Everything you Need to Know about the Viral Slugging Skincare Trend

What is Slugging in Skincare?

No, slugging is not about putting slugs on your face, although this could sound like a skin treatment you can get. In skincare, slugging means applying an occlusive at the end of your evening routine – in other words, using a thick cream or balm that will create a barrier between your skin and the outside world to prevent hydration loss. This will result in your skin looking shiny and glossy like a glazed doughnut, and you will really get all the benefits from your skincare actives.

Slugging in skincare actually started way before it was trend, because it was recommended to anyone who was following a treatment for acne that could lead to extremely dry skin. This method allowed their skin to retain moisture.

What are the Benefits of Slugging?

The main reason slugging has gone viral is because it prevents water loss. We don’t necessarily realise how much water our skin loses, depending on our daily habits and our environment. A lack of hydration can prevent our skin from looking its best and also hinder the effectiveness of our skincare products. If you have dry skin and are struggling to keep your skin hydrated, this method could be worth a try. Slugging can also help your skincare work better. In the evening, you can apply different hydrating serums and actives to work overnight but sometimes their efficacy is not optimal because of the contact with air. Slugging your face not only prevents water loss but helps your skin lock in active ingredients as your barrier is much stronger.

How to do Slugging on your Face

On the nights you choose to do slugging, you don’t have make big changes in your skincare routine, but we recommend using your actives on the same evenings to maximise the benefits.

Step 1: Cleanse

Double cleanse your face to make sure all SPF, makeup and impurities that might have accumulated during the day have been removed. A clean face is the always the perfect base for a successful night time skincare routine.

Step 2: Serums

As mentioned, if you’re slugging at the end of your skincare routine, now is the perfect moment to use your most potent serums. Whether it’s hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or rejuvenating ones like retinol, the benefits of your serums will be amplified with this method.

Step 3: Moisturise

Using a moisturiser will help hydrate your skin and it’s also a good first step to lock in the serums you used prior and their benefits.

Step 4: Seal in with occlusive

This is when the magic happens, after your moisturiser, you want to use an occlusive, whether it’s a really thick moisturiser or an overnight mask to lock in all the products you used before. We’ve listed some of our favourite products to use below.

Step 5: Wash it off in the morning

The next morning, you should be able to tell that your skin is far more hydrated and has soaked in all the benefits of your evening skincare routine. In the morning, you can wash off the excess with just water or use gentle cleanser, and your skin will be ready for your morning skincare.

The Best Products for Slugging

A lot of people have been using petrolatum-based products for their slugging routine. We have some alternatives that you might already have in your skincare arsenal. These are for the last step of your skincare, after your moisturiser.

How Often Should you do Slugging?

This completely depends on your skin type, concerns and where you are on your journey. For those who have a compromised skin barrier, we’d recommend slugging daily to speed up your skin’s recovery process. If you have dry skin, this can also be something you do daily and if you feel like your skin could use a break, take it.

Is Slugging Bad for Acne/Oily Skin?

Slugging is not recommended for those with oily, acne prone skin. When it comes to slugging your face, applying an occlusive can keep the oils from escaping your skin, which can cause pore clogging and lead to break outs. The desired effect of this skincare practice is to boost radiance and not cause breakout or cause inflammation.

Our Final Thoughts on Slugging

Slugging is a trend that’s here to stay as it has helped so many people with their skin so far. The trend has now expanded to hand slugging and hair slugging (using hair oils overnight on your tresses). The skincare method might be the solution for those with dry, flaky skin who struggle to keep their skin hydrated. Slugging has the potential to help you achieve that daily dewy skin glow you’ve been striving for and is definitely worth a go in my opinion.