If you’ve spent a decent amount of time on skin care and beauty TikTok, you’ve probably come across slugging more than once. “Aquaphor slugging,” “eye slugging,” “how to slug your face”—it’s a mysterious corner of skincare, so we asked some experts for the details. And while the skin care technique has been making the rounds on the app as of late, its origins go way back.
From what skin slugging is and the benefits of using this technique to how the method differs according to skin type, there’s a lot to know before you jump into it. If you have been curious about the trend, here’s all you need to know.
What Is Slugging and How Does It Work?
Simply put, slugging refers to the process of sealing your skin with an occlusive agent, often petrolatum-based, overnight. If you don’t want to sleep with product on your face, you can also slug during the day and leave the product on for a few hours. Though it’s been popularized as a face treatment on TikTok to aid with hydration, this little beauty trick works on other parts of the body as well – from lips and eye slugging to ankles.
As a trend, slugging’s rising popularity can be traced back to the K-beauty world before hitting forums like Reddit’s Skincare Addiction and later TikTok. But, though it’s been popularized again recently, it is a practice most dermatologists recommend for quickly healing dryness and eczema and trapping in your moisture, dermatologist Dr. Shari Marchbein, M.D., who made an entire Instagram Reels on slugging, tells Teen Vogue.
What Are the Benefits of Slugging with Petrolatum?
Petrolatum, the ingredient commonly found in ointments like Aquaphor, CeraVe, Vaseline, and other topical creams, is occlusive, meaning it creates a barrier that seals in hydration. “In truth, dermatologists have been ‘slugging’ for years. We just didn’t come up with a cute name for it,” Dr. Marchbein tells Teen Vogue. “I don’t go to bed without it.”
Dr. Marchbein recommends using petrolatum on its own or thinly layered on top of a moisturizer or hydrating serum anywhere from your knees to your eyelids. She also agrees that the TikTok way of slugging – that is, putting “the teeniest dab,” as she emphasized, over your entire face – can be a great solution for those with dry or sensitive skin. “Especially going into allergy season, my lips and my eyelids are the thinnest skin, and they can dry easily, slugging is a great way of treating that overnight.”
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Is Vaseline or Aquaphor Better for Slugging?
You’ll see the most buzz around Aquaphor, which is applauded for its budget-friendly pricetag and effectiveness. The main difference between Vaseline and Aquaphor is that the latter has more ingredients. Vaseline is 100 percent petrolatum, while Aquaphor also contains mineral oil, penthenol, and other ingredients. Both of them work toward the same goal: sealing moisture into the skin. Many dermatologists recommend Aquaphor over Vaseline, but the best thing to do is to test what works best for your skin. That in mind, Aquaphor is both a humectant (promotes the rention of moisture in the skin) and occlusive (meaning it creates a physical barrier on top of the skin), while Vaseline leans mostly occlusive. Falling into both of these categories only means that there’s more power behind keeping the skin moisturized.
Are There Downsides to Slugging?
It might seem like you’re seeing slugging skincare all over the place, but that’s just the Internet speaking. As with anything, there are pros and cons to slugging. Some products are heavier than others and can cause pores to clog (leading to breakouts, more on that below). But if you’re worried about burns or permanent damage, skin slugging is a relatively safe method of cleansing. As always, make sure and confirm that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients before adding them to your skin.
Is Slugging for Everyone?
Simply put, no. Dr. Marchbein says slugging very oily or acne-prone skin on your face is a hard no because it can cause more irritation. “If you’re trapping things and occluding the skin, there is definitely a potential for breakouts,” Dr. Marchbein tells Teen Vogue.