Lately, there has been a lot of talk regarding a particular skincare trend that has been going viral on both the Reddit and TikTok beauty community. It sounds a little gross and unappealing so you might be wondering what slugging skin care is and why would someone do it? Honestly, all this buzz piqued me own interest and I admittedly was on Google doing my own research on the ins-and-outs of this new beauty movement. Slugging skin care originated from South Korea and if you know anything about the beauty industry there you would know that this country knows what they are talking about when it comes to soft, flawless skin. For those who have also been dying to know what this means, I am here to break it down for you and to let you know if it actually works. So without further ado, let us jump into defining slugging skin care and whether or not I happened to find it effective!
What is Slugging Skin Care and Is It Effective?
Slugging Skin Care: The New Way to Moisturize
Perhaps you were like me and immediately pictured a snail slowly making its way across your face – I know I was a little turned off at this trend in the beginning too. Although there are products with snail enzymes incorporated into the formula, this is not what defines the new slugging skin care movement. It is actually the act of applying a final layer of petroleum jelly or Vaseline to prevent transepidermal water loss – which is a fancy way to say it locks in your skincare and enhances the overall hydration. As you can imagine, this sounds like it is perfect for the winter time period when the air is naturally more dry and harsh but for those with extremely dry, flaky skin it may even behoove you to try this at anytime of the year. But why is it called slugging? Well, when it first started to make waves in South Korea it was given this name because it is essentially like going to bed mucus-covered or slug-like.
Does Slugging Skin Care Actually Work?
I wanted to put skin slugging to the test so I decided to incorporate into my nightly routine as the final step. Historically, I have only used petroleum jelly to revive my extremely dry lips and I knew it does wonders in this department so I was really interested to see the results. The morning after the first night I applied it, I definitely noticed my skin felt softer to the touch. However, it is such a thick consistency so you happen to be more aware of a heavy amount of product on your face so if that is something that would bug you, I would be weary or maybe apply a very thin coat.
After a few days, I could tell my skin was feeling more hydrated and nourished. Plus, I felt more glowy and radiant the mornings after using it! The vaseline definitely acts a protective barrier and helps to really lock in my other products. However, it is pretty intensive and I do not have extremely dry skin on a regular basis so I would not necessarily use it every single day. Instead, I will happily apply slugging when my skin is feeling more flaky and exhausted than usual.
Overall, I would definitely recommend giving this new beauty trend ago if you, too, feel like your skin could benefit from an extra injection of moisture. For those with more acne prone or extra sensitive skin, it is best so skip on skin slugging as it could cause a breakout. As an alternative to using the 100% petroleum jelly, you could try and opt for a moisturizer (like the CeraVe Healing Ointment) that contains this ingredient instead of using the product straight up.
How to Use Slugging Skin Care
1. Make sure face is clean and ready for product. I always recommend double cleansing when possible.
2. Apply your serums and facial oils but try to avoid retinol or acids in conjunction so you can decrease the risk of irritation.
3. Layer on your favorite moisturizer if your skin is feeling extra dry.
4. Finish off with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
Let me know if you try the slugging skin care trend and if it works for you! I would love to hear your thoughts!
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