Loads of strange skincare trends have taken the sweetness business by storm. However slugging? Far much less obscure than it sounds. (Trace: There’s a motive you’ve been seeing Vaseline and Aquaphor in all places.) Seems, making use of a thick moisturizer at night time creates effortlessly glazed pores and skin by day. But when that sounds too good to be true, you’re proper to be cautious—as am I. So, quite than going to TikTok for the solutions, I took my inquiries to the consultants.
Featured picture from our interview with Sanetra Nere Longno by Michelle Nash.
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The whole lot You Have to Know About Slugging
“Slugging is solely slathering an occlusive as a remaining step of your skincare routine to lock in moisture and stop water loss,” says Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD, a medical advisor and Head of Anti-Growing older for the Health Reporter and a regenerative medication specialist. “It’s a Ok-beauty pattern that was popularized by TikTok customers and it really works fairly effectively for those who do it proper. While you coat your pores and skin with Vaseline, it appears to be like shiny and slimy, extra like a ‘slug’ and that’s the way it will get the title.”
Equally, “pores and skin flooding” is a brand new pattern primarily based on layering hydrating merchandise to lock in moisture. The star ingredient of “pores and skin flooding” is hyaluronic acid, adopted by moisturizers and occlusives. And whereas slugging is saved for the nighttime, pores and skin flooding will be achieved each day and night time. By the TikTok-transitive property, slugging might be thought-about a type of pores and skin flooding.
By the TikTok-transitive property, slugging might be thought-about a type of pores and skin flooding.
Maybe what distinguishes slugging essentially the most from different tendencies is that it’s permitted by dermatologists. Like with all good issues, its magnificence is in its simplicity. Petroleum jelly is a magnificence secret as previous as time. I personally grew up smearing Vaseline on my face morning and night time. Whereas it may appear scary to grease your face with goopy-textured goo, you is perhaps lacking out on majorly glowy pores and skin.
One more reason slugging has gone mainstream? Its potential advantages for many pores and skin varieties. Whereas it was initially touted as a treatment for dry pores and skin, slugging has highly effective wound-healing capabilities for blemish-prone pores and skin and anti-aging talents for mature pores and skin.
To study extra, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists Rosmy Barrios MD, and dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry.
What is slugging?
Dr. Henry explains. “Skin slugging is using a thick petroleum product that is more occlusive as the last step in your skin routine. Slugging reduces transepidermal water loss, which in turn helps the skin retain moisture better.”
What does slugging do for your skin?
“It’s important to understand that the balance of skin cells and lipids is crucial for your skin barrier,” says Dr. Barrios. “Think of lipids as a glue that keep the outermost layer of your skin intact. Any reduction in lipids compromises your skin, leading to transepidermal water loss. This means the glue gets damaged and your skin’s protective barrier lets the water out. An occlusive like Vaseline jelly can fix that.”
Slugging is also a way to build up your skin barrier and restore a damaged skin microbiome. Plus, once you seal in your skincare routine by slugging, the whole lot you set underneath your remaining layer works higher.
What are the advantages of slugging?
Softer pores and skin in a single day? Sure, please. Dr. Henry loves the apply as a technique for locking in moisture and waking up with hydrated pores and skin within the morning.
Dr. Barrios agrees. “The most important good thing about slugging is that it provides you baby-soft and hydrated pores and skin. By reinforcing your lipid barrier, it strengthens the best way your pores and skin protects itself. Plus, it improves the effectiveness of your skincare merchandise by appearing as an exterior protecting layer over them.”
What to Look For in Slugging Merchandise
Dr. Henry recommends petroleum-based merchandise. “They don’t seem to be breathable and can lock in moisture to your pores and skin. I like to recommend Vaseline, Aquaphor, or CeraVe Therapeutic Ointment.”
“Search for occlusive substances similar to petrolatum and lanolin to successfully create a protecting barrier over your pores and skin,” says Dr. Barrios. “A easy unscented Vaseline is your greatest guess, however you’ll be able to go for merchandise that comprise glycerin and hyaluronic acid as effectively. Keep away from merchandise with fragrances as a result of they are going to irritate your pores and skin.”
Who ought to keep away from slugging?
“Do not forget that slugging isn’t for everybody,” warns Dr. Barrios. “In case your pores and skin is acne-prone, slugging can lock in lifeless pores and skin cells, acne-causing micro organism, and sebum inside your pores and skin and make pimples worse.”
Dr. Henry provides, “As a result of pores and skin slugging makes use of occlusive merchandise, it could clog pores you probably have oily or acne-prone pores and skin. Whereas the merchandise themselves are non-comedogenic, if another merchandise in your routine set off pimples, it is going to lock it in. When you’ve got oily or acne-prone pores and skin and need to do pores and skin slugging, I’d suggest utilizing a product like retinol or salicylic acid as a part of your routine.”
Tips on how to Incorporate Slugging Into Your Skincare Routine
Slugging must be the final step of your skincare routine. “It’s vital to clean your face completely earlier than you apply Vaseline to your pores and skin as a result of any aspect of grime or micro organism will probably be dangerous in your pores and skin,” says Dr. Barrios.
As a result of slugging seals within the merchandise earlier than it, go for a lighter slate of merchandise when slugging. Guarantee they’re all non-comedogenic and watch out with utilizing any actives. And since slugging doesn’t hydrate or moisturize your pores and skin itself, it’s not a substitute in your serums and lotions. That is the place pores and skin flooding is available in. Layering hydrating merchandise could be a godsend in your face in a single day—particularly for those who embrace a hyaluronic acid serum and an occlusive moisturizer.
When slugging, merchandise must be utilized on this order:
- Cleanser, particularly one with light exfoliating properties, to slough away lifeless pores and skin cells and clogged pores
- Toner to prep your pores and skin and gently sweep away any remaining particles in your pores or on the floor of your pores and skin
- Hydrating serum like Hyaluronic acid
- Another focused serum for discoloration or anti-aging
- Light-weight moisturizer so as to add a moisturizing layer with humectants and nourishing substances
- Slugging skincare merchandise must be used on the finish of your routine
The Greatest Slugging Skincare Merchandise to Use in Your Nighttime Routine
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