What Are The Benefits Of Slugging? Does Slugging Actually Work?

After trying multiple hacks from social media, we know that we shouldn’t be believing everything available on the internet and social media. But if you are looking to add something new in your skincare routine, then you should definitely try slugging which actually has been proven to be revolutionary to get glow and healthy skin.

We are about to answer some questions you might have about slugging and explain the benefits as well.

Firstly, What is Slugging?

You know the slimy mucus trail that snails and slugs leave behind as they move? Yeah, it’s kind of like that — and it’s actually what gives slugging its name.

Slugging is basically the process of slathering your face with petroleum jelly overnight. Social media skin care gurus claim it has given them a gorgeous glow. So, how does it work?

Petroleum jelly is a simple and very occlusive ointment. That means that it forms a protective layer on the surface of your skin — and that protective layer, in turn, helps seal in moisture and keep your skin from drying out

What Are The Benefits of Slugging?

The protective barrier that petroleum jelly creates on your skin acts as a barrier that keeps water from evaporating from the surface of your face. 

Moisturizes: The retained hydration can fill the epidermis like a sponge, thickening it and making it more pliable and elastic. 

Protects: That barrier keeps water in — and keeps bad stuff out. It can help prevent outside molecules from entering the skin and causing irritation or an immune reaction.

Repairs damage: If your skin is dehydrated or generally dry, a coating of petroleum jelly at night can help prevent further water loss from the skin and allow it to repair itself.

How to do Slugging?

Slugging is pretty straightforward. Here are the steps to follow to incorporate it into your nighttime skin care routine.

1. Prep your skin

Slugging should only be done on clean skin, so start your evening routine with cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing. Avoid skin care products with ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and retinoids, which can irritate your skin once they get trapped beneath the petroleum jelly barrier.

2. Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly is thick, so you only need a tiny bit — and you don’t necessarily need to put it on your entire face. You can apply it only to the thinnest and driest parts of the face, like your eyelids and your lips.

3. Wait 30 minutes before bed

Give yourself about half an hour before hopping into the sack, which will give your products time to settle and start to sink in. During this time, you may want to put a towel over your pillowcase to protect it and slip into a nightcap to keep your hair from sticking to your skin overnight.

4. Sleep on it

This step is pretty self-explanatory. Get a good night’s sleep, which is also beneficial for your skin (not to mention your overall health).

5. Wash your face

You should always wash your face when you wake up, and in this case, it will help get rid of anything that’s stuck to the goopy petroleum jelly overnight, too. 

Cleansing is important because the skin is a living organ that has dead skin cells, oils and bacteria that need to be able to washed off.

Choose your cleanser to match your skin’s needs. Soap is an excellent emulsifier, but it can also be drying. Some of the gentler but foaming cleansers are probably best if you have the type of sensitive skin that is benefitting from slugging.

What product should you use for slugging?

If you’re going to try slugging, make sure you’re using pure petroleum jelly or petroleum jelly with only minimal additional ingredients. 

Who shouldn’t try slugging?

Slugging isn’t right for everyone. Here are skin types and conditions that should probably avoid slugging.

Oily skin: Skin that is oily already has an adequate or even too-robust lipid layer and does not need the extra addition of lipid to the surface.

Acne-prone: In this case, what’s true for oily skin is true for acne-prone skin. Slugging could actually make your acne worse, not better.

Infected skin: If you have any sort of infection or open wound, skip slugging. It may not allow the infection to clear.

The internet is full of beauty hacks and whacks and trying them all isn’t the best idea. Do your research and find the beauty hacks that suit your skin type and have actually shown significant results.