What Is Skincare Slugging?
The search for “what is slugging?” is currently up 350% on Google! So what is the viral skincare practice? As with most beauty trends, they eventually fizzle out and then appear again years later. While “Slugging" is a relativity newer term popularized by K-Beauty and Tiktok, it's nothing new at all, and our great-great-grandmothers have been doing this for years since Vaseline was created in 1872! Petrolatum is also one of the main ingredients in the old-school Ponds Cold cream, Aquaphor, and Cerave Healing Ointment.
What is it + How Does It Work?
Slugging is coating the face or areas of the face with a thick, occlusive ointment like petrolatum (pet·ro·la·tum) at the end of your skincare routine and leaving it on overnight.
Petrolatum forms a layer on the skin and prevents the skin from transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and protects the skin to help the barrier heal itself. The skin feels/looks plumper and is more hydrated and less irritated. Petrolatum itself is not moisturizing; it' aids in the preservation of the moisture that your other products like serum and moisturizer offer.
Petrolatum is also often used during and post aesthetic treatments. While performing a peel, it's common practice to coat the lips, the corners of the nose, and around the eye area to protect that delicate skin. It's also commonly used post-peel or laser treatment to help the skin heal.
Benefits
Skin looks plump
Helps to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
Soothes the skin - great for eczema
Helps the skin barrier repair itself
Soothes chapped lips and hands
How to Slug
Start with a clean face
Apply your usual skincare
Apply a small amount of petrolatum all over your face or just dry areas
How I use it...
My preferred slugging product is Sooth + Protect Recovery Balm from Alastin. It is a petrolatum base but it also contains chamomile extract and shea butter triterpenes which are both soothing to the skin. I use it on my lips, around my nose, or areas that are extra dry or peeling from my Tretinoin; during the winter, I will use it on my whole face or even when I go snowboarding to protect my skin from the cold, and I have used it under my eyes at night for years! I go to bed looking like a glazed donut! 🍩
What about the whole carcinogenic thing?
I will quote the knowledgeable Ranella Hirsch, MD FAAD, who is a fantastic board-certified dermatologist. "USP petrolatum jelly is not the same as unrefined petroleum, which is a recognized carcinogen. For use in the formulation of chemical and personal care products, petrolatum must meet FDA impurity restrictions in the USA and EU Pharmacopoeia in the EU."
Who it’s NOT for
A word of caution, slugging is not ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. While petrolatum is considered non-comedogenic and doesn’t penetrate pores it can trap dead skin cells/sebum and potentially clog pores.
Sometimes, the oldest, cheapest, and simplest things are best! Slug on! 🐌
