relatively recently, it's a method that has long proven effective in enhancing skin health and beauty, thanks to its numerous remarkable benefits.

Although slugging might appear to have gained attention in the world of skincare relatively recently, it's a method that has long proven its effectiveness in enhancing skin health and beauty, owing to its numerous remarkable benefits.

Let’s explore it!

5 Slugging Benefits

1. It prevents moisture loss

Vaseline is an occlusive moisturiser which means it forms a barrier on the surface of the skin to lock in moisture and prevent water loss. . This is what enables slugging to be so beneficial, especially for those who struggle with dry skin, as the Vaseline forms a moisture-locking layer over your skin that seals moisture in . As it seals moisture in, the Vaseline layer also helps prevent transepidermal water loss - the process of water evaporating out of your skin - so that your skin stays moisturised and looking its best.

2. It helps skin to heal

By trapping moisture in your skin, the Vaseline jelly helps to create an environment for the skin to heal itself. Leaving you to wake up to healthier-looking, hydrated, smooth, glowing skin.

3. It helps maintain your skin barrier

Slugging has the potential to help restore a compromised skin barrier, especially in individuals with dry and sensitive skin. This is achieved by applying a layer of Vaseline petroleum jelly, creating a protective environment for the skin.

4. It helps amplify other products

While the Vaseline jelly helps to seal moisture into your skin, the layer it forms also creates an environment that enables your moisturisers to work better.

The occlusive barrier created by Vaseline not only retains moisture within your skin but also prevents your other skincare products from evaporating. This, in turn, allows your skincare products to remain effective for a longer duration and ensures they have the opportunity to work their best.

5. It helps protect skin

Slugging is done at night, and so the thickness of the Vaseline slug layer acts as a good barrier between your skin and harmful external elements like dry conditions and air-conditioning in rooms as these can strip your skin of moisture. This helps to keep your skin stay soft and looking heathy

Top tip:

Slugging can be a great solution for dry skin, but if you have acne-prone skin, it's advisable to avoid it because Vaseline's occlusive properties can potentially trigger breakouts. Also, if you’re applying retinoids and AHAs, BHAs or PHAs to your skin first, you should not slug.

Given all the benefits mentioned, it is evident that slugging can be highly beneficial for your skin,  making it a resounding "yes" to whether it can be good for your skin! When it comes to what products you can use for slugging your skin, you can trust the effective moisturising power of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. When slugging, apply an even layer of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly over your nighttime routine products and wake up to smoother, healthier-looking, and more moisturized skin.

Now that you're aware of some of the benefits of slugging your skin with Vaseline, why not give this moisturising beauty technique a try today?