We can all shamelessly admit that we've succumbed to a viral
TikTok beauty hack or product during our daily doom-scroll through the app.
Perhaps it was adding liquid chlorophyll to your water when TikTok said the
ingredient would help manage your acne. We've since learned that there's not
much scientific evidence to support this claim. Or maybe you plunged your face
into a bowl of ice to reduce puffiness. These trendy treatments are plentiful,
but thankfully there are also a plethora of science buffs on the app who debunk
many of these myths and often offer alternative skincare treatment solutions.
There is one trend that most skin experts can agree is worth the hype:
slugging.
The hashtag alone yields over 189 million views because
everyone is after one thing: baby smooth skin. Slugging is a simple practice
that requires "applying an occlusive like petrolatum to the face before
bedtime," explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. Skincare
trends can be tricky to navigate, but the benefits of slugging make it worth a
try. Read below for tips on how to properly slug your skin from experts you can
trust.
What is slugging?
You likely haven't used petroleum jelly on your face since
your childhood, but Dr. Alexis Parcells, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon
and founder of SUNNIE, explains that slugging is a simple technique "of
slathering on a heavy-duty occlusive like petroleum jelly as the last step of a
nighttime routine." It gets messy, but slugging locks in moisture, as well
as the other products you've used in your nighttime routine. "The slimy
film resembles a slug. Hence the name "slugging," she adds.
Carla Nelson and Wendy Jules of Brooklyn's Fleur De Lis
Beauty say the treatment is not only a great way to moisturize your skin
overnight but "it offers great hydration and water retention leaving skin
fresh in the morning. The goal is to maintain young bouncy skin and slugging
definitely aids in that."
How often should you
do slugging?
Rule number one of skincare is to always be aware of your
skin's health and needs. "As far as frequency goes, it's best to listen to
your skin," Nelson adds. If you have skin that tends to be dry, you may
benefit from slugging daily. Those that have oily skin, however, should
consider slugging less or not at all, Dr. Parcells says, as slugging might make
any active breakouts or oil-prone skin even worse.
What type of products
should you avoid when slugging?
Dr. Parcells advises against using active ingredients, such
as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or retinoids when
slugging at night. "When trapped, these [actives] can increase their
strength beyond what was concentrated by a chemist, leading to unpredictable
results on your skin," she explains. Slugging is best paired with
hydrating ingredients that contain humectants like honey or aloe vera.
"Slugging itself isn’t hydrating—it doesn’t infuse the skin with moisture.
Rather, it just keeps the moisturizing products you’ve applied from seeping
out," Dr. Parcells says.
How do you properly
slug your skin?
First, you want to make sure you're starting with a clean
face before applying products to the skin. "Slugging itself is not
comedogenic (acne-causing), but if you have clogged pores or retained makeup,
you could create an infection or outbreak by trapping these particles under the
occlusive. Make sure your skin is SUPER clean before sealing it. Exfoliate.",
Dr. Parcells says.
Next, you want to make sure the products you're applying are
formulated to provide moisture. Dr. Parcells adds that you should look for
"glycerin, hyaluronic, or aloe-based products" to apply to your damp
skin. The steps are simple:
1.
Cleanse
2.
Exfoliate
3.
Moisturize with humectant-based products
4.
Apply the occlusive
These steps should be done about 30 minutes before bed to
allow the products to seep into the skin. Before coating your skin with an
occlusive, it's best to also protect your pillowcase from the treatment.
"Place a towel over your pillowcase as things can get messy overnight.
Consider keeping your hair back in a sleep hat or headband. You may also use
cling or saran wrap to contain the petroleum after application," Dr.
Parcells suggests.
Via: elle.com
