What Is Slugging & Should You Try It? Let's Explain The Slimy Skin Care Technique

"My face was sticky going to bed. I looked like a snail. An invertebrate. I thought I might grow eye-stalks. My roommate asked me why I looked like I just came out of a birth canal." No, this is not the opening scene of a surrealist novel but rather a Redditor describing their first experience with slugging—a skin care trend that has beauty aficionados greasing up their skin with cosmetic-grade petroleum jelly, all in the hopes of seeing a glowing, supple face by morning. 

Slugging is a skin care technique where you slather on a heavy-duty occlusive (typically Vaseline or another petrolatum product) as the last step of your nighttime routine to prevent transepidermal water loss. The jelly balm creates a slimy film over your pores so you look dewy and almost slippery—you know, like a slug. 

The term itself popped up on Reddit's Skincare Addiction thread around 2018, credited as a K-beauty trend. Although, "I didn't see it originate from Korea," says Alicia Yoon, celebrity esthetician and founder of Peach & Lily. "It's really from the online community of people from all over the world." It's rife among K-beauty blogs and skin care forums, not necessarily stemming from Korean derm and esthetician offices themselves. 

Slugging is a bit intense, so it's best for those with super-dry skin or a compromised skin barrier (think sensitive skin conditions). For these skin types, sealing in hydration is crucial; water can easily seep out of an already leaky skin barrier, after all. "Slugging could prevent that water loss from happening, helping your skin kick-start the process of repairing your skin barrier," says Yoon. 

Of course, slugging is not for everybody—and even if it works for you, you might not want to "slug" on the daily. But if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you especially might want to steer clear: Even if the actual product you're using is noncomedogenic (aka, won't clog pores), such an occlusive environment can trap dead skin and oil and cause acne to thrive. 

Traditional slugging typically includes a petrolatum product, like Vaseline—it's a heavy-duty occlusive that creates a thick, balmy barrier. If you're looking for a cleaner option, though, we suggest finding products rich in ceramides, jojoba oil, or squalane, as these also replenish the skin barrier with healthy lipids, as opposed to just sitting atop it to keep water locked in. 

Protecting your skin barrier is crucial—but completely sealing your pores isn't necessary every single day. In fact, says Yoon, you still need some degree of transepidermal water loss for proper skin barrier function: "Studies show that when there's still some water loss happening, it signals naturally to your cells to keep that intercellular lipid production going1," she says. If there's no signaling, your skin cells may think everything is A-OK and won't repair.

She compares it to exercise: If your everyday skin care routine is a consistent, light workout (like micro-movements), slugging is an intense, HIIT boot camp. Great to fold into your routine every now and then if you like, but it can certainly backfire if you overdo it.