“Slugging” has recently gained massive popularity via TikTok and Instagram skin-fluencers. There are thousands of videos on the internet of people trying the overnight sensation for themselves. But what exactly is it? Are we attaching slugs to our face now? Well to put it simply, Slugging is an intense form of moisturizing that locks in hydration from your nightly skin-care routine via Vaseline or another petroleum-based product, according to dermatologist Shari Marchbein, M.D. The process consists of thickly covering the skin of the entire face with a petroleum product like Vaseline, aquaphor, or a heavy cream-based moisturizer and keeping it on overnight. The result is a shiny face that looks like, well, a slug.
Slugging is intended to keep moisture in the skin by preventing transepidermal water loss, which is when water evaporates outside of the skin. Since a night-time skincare routine is hydrating for the skin, slugging the skin afterwards creates a barrier and helps the formula sink into the skin even more. This is recommended for individuals with dry, irritated, or eczema prone skin, rather than those with oily or acne-prone skin. If your skin dries out easily or you’ve noticed flakiness on your face, slugging may be the next skincare step for you.
1725 State Street “C”
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
