One of the many K-Beauty trends that has swept social media by storm is “slugging,” which we have all definitely heard of by this point. If you haven’t heard of it, slugging is the practice of applying an occlusive-based product (such as Vaseline, Aquaphor, or the Cerave healing ointment) on your face as the final step of your night-time skincare routine.
It may sound unusual, but there are advantages. One of the main purposes of “slugging” is to stop TEWL (Trans Epidermal Water Loss), which is the process of your skin losing water and moisture. This is nothing new for those who battle with persistently dry and/or dehydrated skin, and “slugging” can act as a kind of silent saviour in some cases.
According to Beauty on tap it reduces the process of water loss from the skin by locking in moisture and believe it or not, when used properly, it actually leaves your skin looking and feeling more youthful and plumper over time. Additionally, it has wonderful skin barrier advantages, and when your skin barrier is healthy, many other skincare issues can fade.
Slugging is not the trend for you if you have oily skin or struggle with acne. This will only cause your acne to worsen by trapping oil and bacteria that cause acne. However, slugging alone does not clog the skin; instead, the usage of skincare items prior to the occlusive is crucial.
If you’ve had a read through and you match the criteria of who slugging would work for, the perfect slugging routine includes a cleanser, hydrating serum(s), a good moisturiser and your occlusive.
Also see: How to treat dandruff at home
