So, I’ve always had dry skin. I’m talking cracked hands in the winter, skin flakes on my elbows and cracked lips. And this was before I moved to Boulder, where the humidity averages out at 0%. And when it is humid, it usually is snowing, so then the cold dries out your skin instead. Humidity at home averages at 67% for comparison.
Somehow, out of all the warnings I got about moving to Colorado, no one mentioned how dry my skin and hair would be, and how I’d need a whole new routine for the Colorado air. Talk about things I wish I knew before coming here.
So, like anyone else would do, I bought a humidifier. And to my surprise, this didn’t solve the issue! Turns out that when you’re only around the humidifier for the, let’s say, seven hours that you’re asleep, it doesn’t quite make up for the other 17 hours.
So, I tried thicker moisturizers, different brands, more applications, and nothing was working. And all the homemade recipes said that almond oil is the best for your skin, and like a cruel trick from God, I am allergic.
Then, one fateful day I’m scrolling through IG reels (I know, I know, but I was spending too much time on TikTok and the reels algorithm is worse so I spend less time there) and I see someone talking about “slugging.” And her skin looks great! I mean, really great. She has plump and hydrated skin that has that natural “glow” without looking greasy. And before I sigh and scroll away anyway because I will not be putting a slug on my face, I see her hold up a tub of Vaseline.
The clouds parted, the angels sung and I could feel hope for my dry, dry skin once again. I rubbed the back of my hands and my rough cheeks before hunkering down for some research.
Before this, I had used Vaseline for my lips when they were really chapped, and sometimes on my feet, but I never thought about it for my face. Would this clog my pores? Would I get really greasy? Sure, I wanted moisturized skin, but what was the tradeoff here?
Turns out that slugging is from the K-beauty and Black communities’ skin care that is also used by many parents for their young children due to its intense moisture barrier technology and ability to stay on even with fabric or movement to fight against.
Slugging is the last step in your skincare routine and is used to “lock in” all the other good products and your skin’s moisture barrier overnight.
My guess is that it’s called “slugging” due to the sheen you get once the Vaseline is on your skin.
From USAToday: “Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a board-certified dermatologist, recommends a ‘very thin layer’ over your whole face — especially during the winter months.
‘By adding this as the final step to your nighttime regimen, it works well to keep skin moisturized and hydrated all night long… It also allows the skin barrier to repair by acting as a protectant,” she says.
Slugging is a great way to get that extra moisture in, but she also warns against using slugging in combination with active ingredients like retinols, retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, or beta-hydroxy acids, as they “can cause more irritation and sensitivity by locking these strong ingredients on your skin.”
Quick tip: to get an ultra-thin layer of Vaseline, warm it up between your hands and spread it out before applying to your face.
Slugging not only locks in all the products layered under the Vaseline, but it also helps them really get into your skin. Instead of your moisturizer rubbing off onto your pillow while you sleep, the Vaseline protects those precious (and maybe expensive!) products, keeping them on your skin all night.
Slugging is so effective, but will it clog your pores? The answer is no. Vaseline is non-comedogenic, meaning that it will not clog or block pores. It’s possible that Vaseline will cause irritation if you are allergic to it or have particularly sensitive skin, but my guess is that you would already know if either of those apply to you.
My routine consists of washing my face with my roommate’s Vanicream Gentle Face Cleanser (shh, no one tell them!), using a thin layer of Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré on damp skin, Burt’s Bees original lip balm and slugging!
I don’t personally feel a lot of grease on my face after a night of slugging, but I do use a gentle face wash followed by a light moisturizer the morning after to make sure I don’t reflect light into people’s eyes.
The only change this has made to my sleep and bedtime routine is that I now wear a headband to bed since I am a night showerer and I don’t want Vaseline in my freshly washed hair.
If you’re sitting here wondering if you should try this, I say why not? It’s inexpensive, easy to find, you have nothing to lose, the product will still be useful even if you don’t like this, and it’s fun to try something new!
And the cons are… looking a little shiny at night, which I already did before this from the rest of my skincare routine!