Did you know going to bed like a glazed donut has huge benefits for your skin?

If you have been on TikTok, you must have come across the term ‘slugging’ many times. Be it eye slugging or Aquaphor slugging, it seems rather mysterious. Nevertheless, this skincare technique has been making rounds lately and there’s a lot that you may be missing. 

Curious about this latest trend? In this blog, we provide insight into what is slugging skin, the right way to go about it, and the associated benefits it brings to your skin. Dive in to learn! 

What is slugging?

What's slugging skincare? Simply put, slugging is the process of using an occlusive agent, preferably petrolatum, to seal your skin overnight. Those who do not like sleeping with this thick layer of product on their skin may slug during the day, leaving it on for a few hours. Though this treatment is popular on TikTok for your face in specific, it may also work wonders on your eyes, lips as well as ankles. 

The rising popularity of slugging may be traced back to the K-beauty world before it became viral on forums like TikTok and Reddit. This practice has again come into the limelight to target dryness associated with eczema and retain moisture to combat dullness. 

How to slug the right way?

Want to try out slugging? We have broken down the process into 3 steps:

1. Start by cleansing your face and dampen it as you normally would

2. Hydrate with a gentle moisturiser or serum. You may use products coupled with a hydrating moisturiser or hyaluronic acid beneath the slugging layer. Though it is not a compulsion. But if you opt for it, you may want to keep it gentle. 

3. Seal with a layer of Vaseline or petroleum-infused which is the best product for slugging. Bear in mind that the layer is thin. 

The benefits of slugging

What is the purpose of slugging? Petrolatum, the commonly found ingredient in ointments such as cerave, Vaseline, and Aquaphor along with many others has occlusive properties. This suggests it can seal in hydration by creating a barrier on your skin. 

You can either use petrolatum on its own or if you wish you can layer it on a moisturiser or serum. A teeny tiny dab of petrolatum may be sufficient for your entire face to heal severely dry and sensitive skin. particularly as you step into the allergy season your eyelids and lips are the most delicate part of your skin, and thus they tend to dry very easily. Slugging is a great remedy to treat this overnight. 

Is Aquaphor or Vaseline better?

Aquaphor is widely applauded for its effectiveness coupled with a reasonable price tag. The major distinction between Aquaphor and Vaseline lies in their ingredients. While Aquaphor is made up of multiple ingredients including panthenol and mineral oil, Vaseline is 100 percent petroleum. 

Both the products serve the same purpose, that is, sealing in moisture into your skin. dermatologists suggest the use of Aquaphor over Vaseline but it is still better to check what suits better on your skin. Aquaphor serves as a humectant and an occlusive while Vaseline is merely an occlusive. Fitting perfectly well into both categories suggests that it possesses more power to keep skin moisture intact. 

Our Pick:

if you are not a fan of vaseline or aquaphor, you will be delighted to know that Pinksoul offers the Miracle Balm. This organic product is a mixture of olive oil, beeswax, shea butter and vitamin E and possesses heavy moisturising properties to make your skin smooth. It is also great for treating extremely dry skin particularly on your ankles and knees and dryness associated with eczema inflamed skin. You may apply a layer of it overnight and continue to do so till you get the desired results. 

Does slugging have any downsides?

Though slugging brings a tonne of benefits for your skin there are some things you may want to keep in mind when it comes to your lifestyle and skin type. While you shouldn’t be concerned about petrolatum having comedogenic properties, if your skin is sensitive and acne-prone, it is rather better to avoid not only petrolatum but any occlusive product. This encompasses anything that creates a barrier on your skin layers like oils, fats, and silicones. So for those of you who ask, will slugging cause acne? it's better to be careful than to be sorry. 

Nevertheless, if you are worried about permanent damage or burns, skin slugging is safe. As with all products you need to ensure that the ingredients do not cause any type of allergic reaction to your skin. More so, generalising about the effect of different products doesn’t consider the nuances of your skin type. 

Can everyone use slugging?

Well, the answer is no as slugging oily and acne-prone skin will only cause further exacerbation of the issue. Simply put if you are trapping products to occlude the skin, the chances of breakouts will be high. If you want to apply the practice on oily skin, you may want to opt for a more targeted approach. You can selectively slug by treating the dehydrated and eczema-prone spots on your entire skin. If you wish for a similar impact on your acne-prone skin, you can use a creamy moisturiser rather than Petrolatum. You should seek ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, dimethicone, and glycerine followed by a spot treatment with Vaseline on extreme dry areas. 

How often can you slug?

This depends on your skin type. Oily skin requires fewer slugging rounds while dry and combination skin types may need more of it. you must keep in mind that you may not observe noticeable results after slugging for six weeks. 

Best products to consider

When you have made up your mind on skin-slugging, you may also decide the products to opt for. Products containing 30%-100 % petrolatum are considered skin protectants subject to FDA regulation and registration on the NDC list. Over-the-counter drugs like hand sanitizer and sunscreen are labelled OTC drugs and therefore must be FDA-registered to receive an exclusive NDC code for consumers. 

Since petrolatum is recognized as a skin protectant by the FDA any product comprising as low as 30% petrolatum must register like colloidal oatmeal. Thus, this unique code helps in identifying the brand rendering it easy to find vetted products and thus it is the best product for slugging.

You must determine the purity of the petroleum in use, and the easiest way to do this is by checking NDC listings. Some of the best brands are Cerave, Vaseline, and Aquaphor. But you must know that Aquaphor contains lanolin and so is not suitable for skin with lanolin sensitivity. Moreover, if you don’t want to use Vaseline you may go with mineral oil which is also very effective for skin. 

The final verdict

Slugging has been a saviour for overly dry skin, between the less exposure to fresh air coupled with the winter dryness. You may slug in targeted dry spots or your entire face depending on your skin type. The best time to slug is at night when you go to bed, so your skin has the time to regenerate and repair. You will realise how your skin holds onto moisture better in a couple weeks.