If you suffer from constantly dry, itchy skin, slugging could help. Even people with normal skin could benefit, especially during winter months when skin can dry out. However, experts say it's not for everyone. Those with acne-prone or oily skin should avoid it, as should people who have problems with clogged pores.
All three dermatologists agree that slugging does actually work. "Slugging is good for your skin, especially if you live in a dry climate where water loss and dryness are bound to happen," says says Shereene Idriss, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City.
The downside is that slugging can trap dead skin cells, oil, and debris, encouraging bacterial overgrowth, and it may worsen acne breakouts. “If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you may want to skip this trend,” Hartman says.
“Slugging is a very safe way to help restore the skin barrier and prevent surface water loss. Slugging can also help your serum or moisturizer penetrate the skin more effectively. It is inexpensive and effective, helps restore moisture, and leaves your skin feeling soft, well hydrated, and smooth,” Dr.
To save on skin care, dermatologists recommend using petroleum jelly to: Relieve dry skin, including your lips and eyelids. Dry skin can flake, itch, crack and even bleed. Since ointments are more effective and less irritating than lotions, consider applying petroleum jelly to dry skin, including your lips and eyelids.
When to Slug. You can do it nightly to heal dehydrated, dry, cracked or inflamed skin. To maintain results, I recommend slugging 2-3 times per week.
Mitchell said that slugging is also beneficial when it comes to wrinkles. “With aging, the skin barrier loses its ability to repair itself, and one may notice decreased hydration, or saggy skin and more fine lines and wrinkles. Slugging can be a benefit in all of these cases,” she said.
If you usually wash your face come morning, go ahead and do so, but it's not necessary to wash off your slugging product from the night before, she says. Either way, be sure to admire your gorgeously glowy new skin.
Slugging helps repair the skin barrier.
If you have overly dry, scaly, flaky, or irritated skin, occlusive moisturizers can speed healing. Slugging can help improve signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles. That's because moisturizing well helps skin look smoother and brighter.
Vaseline is typically used for slugging, and according to Dr. Michele, it's a great product because it's safe to use on sensitive skin and is "noncomedogenic." That means it shouldn't clog your pores. However, slugging is typically recommended for those with dry skin.
Apply A Layer Of Petroleum Jelly
Once you are done with your skin care routine, you can go to sleep and wake up to glowing, glass-like skin after slugging from the previous night!
Slugging is an old technique that has been used for decades to moisturize the skin and heal eczematous or irritated skin. Essentially, for this, petroleum jelly is used as a mask.
Petrolatum-based, healing ointments are recommended occlusives for slugging. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, says that these products, like Aquaphor, "include glycerin, lanolin, bisabolol, and mineral oil for additional hydrating, soothing, and barrier-supporting properties."
When applied to delicate areas, like under the eyes, slugging could cause milia, which are small, painless white bumps that appear when keratin gets trapped beneath the skin's surface, says Beach. “[Milia] occur more commonly when people are using a heavy product around the eyelid or the eye area,” she explains.
It consists of applying Vaseline petroleum jelly as an occlusive moisturizer to hydrate the skin and seal in moisture and your skin-care products overnight, and then washing it off with a gentle cleanser the next day.”
I personally am a night showerer so I do my skincare routine about 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. If you're going to be slugging, I would recommend applying your skincare and slug at least an hour before bed so your petroleum jelly has time to absorb before laying on a pillow.
The major difference is the ingredients and texture. While Vaseline is simply 100% Petrolatum, Cerave is 46.5% Petrolatum with skin-loving ingredients like Ceramides, Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid. Furthermore, while the former has a waxy and tacky texture, the latter has a smoother and more fluid texture.
"When applied to delicate areas, like under the eyes, slugging could cause milia, which are small, painless white bumps that appear when keratin gets trapped beneath the skin's surface." Claire explains that milia occur more commonly when people are using a heavy product around the eyelid or the eye area.
As Rouleau explains, “Slugging can lead to comedogenicity—how likely a product is to clog your pores and cause bumps—if continued over a period of time. If you're using a product with a very high concentration of petrolatum all over your face every day, the chances of it leading to clogged pores (bumps) are high.” Dr.
“Use a moisturizer or hydrating serum prior to applying your slugging product of choice,” says Clay. They'll get sealed into your skin nicely thanks to the Vaseline or other product you decide to use.
As far as frequency goes, it's completely dependent on your skin type and concerns. If you have dry, you may benefit from slugging several times per week or even daily for a period of time. Those that have oily skin, however, may find they want to take part less or only during the winter months.
Experts say slugging should be used as the last step of your skincare routine — after cleansing and moisturizing. Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a board-certified dermatologist with over 400,000 TikTok followers, recommends a "very thin layer" over your whole face — especially during the winter months.