Curious about the slugging trend that has been taking social media by storm? Although this K-beauty technique may not initially seem very appealing, it has absolutely nothing to do with slugs! Instead, it’s a trend that can be very beneficial for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin, making it one that even dermatologists are backing.
What exactly does slugging involve and should you give it a try? Join Introstem as we take a deep dive into this viral trend that everyone has been talking about.
What is Slugging?
Although you may have only recently noticed slugging on your TikTok feed, this skincare technique has been practiced in Korea and other parts of the world for quite a while now. In its simplest sense, it involves coating your skin with a heavy-duty occlusive, such as petroleum jelly.
The way in which this leaves the skin looking ultra-shiny is how slugging earned its name – it almost looks as though the skin has been slathered in slug slime!
What Does Slugging Do for the Skin?
While it’s true that slugging can get a little messy, the benefits that this trend provides usually make this more than worthwhile:
Slows Down Moisture Loss
Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is the rate at which moisture evaporates out of the skin. While a thick and healthy skin barrier helps to keep TEWL to a minimum, any form of damage to that protective barrier will cause TEWL to increase. This then means that your skin starts losing moisture faster than it receives it, resulting in dehydration.
Slugging helps to cut this back again, significantly slowing TEWL. The occlusive layer that slugging gives to the skin essentially performs a similar role as the skin’s barrier, blocking moisture from evaporating quite so quickly. With moisture being required for just about every single process carried out by your skin cells, this can go a long way in helping you achieve healthier-looking skin.
Provides a Shield Between Your Skin and the Elements
The purpose of your skin barrier is to act as a shield between your skin and the elements around you. It saves your deeper skin cells from coming into contact with anything that could cause harm.
Slugging does pretty much the same thing. The occlusive layer that you apply forms an additional barrier between your skin and the environment. From toxins in the air to dry indoor heating, slugging will leave your skin feeling much better protected against environmental aggressors.
Leaves the Skin Barrier Feeling Stronger and Healthier
It’s so easy to end up with a damaged skin barrier. Everything from sun exposure and pollution to stress and an unhealthy diet can compromise that all-important barrier. While it is, of course, possible for that barrier to heal itself, this can be a challenge when your skin is constantly in defense mode.
Giving your skin an extra barrier by slugging means that your natural barrier will have some much-needed time to recuperate. Slug your skin regularly and your natural barrier will soon start to feel stronger and much healthier.
Are There Any Downsides to Slugging?
So far, so good…but are there any downsides to slugging that you should know about?
Like every other skincare trend and technique out there, slugging isn’t for everyone. If you have oily skin that’s prone to breakouts, you may want to give this one a miss. While petroleum jelly, which is the most commonly used occlusive for slugging, doesn’t clog pores (its molecular size is too large for it to enter the pores), the layer that it forms over your skin’s surface can prevent your skin’s natural oils from escaping. Instead, they’ll be pushed back into your pores. This can result in blockages and breakouts.
With that said, this doesn’t mean that slugging is a complete no-go for oily skin types. While slugging is usually done overnight, you could give short-contact slugging a try. This is when you slug for just a couple of hours, which isn’t long enough for sebum to be pushed back into your pores. Sure, you may not experience the same intensity of benefits as those who slug overnight but it’s still a great way to tackle dehydration, which can often be the cause of excessive oiliness.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Slugging
Want to give slugging a try? Here’s how:
Decide When to Slug
First things first; decide when to slug. Most people choose to do this overnight for a few reasons:
- Your skin goes into repair mode at night. Slugging helps to keep your skin cells and skin barrier feeling supported while it performs its regenerative and healing tasks.
- It will give your evening skincare products the extra time that they need to sink into your skin.
- Slugging will interfere with the efficacy of your sunscreen. You also don’t want to be wearing any makeup under that occlusive layer, and applying makeup over the top is next to impossible.
- Nobody wants to be walking around with a slimy-looking face during the day!
However, there is also one big downside to slugging at night. It will likely leave your pillowcase super-greasy as some of the occlusive that you apply will end up rubbing off onto your pillow while you sleep. This isn’t enough of a reason to forgo the benefits of slugging though! Simply dig out some old bedding, where stains won’t matter, and use it whenever you plan on slugging.
Start by Cleansing Your Face
The last thing that you want to do when slugging is trap dirt and other impurities beneath the occlusive layer that you create. This will only push those impurities deeper into your skin. Once there, they’ll cause damage in a number of ways.
This is why you need to begin by cleansing your skin. Always pick a cleanser that’s suitable for your skin type. If you have dry skin, go with a gentle, moisturizing formula, like the Introstem VitisCell Fresh Cleansing Mousse. Meanwhile, if your skin type is oily, a foaming cleanser, such as the Introstem VitisCell Foaming Bliss Purifier, would be a better option. Either way, both of these cleansers are packed with hydrating ingredients, and hydration is a big focus of any slugging routine.
Exfoliate if Needed
Ideally, you should already be regularly exfoliating your skin. So, if your slugging night also happens to be exfoliation night, go ahead and continue with that as normal. The benefit of exfoliating before slugging is that you’ll ensure that your skin feels clean on an even deeper level. Exfoliation will also boost the absorption of the hydrating serum that you’ll be applying in the next step.
One of our favorite exfoliators to use before slugging is the VitisCell Fresh Revive Peeling. It removes dead skin cells and excess sebum to leave the skin feeling fully receptive to whichever products may come next. It will also give your skin a brighter and bouncier finish, which slugging will really enhance!
Apply a Hydrating Serum
Since the primary goal of slugging is to decrease TEWL to increase the skin’s hydration levels, it only makes sense to give yourself a head start by first applying a hydrating serum.
With that said, choose wisely. You don’t want anything that contains pore-clogging ingredients. You should also avoid retinoids, acids, and any other potent, skin-stimulating ingredients. After all, slugging is all about giving your skin barrier a break.
In terms of hydrating ingredients to look out for, humectants are what you need. These are lightweight, moisture-binding compounds that hydrate without weighing the skin down. You’ll find several of them in the Introstem EmberCell Radiant Serum. With sodium hyaluronate, peptides, allantoin, and glycerin, it boasts some of the best humectants around!
Get Slugging!
Now that your skin cells feel fully quenched, it’s time to apply your slugging layer and stop all of those hydrating ingredients from evaporating away. Ideally, do this while your skin is still slightly damp from the serum.
Which occlusive should you use for your slugging endeavors? Petroleum jelly is the most popular, mainly because it’s so easily accessible. However, you could also try:
- Beeswax
- Natural oils, such as marula, almond, olive, or shea
- A mixture of beeswax and a natural oil
- Lanolin
- A dedicated slugging balm
Whichever you pick, take a pea-sized amount of your slugging occlusive and spread it over your face. It doesn’t need to be a thick layer – so long as your skin is covered, you’ll feel the benefits.
Once your face has been coated with the occlusive, it’s time for bed!
Rinse it All Off the Next Morning
Once you wake up the next morning, it’s time to rinse that slimy layer off your skin. Use your regular cleanser and cleanse your face like normal, before continuing with the rest of your morning skincare routine.
Is Slugging Worth Trying?
Dehydration is such a common skin concern, and it’s one that people often struggle to overcome. Slugging is a way to get you through this and finally bump up your skin’s moisture levels. It’s easy to see why people with dry skin have been raving about it! People who are experiencing various skin concerns, particularly eczema, sensitivities, and contact allergies, find that slugging can really help their skin too.
With that said, oily skin can benefit from slugging as well. As we mentioned, excess oil production can sometimes be caused by dehydration. Short-contact slugging will give you a chance to quench your skin cells without having to worry about clogged pores.
So, is slugging worth trying? The answer is a resounding yes. No matter your skin type, slugging can be extremely beneficial. While many social media skincare trends can be disastrous for your skin, slugging is one that even dermatologists wholeheartedly support.
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