Do you utilize pure skincare merchandise and different components — resembling serums, exfoliants and oils – however nonetheless really feel like your pores and skin is comparatively dry, boring and/or uneven in texture? Then you definately would possibly profit from a skincare trick nicknamed “slugging,” which entails layering thick ointment over thinner components to assist “seal” them in.
Does slugging really work? Whereas there’s been restricted research centered particularly on slugging skincare routines, proof does exist to recommend that it may well have advantages.
The varieties of components used for slugging — together with petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) — are recognized to be nice defenders towards dryness — plus they assist different skincare merchandise be absorbed higher.
What Is Slugging?
Slugging is a skincare follow by which you apply occlusive merchandise to your face over different helpful components, resembling serums and moisturizer. This helps create a protecting floor in your pores and skin and might contribute to an total more healthy pores and skin barrier.
To know how slugging works, it first helps to get clear on what occlusives are.
Occlusives, resembling petroleum jelly, are a gaggle of skincare merchandise that create a layer on the floor of your pores and skin that retains water and pores and skin’s pure oils (aka sebum) sealed in. In different phrases, they stop water and oil evaporation from the pores and skin, which can also be referred to as transepidermal water loss.
Why is it referred to as “slugging”? As you’ll have guessed, it earned this title due to how thick occlusive ointments could make your face appear and feel.
Once you apply Vaseline or related merchandise to your pores and skin, they have an inclination to make you slick and glossy, very like a slug. Don’t fear, although, slugging doesn’t really require you to use any slug-derived components to your face.
Advantages
Why is slugging good on your pores and skin? Listed below are the primary advantages attributed to slugging and why it’s now beneficial by an increasing number of dermatologists:
1. Can Assist Heal Dry Pores and skin
Slugging may help your pores and skin really feel and seem smoother, softer and extra even. Occlusives, resembling Vaseline, support in pores and skin moisture by stopping oils and water from leaving the pores and skin, which is the primary explanation for dryness.
For probably the most hydrating results, it’s necessary to slug with each an occlusive and moisturizer.
Occlusives themselves don’t hydrate the pores and skin. As a substitute, they assist moisturizers to do their job extra simply — plus they take pleasure in serving to restore pores and skin’s barrier.
To slug correctly, you first wish to apply a moisturizer to wash pores and skin after which layer an occlusive on prime in an effort to obtain dewey pores and skin.
2. Helps Lock in Different Pores and skin Care Merchandise
Slugging is an effective way to get probably the most advantages attainable out of your skincare routine, particularly in the event you’re spending cash on high quality serums, toners, and so forth.
Occlusives permit skincare components — resembling vitamin C serum, antioxidants, peptides, niacinamide and others — to work extra successfully, which might depart you with brighter and extra youthful-looking pores and skin.
When you’re engaged on stopping indicators of ageing, resembling advantageous strains and wrinkles, or overcoming hyperpigmentation, slugging may help with this too. Simply remember to mix an occlusive (resembling Vaseline) with high quality merchandise which might be aimed toward your pores and skin sort and objectives.
(You could take into account first exfoliating the pores and skin to assist eliminate toxins and impurities. Two pure exfoliators embody the pumice stone and dry brushing.)
3. Might Decrease Redness or Irritation Amongst These With Delicate Pores and skin
When you’re liable to pink, flaky or irritated pores and skin — together with in case you have eczema or dermatitis — slugging is an efficient match on your pores and skin sort since it may well assist heal a compromised pores and skin barrier.
For these with delicate pores and skin, slugging is a great solution to maintain micro organism and different irritants from reaching and damaging the pores and skin, whereas additionally boosting how properly calming skincare components (resembling humectants and emollients) can work.
Slugging isn’t unique to your face both. You are able to do it on totally different physique elements which may be irritated, chafed, dry, and so forth.
Attempt slugging after showering and shaving (you at all times wish to clear the realm properly first) or earlier than swimming in a chlorinated pool in an effort to stop chlorine rashes.
Easy methods to Do It
When do you have to slug?
Most frequently, slugging is completed at night time because the final step of your skincare routine.
The principle cause to slug earlier than mattress is due to how slugging makes your pores and skin look. Occlusives are thick and depart your pores and skin shiny and ”gooey;” due to this fact most individuals choose to keep away from slugging throughout the daytime.
Which merchandise do you have to apply to your pores and skin first earlier than slugging?
A well-liked solution to go about slugging is to first wash your face (or bathe) after which apply serums or thinner lotions.
The perfect slugging merchandise are those who include hydrating and soothing components, resembling hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide (vitamin B5).
What’s the proper solution to slug?
After you clear, tone and moisturize your pores and skin, you end with a thicker occlusive to lock every thing in. To get probably the most advantages from totally different moisturizers, strive making use of humectants and emollients below occlusives.
Humectants and emollients enhance moisture by pulling water into the pores and skin. These embody merchandise resembling:
- lipids
- silicones
- oatmeal
- shea butter
- glycerin
- hyaluronic acid
- sorbitol
- urea
- aloe vera
Right here’s an instance of a slugging routine:
- Wash your pores and skin. and presumably additionally exfoliate. (This ought to be executed one to 3 instances per week, on common.) It’s necessary to slug over clear pores and skin to forestall pores from clogging.
- Apply serums.
- Apply different moisturizers.
- Layer on a skinny coat of whichever occlusive you select to make use of, resembling petroleum jelly or mineral oil. You don’t want a brilliant thick quantity, simply sufficient to flippantly cowl your face/the realm of your pores and skin you’re concentrating on.
Does slugging with Vaseline work greatest? Is one other product superior?
Occlusives embody merchandise resembling:
- Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
- Lanolin
- Beeswax
- Olive oil
- Avocado oil
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is without doubt one of the most beloved components, particularly as a result of it’s broadly obtainable and cheap. Vaseline is nice at stopping water loss, because it’s been proven to cut back transepidermal water loss by as much as 98%.
How typically ought to slugging be executed?
This is determined by your pores and skin sort, plus presumably the time of yr or local weather by which you reside.
Slugging is particularly useful for the dry, chilly, winter months when pores and skin dryness appears to peak. If it’s humid outdoors and also you’re oilier than traditional, you may slug much less often, resembling two to 3 instances per week.
You probably have dry pores and skin, slugging nightly can actually assist enhance pores and skin’s tone and texture. In the end, take note of the way you reply, and regulate accordingly.
What To not Do
You wish to keep away from slugging over uncleaned pores and skin, which might result in oiliness and breakouts, since this traps grime and micro organism in your pores. At all times wash your pores and skin properly first!
Which merchandise do you have to NOT USE when slugging?
Whereas it is determined by your pores and skin sort, dermatologists suggest that you simply don’t slug with comedogenic merchandise, resembling coconut oil, which can contribute to zits breakouts.
Retinoids and facial acids — resembling AHAs and BHAs, together with glycolic acid — can also trigger irritation in the event you apply them earlier than slugging. Some individuals can get away with slugging over these components, however for these with sensitivities, this can be an excessive amount of for pores and skin to deal with.
Who Shouldn’t Attempt Slugging?
You probably have acne-prone pores and skin, slugging would possibly worsen breakouts. You possibly can nonetheless strive it one to 2 instances per week in case you have mixture pores and skin, however remember to clear and exfoliate pores and skin first.
Slugging itself isn’t thought-about acne-causing (it’s non-comedogenic), but some individuals declare it may well set off zits.
Take into account, in case you have mixture pores and skin, you may strive slugging on areas which might be dry.
It will probably take some trial and error to determine what works greatest for you. Exfoliating, utilizing facial acids (resembling salicylic acid) after which making use of a light-weight moisturizer is perhaps all you must deal with your pores and skin in the event you’re oily or acne-prone.
Conclusion
- What’s slugging, and the way do you do it? It’s a skincare follow that entails making use of an occlusive product, resembling Vaseline/petroleum jelly, over different helpful components.
- It will probably assist enhance hydration, contribute to a glow and dewy pores and skin, and assist heal pores and skin’s barrier.
- Relying in your pores and skin sort, strive doing it two to seven instances per week. Oilier varieties ought to restrict slugging, whereas dry varieties can profit from doing it nearly each day.
- For the perfect outcomes, first apply components which might be focused towards your objectives, resembling anti-aging, brightness, lowering hyperpigmentation, and so forth. Watch out about combining slugging with retinols and facial acids.
