When to Slug. You can do it nightly to heal dehydrated, dry, cracked or inflamed skin. To maintain results, I recommend slugging 2-3 times per week.
As far as frequency goes, it's completely dependent on your skin type and concerns. If you have dry, you may benefit from slugging several times per week or even daily for a period of time. Those that have oily skin, however, may find they want to take part less or only during the winter months.
In order to notice results, you need to slug consistently for four to six weeks. Slugging cannot repair your skin or your skin's appearance overnight.
How Often Should You Slug Your Skin? It is recommended that you slug your skin once or twice a week, depending on the condition of your skin. Those with extremely dry skin can slug two to three days in a row and give it a break for two to three days before repeating the process.
All three dermatologists agree that slugging does actually work. "Slugging is good for your skin, especially if you live in a dry climate where water loss and dryness are bound to happen," says says Shereene Idriss, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City.
Con: Due to its occlusive nature, slugging increases the intensity of the products underneath it, which is generally the idea. However, this means that slugging can indirectly cause skin sensitivity if combined with the wrong products. Con: If you adore your silk pillowcases, slugging may prove problematic.
When to Slug. You can do it nightly to heal dehydrated, dry, cracked or inflamed skin. To maintain results, I recommend slugging 2-3 times per week.
If you have skin that tends to be dry, you may benefit from slugging daily. However, those with oily skin should consider slugging less or not at all, Dr. Parcells says, as slugging might make any active breakouts or oil-prone skin even worse.
A step-by-step guide to slugging
Step 1: Cleanse your skin using a gentle hydrating cleanser. Step 2: Apply a thin layer of Vaseline over your face and neck while your skin is still damp. Step 3: Leave it overnight. Last step: Wash your face with plain water in the morning.
As well as preventing water loss and sealing the skin's barrier, slugging can also cause more acne, trap dead skin and increase oil too.”
While it's not absolutely necessary ahead of slugging, moisturizing can be a great way to incorporate extra skin care ingredients into your routine that'll work to maximize hydration and overall skin health.
Slugging itself isn't hydrating—it doesn't infuse the skin with moisture. Rather, it just keeps the moisturizing products you've applied from seeping out. Apply glycerin, hyaluronics, or aloe-based products to damp skin (after a cleanse), and then follow with a moisturizer. Lastly, top your skin off with the occlusive.
Finally, slugging can help the skin repair itself if it's damaged and dehydrated. As we age, our skin barrier can no longer repair itself, leading to fine lines, saggy skin, or wrinkles. While slugging can't prevent these conditions, it may help reduce their appearance.
Since slugging creates a seal on your skin, makeup and sunscreen trapped under the occlusive layer may promote a breakout. Be sure you've thoroughly cleansed and rinsed your skin on the night you plan to slug.
Petroleum Jelly for Acne: The TL;DR
Applying an occlusive over acne treatments may help strengthen the actives and, thus, deliver results. That said, slugging for acne isn't for everyone, and experts warn that doing so could lead to irritation or worsened acne.
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.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Petrolatum-based, healing ointments are recommended occlusives for slugging. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, says that these products, like Aquaphor, "include glycerin, lanolin, bisabolol, and mineral oil for additional hydrating, soothing, and barrier-supporting properties."
Don't add slugging over retinol (do retinol on days you don't slug) If you have acne prone skin, use an even thinner layer of occlusive moisturizer or use squalane oil (a much lighter occlusive) in your skincare regimen to get the barrier-effects of slugging.
Finally, once your moisturiser is almost absorbed, take a small amount of your occlusive balm and apply it to your face (or target the areas that need it most). In the morning, double cleanse your skin to ensure all traces of the balm are removed.
You can slug two ways: overnight (the traditional way) or short-contact (like a wash-off face mask). Here's how to do each one.
"When applied to delicate areas, like under the eyes, slugging could cause milia, which are small, painless white bumps that appear when keratin gets trapped beneath the skin's surface." Claire explains that milia occur more commonly when people are using a heavy product around the eyelid or the eye area.
If you usually wash your face come morning, go ahead and do so, but it's not necessary to wash off your slugging product from the night before, she says. Either way, be sure to admire your gorgeously glowy new skin.
And apparently, the petroleum jelly does not ruin your pillows - a question brought up numerous times on Reddit. According to those who use Vaseline in their nighttime routines, the petroleum jelly soaks into your skin, leaving your pillowcases clear from the goo.
Experts say slugging should be used as the last step of your skincare routine — after cleansing and moisturizing. Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a board-certified dermatologist with over 400,000 TikTok followers, recommends a "very thin layer" over your whole face — especially during the winter months.