If your pores and skin has been struggling this winter, you are not alone. Because of the low humidity and temperatures, it may be tough for pores and skin to retain its moisture, making it dry and lackluster. However, there is a Ok-beauty skincare hack that may assist. Called “slugging,” this wellness development is a straightforward, cost-effective strategy to moisturize your winter pores and skin and provide you with that wholesome glow.
Let’s talk about the potential advantages of slugging, what specialists say, who it is best for and extra.
What is slugging?
Slugging is a Korean magnificence skincare follow meaning slathering petroleum jelly in your face. You can use any product from Aquaphor to CeraVe to Vaseline to moisturize and shield your face in a single day. Videos of this magnificence method — which have a tendency to actually overdo the quantity to placed on — have gone viral on TikTok, with over 500 million views to this point below the hashtag #slugging. Many TikTok customers who’ve tried it out for themselves report outcomes similar to plump, glowing and moisturized pores and skin.
The slugging course of
Step 1: Cleanse your face.
Step 2: Pile on hydrating merchandise, similar to hyaluronic acid or glycerin.
Step 3: Add a nightly moisturizer, like a lotion, oil or cream.
Step 4: Load in your occlusive, or the petroleum jelly: Vaseline, CeraVe, Aquaphor or one other model. (While you may see TikTokers utilizing a full handful for dramatic impact, you need to use as little as a pea-size quantity to see advantages.)
Step 5: Wait a couple of minutes earlier than moving into mattress.
Supposed advantages of slugging
Petroleum jelly consists of oils and waxes that act as a barrier on the pores and skin, trapping moisture beneath. Studies have proven that Vaseline — one of the in style manufacturers of petroleum jelly — has properties which will assist restore your pores and skin’s outermost layer. In addition to maintaining the pores and skin moisturized, petroleum jelly can enhance the efficiency of different merchandise utilized beneath.
Slugging is simplest when mixed with humectants (a dermatology time period for substances that retain moisture), similar to hyaluronic acid, glycerin or urea.
Reported slugging advantages embody:
- Moisturized, glowing pores and skin
- Healthier, younger-looking pores and skin
- Repaired pores and skin barrier
- Locking in different merchandise
- Decreased look of wrinkles
What do the specialists say?
Dermatologists aren’t stunned by this development, on condition that Vaseline has been a preferred magnificence product for many years. They already understand how occlusives (similar to petroleum jelly) successfully lock in moisture to maintain pores and skin hydrated and plump.
Board-certified New York dermatologist Dr. Hadley King agrees with the effectiveness of slugging so long as you “do it the proper approach.”
“First apply a product or merchandise that comprise humectants and emollients (moisturizing substances), then add different occlusives. You can begin with a serum containing humectants and add a face oil with emollients,” she stated. “The final step can be slugging petrolatum because the occlusive. Alternatively, you might apply a moisturizer that incorporates humectants, emollients and occlusives, after which for further occlusive properties, apply the slugging petrolatum.”
According to King, the slugging skincare development is most useful for these with dry pores and skin or those that are sometimes uncovered to dry circumstances on condition that “a dry setting will exacerbate transepidermal water loss and dryness of the pores and skin.”
Still, King recommends being cautious when making use of occlusives on high of topical medicines as a result of it may enhance the efficiency, creating adversarial results.
Slugging is not for everybody, in line with Dr. Debra Jaliman, board-certified New York dermatologist and creator of the e-book Skin Rules. “Slugging earlier than you fall asleep is okay when you have very dry pores and skin, however not a good suggestion for acne-prone pores and skin,” Jaliman stated. “Slugging can probably entice oils and clog the pores and skin’s pores and particularly irritate acne-prone pores and skin, contributing to breakouts.”
She went on to say: “If you aren’t acne-prone, some good merchandise you need to use for slugging are CeraVe therapeutic ointment and Aquaphor.” Echoing King’s recommendation, Jaliman additionally recommends utilizing a product that hydrates, moisturizes and protects multi functional: “Personally, I’d advocate utilizing a thick cream similar to CeraVe moisturizing cream that has ceramides and hyaluronic acid.”
Slugging suggestions
Apply solely at evening
Unless you are in a particularly chilly and dry setting, it’s best to use solely at evening. That approach, you possibly can lock in moisture and different skincare merchandise whilst you sleep. (Otherwise, you may be strolling round all day with slimy pores and skin.)
Combine together with your nightly moisturizer
Vaseline works by stopping moisture from getting in or out. If there isn’t a moisture on the pores and skin to start with, making use of petroleum jelly will not present a lot profit. For the most effective outcomes, it is essential to load up your pores and skin with hydrating and moisturizing merchandise first, then slather your slugging product on high to maintain moisture from evaporating off your pores and skin.
Drugstore or high-end merchandise will work
Vaseline is an inexpensive product that may be discovered at any drugstore, however for those who’re searching for luxurious merchandise with further moisturizing properties, King recommends Ghost Democracy Ceramide Cream. “It incorporates ceramides, lipids, squalane and murumuru seed butter to help the pores and skin barrier and lock in moisture. You may add heavier occlusives on high if desired,” she stated.
King additionally recommends Innbeauty Project Daily Moisturizer. “With ceramides, triglycerides, shea butter, squalane, dimethicone and fatty acids and fatty alcohols, this helps the pores and skin barrier and locks in moisture.”
Use constantly to see outcomes
Darnisha Monson, a licensed esthetician, recommends making slugging part of your nighttime skincare routine. In order to note outcomes, you want to slug constantly for 4 to 6 weeks. Slugging can’t restore your pores and skin or your pores and skin’s look in a single day.
Best if used within the winter
The colder months are the instances when our pores and skin loses probably the most moisture. Slugging will likely be simpler in winter and in environments which can be harsh on the pores and skin. Occlusives may even shield in opposition to windburn throughout your winter ski journeys.
