Slugging 101- What the internet isn't telling you.

Slugging is the process of lathering your face with an occlusive product such as Vaseline, Aquaphor or a heavy cream-based moisturizer and leaving it on overnight.

What does slugging do?

Layering petroleum jelly on your skin to lock in moisture overnight is an old K-beauty trick. Your skin does, in fact, require an optimum moisturized environment to repair from regular wear and tear. Moisture is medication for damaged skin, and layering an occlusive moisturizer on top of it is one of the best methods to keep it hydrated for lengthy periods of time.

Slugging suggests layering a petrolatum-based moisturizer, such as Vaseline, on slightly damp skin before bed. The procedure stops your skin from losing transepidermal water and allows it to recover over night.

Advantages of slugging

• Provides skin with hydration.

• Protects the skin barrier.

• Allows the skin to heal and regenerate on its own.

• Forms and plumpifies the skin.

• Provides hydration and moisture, which helps to prevent early symptoms of ageing.

Who is it suitable for and who should avoid it?

If you are in a dry, cold climate, this is going to be a great option for you, if you're on a medication, that's drying you skin, slugging will work for you, if you've had a cosmetic procedure done, most likely you're going to have Vaseline, which is a petrolatum, some kind of protectant to support the healing of your skin.

Loss of water from the skin, creates a domino effect within the skin, so literally stripping away your protective barrier. But not everyone should be slugging and you shouldn't be slugging every single day and overdoing it. People with acne prone skin can try slugging but you need to be mindful of the products you're using.

Moreover you need to think about the fact that acne is also inflammation. If you have any kind of inflammation, heat, so for example active rosacea, or a sun burn, you don't want to slug, what's that doing is trapping heat within your skin, it's going to further agitate and aggravate your skin. Similarly, excessive slugging can harm your skin, just as excessive exfoliation can.

How to slug ?

• Use a hydrating water-based serum, because we need to replenish the water within your skin.

• Use a hydrating moisturizer that's fits your skin type.

• Add few drops of coconut oil to your moisturizer, a different way to include occlusion in your skincare routine.

• During the day, avoid slugging. Long-term use of occlusive agents can disrupt your skin's normal intercellular lipid production process.

• Slugging on dirty skin might lead to acne outbreaks.

• Use only safe petroleum jelly, with Vaseline and Aquaphor being two of the safest options - they're even used on newborns!

Despite the fact that skin slugging is a relatively new trend, it is reasonable to claim that it has existed since the discovery of occlusive substances. As usual, it's a matter of personal choice and whether or not it's suited for your skin.