Beauty Slugging Tip For Hydrated And Radiant Skin

Everyone dreams of having well hydrated and soft skin, with a rosy and radiant complexion. The good news is, K-beauty has inspired the new slugging beauty trick that promises to be the homemade face care we need. Let's start by clarifying: this practice does not involve real slugs (the English word "slug" means a slug). So, how to adopt this easy and cheap technique and what are its benefits for the epidermis?

What exactly is the beauty slugging trick?

Slugging is a new skincare trend that's all over TikTok and Reddit. It is spread by women who smear petroleum jelly on their faces and then go to bed. In the morning, they wake up (allegedly) with glowing, ultra-hydrated skin. According to the experimenters, this simple gesture is a miraculous remedy for dry, scaly skin. Due to its thick texture and slimy feel, the effective treatment has received the name “slugging”.

In fact, dermatologists are also interested in the practice of covering the face with petroleum jelly. They do advise people prone to acne, however, to be quite careful because, given the purified petroleum it contains, this product can really weigh down the face and make the skin very oily. This results in clogging of the pores and worsening of pimples.

While snail mucus is a popular ingredient in Korean skin care, “slugging” has nothing to do with actual slugs. The best part about this practice is that you simply cover your face with a petroleum jelly ointment that you can find in almost any drugstore. The cosmetic product in fact has the ability to prevent water loss and repair the damaged skin barrier. It seems like a very easy (and, for that matter, inexpensive) way to get the cherub skin that all beauty addicts claim.

What are the benefits for the skin?

Deep hydration

It is always helpful to lock in hydration into the skin, especially during the winter, when heaters and humidity vacuums are present. Vaseline creates a soothing barrier on sensitive and eczema-prone skin and accelerates skin healing following cosmetic or surgical procedures. Finally, the product protects cells from external irritants and inflammatory conditions.

Anti-aging remedy

You can think of slugging as a quick-acting mask against age-related dry skin. Aging leads to a decrease in repair of the skin barrier, a decrease in hydration, a flabby epidermis and more obvious wrinkles. The beauty slugging trick basically acts as a lifeline, keeping the water captivated and the face fresh and youthful.

How to practice slugging?

First of all, make sure your skin is perfectly clean. Bearing in mind the previous point about the potential blockage of dirt and oil, it is important to thoroughly cleanse your face before applying petroleum jelly.

Yep, you want to smear yourself with the magnificent remedy, but that doesn't mean you have to apply layer after layer for a satisfactory result. Just take a small amount of the product on your index, middle and ring fingers (about the size of a piece of edamame), and distribute it evenly, rubbing lightly all over your face at bedtime.

Warning: If you apply a lot of petroleum jelly to an area, it will be difficult to spread it and it will make you stick to your pillow while you are trying to sleep. In this context, be sure to use a pillowcase that you are not afraid to destroy.

Last word, if you usually wash your face in the morning, do so, but be aware that it's not really necessary, at least you don't want to stain your clothes.

What skin types tolerate slugging?

Sure enough, the beauty slugging trick can be beneficial for dry or sensitive skin, but those affected by rashes should proceed with caution. Although petroleum jelly is non-comedogenic (doesn't cause pimples), it traps everything under the dermis - including the excess sebum produced. Specialists therefore recommend doing a test on a small area before coating the entire face for acne-prone skin. For the same reason, cosmetic products made from essential oils should not be applied below petroleum jelly.

Is petroleum jelly safe for the skin?

Perhaps while scrolling through skincare slugging on Instagram or Reddit, you've seen conflicting information about the toxicity of petroleum jelly to the skin. To put it plainly: it's a perfectly safe ingredient.

The controversy stems from the fact that unrefined petroleum is banned in cosmetics in Europe. However, this ban only applies to unrefined petroleum which is not used in petroleum jelly. The latter is made from refined petroleum which is known to be beneficial and safe for the skin. Additionally, the molecular size of the oil in the creamy substance is too large to penetrate your dermis. This is why slugging works.