Slugging 101: The Skincare Hack You Might Want to Start

Slugging. We aren’t talking about baseball, or a mollusk today. We’re talking about the skincare hack that just might change your skin for the better. As a 41 year old mom (no need to break out the calculator, I was born in the 80’s) I have some aging and dry skin. I recently discovered slugging, and it has changed my skin so much. The basic definition of skin slugging is to use an occlusive product over the top of your normal skincare routine at night. We’ll go over what that means later, so read on to see if slugging is a skincare hack that you might want to start doing.

5 Reasons You Should Start Slugging

I always like to know why I should start to do something that some random person on the internet told me to do. You really don’t have to take my word for it! There are plenty of people in cyber-land who agree that slugging is a game-changer, but here are the reasons why I started slugging:

• It seals in skincare products so they can sink in more, and work better.
• It seals in existing moisture and prevents moisture loss.
• It can help calm inflamed skin due to dryness or pollutants.
• It’s super easy, and only takes a few seconds at the end of your skincare routine.
• It’s affordable!!

What Is Slugging?

Slugging has been getting a lot of buzz over on TikTok. Why? Because it’s awesome. These girlies over there know what’s up! To successfully slug, you’ll need to add just one thing to your skincare arsenal. I’ll get you a list in a minute, but basically it needs to be something that will lock in those precious skincare products that you’ve spent so much money on! Speaking of money, slugging products are typically super affordable, so this practice is a no-brainer!! All you need to do is put on those skincare products that you love, then slug away! The formula is easy peasy!

What Products Can I Use to Slug?

The percentage of products that are out there that you can use for slugging is huge. I can’t cover all of them in one blog post. But I’ll give you some recommendation of products that I personally have, and that I’ve used, and that I love. Lets go!

Ointments

Vaseline– Slugging with Vaseline is probably the cheapest and most basic option. It only has one ingredient (petroleum jelly), and is very effective. I have and use Vaseline, but it’s honestly not my favorite in this product line-up. It is however the very easiest to find, and will definitely not break the bank!

Aquaphor– Slugging with Aquaphor is an experience. Aquaphor is probably the most dense, rich product in my opinion. I’ve used Aquaphor for many years for dry lips and cracked heels. It’s a favorite all-around product for sure! It’s even a skincare product that my husband uses and recommends to his guy friends. LOL!

CeraVe Healing Ointment– This option is good because it has those CeraVe ceramides. Every product in the CeraVe lineup includes skin-loving ceramides. So of course I would recommend this product for that reason. It has that “slippery” feeling more so than Vaseline or Aquaphor, so if you aren’t as into that then I would go with the other options. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which could be good for you if you don’t live in a dry climate.

Alba Botanica Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly– For all you babes that don’t want a product with petroleum jelly, this one is a solid choice. It’s made with castor oil, sunflower oil and beeswax. Made with organic ingredients, so that’s also a huge plus! It’s also a 100% vegetarian formula and does not contain any parabens, phthalates or synthetic fragrances. It is also not tested on animals.

Sticks

An easy way to incorporate slugging is an occlusive stick. These are a fairly new option, and I’m low-key obsessed! You don’t need to get your fingers slimy (meaning you just swipe, and go!) so it’s also great option for traveling or if you’re in a hurry. This is my preferred way to slug! Here are the options that I have and use:

Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick– So easy to use and so basic! I love everything about this stick, starting with how its big, so you just need a few swipes on your face, then your done. You don’t have to rub it in, and its mees-free. All wins. If you can’t tell- this is my favorite slugging product! And as another added bonus, it’s under $10!

Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Stick– I also have this product (can you tell I’m obsessed with products??). It’s nice and it works well. It has a lot of the same great attributes as the Aquaphor stick, but I prefer the Aquaphor over this one because I feel like the Aquaphor stays on better. However, this one is great and I believe that it’s easier to find!

Is There Anyone Who Shouldn’t Slug?

The short answer is no. Unless you are allergic to the ingredients in the products used to slug, it should be fine for everyone. However there may be certain circumstances when you shouldn’t be slugging. For instance, if you are adding in a new active to your skincare routine, I would say that you shouldn’t slug over the top of that. If you are starting a retinol for example, and your skin is still getting used to that new ingredient and adjustment to it is a little irritating, then hold off on slugging on the nights that you’re using your retinol products.

Otherwise slugging should be a safe practice overall. I personally slug over the top of my skincare nightly – if I’m using active products or not. But I’ve been using my active products for years, and my skin is very used to them!!

I hope this information has be enlightening and helpful! Have you heard of slugging before? Let me know if you’re going to try it! If you love skincare, and you love clean products, check out my review of Eight Saints skincare where I review a ton of products from one brand.

xo,

Winky Pink