Slugging - A Doctor-Approved Dry Skin Hack

What Is Slugging and How Does It Work?

Slugging refers to the process of sealing your skin with an occlusive skincare product overnight. As a trend, slugging's growing popularity can be traced back to the Korean beauty (K-Beauty) world before hitting platforms like Reddit, Instagram, and later TikTok. While it has recently become popular, it is a practice most skin specialists recommend for quickly treating dryness.

Why Should I Slug?

Petrolatum, the ingredient commonly found in ointments like Aquaphor, CeraVe, Vaseline is occlusive, meaning it creates a barrier that locks in hydration. The best way to "slug" is to use petrolatum on its own or thinly layered on top of a moisturizer anywhere you are dry. It is essential to put on the tiniest dab over your entire face.

Who Should Slug?

Slugging all over your face is more difficult on very oily skin because it can cause more irritation. If you're trapping oil and occluding the skin, there is a potential for breakouts. However, even those with oily skin can try "selectively slugging" - aka treating only the dry or eczema-prone spots over the face or body.

How To "Slug"?

1. Cleanse and dampen your face as you usually would.
2. (OPTIONAL) Apply hydration, like a moisturizer with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides underneath your slugging layer
3. Seal it with a thin, occlusive layer of Vaseline or any petrolatum-based ointment. Remember to keep the petrolatum layer thin.

What Should I Use?

Try a petrolatum-based product like Vaseline, Aquaphor, or Cerave Healing Ointment for the occlusive layer. For moisturizer underneath, try a moisturizer with ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and dimethicone. Good products include Cerave Moisturizing Cream, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, and Dormer 211 Advanced Maximum Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid Complex.